Winterborne (Universe Unbound #1)

Jun 02, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: other

Originally posted on Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me.

I enjoyed this novel just as much as I expected to. Loie (rather than Mia like I had thought) is the narrator and Winterborne follows the girls as they try to make sense of recent mysterious occurrences and win the heart of Mia's new neighbour, Andreas. Strange things are happening and not everything is as it seems. Can Loie continue living in Mia's shadow or will she find that she's more special than she thinks? Winterborne throws us into a world...more Originally posted on Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me.

I enjoyed this novel just as much as I expected to. Loie (rather than Mia like I had thought) is the narrator and Winterborne follows the girls as they try to make sense of recent mysterious occurrences and win the heart of Mia's new neighbour, Andreas. Strange things are happening and not everything is as it seems. Can Loie continue living in Mia's shadow or will she find that she's more special than she thinks? Winterborne throws us into a world filled with odd creatures that we don't often see in paranormal books - dryads, pixies, leprechauns, harpies and more! The novel moves at a great pace, not too quickly but not ever boring. I found the plot to be exciting and it kept me guessing. Since this is a whole new world, all bets are off!

Loie's a character that I liked and sympathised with very much. For one, she's brave and intuitive. It's a shame that her best friend Mia is the golden girl who always takes the spotlight. Being a good friend, Loie easily accepts that Andreas will pick Mia over her without a second thought. It frustrated me to no end that Mia thought the same and not once considered Loie's feelings. Mia isn't a cruel person at all but I wonder how someone can be so selfish and inconsiderate. Andreas is good-looking, kind, caring and very British. I fell in love with him the moment he vaulted over Mia's fence in search for his soccer ball! He seems to lead Loie on a little but since he's just that great, I didn't get mad at all. Throughout the novel, there are moments between the two that will tug on your heartstrings and make you wish you had the power of mind control. If only! All of the characters in this novel keep some sort of a secret and it's fun discovering them all along with the characters.

I enjoyed Winterborne immensely and can't wait for more! There's so much waiting to happen in the sequel - Loie's relationship status, her embarking on epic adventures and dealing with everything else in her life! Who's excited?(less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Kendra Malcom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh my gosh, such an amazing book! Defintely fast paced, read in one day, but it's one of those that you do not want to put down!

By reading the synopsis you think that the story will be from Mia's point of view but it's actually from Loie's and I defintely think that made the story. Poor Loie has lost both of her parents and her grandpa in a very short amount of time and has been mostly raised by her bitter grandma who seems like she couldn't care less about her until she forgets to clean the bat...more

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Mar 09, 2012 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kiona

Originally posted on www.yareads.com

Loie's parents died years ago in a freak accident, leaving Loie to the care of an emotionally abusive grandmother. Naturally, Loie turns to the best friend she considers family: Mia Winterborne. Loie spends just as much time at Mia's house as her own, where she even has her own room and a stand-in mother figure. Loie and Mia are as close as sisters and Loie's content to trail around in Mia's shadow, even when it comes to Andreas, the first boy to capture both...more Originally posted on www.yareads.com

Loie's parents died years ago in a freak accident, leaving Loie to the care of an emotionally abusive grandmother. Naturally, Loie turns to the best friend she considers family: Mia Winterborne. Loie spends just as much time at Mia's house as her own, where she even has her own room and a stand-in mother figure. Loie and Mia are as close as sisters and Loie's content to trail around in Mia's shadow, even when it comes to Andreas, the first boy to capture both their hearts. But Andreas inadvertently drives a wedge between the girls just when they need each other most.

Winterborne plunges you into this unique new universe from the very first page as the Loie and Mia discuss Mia's impending supernatural powers. But after the first chapter, the beginning feels rather slow. The lazy summer seems to last too long as it drags on through numerous chapters. But while not much seems to be happening plot-wise, we definitely see a lot of characterization and Augusta Blythe provides tons of grounding details that really make this world feel real.

As soon as the action picks up, Winterborne really hits its stride. This world is dark, terrifying, and completely fresh. The bad guys in this story are actual bad guys; claws, fangs, and murderous desires hide behind handsome exteriors. Blythe's villains are creepy enough to make your skin crawl. And as if helping to protect her best friend from otherworldly kidnappers isn't enough, Loie also has to deal with a grandmother she oscillates between hating and sympathizing with, solving the mystery of her parents' deaths, and falling in love with a boy she knows she can't have.

Poor Loie doesn't realize she's entitled to just as much happiness as Mia. My main issue with Loie is her self-deprecation. She thinks she's not as pretty or special as Mia and that therefore she doesn't deserve as much as Mia. Even though Loie's situation is nowhere near perfect, she still puts Mia before herself. And at times, Mia doesn't seem to consider Loie's feelings or appreciate the sacrifices Loie makes for her. The ending redeems both characters in my eyes. They both undergo extraordinary changes and grow into better characters. Loie finds her own inner strength and Mia learns a little humility. In my opinion, there's nothing more gratifying than an ending where the main characters truly grow and change for the better. Add to that all the realistic world-building and paranormal twists, and this series has definitely caught my interest.

