What do you think?
Rate this book
Winterskin
The Path.
Perilous. Brutal. Deadly.
It is said that if a man journeys in alone, he’ll never return and there will be no corpse to bury.
Thousands of lives hang in the balance. Braving the Path is the key to saving them, but their survival is not guaranteed. For the Path is brimming with flesh ravenous monsters and the threat of a sinister presence known only as “the Lady”, an eerie entity dwelling deep within the confines of the black forest.
Escorted by a chosen few, the Chaperon is prepared to move forward to preserve the lives of a mountain town planted deep within the forest. But even in the dead of winter, the dark creatures prowling the surrounding forest remain unsettled and are bent on decimating any who encroach upon their territory.
Katell Maeva, one of those assigned to escort the Chaperon, will have to prove herself on this journey if she wants to be deemed a full-fledged shieldmaiden. But even her unique abilities may not be strong enough to withstand the brutal attacks they’ll face. Can this young woman, desperate to save her own family, complete her mission to escort the Chaperon and lead the convoy to safety?
For her, this journey is more than just a challenge; it’s the key to her future.
Perilous. Brutal. Deadly.
It is said that if a man journeys in alone, he’ll never return and there will be no corpse to bury.
Thousands of lives hang in the balance. Braving the Path is the key to saving them, but their survival is not guaranteed. For the Path is brimming with flesh ravenous monsters and the threat of a sinister presence known only as “the Lady”, an eerie entity dwelling deep within the confines of the black forest.
Escorted by a chosen few, the Chaperon is prepared to move forward to preserve the lives of a mountain town planted deep within the forest. But even in the dead of winter, the dark creatures prowling the surrounding forest remain unsettled and are bent on decimating any who encroach upon their territory.
Katell Maeva, one of those assigned to escort the Chaperon, will have to prove herself on this journey if she wants to be deemed a full-fledged shieldmaiden. But even her unique abilities may not be strong enough to withstand the brutal attacks they’ll face. Can this young woman, desperate to save her own family, complete her mission to escort the Chaperon and lead the convoy to safety?
For her, this journey is more than just a challenge; it’s the key to her future.
- GenresFantasy
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2017
65 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 28, 2018
I started reading this book and had no idea what it even was about. It's one of the review-copies that, to my great embarrassment, fell behind my virtual shelf and about which I forgot. Till I decided to clean up a bit and started Winterskin.
After a while, I had a faint memory of requesting it because the incredibly vague blurb sounded like a Germanic Mythology inspired fantasy with the possibility of lesbians which wouldn't be the worst. So I was delighted when the protagonist's cousin actually turned out to be a lesbian!
Only then it got incredibly confusing, I had no idea what was going on, who these 3416 people that turned up were or what they were doing and looking up the book-blurb again didn't clear anything up. Well and then the cousin's girlfriend got burned as a witch and I'm too tired for this shit.
After a while, I had a faint memory of requesting it because the incredibly vague blurb sounded like a Germanic Mythology inspired fantasy with the possibility of lesbians which wouldn't be the worst. So I was delighted when the protagonist's cousin actually turned out to be a lesbian!
Only then it got incredibly confusing, I had no idea what was going on, who these 3416 people that turned up were or what they were doing and looking up the book-blurb again didn't clear anything up. Well and then the cousin's girlfriend got burned as a witch and I'm too tired for this shit.
February 17, 2017
A rich fantasy world with unique characters
The shield maiden Kat traveling the path for the first time could not imagine where it will truly take her. Through startling revelations about herself and her world to places she never dreamed of or wanted to be Kat endures unimaginable loss and discovery. She is presented with agonizing choices that will save the world or damn herself, or will they? Full of great world building and varied unique characters , this book is a strong start to a series I will definitely be following.
The shield maiden Kat traveling the path for the first time could not imagine where it will truly take her. Through startling revelations about herself and her world to places she never dreamed of or wanted to be Kat endures unimaginable loss and discovery. She is presented with agonizing choices that will save the world or damn herself, or will they? Full of great world building and varied unique characters , this book is a strong start to a series I will definitely be following.
April 26, 2021
I must state at the outset that this is not my type of book to read. I admire the author for being willing to steep herself in explicit, graphic blood and guts to write it all, but this is not what I normally read for enjoyment. This is a vampire story, pure and simple. It shows the worst of mankind and our world. I will not be reading a sequel.
October 16, 2019
I still am not sure what is going on in this book. The writing style is somewhat confusing and the continuous use of sentence fragments is distracting.
All that being said, the story line is good so far as I can tell but still trying to grasp exactly who all these random people are.
All that being said, the story line is good so far as I can tell but still trying to grasp exactly who all these random people are.
July 11, 2017
Good
This is a good book. It is kinda hard to get started though. About half way through things come together.
This is a good book. It is kinda hard to get started though. About half way through things come together.
October 20, 2017
Dark fantasy
A very dark adventure where most of us truly fear going down such a path, a well told story with a few twists that you don't see coming
A very dark adventure where most of us truly fear going down such a path, a well told story with a few twists that you don't see coming
April 17, 2018
Well written
Well confusing, much going on, reveal after reveal and still things are unclear ...