I will say that the twist at the ending is a bit predictable and for some reason, Andreas doesn't really intrigue me as a love interest so far. He's definitely a likable character and his developing friendship with Loie is rather heart-warming. But his relationship with Mia seems off to me; I don't really understand why either girl is in love with him, other than the fact that he's hot and British. These qualities can definitely inspire a crush, but love? I'm not so sure. I'm interested in seeing how these relationships develop in the future, though. And the ending leaves off on a major cliffhanger, so I can't wait to start in on the sequel. (less)

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Mar 07, 2012 Between the Covers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, ya-paranormal, young-adult

REVIEWED by Chris for Between the Covers blog:

I have to say that I started Winterborne by Augusta Blythe expecting a totally different story than the one that I read. I expected a superhero story from the point of view of Mia, but what I got was a supernatural fey story from the point of view of Mia’s best friend, Loie. I actually think that I prefer what I read to my preconceived notion, and that rarely happens.

Loie has lived with her uncaring, semi verbally abusive grandmother since her parent...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

MY THOUGHTS
Winterborne wastes little time trying to ease us into a human world just dusted with a touch of the paranormal, instantly garnering our attention with talk of latent powers and their impending epic manifestation. Like both Mia and Loie, we know next to nothing about where these powers come from aside from the fact they're inherited, what the extent of these mysterious powers will be, or what their overall purpose is as Mia's father disappeared before imparting any...more Actual Rating: 3.5/5

MY THOUGHTS
Winterborne wastes little time trying to ease us into a human world just dusted with a touch of the paranormal, instantly garnering our attention with talk of latent powers and their impending epic manifestation. Like both Mia and Loie, we know next to nothing about where these powers come from aside from the fact they're inherited, what the extent of these mysterious powers will be, or what their overall purpose is as Mia's father disappeared before imparting any of his knowledge to the girls. Rather than being hindered by our collective lack of understanding though we are able to sit back and enjoy having the veil of normalcy dropped from our eyes inch by dramatic inch. Providing an anchor against the supernatural uncertainty is the dynamic between two lifelong friends who suddenly find the world around them changing, and they themselves along with it, creating for us a few emotional ties to help us relate to a world that exists only in imaginings.

Loie, the self-proclaimed "Willow to Mia's Buffy" is a strong protagonist with an easy-to-read voice, bits of her humor popping up on occasion and making us laugh even as we long to see her emerge from Mia's shadow and cast her own. Though having grown up knowing of Mia's future importance makes Loie's lack of self-confidence and contentment with her second-fiddle status understandable, her absolute refusal to see herself beyond that becomes a bit frustrating as the story progresses. Her wholehearted acceptance of her supposed inferiority causes tension to coil in our guts as we want to reach into the book and force her to face a mirror so she can stare at her reflection until we're convinced she recognizes her own worth. Toward the end, she does finally lose her Mia-centric mindset, however, her change is due to external influence as opposed to her own internal realizations, sapping some of our joy as we wish things would have transpired just a little differently.

In addition to Loie's mistakenly flawed self-perception, the world Mia is to become a part of is never really made entirely clear to us. While initially the ignorance we share with the girls is comforting and discovering bits and pieces as we go creates a character-reader bond, our continued lack of understanding at the end has us itching for just a few more crumbs of information. Despite those few drawbacks, Winterborne is an enjoyable read if a bit predictable, and it does give us a unique love triangle situation wherein our heroine is not choosing between two guys, but rather finds herself on the losing end of a competition for Andreas's affection. This three-way emotional battle is refreshing in the pain it inspires and the realism it portrays, knowing the other variety of love triangle is a rarity. The ending is a touch abrupt but certainly leaves things open for a second installment, one I will certainly be reading with the hope Loie continues to come into her own and find happiness.

Rating: 3.5/5 (less)

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Jul 04, 2011 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, review-book

The narration of this book is extremely unique as it's narrated not by the main character, but by her best friend. In that sense, it seemed almost like a biography of a famous person, written by someone who knew them well, and I think that really emphasised the relationship between Mia and Loie in a very clever way.

I found Loie to be an excellent storyteller, and whilst I really did feel for her situation I felt she was a bit defeatist at times. She just decided she could never be anything exce...more The narration of this book is extremely unique as it's narrated not by the main character, but by her best friend. In that sense, it seemed almost like a biography of a famous person, written by someone who knew them well, and I think that really emphasised the relationship between Mia and Loie in a very clever way.

I found Loie to be an excellent storyteller, and whilst I really did feel for her situation I felt she was a bit defeatist at times. She just decided she could never be anything except Mia's friend, and she didn't really try to be. It infuriated me a bit. Mia was your typical girl who has it all. You can't really blame her for the way she acted, because it's not really her fault.

I wasn't really taken with Andreas if I'm honest, I genuinely didn't see anything appealing about his character, or why the girls liked him so much. He was british yeah, but the only british thing I got was one use of the endearment "love" and that was about it. Saying that, I really enjoyed how the love story played out in this, I thought it was really clever.

The plot in general was very clever, and very different to the majority of the books in the same genre I've read. I definitely didn't figure out a couple of the twists, which is always a nice surprise I think. I loved that with the absence of Mia's dad, there was no exposition about her potential powers. You learnt ride along side her and Loie and I thought that was pretty cool. I thought the world Blythe created was really realistic and obviously well-planned. I loved the foreshadowing and hints that were included, and how they made sense at the end, when everything had been revealed. There was a big thing made of animals following them and being threatening throughout the book that I really didn't get. I dont *think* it was ever explained? I just found that a bit weird.

The writing style was middle of the road for me. Nothing stuck out as appalling, but nothing stuck out as fantastic either. I just really enjoyed reading it, and felt it flowed well. There were maybe a few slow points where the plot was concerned, but overall this was a really interesting, well conceived and fairly unusual paranormal YA read.
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May 24, 2011 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

My thoughts…
Wow…I loved this book. I received an email from the author asking me if I would read and review it. She was so sweet and wanted to send it to me but if you have a Kindle…it is a mere $2.99 at Amazon. I bought it for myself. It is truly a delicious book…full of teen age angst and mystery. It was totally engaging and captured the reality of two best friends who have spent all of their lives together waiting for a sixteenth birthday that will change everything that they have ever known....more

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Jan 23, 2012 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie-author-love

Oh woe is me!!

That's pretty much the pov that this story was told.

A girl who's besty is going to get some super duper powers on her 17th birthday (I'm thinking something like Superman with the x-ray vision and flying or maybe Aquaman, even), and her parents are dead, and she lives with her drunk as a skunk smokey grandma who doesn't love her, but her bestie's mom super loves her and UGGGGS!!!!! It just drove me mad!!

I'm not saying this is a bad story... but kids... I was expecting something di...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Winterborne is the debut novel from Augusta Blythe and the first in the Universe Unbound series. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down once I started it! I expected it to be told from the standpoint of Mia because of the title, but it was instead narrated by Loie, Mia's best friend.

The two girls were more sisters than friends, having known each other literally since birth. Through loss and tragedy, Loie has become as much a part of the Winterborne family as Mia herself. While bo...more Winterborne is the debut novel from Augusta Blythe and the first in the Universe Unbound series. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down once I started it! I expected it to be told from the standpoint of Mia because of the title, but it was instead narrated by Loie, Mia's best friend.

The two girls were more sisters than friends, having known each other literally since birth. Through loss and tragedy, Loie has become as much a part of the Winterborne family as Mia herself. While both of the girls' characters were likeable, it was Loie I most loved and related to. Forever cast as Mia's faithful and supportive sidekick, she always felt second best to Mia. Mia's character, while likeable, came off as a little arrogant sometimes, a little self-centered and insensitive to Loie. They had spent their entire lives preparing for their shared 17th birthday and the moment that Mia's long awaited powers would finally manifest themselves. Loie's entire world revolved around Mia and helping her and Mia had grown too used to be the center of it all. When Andreas entered the picture, that dynamic only magnified. I truly loved how real the characters felt, even in the midst of a fantasy story. Whether you liked them or were annoyed by them, the characters felt as if they were flesh and blood people, instead of fictional characters on paper.

While most of the real action happened in the second half of the story, the first half set the story and built the mystery and suspense. At first, I thought that it was going to have a bit of the typical YA teen drama of two best friends falling for the same hot guy, and it did, but it certainly didn't end the way I thought it would and THAT was refreshing! But the book is so much more than that. The suspense was built beautifully, with hints dropped throughout the story that led you in all different directions. There was a little bit of everything in this book: suspense, intrigue, love, loss, fantasy, friendship, struggle. There were lots of twists and turns as the story unfolded and secrets were revealed. When it was all brought together in the end, I was not expecting it to turn out the way it did. I love being surprised and I most definately was! I highly recommend picking this book up, and I can't wait for the next book!
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May 15, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, young-adult, for-blog-review

Augusta Blythe's does a fabulous job, taking on YA Fantasy in her first novel, Winterborne. The book follows main character, Loie Bryce as she deals with the same teenage dramas every Junior is going through... boys, school, college acceptance... only she's got a few extra to tackle as well, such as losing her parents at the mere age of 5, and her best friend, Mia's impending metamorphosis into a super human on their next birthday. Yes, you read right.

Loie and Mia aren't exactly sure what to exp...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Nina rated it 3 of 5 stars

So this book had it’s ups and downs. Some parts I really enjoyed reading and others not so much.

Because of the description I thought that Mia would be the narrator of this story. But it’s not, it’s Loie. I thought this was strange, because really nothing major happens to her. Everything that happens for most part of the book happens to her best friend Mia. Both of the characters are likable, but one of them is 80% of the time annoying. Quess who? Yep, it’s Loie. She could have used a bit more ‘...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-reading-2011

4.5 stars

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I picked up Winterborne. But I really never expected something this good!

I actually thought this would be narrated by Mia instead of Loie. But it was really enjoyable to have Loie as a narrator. She was really a sweet girl that cared about her friend. Although she did live in Mia's shadow and that sort of annoyed me, I got it. And a random fact: I really like the name Loie! I ended up connecting easily to Loie, while she was shy and living in a sh...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Allison Bailey rated it 5 of 5 stars

When the author emailed me inviting me to review this book, I was super excited. This book is exactly the kind of thing I like to read: YA, urban fantasy, cute man-candy, and secret powers. I did receive this ebook for free in exchange for a review, but if I were not absolutely beyond broke (about to graduate with my Master's and currently unemployed, living with my parents), I would have purchased it in a heartbeat, especially for the amazing price of $2.99.

I loved this story- it was fast paced...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Beth Flynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sunshy-read, indie, kindle

Winterborne won me over on the first page and refused to let me go until it had finished with me. I felt literally gripped whilst reading it, to the point where my washing was almost left to take its chances on the line all night. Luckily, for the washing, I finished Winterborne before night fell. Unluckily, for me, I finished Winterborne. Now I’m left with the feeling that I’m missing out on moments with characters I’ve grown to care about. Sure, it was a whirlwind getting to know them, but I d...more Winterborne won me over on the first page and refused to let me go until it had finished with me. I felt literally gripped whilst reading it, to the point where my washing was almost left to take its chances on the line all night. Luckily, for the washing, I finished Winterborne before night fell. Unluckily, for me, I finished Winterborne. Now I’m left with the feeling that I’m missing out on moments with characters I’ve grown to care about. Sure, it was a whirlwind getting to know them, but I do feel like I know them now and I’m annoyed that I’m bereft of them now.

Mia Winterborne and Loie (rhymes with Joey) Bryce are not what they seem: they share a secret between them, one that stretches back to their shared birth-date and is added to when Loie’s parents die and Mia’s father disappears when the girls are 5 years old. The bond they share goes further than friendship; they are as close as sisters, but Loie accepts that Mia is special, a princess to be adored, and so they don’t clash the way sisters are prone to when each has a mind and agenda of their own.

Not to say that either Mia or Loie is mindless, far from it! On the brink of turning 17, both girls are aware of their futures: Loie is working hard to get scholarship-worthy grades for college, her ticket out of small-town living, and Mia is readying herself for her destiny. Imagine Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) knew she’d become The Chosen One and had the time to prepare for her calling, how much more hardcore would she have been in season 1 (especially if Willow had picked up on her Wicca vibe, too… but I digress!)? Mia knows something special is coming to her on her 17th birthday, and she’s well-equipped to deal with it thanks to her loyal sidekick, Loie.

When trouble comes, it brings a party of friends. There’s death, daggers, and dances on one side and Mia, Loie, and the newly-arrived Andreas (an Englishman, and a decidedly gorgeous one at that!) to oppose them with more than a drop of teenage flair and angst. I highlighted only a few lines, eyebrow raised: I’m English and I’ve never heard a boy refer to his swimming trunks as a swimming costume before (!) … but, actually, the part about English people assuming cheerleaders etc. was spot on, especially for people like me for whom Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reruns of Saved by the Bell are wholly responsible for views of American high schools!

Recommendation: I can’t recommend this book strongly enough. I’m amazed that this is a self-published title: the writing is sharp and witty, the characters immediately believable, and the world by turns recognisable and threateningly alien. If you get your hands on a copy of Winterborne, you won’t regret it. (less)

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Jun 07, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favourite, read-2011, ya

Review originally posted at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogsp...

Before saying anything else about Winterborne I really want first to thank the author,Augusta Blythe,for approaching me and for giving me the chance to read her book.
That being said I can now proceed and express my amazement with Winterborne!It's a book I didn't just like,I devoured it!Once I started reading it I just couldn't possibly put it down!

Where should I start?From the incredible and unique story building?From the amazin...more

Review originally posted at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogsp...

Before saying anything else about Winterborne I really want first to thank the author,Augusta Blythe,for approaching me and for giving me the chance to read her book.
That being said I can now proceed and express my amazement with Winterborne!It's a book I didn't just like,I devoured it!Once I started reading it I just couldn't possibly put it down!

Where should I start?From the incredible and unique story building?From the amazing Augusta Blythe's writing style or the set of characters she created that had just depth and development?In overall,Augusta Blythe delivers a YA story so good that the reader can't help but feel mesmerized until the very last pages.
At first,I was a bit surprised that the narrator was Loie Bryce rather than Mia Winterborne.Having read the premise I just assumed that Mia would be the narrator,but Blythe surprised me and in a very pleasant way.Cause Loie is just perfect a character!
I loved the way Blythe portrayed her protagonist and the way she sketched her feelings.It was fascinating to watch in real time how Loie felt towards certain situations and how different things started to change her view of the world and the people surrounding her bit by bit each time.
She starts as being the third wheel - as she refers to her own self - to rise above all her problems and drawbacks to a memorable character.At this point,I have to admit that I didn't like Mia nearly as much as Loie...She had certain qualities in her character and there were some things I admired about her but she was rather self centered for my taste...And the way she treated Loie at times just struck a rather sensitive spot in me.I didn't like the way she treated her,like everything was evolving around her and Loie was good only to frame her awesomeness.But as I said,she had certain qualities that redeemed her more or less by the ending.

As for the hottie of the story Andreas,let's just say that he is a well justified reason for both Loie and Mia to fight for his attentions!Don't take me wrong,I value friendship more than anything in the world,I just say that I could totally relate to both of them for falling for him!And to be honest,only the British accent would do the trick for me!Apart from that,Andreas is as a well developed character as everyone in this book,and by the end of the story I was both frustrated with him and at the same time I could appreciate him more by his actions.I know I don't sound really coherent right now,but I can't say anything more,to avoid giving away much of the story.

Winterborne is trully a book I totally recommend.It's action packed,fast paced and so well written that time flies by while reading itThe world Augusta Blythe created is unique,dark and creepy but gorgeous nonetheless.Even if I tried I wouldn't be able to find a single thing I didn't like.All in all a book that goes straight to my favorites shelf and one I can't wait to read its sequel!
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Apr 18, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

First off I’m going to be completely honest. The synopsis for Winterborne mildly perked my interest and therefore it was truly the cover that sold me. Don’t get me wrong, I love YA books that feature power-wielding teens, trying to navigate their way through basins of lies and secrets–leading to dangerous escapades. However, sometimes I need an extra nudge in order to give a book a chance. There’s just something about the cover that drew my quizzical brow and kept my eyes glued to the screen. Th...more First off I’m going to be completely honest. The synopsis for Winterborne mildly perked my interest and therefore it was truly the cover that sold me. Don’t get me wrong, I love YA books that feature power-wielding teens, trying to navigate their way through basins of lies and secrets–leading to dangerous escapades. However, sometimes I need an extra nudge in order to give a book a chance. There’s just something about the cover that drew my quizzical brow and kept my eyes glued to the screen. The bird image is so simple but yet, complex as well, in an artistic way. With only four colors, white, black, red, and grey, the cover comes off sleek and clean, as well as visually appealing. Okay, enough about my cover-induced drool. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was expecting when I first began Winterborne. Like any book, I take a leap of faith, hoping to at least like it. I’m happy to say that the stakes rose and my like jumped to love.

From the get-go Winterborne spun a surprising twist. You read the synopsis and the first thing you see is a description of a girl named Mia whose expecting a dose of awesome powers come her seventeenth birthday. Then there comes a small blurb about Mia’s best friend, Loie who’s described as a “eternal sidekick extraordinaire”. I don’t know about you but I figured that the narrator would be Mia because as far as the synopsis goes, she seemed like the more-interesting girl within the duo. Wrong! In what I referred to as a “surprising twist” Loie is the girl who navigates us through Winterborne through her narration. Just because Mia is the one who’s to inherit mad-gifts, doesn’t mean Loie misses out on the action. Like two peas in a pod, Loie and Mia are together through thick and thin, even when “vertically-inclined Irish men” i.e. Leprechauns attempt to hijack Mia out of her bedroom in the middle of the night. Loie, although powerless, is right there fighting to protect Mia. One of the things I loved most about Winterborne was the deep and true friendship between Mia and Loie. There’s plenty of situations and people who come between Mia and Loie but in the end they come out together, in some cases, even stronger than they were going in.

Winterborne is a refreshing read. It takes some usual elements and plots, whisks them up, and serves them in new, delicious ways. It’s easy to the follow along and keep up with the storyline. There’s a great mixture of characters. Loie and Mia are amazing and real while Andreas is just as smoldering as a British hottie is expected to be.

Although I eventually got thoroughly-engrossed within the story, with the bait, it took quite while for me to bite. Maybe around page 80 or so I was really hooked. This in turn, kind of bummed me out because that’s almost half the book. Another small tidbit that rubbed me the wrong way was the references to Mia’s impending powers as “mutant” ability. Once again, don’t get me wrong, I do love me some x-genes but half the time the book talked about magical powers and the other half mutant. I feel like these are two different domains when it comes to extraordinary gifts and therefore I would have liked it to be one or the other.

When I finished Winterborne I had a mixture of feelings floating around in my head. On one hand I was thrilled with the turnout because the book delivered an ending I in no way was expecting. There was a major cliffhanger so of course I was anxious to get my hands on book two. Also, although I found some faults with book one I had a huge feeling of confidence that book two could rise up and be even better than it’s predecessor. I give Winterborne a 3.5/5 rating.(less)

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Jun 04, 2011 Lesley (My keeper shelf) rated it 5 of 5 stars

My keeper shelf

I absolutely loved Winterborne, it's a fantastic YA adventure with tonnes of action, paranormal creatures galore, hilarious dialogue and intriguing family secrets.

Best friends Mia and Loie can't wait for their joint seventeenth birthday as shining star Mia will inherit some cool magical superpowers. Mia has been practising hard with the help of her trusty best pal sidekick Loie who is constantly overshadowed and often forgotten. Loie has been brought up by her bitter old grandmoth...more My keeper shelf

I absolutely loved Winterborne, it's a fantastic YA adventure with tonnes of action, paranormal creatures galore, hilarious dialogue and intriguing family secrets.

Best friends Mia and Loie can't wait for their joint seventeenth birthday as shining star Mia will inherit some cool magical superpowers. Mia has been practising hard with the help of her trusty best pal sidekick Loie who is constantly overshadowed and often forgotten. Loie has been brought up by her bitter old grandmother as her parents died when the girls were only five years old on the same day that Mia's father Mr Winterborne mysteriously disappeared.

Both girls fall for new neighbour Andreas who is very yummy and British but as their joint birthday approaches things start to get strange and dangerous as pixies, leprechauns and hell hounds from a magical realm try to capture Mia before her powers kick in.

I really enjoyed it and was rooting for the downtrodden Loie the whole way through the book (I'm a sucker for the underdog) the heartbreaking interactions with her bitter and twisted grandmother left me with a giant lump in my throat. Loie selflessly puts Mia and her needs before her own constantly; spending hours helping her practise magic and despite liking Andreas herself she steps aside and lets Mia grab him. It broke my heart that Loie never thought she was good enough to get Andreas.

At first I thought Winterborne would be like any other sweet YA book in the whole two teenage best friends fall in love with the same guy kind of way. Winterborne was so much more than that, it absolutely took off, and I mean right off the page, with the magical creatures, impending superpowers and all of the intriguing mysterious family secrets. I ended up totally glued to it and the twists and turns kept me guessing right to the end. Action packed and witty, romantic and mysterious it had it all. I'm now super anxious to see more of Loie's world, I want the next installment now please!

Winterborne is available on Kindle for much cheapness it's only £2.09 in the UK ($3.47 in the US) it's a total bargain go buy it you will love it. (less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Kiona rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Originally posted on www.yareads.com

Loie's parents died years ago in a freak accident, leaving Loie to the care of an emotionally abusive grandmother. Naturally, Loie turns to the best friend she considers family: Mia Winterborne. Loie spends just as much time at Mia's house as her own, where she even has her own room and a stand-in mother figure. Loie and Mia are as close as sisters and Loie's content to trail around in Mia's shadow, even when it comes to Andreas, the first boy to capture both...more Originally posted on www.yareads.com

Loie's parents died years ago in a freak accident, leaving Loie to the care of an emotionally abusive grandmother. Naturally, Loie turns to the best friend she considers family: Mia Winterborne. Loie spends just as much time at Mia's house as her own, where she even has her own room and a stand-in mother figure. Loie and Mia are as close as sisters and Loie's content to trail around in Mia's shadow, even when it comes to Andreas, the first boy to capture both their hearts. But Andreas inadvertently drives a wedge between the girls just when they need each other most.

Winterborne plunges you into this unique new universe from the very first page as the Loie and Mia discuss Mia's impending supernatural powers. But after the first chapter, the beginning feels rather slow. The lazy summer seems to last too long as it drags on through numerous chapters. But while not much seems to be happening plot-wise, we definitely see a lot of characterization and Augusta Blythe provides tons of grounding details that really make this world feel real.

As soon as the action picks up, Winterborne really hits its stride. This world is dark, terrifying, and completely fresh. The bad guys in this story are actual bad guys; claws, fangs, and murderous desires hide behind handsome exteriors. Blythe's villains are creepy enough to make your skin crawl. And as if helping to protect her best friend from otherworldly kidnappers isn't enough, Loie also has to deal with a grandmother she oscillates between hating and sympathizing with, solving the mystery of her parents' deaths, and falling in love with a boy she knows she can't have.

Poor Loie doesn't realize she's entitled to just as much happiness as Mia. My main issue with Loie is her self-deprecation. She thinks she's not as pretty or special as Mia and that therefore she doesn't deserve as much as Mia. Even though Loie's situation is nowhere near perfect, she still puts Mia before herself. And at times, Mia doesn't seem to consider Loie's feelings or appreciate the sacrifices Loie makes for her. The ending redeems both characters in my eyes. They both undergo extraordinary changes and grow into better characters. Loie finds her own inner strength and Mia learns a little humility. In my opinion, there's nothing more gratifying than an ending where the main characters truly grow and change for the better. Add to that all the realistic world-building and paranormal twists, and this series has definitely caught my interest.

I will say that the twist at the ending is a bit predictable and for some reason, Andreas doesn't really intrigue me as a love interest so far. He's definitely a likable character and his developing friendship with Loie is rather heart-warming. But his relationship with Mia seems off to me; I don't really understand why either girl is in love with him, other than the fact that he's hot and British. These qualities can definitely inspire a crush, but love? I'm not so sure. I'm interested in seeing how these relationships develop in the future, though. And the ending leaves off on a major cliffhanger, so I can't wait to start in on the sequel.(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

One thing I really enjoyed about this book is the plot and story line. The story line for one, is good. I loved the feel of it. It gave off the impression of girl who is nothing but normal. Nothing good every happens to her. And then BAM! It hits you out of now where. I love it, as the reader, to get surprised by elements like this. To get hit from the side, unexpected it makes me giddy! The way the plot unfolded slowly letting me more and more into the world, it was like I was seeing everything...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Laurie Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, kindle, paranormal, read-in-2011, young-adult, urban-fantasy

Born during a fierce snowstorm on the same day in the same hospital, Loie and Mia have been friends their entire lives. Their seventeenth birthday approaches – a day both anticipated and dreaded. For on that day the full extent of Mia’s extraordinary powers will manifest.

When sexy, suave, Andreas moves in next door, late in summer before school starts, Mia and Loie become smitten. A perfect gentleman, Andreas enjoys the company of both girls. All three bond closer when they discover that each of...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first thing that popped out to me about this book is that it's from Loie's perspective instead of Mia's, which I had originally thought. This makes for an interesting change of pace, though I felt that it waned sometimes because Loie's a little less interesting. However, Loie is a much more relatable character and much more empathetic than Mia, who seems to be a bit selfish and sometimes just as equally inconsiderate. Then again, she is the typical girl-who-has-it-all, so I can't really put...more The first thing that popped out to me about this book is that it's from Loie's perspective instead of Mia's, which I had originally thought. This makes for an interesting change of pace, though I felt that it waned sometimes because Loie's a little less interesting. However, Loie is a much more relatable character and much more empathetic than Mia, who seems to be a bit selfish and sometimes just as equally inconsiderate. Then again, she is the typical girl-who-has-it-all, so I can't really put fault on her because she knows no different. Loie and Mia's friendship is a good friendship, though I think I would change Loie's passiveness just a little - she seems to just accept that Mia is "better" and that Mia will get everything, yet she does nothing to try to make the situation better for herself. Andreas was a good character to bring into the equation and I think the romance was pleasant in the story, but I can't say that I found him as swoon-worthy as the girls did. He just didn't stick out to me all that much. I don't know if my indifference comes from the fact that I felt like he was leading Loie on a little because they did have some semi-sweet moments together, or he just fell flat personality-wise for me. Or maybe there's really more there with Andreas and Loie? I guess we will know with time. In any case, he's a good character.. I just feel like maybe I need to know him a little better before I can really understand him and maybe actually like him more.

I found the plot and twists in this story completely unique from others in the genre. You actually learn a lot right along with the characters instead of the characters knowing about themselves already and then you just discover it on down the road, which was a nice little feat. The best part of the story was that it kept me guessing. I didn't know as much as I thought I did as I was reading and was pleasantly surprised with the curve balls that were thrown through the novel.

Even though it's not written from the main character's point of view, Loie is a great narrator and, from her descriptions, you know that she definitely knows Mia very well - which kept the feel of the story very genuine. This is a great read with some interesting features that I think readers will absolutely love. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out.(less)

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Jun 03, 2011 M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, my-library, young-adult, supernatural, fantasy, fairies

It's hard to put into words just how amazing this book is, but I'm going to attempt it. You could not find a better deal for $2.99. This down to earth fairy tale is expertly narrated by Loie, a teenager who has been in the shadow of her best friend her entire life. Loie is an extremely authentic character with a realistic way of viewing her situation. The poor girl has been cast aside for her radiant friend so often, she's grown used to being passed over. Her story is so riveting, it's impossibl...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Ulana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, young-adult-fiction

When I started to read Winterborne I really didn't know too much about the story. I knew that it was a YA novel and there were some fantasy elements. If I knew a little more about it, I probably wouldn't have read it - just not my style of book. The idea of teen girls fighting off leprechauns and pixies seemed silly to me and I couldn't really get into the action. Also, I grew tired of the main character, Loie, by the end of the story. Her content at being in Mia's shadow was annoying to say the...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Page (One Book At A Time) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

I love being surprised by self published books. Although, I wonder when I enjoy a book as much as I did this one, I wonder why it hasn't been picked up my a publishing company.

I do have to be honest that I wasn't drawn to the story at first. The story is told from Loie's point of view, and she's really kind of boring. Mia is the star of this story and Loie is content to live in her shadow. But, the truth of their relationship was actually a lot more complicated than that. It was more like Mia co...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Devon Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie-authors, for-review, reviewed-on-blog, writer-s-block-author

Winterborne was unique in that for once we get to witness the action through the eyes of the supernatural's side-kick. Mia has always known that when she turned sixteen, she was going to inherit some pretty wicked supernatural powers. Her dad was a Universal, a human with extraordinary powers that helped keep the Ancients (pixies, leprechauns, hellhounds, etc) in line. As Mia nears her birthday, she and her side-kick Loie are practicing like mad during summer to see if her powers are leaking thr...more Winterborne was unique in that for once we get to witness the action through the eyes of the supernatural's side-kick. Mia has always known that when she turned sixteen, she was going to inherit some pretty wicked supernatural powers. Her dad was a Universal, a human with extraordinary powers that helped keep the Ancients (pixies, leprechauns, hellhounds, etc) in line. As Mia nears her birthday, she and her side-kick Loie are practicing like mad during summer to see if her powers are leaking through yet. But the only thing really going on are all these weird occurrences happening around them, like a bunch of foreign birds trying to divebomb them and icky green slime around their home. I say 'their' home cbeause even though their just besties, Loie has a room of her own at the Winterborne manor. Hey, if your parents died when you were five and all you were left with was a drunk, angry grandmother that didn't care if you came home, you'd stay away too. Lucky for Loie, Mrs. Winterborne was really great friends with her mom and considered Loie her second daughter.

Anyways, summer's dragging on so enter the hottie from Britain that just moved to town. Turns out he's a Universal too, sent to watch over Mia. Ancients have apparently been trying and failing to attack Mia for awhile and now that she's close to ascension, they're desperate to kill her off. They're even willing to go after human Loie, so she gets protection by association.

I wasn't particularly fond of Mia through most of the novel. It's not that she's cruel or uncaring, but she's quite selfish, always focusing on herself. She even got upset with Loie for kissing Andreas, whom they both liked, as if Loie didn't deserve a chance to be the center of his affections. And it doesn't help that Loie keeps Her Heiness on the throne by always doing what she wants and feeding her rapid-growing egotism. But luckily Mia gets smothered with a hefty dose of humility so I ended this novel with a smile on my face and a sense of justice for side-kicks everywhere!

Winterborne had plenty of action, mystery. and paranormal characters popping in to ruin their special moments. Some things were predictable but you probably won't hit it exactly on the mark like you think you will. I'm not ashamed to admit that I started the sequel Ravenstoke the moment I finished this novel because I really want to see where this is going. Now that the powers have ascended, I'm really anxious to see how Mia and Loie take to this new world and deal with the constant threat of Ancients hunting them down...and if we get to see what Sanctuary looks like where a lot of the Universals hide out at.

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Aug 10, 2011 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

I loved the way the story is told from Loie’s point of view instead of Mia. They were born on the same day at the same time and grew up best friends. When they were five both of their lives changed. Loie lost both of her parents in an accident and Mia’s father disappeared. Since that time Loie has pretty much grown up in the Winterborne house. Her grandmother believes Mia’s father had something to do with the death of Loie’s parents. She has become very bitter and appears to not really love Loie...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Pam Green rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, young-adult, for-review, read-in-2011

Originally posted on At Home Between the Pages

I was a little surprised when I first picked this up and started to read. The synopsis gave me the impression that the story was told from Mia’s point of view, if not a third person point of view. It’s actually told from Loie’s (rhymes with Joey) point of view. Although the focus is technically on Mia and her impending powers, we get Loie’s feel for things, her thoughts and concerns.

I liked Loie’s story. That’s probably because I spent most of the ti...more Originally posted on At Home Between the Pages

I was a little surprised when I first picked this up and started to read. The synopsis gave me the impression that the story was told from Mia’s point of view, if not a third person point of view. It’s actually told from Loie’s (rhymes with Joey) point of view. Although the focus is technically on Mia and her impending powers, we get Loie’s feel for things, her thoughts and concerns.

I liked Loie’s story. That’s probably because I spent most of the time feeling sorry for her. Although that sounds bad, it’s really a good thing because I like to be emotionally invested with the characters I read about. Loie’s home life is really not ideal and clearly difficult to deal with. It was hard to see her in such a difficult position, especially because her biggest problem was her relationship with her grandmother. There was also the tension between the girls and Andreas, the British hottie. (Side note: I kept forgetting that he was British. I think the name probably threw me off because it seems so not-British to me.) It hurt me to see how poorly Loie thought of herself. She was always giving up because she “knew” Mia was better than her in every way. She was always the follower, Mia the leader. It might be the teacher in me, but I absolutely hate to see young girls selling themselves short. You’re all wonderful and beautiful no matter what anyone tells you!

The story was interesting overall. I liked that a few things caught me by surprise, and the storyline kept me interested. I did predict a few things, but that’s also part of the fun: reading to see if you’re right. There was always a lot of weird stuff going on around Loie and Mia, and so many unanswered questions. Andreas seemed like a nice distraction from the upcoming, unknown powers, until... Let’s just say he’s not all that he appears to be.

The book definitely had a good balance of action, romance, and mystery. I think it’s enough to keep any YA reader interested through to the very last page. I’d definitely recommend this to fellow YA lovers.

Make sure you visit Augusta Blythe's website so you can get yourself a copy of WINTERBORNE.

Thanks so much to Augusta herself for the ebook review copy!(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, fantasy, fey, kindle, read-in-2011, young-adult

Review Posted on Reading Lark 8/5/11
http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

Winterborne is the story of two life long best friends, Loie and Mia. The girls were even born on the same day in the same hospital during a blizzard. Tragedy and magic have bound these two together. On the eve of their 17th birthday, things begin to change drastically. One of them will ascend to great power while the other will be nothing more than a mere human.

Winterborne was a pleasant surprise. Often you don't know w...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cover: I didn't really like the cover mostly because it looked creepy and I didn't quite understand it before reading. I do get the significance of it after finishing the novel.

Story: I thought it was a unique storyline and I definitely would not have guessed how it ended. I was oblivious to many signs that suggested it, so kudos to the author for a great delivery. I also liked the relationship between the two characters, Mia and Loie. I thought it was a realistic portrayal of friendship.

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May 11, 2013 Bridget rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya

I'm too old to be reading books like this. But I mean that as a commentary on the book, not on my age. The best YA books are worthy of an adult's attention. This one, not so much. Amazon always gets me with these "99 cents today only" books. I've bought a few and they've all been mediocre to middling at best...

...except for Angelfall, which was AWESOME.

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Winterborne (Universe Unbound #1)

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