Resolution is partial, unfinished, leading to a cliff-hanger
I plan to re-read this ...
Well confusing, much going on, reveal after reveal and still things are unclear ...
Resolution is partial, unfinished, leading to a cliff-hanger
I plan to re-read this ...
March 14, 2017
Couldn't put it down!
This novel was absolutely amazing from beginning to end! I can't wait to read what happens next in book 2! Thank you C.M Estopare for writing this incredible novel!
This novel was absolutely amazing from beginning to end! I can't wait to read what happens next in book 2! Thank you C.M Estopare for writing this incredible novel!
March 8, 2019
I thought that this was a well-written book. The characters and plots were very well developed.
For my full review, see http://www.msjmentions.com
For my full review, see http://www.msjmentions.com
March 26, 2017
Winterskin by C.M. Estopare is book 1 in her dark fantasy Kindred Souls series. In this book we are introduced to Katell. She is a Shield maiden about to embark on her first journey with the Chaperon. Her and others from her village will make the trek through the Baate Noir, the dark forest, as an entourage to take some of the people to Remicourt. The people are fearful of the creatures that hide in the forest…the dark things that they say and believe that live there. Danger lurks everywhere but heartbreak strikes before Kat can even set foot outside of the village. Two Sonants, supposed defenders of the villages and men of the duke, take a young woman who is a friend of Kat’s family and lover of one of her cousins. They deem to kill her and the girl cries out to Kat for help but Kat deciding to put her family first and protect them from scrutiny by the Sonants after she and the group leave declares the girl a witch and watches her die. Kat and those she follows soon find themselves in danger of direwolves and other creatures of the dark who prowl the forest. Two of the group are sent back to dispose of the wolves they killed so that more do not come down on them but something darker prowls the night and begins to take them because they have ventured too close. Kat is taken but she fears for those who are left behind. She soon discovers that the stories aren’t just stories and that things are much deeper than she thought and that she has no choice in her life any longer.
Winterskin is an interesting dark fantasy that is a bit slow at getting started but is an engaging story nonetheless. Kat has grown up with her cousins and her Gran living in a hut outside the village living off of meager livings most of the time. She joins the guard to become a shield maiden because she knows that it will help better the lives of those she loves. She has to work hard to get what it is that she wants in life but there are those who question her mettle. But Kat has a special talent, she has winterskin, she’s not touched by the cold. Kat is special in many ways…she is connected to the Night Lady…the one who rules the Baate Noir. Kat has beseeched her before and received help when she was a little girl but there is much that she doesn’t know. Kat experiences a lot in this story and on some levels she really grows and develops as a character. Kat believes that she doesn’t have a choice in several of the decisions that she makes in this story but the truth is always something different. Every choice she makes will twist what happens from that point forward and guide her path to good or evil.
In this book we jump from character to character and it can throw you off a bit at times because one minute we’re reading about Kat and whatever she is dealing with or facing and then the story will have shifted to another character. I found this to be a bad thing in my opinion because at times it makes the story hard to follow because I had to go back and reread what was happening before so that I’d be able to better understand that there was a transition that has happened and that a new character is now in play. While Kat is the main focus and character in this story there are lots of supporting characters that are very strong and really bring dynamics to this story that make it more engaging.
This is a dark fantasy of where the stuff of nightmares is held south by the Baate Noir and the cold winters that seal the creatures in and keep them from wandering into the warmer areas. The thing is is that the people question as to whether the creatures really exist because most of the ones who have seen them rarely live to tell the tale. But Kat sees them all and witnesses them as well. Kat learns a secret about herself and so much more. She wishes to resist and fight what the truth is but there is somethings that you just can’t deny.
While I really enjoyed this book there are quite a few spelling errors that were a bit hard to ignore at times. They are spread out throughout the story .The characters are well written and really engaging. The author does a good job at making you wonder what will happen next, who will survive and how will things end. I have to say that I am eager to read the next book in this series. It’s a unique dark fantasy that will draw you and try to take you into the darkness of its depths. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Winterskin is an interesting dark fantasy that is a bit slow at getting started but is an engaging story nonetheless. Kat has grown up with her cousins and her Gran living in a hut outside the village living off of meager livings most of the time. She joins the guard to become a shield maiden because she knows that it will help better the lives of those she loves. She has to work hard to get what it is that she wants in life but there are those who question her mettle. But Kat has a special talent, she has winterskin, she’s not touched by the cold. Kat is special in many ways…she is connected to the Night Lady…the one who rules the Baate Noir. Kat has beseeched her before and received help when she was a little girl but there is much that she doesn’t know. Kat experiences a lot in this story and on some levels she really grows and develops as a character. Kat believes that she doesn’t have a choice in several of the decisions that she makes in this story but the truth is always something different. Every choice she makes will twist what happens from that point forward and guide her path to good or evil.
In this book we jump from character to character and it can throw you off a bit at times because one minute we’re reading about Kat and whatever she is dealing with or facing and then the story will have shifted to another character. I found this to be a bad thing in my opinion because at times it makes the story hard to follow because I had to go back and reread what was happening before so that I’d be able to better understand that there was a transition that has happened and that a new character is now in play. While Kat is the main focus and character in this story there are lots of supporting characters that are very strong and really bring dynamics to this story that make it more engaging.
This is a dark fantasy of where the stuff of nightmares is held south by the Baate Noir and the cold winters that seal the creatures in and keep them from wandering into the warmer areas. The thing is is that the people question as to whether the creatures really exist because most of the ones who have seen them rarely live to tell the tale. But Kat sees them all and witnesses them as well. Kat learns a secret about herself and so much more. She wishes to resist and fight what the truth is but there is somethings that you just can’t deny.
While I really enjoyed this book there are quite a few spelling errors that were a bit hard to ignore at times. They are spread out throughout the story .The characters are well written and really engaging. The author does a good job at making you wonder what will happen next, who will survive and how will things end. I have to say that I am eager to read the next book in this series. It’s a unique dark fantasy that will draw you and try to take you into the darkness of its depths. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
March 26, 2017
Winterskin is my first book that I have read by C.M. Estopare and I am definitely looking forward on reading the next book in this series. It had me from the first page and it was just absolutely amazing. I loved it.
We meet a bunch of awesome characters in this story. Even vampires. Katell a shield maiden goes on an adventure through a dark forest full of dangerous creatures. Katell grows as a character through out the story she had a lot of choices to choose through the story as well.
A dark fantasy that is written very well and characters that were very well developed. I couldn't put this book down till the end. A job well done.
Recommend to dark fantasy book readers.
I received this book through read for review program to give a honest review.
We meet a bunch of awesome characters in this story. Even vampires. Katell a shield maiden goes on an adventure through a dark forest full of dangerous creatures. Katell grows as a character through out the story she had a lot of choices to choose through the story as well.
A dark fantasy that is written very well and characters that were very well developed. I couldn't put this book down till the end. A job well done.
Recommend to dark fantasy book readers.
I received this book through read for review program to give a honest review.
March 27, 2017
I enjoyed reading about Kat assisting the Chaperone through the Path. The author did a great job immersing the readers into Kat's world. You really felt the tenting and agony that came with her choices and you experienced her desire to save her family and prove herself to everyone. The creatures in the forest were scarry enough that I would never hope to encounter something like that! This was a good book, but was not a page turner for me. Might still check out the next book when it comes out.
March 28, 2017
What an interesting start to a new series. It surprised me a few times. I was expecting more of a story line with just sword battles and a quest. I did find that in the story but also vampires and other fantasy creatures. The story opens in Katell's small village where she has joined the guard as a shield maiden to help earn money for her family consisting of her cousins and Gran. She is asked to join the trip as guard to the Chaperon going through the evil forest that many never survive to the great city in the north. They say creatures live in the forest that kill all who enter. The group hope to get through the forest in winter as the cold has the creatures hibernating. Of course Katell is separated from the rest of the group early on in the trip. Katell loses much on the journey but also finds truths about herself and her village along the way. The story started out a bit slow but my attention was caught so i had to finish to see what happened next. Look forward to reading the next book.
March 28, 2017
Winterskin starts off in the usual manner, then quickly starts the head-spinning action. Katell is a village girl trained as a shield maiden in a small superstitious village. The Chaperone is due for her trip to Remincourt, and Katell is chosen as part of her escort through the black forest, where the Dark Lady of legend resides. No one has seen the vile beasts and monsters reputed to lurk in there. The trip starts easily enough, but by nightfall 2 of the escort fighters disappear. Katell and a few others from her unit sneak away to find them; what they find instead is the horror of a partly eaten body, then the dying body of the other guard. And the creature that is trying to eat him alive. This starts the events that happen in dizzying order, Katell getting into one scrape after another, including encountering the Dark Lady, and discovering the Dark Lady's true identity. Everything Katell knows from here on in gets turned upside down and sideways with barely a breath between. I could not stop reading this, staying up way too late one night to finish it. If you like a good story, a fascinating world, and continuous adventure. I cannot wait to read the next book!
April 4, 2017
I have always ben a huge fan of Germanic mythology. Winterskin mixes in aspects of Germanic and Norse stories with that of fantasy, like vampires and magic. I really liked how C.M. Estopare took historical elements with this idea of Norsemen and Shield Maidens, but also created this mystical adventure setting with the vampires and the Lady. It's like Vikings meets Dracula. Katell is a very strong heroine, which I love seeing in stories. She is a shield maiden who is forced to face the sinister forces surrounding her and her loved ones. This is a darker story then I am used to reading, but all in all, a really captivating read.
April 7, 2017
Not a bad introduction into non-Harry Potter related fantasy. I suppose if I were to continue reading fantasy that I should get used to long books. I enjoyed this adventure into fantasy and would most definitely read more though I felt the book was a bit on the long side. I honesty give IR 3.5 stars but can't do halves.
You can read my full review on my blog at: https://aurorabattysbooks.wordpress.c...
You can read my full review on my blog at: https://aurorabattysbooks.wordpress.c...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews