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Shelter from the Storm
A healer and a warrior fight to survive the winter . . . and each other. Grif is tired of life as a mercenary—tired of life, period. So he heads off into the mountains, not much caring whether he lives or dies. But when his indifference leaves him unconscious in a snowbank, a stranger finds him and insists on dragging him back from death. Kiernan doesn’t really have time to nurse a stranger back to health; he’s on an important mission. He doesn’t know why the message he’s carrying is significant, but he’s determined to deliver it, even if it means risking his life in the winter mountains. Still, he can’t just walk away from a fellow traveler in need. Grif didn’t want to be saved, and he sure as hell doesn’t want to be stuck with an annoying, naïve do-gooder. But since when do the mountains give men what they want? The snow is too deep to travel. Food is scarce. Grif and Kiernan learn to depend on each other, and eventually to care about each other. Neither of them wanted it to happen. But sometimes the mountains don’t give men what they want; sometimes, the mountains give men what they need. Word 41,200; page 150
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 12, 2018
Sherwood's writing here is stark but lovely. The world building is minimal, but I felt the snow and ice, experienced the abject terror of trying to survive in a barren, frozen tundra.
The setting had a Medieval feel; this is only a fantasy in the sense that the world isn't ours.
Both MCs have a voice, and there is an undeniable connection between them. There are no subplots or secondary characters. This is a pure survival story, with a side of romance.
Scratch that. I'm not sure this is a romance exactly, but the relationship is front and center.
I would have found the reading experience less solemn had Grif shown more emotional growth. I understood Grif's fears, his utter reluctance to believe he could love and be loved, but it made for a rather sad story.
Kiernan tried. Even after he threw out accusations, Kiernan understood that Grif had protected him in his own way.
The ending is a reluctant HFN. We're abandoned with a glimmer of hope. This story desperately needed an epilogue to feel complete.
The setting had a Medieval feel; this is only a fantasy in the sense that the world isn't ours.
Both MCs have a voice, and there is an undeniable connection between them. There are no subplots or secondary characters. This is a pure survival story, with a side of romance.
Scratch that. I'm not sure this is a romance exactly, but the relationship is front and center.
I would have found the reading experience less solemn had Grif shown more emotional growth. I understood Grif's fears, his utter reluctance to believe he could love and be loved, but it made for a rather sad story.
Kiernan tried. Even after he threw out accusations, Kiernan understood that Grif had protected him in his own way.
The ending is a reluctant HFN. We're abandoned with a glimmer of hope. This story desperately needed an epilogue to feel complete.
July 14, 2023
My third short story in 24 hours was quite a lovely book too. Medieval historic , survival kind of trope-during winter in the mountains and I loved it even though at first neither of the MCs was particularly likable. I’m not really a fan of this author’s work so I didn’t have high expectations but I was pleasantly surprised.
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April 15, 2018One of mine.
It's short. Only two characters. No real sub-plots. Just two men trying to survive the mountains... and each other!
It's short. Only two characters. No real sub-plots. Just two men trying to survive the mountains... and each other!
June 1, 2018
(3.5 stars)
this was a character-driven romance novella about a naive young man who saves a grumpy-ass sellsword in the mountains, and their quest to survive the winter.
i found it quite entertaining, and i thought the characters were well-developed for a novella, as well as the romance. i would have liked a little epilogue maybe, just showing them merchanting in a city (and possibly encountering vin and kicking his ass) but oh well.
this was a character-driven romance novella about a naive young man who saves a grumpy-ass sellsword in the mountains, and their quest to survive the winter.
i found it quite entertaining, and i thought the characters were well-developed for a novella, as well as the romance. i would have liked a little epilogue maybe, just showing them merchanting in a city (and possibly encountering vin and kicking his ass) but oh well.
September 15, 2022
This survival-focused fantasy story had plenty of stuff that I like: the jaded, grumpy brute-like character who gets protective and grows a soft spot for the naive, inexperienced younger character, lots of caretaking (if sometimes a bit begrudging), and some interpersonal drama with a happy ending. The characterization was strong and the setting descriptions vivid.
May 3, 2018
Well, this was in the SFF section on Net Galley, but it only barely qualifies as such to my mind. It's certainly a secondary world, but it's wholly romance, with only the barest of worldbuilding features to indicate that it's not our world. A pair of men are stuck in the mountains, one with a bit of a death wish and the other completely unprepared for the weather. They end up saving each other's lives and learning how to deal with their feelings.
Our two men are both well-written and distinct, although both could do with some better communication skills. They play off each others' strengths well, and the ending was satisfying.
It moved along quickly, although it seems like most romance books don't take me terribly long to read them, when I do.
The sex isn't incredibly explicit, but it's also not all cut-to-black either. If you're uncomfortable with two dudes thinking about, and actually, fucking, this is definitely not the book for you.
You get basically what the blurb says, and if that's what you're in the mood for, then it's satisfying.
Review copy courtesy of Net Galley.
Our two men are both well-written and distinct, although both could do with some better communication skills. They play off each others' strengths well, and the ending was satisfying.
It moved along quickly, although it seems like most romance books don't take me terribly long to read them, when I do.
The sex isn't incredibly explicit, but it's also not all cut-to-black either. If you're uncomfortable with two dudes thinking about, and actually, fucking, this is definitely not the book for you.
You get basically what the blurb says, and if that's what you're in the mood for, then it's satisfying.
Review copy courtesy of Net Galley.
July 9, 2023
To start with - I feel bad for the author because I think this book somehow got mis-categorized or was misunderstood along the way? The average rating is shockingly low and most of the low ratings seem to be complaining that either it's not fantasy enough, not romance enough or that the readers weren't expecting it to be M/M romance in the first place...? I have no idea what happened because the blurb is 100% accurate and it fully met my expectations as a romance and as a medieval-type fantasy that wasn't advertised to contain magic/creatures or other fantasy elements. I felt the author hit the perfect balance between the romance, the worldbuilding and the wilderness survival aspects in this novella.
I adore wilderness survival stories so I went into this with high hopes and the author fully delivered! The narrative is entirely character-driven (more precisely: the MCs are the only characters in the story) and it takes place in a medieval-like fantasy world. The focus of the story is on two very different men randomly coming across each other in a remote mountain range and due to the harsh winter conditions, they end up spending the winter together and having to rely on themselves, each other and nature for survival and along the way, they fall in love. Even though there aren't any fantasy elements except the made-up locations, I found the author did a great job incorporating bits of worldbuilding as the details fit into the narrative which provided a solid if minimal picture of the world. We learn about Kiernan's history, the kingdom he comes from, Grif's history and where he grew up and the history of Grif's mother and her people. Would I have liked to learn more about Grif's past as a mercenary? Sure, but those details weren't necessary for the story.
In stories where the MCs spend so much time together, their personalities and relationship is what makes or breaks a story and the author did a wonderful job on all these fronts. Kiernan is a kind-hearted but naïve young man who comes from a wealthy family. He's been best friends with the king's son for many years and they eventually became lovers. When the Princeling tasks Kiernan with a highly important mission that requires him to cross over the mountains in the middle of winter, a naïve, love-struck Kiernan doesn't even hesitate before setting off. He's woefully unprepared for the journey, especially the winter conditions and there's no question that he would have died if he hadn't stumbled across Grif.
Grif is an older, jaded former mercenary. He's spent his life being used and abused by others and he's survived by locking away his kind heart and keeping others at a distance. At the start of the story, he's wandering around the mountains in a snowstorm, not caring what happens to him. He ends up falling off a cliff and losing consciousness and it just so happens that he lands a few feet away from Kiernan's ridiculously inadequate canvas tent, where the latter has holed up in a desperate attempt to survive yet another snowstorm.
Their relationship is an enemies-to-lovers progression and I loved how it was done. Grif is so accustomed to cruelty (both receiving it and giving it) that his initial interactions with Kiernan are very harsh. But making things more interesting is that Grif immediately identifies how ill-equipped Kiernan is to survive the winter so as much as Grif wants to take Kiernan's supplies and leave him behind, he can't make himself do it. In the meantime, Kiernan is desperate to continue his mission but he also realizes that he has zero chance of succeeding and that his ignorance has brought him high up into the mountains right before winter truly settles in, which means he's literally stuck where he is until springtime and he has no chance at survival unless he sticks with Grif.
Over the months that follow, I loved seeing them slowly getting to know each other and appreciate what they each bring to the relationship. I especially loved seeing Kiernan develop a deep respect for Grif's survival skills and how he treats nature. Watching Kiernan absorb the knowledge Grif taught him and having him turn around and use that education to help them survive was great. In particular, there's a great scene where . I loved contrasting that scene with the beginning of the story where Kiernan had set up his inadequate canvas tent right under a snow-laden cliff. In general, I really enjoyed how much Kiernan learned and how enthusiastic he was about this new way of life. In particular, I liked how he respected Grif's knowledge and always worked hard to emulate Grif's teachings.
As for Grif, I liked the sense of peace that he seemed to find during those months spent with Kiernan. I think Kiernan is one of the first kind souls Grif has ever come across and it definitely helps that Kiernan isn't a physical threat. Grif can indulge in his desire to take care of Kiernan, share personal information with him and teach him things without worrying over Kiernan laughing at him or taking advantage of the situation.
One of my favorite parts was how the author dealt with the Kiernan + Princeling situation. I can't remember the guy's name but he's a POS so it doesn't matter and I'll continue using Grif's name for him instead. Throughout most of the story, readers believe that the Princeling's feelings for Kiernan had been genuine and that Kiernan really is in charge of carrying out some super secret mission. The fact that Kiernan was told to go right when winter set in was excused by Kiernan by the Princeling's ignorance about such things. So while Grif's motivations for staying with Kiernan change over time, Kiernan's don't. He never loses sight of his main mission: needing to deliver that super important message as soon as the snow allows him to.
But two-thirds of the way into the story, Grif decides to get to the bottom of the situation once and for all and The whole thing was incredibly cruel and I loved it! I especially loved how it completely changed the trajectory of the story.
I also liked the future plans that Kiernan and Grif came up with when winter was coming to an end. I would have loved an epilogue that showed but it wasn't necessary. I had no problem picturing what Kiernan and Grif's futures would look like and how they would blossom in those new lives. I particularly loved the idea that .
Making things more perfect is that .
Another aspect I loved was how well the author researched winter wilderness survival techniques in a mountainous boreal forest setting. I love scenarios like that because it always teaches me something new and the descriptions of the gorgeous scenery and the beautiful nature that the MCs were living in was a wonderful reading experience.
The only thing I would have liked to see done better was to have Grif undergo more of a character development arc. Yes, he felt more comfortable around Kiernan as time progressed but even at the end, he still wasn't comfortable talking about most things and he relied on Kiernan either guessing what he wanted to say or coaxing it out of him.
I also would have loved to see the rescue-dynamic between them being a bit better balanced out. It's clear how much Kiernan's presence helped Grif overall but except for the very first rescue, every other scenario involved Kiernan needing Grif's help and I would have liked for that to be balanced out more. In particular, I would have liked to see Kiernan helping Grif by using the knowledge he'd learned throughout the winter, which would have nicely contrasted with that first rescue where Kiernan didn't know what he was doing. I was actually expecting an arc during which Grif would suffer some illness (so he'd be delirious and wouldn't be able to give Kiernan instructions) but Kiernan would know enough by then to be able to help Grif. That would have allowed Kiernan to use his healer knowledge as well as his newly gained wilderness knowledge, which would have been great. It would have also put Grif in a very vulnerable position, which would have demonstrated the extent of his trust in Kiernan.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! If it had addressed a few of the minor issues I pointed out, it would have definitely been a 5 star read for me. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, detailed wilderness survival and character-driven narratives that feature two interesting MCs, I highly recommend this!
I adore wilderness survival stories so I went into this with high hopes and the author fully delivered! The narrative is entirely character-driven (more precisely: the MCs are the only characters in the story) and it takes place in a medieval-like fantasy world. The focus of the story is on two very different men randomly coming across each other in a remote mountain range and due to the harsh winter conditions, they end up spending the winter together and having to rely on themselves, each other and nature for survival and along the way, they fall in love. Even though there aren't any fantasy elements except the made-up locations, I found the author did a great job incorporating bits of worldbuilding as the details fit into the narrative which provided a solid if minimal picture of the world. We learn about Kiernan's history, the kingdom he comes from, Grif's history and where he grew up and the history of Grif's mother and her people. Would I have liked to learn more about Grif's past as a mercenary? Sure, but those details weren't necessary for the story.
In stories where the MCs spend so much time together, their personalities and relationship is what makes or breaks a story and the author did a wonderful job on all these fronts. Kiernan is a kind-hearted but naïve young man who comes from a wealthy family. He's been best friends with the king's son for many years and they eventually became lovers. When the Princeling tasks Kiernan with a highly important mission that requires him to cross over the mountains in the middle of winter, a naïve, love-struck Kiernan doesn't even hesitate before setting off. He's woefully unprepared for the journey, especially the winter conditions and there's no question that he would have died if he hadn't stumbled across Grif.
Grif is an older, jaded former mercenary. He's spent his life being used and abused by others and he's survived by locking away his kind heart and keeping others at a distance. At the start of the story, he's wandering around the mountains in a snowstorm, not caring what happens to him. He ends up falling off a cliff and losing consciousness and it just so happens that he lands a few feet away from Kiernan's ridiculously inadequate canvas tent, where the latter has holed up in a desperate attempt to survive yet another snowstorm.
Their relationship is an enemies-to-lovers progression and I loved how it was done. Grif is so accustomed to cruelty (both receiving it and giving it) that his initial interactions with Kiernan are very harsh. But making things more interesting is that Grif immediately identifies how ill-equipped Kiernan is to survive the winter so as much as Grif wants to take Kiernan's supplies and leave him behind, he can't make himself do it. In the meantime, Kiernan is desperate to continue his mission but he also realizes that he has zero chance of succeeding and that his ignorance has brought him high up into the mountains right before winter truly settles in, which means he's literally stuck where he is until springtime and he has no chance at survival unless he sticks with Grif.
Over the months that follow, I loved seeing them slowly getting to know each other and appreciate what they each bring to the relationship. I especially loved seeing Kiernan develop a deep respect for Grif's survival skills and how he treats nature. Watching Kiernan absorb the knowledge Grif taught him and having him turn around and use that education to help them survive was great. In particular, there's a great scene where . I loved contrasting that scene with the beginning of the story where Kiernan had set up his inadequate canvas tent right under a snow-laden cliff. In general, I really enjoyed how much Kiernan learned and how enthusiastic he was about this new way of life. In particular, I liked how he respected Grif's knowledge and always worked hard to emulate Grif's teachings.
As for Grif, I liked the sense of peace that he seemed to find during those months spent with Kiernan. I think Kiernan is one of the first kind souls Grif has ever come across and it definitely helps that Kiernan isn't a physical threat. Grif can indulge in his desire to take care of Kiernan, share personal information with him and teach him things without worrying over Kiernan laughing at him or taking advantage of the situation.
One of my favorite parts was how the author dealt with the Kiernan + Princeling situation. I can't remember the guy's name but he's a POS so it doesn't matter and I'll continue using Grif's name for him instead. Throughout most of the story, readers believe that the Princeling's feelings for Kiernan had been genuine and that Kiernan really is in charge of carrying out some super secret mission. The fact that Kiernan was told to go right when winter set in was excused by Kiernan by the Princeling's ignorance about such things. So while Grif's motivations for staying with Kiernan change over time, Kiernan's don't. He never loses sight of his main mission: needing to deliver that super important message as soon as the snow allows him to.
But two-thirds of the way into the story, Grif decides to get to the bottom of the situation once and for all and The whole thing was incredibly cruel and I loved it! I especially loved how it completely changed the trajectory of the story.
I also liked the future plans that Kiernan and Grif came up with when winter was coming to an end. I would have loved an epilogue that showed but it wasn't necessary. I had no problem picturing what Kiernan and Grif's futures would look like and how they would blossom in those new lives. I particularly loved the idea that .
Making things more perfect is that .
Another aspect I loved was how well the author researched winter wilderness survival techniques in a mountainous boreal forest setting. I love scenarios like that because it always teaches me something new and the descriptions of the gorgeous scenery and the beautiful nature that the MCs were living in was a wonderful reading experience.
The only thing I would have liked to see done better was to have Grif undergo more of a character development arc. Yes, he felt more comfortable around Kiernan as time progressed but even at the end, he still wasn't comfortable talking about most things and he relied on Kiernan either guessing what he wanted to say or coaxing it out of him.
I also would have loved to see the rescue-dynamic between them being a bit better balanced out. It's clear how much Kiernan's presence helped Grif overall but except for the very first rescue, every other scenario involved Kiernan needing Grif's help and I would have liked for that to be balanced out more. In particular, I would have liked to see Kiernan helping Grif by using the knowledge he'd learned throughout the winter, which would have nicely contrasted with that first rescue where Kiernan didn't know what he was doing. I was actually expecting an arc during which Grif would suffer some illness (so he'd be delirious and wouldn't be able to give Kiernan instructions) but Kiernan would know enough by then to be able to help Grif. That would have allowed Kiernan to use his healer knowledge as well as his newly gained wilderness knowledge, which would have been great. It would have also put Grif in a very vulnerable position, which would have demonstrated the extent of his trust in Kiernan.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! If it had addressed a few of the minor issues I pointed out, it would have definitely been a 5 star read for me. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, detailed wilderness survival and character-driven narratives that feature two interesting MCs, I highly recommend this!
August 24, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
I must admit I struggled with Shelter from the Storm, primarily due to Grif and what was sheer and unadulterated bullying in the first few chapters of this novel. As I grew to understand Grif, I felt my unease and dislike of him begin to lessen, and yet I never felt I knew him due to the fact that we were given so very little of his backstory. Shelter from the Storm felt like just the beginning of a potentially good novel. So many pieces seemed to be missing, including some type of epilogue that gave us a hint that the HFN ending either blossomed or dissolved. There were many other elements to the story that left me hankering for more. For instance, the author chose to barely scratch the surface of Grif’s past by dropping tiny clues as to how he had been treated poorly, both sexually and as a sword for hire. I got the impression at the beginning of the book that Grif has burned his last bridge—possibly cheated, killed, and ruined his reputation for good, but we never get a real explanation as to why he has or what culminating experience drove him to such desperate decisions.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
I must admit I struggled with Shelter from the Storm, primarily due to Grif and what was sheer and unadulterated bullying in the first few chapters of this novel. As I grew to understand Grif, I felt my unease and dislike of him begin to lessen, and yet I never felt I knew him due to the fact that we were given so very little of his backstory. Shelter from the Storm felt like just the beginning of a potentially good novel. So many pieces seemed to be missing, including some type of epilogue that gave us a hint that the HFN ending either blossomed or dissolved. There were many other elements to the story that left me hankering for more. For instance, the author chose to barely scratch the surface of Grif’s past by dropping tiny clues as to how he had been treated poorly, both sexually and as a sword for hire. I got the impression at the beginning of the book that Grif has burned his last bridge—possibly cheated, killed, and ruined his reputation for good, but we never get a real explanation as to why he has or what culminating experience drove him to such desperate decisions.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
December 30, 2019
"Shelter from the Storm" is set in a largely undefined vaguely fantasy world of mercenaries, healers, kingdoms, but the story takes place entirely on a mountain, with two men trying to survive a long cold winter. Kiernan is younger, an idealist, a healer's apprentice who has been sent into the mountain on a important mission .... or is it a fool's errand? Grif is weary of his mercenary life (he's described as a "sellsword") and walks off into the snow, hoping for an easy death. But his fall off a cliff lands him on Kiernan's tent, which the utterly unprepared younger man unknowingly pitched in the perfect spot to keep the wind from blowing it down.
The language here is sparse and lean, much like the landscape. This is NOT a romance with a HEA; there are a few sex scenes, and a certain chemistry that develops between the two men, but this is a survival story with a M/M element. There's a lot of information about surviving the winter, including building protective snow barriers, drinking boiled blood to keep the body strong, animal guts and all sorts of gore that I found incredibly fascinating. This small struggle to survive, minuscule in the world in which it exists, feels quietly epic to me. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Riptide Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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The language here is sparse and lean, much like the landscape. This is NOT a romance with a HEA; there are a few sex scenes, and a certain chemistry that develops between the two men, but this is a survival story with a M/M element. There's a lot of information about surviving the winter, including building protective snow barriers, drinking boiled blood to keep the body strong, animal guts and all sorts of gore that I found incredibly fascinating. This small struggle to survive, minuscule in the world in which it exists, feels quietly epic to me. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Riptide Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
April 8, 2024
2.5 rounded down
Intriguing premise, and I enjoyed the writing quality, but I wasn't sold on the pairing. Grif starts out as a real asshole with fucked-up and abusive tendencies, and I think if the author wanted to start him at such a low point, the book needed to be a hell of a lot longer with a much slower burn to work for me. Kiernan is essentially entirely dependent on him for survival, and the build of feelings on his part felt really rushed given how their relationship started and the super unequal power imbalance between the two, so it just felt a bit icky for me. I think if things had progressed more slowly and we'd seen Grif take any kind of accountability for his shitty behavior I may have felt differently, but alas, we did not get that.
Intriguing premise, and I enjoyed the writing quality, but I wasn't sold on the pairing. Grif starts out as a real asshole with fucked-up and abusive tendencies, and I think if the author wanted to start him at such a low point, the book needed to be a hell of a lot longer with a much slower burn to work for me. Kiernan is essentially entirely dependent on him for survival, and the build of feelings on his part felt really rushed given how their relationship started and the super unequal power imbalance between the two, so it just felt a bit icky for me. I think if things had progressed more slowly and we'd seen Grif take any kind of accountability for his shitty behavior I may have felt differently, but alas, we did not get that.
July 28, 2018
I am reluctant to call this a traditional romance. Honestly, this feels more like reading about a book on how to survive in the mountains during hard winter. There were a LOT of description of how one of the two men either setting up fire, setting up snare, preparing the food in terms of rabbit, squirrel, deer ... there are mentioned of the animals' blood, innard, intestines (because apparently they are prepared as bow strings), and brain somewhere.
When I reached the tentative ending, I still felt like I didn't know much about either Grif and Kiernan -- other than there's at least a decade between them, Grif has been living a hard live, and Kiernan is pretty sheltered and naive -- or the 'world' where this novella was set. I didn't really believe they will be together forever after they came back from the mountain as well *shrugs*
At least Sherwood's writing is good as ever.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
When I reached the tentative ending, I still felt like I didn't know much about either Grif and Kiernan -- other than there's at least a decade between them, Grif has been living a hard live, and Kiernan is pretty sheltered and naive -- or the 'world' where this novella was set. I didn't really believe they will be together forever after they came back from the mountain as well *shrugs*
At least Sherwood's writing is good as ever.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 3, 2018
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
This was an unexpectedly interesting story that was fun to read—the perfect enemies to lovers story with a touch of humor and a historical twist.
Grif is a mercenary traveling through the mountains in winter. Even he knows it’s a stupid idea but he needed to leave the last town he stopped in and he really doesn’t care if he makes it through winter or not.
Kiernan is a sweet, innocent young man who thinks the mission his lover, the son of the ruler of his country, sent him on is of utmost importance and he won’t give up until he makes it through the snow-covered mountain pass. When a body unexpectedly tumbles from the cliff above him, he drags the unconscious but still-alive man back to the makeshift shelter he erected for the night.
Little does he know it’s the best move he ever made because, though the gruff mercenary treats him like dirt and steals his supplies, he ultimately also teaches Kiernan how to survive in the winter. He also disabuses him of the notion that he’s going to make it through the pass before spring. And then the worst insult – he opens the highly important message Kiernan is carrying so Kiernan can see what his life is worth to his former lover.
I enjoyed the banter between the characters so much! It was lively, sometimes humorous, always honest, and often painful for Kiernan to hear. Ultimately, Kiernan accepts Grif’s offer to tag along with him and take shelter in a cave until spring. That, of course, lends a lot of time for Grif to teach him how to survive and for Kiernan to teach Grif the meaning of friendship and love.
The story was like an unexpected gem, and I highly recommend it to those who love a good enemies-to-lovers romance and those who like stories set in medieval times.
This was an unexpectedly interesting story that was fun to read—the perfect enemies to lovers story with a touch of humor and a historical twist.
Grif is a mercenary traveling through the mountains in winter. Even he knows it’s a stupid idea but he needed to leave the last town he stopped in and he really doesn’t care if he makes it through winter or not.
Kiernan is a sweet, innocent young man who thinks the mission his lover, the son of the ruler of his country, sent him on is of utmost importance and he won’t give up until he makes it through the snow-covered mountain pass. When a body unexpectedly tumbles from the cliff above him, he drags the unconscious but still-alive man back to the makeshift shelter he erected for the night.
Little does he know it’s the best move he ever made because, though the gruff mercenary treats him like dirt and steals his supplies, he ultimately also teaches Kiernan how to survive in the winter. He also disabuses him of the notion that he’s going to make it through the pass before spring. And then the worst insult – he opens the highly important message Kiernan is carrying so Kiernan can see what his life is worth to his former lover.
I enjoyed the banter between the characters so much! It was lively, sometimes humorous, always honest, and often painful for Kiernan to hear. Ultimately, Kiernan accepts Grif’s offer to tag along with him and take shelter in a cave until spring. That, of course, lends a lot of time for Grif to teach him how to survive and for Kiernan to teach Grif the meaning of friendship and love.
The story was like an unexpected gem, and I highly recommend it to those who love a good enemies-to-lovers romance and those who like stories set in medieval times.
August 25, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I’m still not quite sure what to make of this story. Part fantasy and part romance, there isn’t quite enough world building for readers to understand where it sits in time and place and the characters share far too few emotions for a romance.
It took me far too long to engage with either Grif or Kiernan. Grif starts out brutish and cruel while Kiernan is whiny and helpless. Not enough backstory is shared to give readers any real insight into either of these characters so I struggled to care about their survival. And at its core, this is a survival story. Most of the book focuses on the men’s daily struggle for food and shelter.
There is sex in the book but while descriptions are quite graphic, the scenes lack heat and the sex often feels somewhat utilitarian. The relationship between Kiernan and Grif builds to an unconvincing HFN.
I struggled with this story. I’m not a huge fantasy fan and I need a whole lot of world and character building when I do engage with fantasy. This sits somewhere between fantasy and historic fiction and it lacks the human emotion I need to engage with a story. Parts of it read like Game of Thrones fanfic and I’m guessing GOT fans might enjoy this more than I did.
I’m still not quite sure what to make of this story. Part fantasy and part romance, there isn’t quite enough world building for readers to understand where it sits in time and place and the characters share far too few emotions for a romance.
It took me far too long to engage with either Grif or Kiernan. Grif starts out brutish and cruel while Kiernan is whiny and helpless. Not enough backstory is shared to give readers any real insight into either of these characters so I struggled to care about their survival. And at its core, this is a survival story. Most of the book focuses on the men’s daily struggle for food and shelter.
There is sex in the book but while descriptions are quite graphic, the scenes lack heat and the sex often feels somewhat utilitarian. The relationship between Kiernan and Grif builds to an unconvincing HFN.
I struggled with this story. I’m not a huge fantasy fan and I need a whole lot of world and character building when I do engage with fantasy. This sits somewhere between fantasy and historic fiction and it lacks the human emotion I need to engage with a story. Parts of it read like Game of Thrones fanfic and I’m guessing GOT fans might enjoy this more than I did.
May 20, 2018
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf & eProof was given by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have far too many eProofs on my kindle. And I'm trying, slowly and surely, to go through them - whether that is reading them or going "What was I thinking?!". So, when I saw this on NetGalley a month or so, I went "Oooh" over it. This is an novella and is both LGBT and fantasy. All perfect for me at the moment.
Grif is tired. So, when he walks into the mountains in a snow storm, he isn't worried about surviving or not. But when he's indifference leaves him unconscious, Kieran finds him and nurses him back to health. Kieran is on an important mission and he doesn't need Grif, telling him he's not prepared for the winter mountains. But the two men are stuck together, with food being scarce and the weather not to be trusted. The two have to learn to depend on each other. But could this lead to something more...?
This is a sorbet read for me. It refresh my reading pallet for me as I've been quite lucky with what I've read and listened to over the past few weeks.
The story itself was ok. It moved at a good pace, the characters were engaging and it held my interest while reading. Plus, it is an adult reading so it does have language and scenes that are more suitable for an adult audience.
However, it didn't set my world on fire. The plot is basically the entire synopsis and once every chapter, I would groan over something. Plus, the story is meant to be a fantasy, but it is so thin, am surprise this is classed as a fantasy and not historical.
It was a sorbet of a read for me, but I think other people will enjoy.
I have far too many eProofs on my kindle. And I'm trying, slowly and surely, to go through them - whether that is reading them or going "What was I thinking?!". So, when I saw this on NetGalley a month or so, I went "Oooh" over it. This is an novella and is both LGBT and fantasy. All perfect for me at the moment.
Grif is tired. So, when he walks into the mountains in a snow storm, he isn't worried about surviving or not. But when he's indifference leaves him unconscious, Kieran finds him and nurses him back to health. Kieran is on an important mission and he doesn't need Grif, telling him he's not prepared for the winter mountains. But the two men are stuck together, with food being scarce and the weather not to be trusted. The two have to learn to depend on each other. But could this lead to something more...?
This is a sorbet read for me. It refresh my reading pallet for me as I've been quite lucky with what I've read and listened to over the past few weeks.
The story itself was ok. It moved at a good pace, the characters were engaging and it held my interest while reading. Plus, it is an adult reading so it does have language and scenes that are more suitable for an adult audience.
However, it didn't set my world on fire. The plot is basically the entire synopsis and once every chapter, I would groan over something. Plus, the story is meant to be a fantasy, but it is so thin, am surprise this is classed as a fantasy and not historical.
It was a sorbet of a read for me, but I think other people will enjoy.
July 17, 2018
Grif a tough mercenary, not really sure why he went into the snow covered mountains. Only knew he was tired, of everything. He didn't go there to die but if that happened it was ok. Trudging along he finally felt warm, wanting to sleep. Knowing he wouldn't ever wake up. Then he fell off a cliff.
Kiernan is surprised when the man landed in the snow. Afraid to make his injuries worse but knowing he needs to get him to shelter, he drags him to his tent. When Grif wakes up he defends himself against a potential enemy. Not realizing he was dealing with a spoiled boy with no practical experience in life. Kiernan has been sent on an important journey by his lover and rulers son. Expecting to only take a few days to get where he had been sent. When he finds out it will take a lot longer than that he is determined to finish his mission. Grif disabused him of that notion fairly quick by stealing his supplies.
Grif takes care of the boy, realizing quickly that Kiernan is a man, even if he acts like a child. They begin to work together to survive. Kiernan soaking up Grif’s knowledge. Grif hopes he can keep them alive. The mountain is not a kind place to be. Their struggle to stay alive bringing them closer.
Grif came to care for Kiernan a little bit at a time. Kiernan needed Grif in the beginning, but I think Grif needed him just as much. I liked how that need changed to want and progressed to caring. The hardened heart and the pure soul slotted together nicely. I wish it had been longer. HFN is ok but I really needed them settled into a good happy life. Still a nice story though.
Review Copy requested from Netgalley.
Kiernan is surprised when the man landed in the snow. Afraid to make his injuries worse but knowing he needs to get him to shelter, he drags him to his tent. When Grif wakes up he defends himself against a potential enemy. Not realizing he was dealing with a spoiled boy with no practical experience in life. Kiernan has been sent on an important journey by his lover and rulers son. Expecting to only take a few days to get where he had been sent. When he finds out it will take a lot longer than that he is determined to finish his mission. Grif disabused him of that notion fairly quick by stealing his supplies.
Grif takes care of the boy, realizing quickly that Kiernan is a man, even if he acts like a child. They begin to work together to survive. Kiernan soaking up Grif’s knowledge. Grif hopes he can keep them alive. The mountain is not a kind place to be. Their struggle to stay alive bringing them closer.
Grif came to care for Kiernan a little bit at a time. Kiernan needed Grif in the beginning, but I think Grif needed him just as much. I liked how that need changed to want and progressed to caring. The hardened heart and the pure soul slotted together nicely. I wish it had been longer. HFN is ok but I really needed them settled into a good happy life. Still a nice story though.
Review Copy requested from Netgalley.
August 19, 2018
Shelter from the Storm was so incredibly different from what I’ve been reading lately and I loved every bit of it. I don’t know if I’d classify this novella more as a fantasy or historical romance but it has that other worldly, non-contemporary feel to it. There isn’t substantial world building, but it didn’t feel scant on details either. Rather, the book focused on the environment and the elements the men faced as they tried to survive a winter in the mountains.
A survival story, Shelter from the Storm features an experienced mountain man who’s all but given up on life unexpectedly meeting up with an inexperienced man on a mission. The men get trapped in a winter storm in the mountains and rely on one another to survive. The author did a fantastic job making the environmental factors into a secondary character. The stark coldness and barren areas felt alive and substantial, lending an intensity that created a different sort of conflict for characters to face in a romance and providing ample opportunity for both men to grow over the course of the winter.
The romance between Grif and Kiernan was steady and unrushed. Considering the shorter length, I was impressed with just how palpable the connection was between the men, delivering both a good amount of steam and emotional depth. Between the romance, setting, and characters, I found myself completely submerged in the story and would definitely recommend Shelter from the Storm to anyone looking for a romance that’s a bit different.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review*
A survival story, Shelter from the Storm features an experienced mountain man who’s all but given up on life unexpectedly meeting up with an inexperienced man on a mission. The men get trapped in a winter storm in the mountains and rely on one another to survive. The author did a fantastic job making the environmental factors into a secondary character. The stark coldness and barren areas felt alive and substantial, lending an intensity that created a different sort of conflict for characters to face in a romance and providing ample opportunity for both men to grow over the course of the winter.
The romance between Grif and Kiernan was steady and unrushed. Considering the shorter length, I was impressed with just how palpable the connection was between the men, delivering both a good amount of steam and emotional depth. Between the romance, setting, and characters, I found myself completely submerged in the story and would definitely recommend Shelter from the Storm to anyone looking for a romance that’s a bit different.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review*
May 18, 2018
This book was completely not what I was expecting.
I really liked both characters, and I ship it, but from the advertising I didn’t expect an out and out romance.
Part of me struggles with a woman writing a m/m erotic romance for appropriation and representation reasons, but Sherwood so obviously adores her characters so much that I had to adore them too.
So, unexpected, but super sweet
I really liked both characters, and I ship it, but from the advertising I didn’t expect an out and out romance.
Part of me struggles with a woman writing a m/m erotic romance for appropriation and representation reasons, but Sherwood so obviously adores her characters so much that I had to adore them too.
So, unexpected, but super sweet
July 18, 2019
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Although the writing was good and the description of the world brings it too life, the characters just did not connect with me or seem really to connect with each other.
Overall the story was very disappointing with a lack of depth.
Although the writing was good and the description of the world brings it too life, the characters just did not connect with me or seem really to connect with each other.
Overall the story was very disappointing with a lack of depth.
October 14, 2018
My heart goes out to Grif, so bruised & battered by the world, such a lovely story, hope there are more adventures of them travelling together through the world
August 26, 2018
There’s a lot of information about how to survive harsh winter weather in primitive conditions in this book, way more of that than actual romance.
The plot had potential. Grif, a sellsword, is so tired of his life that he hikes out into the wintry mountains to die. His plans are foiled when he’s found by a young man named Kiernan, who cares for Grif after a fall. Grif then decides that he wants to live, and he bullies Kiernan into accompanying him back down the mountains by threatening to take his supplies. Kiernan resists, as he has his own mission to complete beyond the mountain range. But Grif knows going any deeper into the mountains would be a death sentence for Kiernan, and he is reluctant to let the naïve young man throw his life away when caring for Kiernan has given Grif’s life new meaning.
Not a bad setup, but the execution was lacking. I didn’t mind some of the winter survival stuff—building a den out of snow, setting snares, butchering a deer, etc.—while the two of them were getting to know each other. There’s too much of it, though. And the part of the plot involving Kiernan being sent to his death doesn’t get a satisfactory solution. Grif and Kiernan just decide to go off together, when a confrontation with the villain of the piece would have been much more satisfying. As it was, the ending fell flat.
I’ve read some other books by the author, and this one isn’t her best effort. Sacrati has some of the same elements and a more interesting plot; I’d recommend that instead.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
The plot had potential. Grif, a sellsword, is so tired of his life that he hikes out into the wintry mountains to die. His plans are foiled when he’s found by a young man named Kiernan, who cares for Grif after a fall. Grif then decides that he wants to live, and he bullies Kiernan into accompanying him back down the mountains by threatening to take his supplies. Kiernan resists, as he has his own mission to complete beyond the mountain range. But Grif knows going any deeper into the mountains would be a death sentence for Kiernan, and he is reluctant to let the naïve young man throw his life away when caring for Kiernan has given Grif’s life new meaning.
Not a bad setup, but the execution was lacking. I didn’t mind some of the winter survival stuff—building a den out of snow, setting snares, butchering a deer, etc.—while the two of them were getting to know each other. There’s too much of it, though. And the part of the plot involving Kiernan being sent to his death doesn’t get a satisfactory solution. Grif and Kiernan just decide to go off together, when a confrontation with the villain of the piece would have been much more satisfying. As it was, the ending fell flat.
I’ve read some other books by the author, and this one isn’t her best effort. Sacrati has some of the same elements and a more interesting plot; I’d recommend that instead.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
August 15, 2018
Shelter From The Storm by Kate Sherwood
When I finished reading last night (at 3:30 am) I thought, “M/M…or is it…M/m fantasy fairy tale.” With Griff the rather gruff sellsword starting out the story two weeks into on his journey while at the lowest point in his life and thinking he is ready to pack it in somewhere in the snowy mountains he keeps plodding only to fall off a cliff and…be saved by Kiernan. Now, Kiernan is much softer and some younger and totally clueless in more ways in one BUT also much more clued in to what he wants and…that is…Griff. This is a survival story with Griff teaching Kiernan many skills while Kiernan opened Griff’s heart and created a life that was so much better than he had experienced before. And, over time their relationship grows and changes significantly creating a sense of trust, caring, sharing and also the potential for a future together.
Did I like this novella? I must have – stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.
Would I read more by this author? Yes
I can see this as the introduction to a series set in the mythical land Griff and Kiernan speak of and would enjoy reading such a series if it existed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
When I finished reading last night (at 3:30 am) I thought, “M/M…or is it…M/m fantasy fairy tale.” With Griff the rather gruff sellsword starting out the story two weeks into on his journey while at the lowest point in his life and thinking he is ready to pack it in somewhere in the snowy mountains he keeps plodding only to fall off a cliff and…be saved by Kiernan. Now, Kiernan is much softer and some younger and totally clueless in more ways in one BUT also much more clued in to what he wants and…that is…Griff. This is a survival story with Griff teaching Kiernan many skills while Kiernan opened Griff’s heart and created a life that was so much better than he had experienced before. And, over time their relationship grows and changes significantly creating a sense of trust, caring, sharing and also the potential for a future together.
Did I like this novella? I must have – stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.
Would I read more by this author? Yes
I can see this as the introduction to a series set in the mythical land Griff and Kiernan speak of and would enjoy reading such a series if it existed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
December 27, 2019
I'm always here for a hypothermia plot, no matter how flimsy, and this had some pretty snowbound mountain settings and interesting survival stuff, but the characters and plot left a lot to be desired. Are we meant to be rooting for the abusive caveman who repays being rescued from freezing to death by hitting his rescuer in the face, stealing all his shit and threatening him with murder? Oh, but he's had a rough past and he draws the line at rape, so he's a catch really. No thanks.
May 27, 2019
This was an entertaining read. I liked the writing style and I enjoyed both the characters and the plot.
August 4, 2018
This read to me as slice of (fantasy) life, part of bigger and all-encompassing story. It was fun, enjoyable, even heart-warming despite the freezing vibe throughout the story. But as much as I loved Grif and Kieran, the full story seemed to elude me.
“Shelter from the Storm” recounted the journey of Grif and Kiernan, two total strangers with contrary backgrounds, purposes, and personalities. A fantasy set in fictional Whitetooth Mountains on early Winter, the story followed the men’s first meeting (or as I first to say: finding) to their bickering the whole time they were trying to survive the Winter in the mountains and (then) fulfill their mission(s). Grif was an ass of the highest order (Kieran dubbed him as the Highly Annoying Man) yet turned out he had a soft spot for Kieran. Grif was forever tricking and provoking Kieran with outrageous statement or behavior, then doing something that ease the hurdle they faced while shouldering most of the hassle himself.
Now, I loved opposites attract and redeemed rake tropes as depicted by Grif and Kieran here. However, I felt this story was lack of full situation and closure on both men. I got bits and pieces from Grif’s and Kieran’s POVs when they thought back on their life, but not enough to fully comprehend it. Mostly, I just guessed or assumed. As I pointed out earlier, this made it as if the book was part of something more. I don’t know if there will be sequel to this book or not, as far as I know “Shelter from the Storm” is a standalone. I’m keen if the author write sequel/series following this, for sure.
To summarize, I enjoyed Grif’s and Kiernan’s adventures, their silly arguments, the gradual affection they had for each other but I just wish the story could be tweaked so that I could know more. All I can say to underline my thought is to quote what Kiernan told Grif.
Ditto, Kieran. And wouldn’t we want a story on that... *wink wink*
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Shelter from the Storm” recounted the journey of Grif and Kiernan, two total strangers with contrary backgrounds, purposes, and personalities. A fantasy set in fictional Whitetooth Mountains on early Winter, the story followed the men’s first meeting (or as I first to say: finding) to their bickering the whole time they were trying to survive the Winter in the mountains and (then) fulfill their mission(s). Grif was an ass of the highest order (Kieran dubbed him as the Highly Annoying Man) yet turned out he had a soft spot for Kieran. Grif was forever tricking and provoking Kieran with outrageous statement or behavior, then doing something that ease the hurdle they faced while shouldering most of the hassle himself.
Now, I loved opposites attract and redeemed rake tropes as depicted by Grif and Kieran here. However, I felt this story was lack of full situation and closure on both men. I got bits and pieces from Grif’s and Kieran’s POVs when they thought back on their life, but not enough to fully comprehend it. Mostly, I just guessed or assumed. As I pointed out earlier, this made it as if the book was part of something more. I don’t know if there will be sequel to this book or not, as far as I know “Shelter from the Storm” is a standalone. I’m keen if the author write sequel/series following this, for sure.
To summarize, I enjoyed Grif’s and Kiernan’s adventures, their silly arguments, the gradual affection they had for each other but I just wish the story could be tweaked so that I could know more. All I can say to underline my thought is to quote what Kiernan told Grif.
”I’d never know. About Vin, and why he sent me on this mission. I’d never be sure exactly what he was thinking.”
Ditto, Kieran. And wouldn’t we want a story on that... *wink wink*
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2018
I like a good survival story and I love reading about trying to survive in the elements so there were parts of this book I really enjoyed. However, I wish there had been a bit more growth fro Grif and I wish we had a bit more world building. This takes place in a world that isn't ours but we really don't find out much about it. What we do get is a real sense of trying to survive in the barren, snowy and cold arctic conditions and the harshness of the elements. The book is really about the two MC's and there aren't really any secondary characters or subplots just the two main characters trying to survive. I'm not sure I'd call this a romance although there was definitely a relationship developing between Grif and Kiernan. I liked that Grif was trying to protect Kiernan and Kiernan realized this since it wasn't in any traditional way. Grif's character just made me a bit sad and the story needed an epilogue badly. It ended in a HFN but even that wasn't clear cut.
A copy of this book was provided to me by Net Galley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
A copy of this book was provided to me by Net Galley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
June 14, 2021
2.5 stars
Eh. I like this in theory more than execution. I love survival stories, so that part worked for me, but the relationship development was a little wonky.
To generalize and exaggerate at the same time, MC1's emotions toward MC2 go like this:
>I hate you because I hate everyone.
>I'd fuck you, though.
>Oh, now I hate you *because* I want to fuck you.
>We have fucked and now I'm completely in love with you and will do whatever is in your best interests at all times.
If you ignore that -- and mostly I did; it was relatively easy when not in the few paragraphs surrounding each jarring transition -- it was pretty enjoyable. Minus the equal ridiculous of MC2's emotional journey, which I also tried to ignore :)
Basically, only pick this one up if you particularly like survival in the wilds romances. Luckily I do.
Eh. I like this in theory more than execution. I love survival stories, so that part worked for me, but the relationship development was a little wonky.
To generalize and exaggerate at the same time, MC1's emotions toward MC2 go like this:
>I hate you because I hate everyone.
>I'd fuck you, though.
>Oh, now I hate you *because* I want to fuck you.
>We have fucked and now I'm completely in love with you and will do whatever is in your best interests at all times.
If you ignore that -- and mostly I did; it was relatively easy when not in the few paragraphs surrounding each jarring transition -- it was pretty enjoyable. Minus the equal ridiculous of MC2's emotional journey, which I also tried to ignore :)
Basically, only pick this one up if you particularly like survival in the wilds romances. Luckily I do.
August 19, 2018
This was another short read, although a little longer than a couple of others I've read recently. It's also another one that I didn't feel was lacking. Although, I kind of wanted to see where these two end up in the future.
Grif was a hard guy to like to begin with, even when you got his POV. He grew on me though, a little faster than he grew on Kiernan. Kiernan was definitely naïve, but it wasn't really a bad trait. He just didn't have as much life experience as Grif. Given the fact that his life experience was the main reason he'd had enough.
If these two had met under different circumstances, they never would have stood a chance. Their worlds were too far apart. Turns out a change was what they both needed.
It's been a while since I've read any books by Kate Sherwood, but I haven't been disappointed yet. As a matter of fact, her Common Law series was one of my 2017 favorites. The only other book by her that I've read was Mark of Cain, which was another one of her stand-alones. I'm glad I stumbled on this ARC because it reminded me that I need to check out some of her other series and keep my eyes open for any new books in the future.
I received Shelter from the Storm in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Grif was a hard guy to like to begin with, even when you got his POV. He grew on me though, a little faster than he grew on Kiernan. Kiernan was definitely naïve, but it wasn't really a bad trait. He just didn't have as much life experience as Grif. Given the fact that his life experience was the main reason he'd had enough.
If these two had met under different circumstances, they never would have stood a chance. Their worlds were too far apart. Turns out a change was what they both needed.
It's been a while since I've read any books by Kate Sherwood, but I haven't been disappointed yet. As a matter of fact, her Common Law series was one of my 2017 favorites. The only other book by her that I've read was Mark of Cain, which was another one of her stand-alones. I'm glad I stumbled on this ARC because it reminded me that I need to check out some of her other series and keep my eyes open for any new books in the future.
I received Shelter from the Storm in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 10, 2018
This story was a decent survival type story with two characters trying to survive the mountains during winter. Unfortunately that was about all this was. Both Griff and have chemistry but we just don't get a huge amount of backstory to fill them out or a lot of growth from either one. Kiernan rose colored glasses are knocked off about Vin and Griff isn't emotionally as numb but that is about it. We get a little bit more about Kiernan but by the end of the story I still don't know much more about Griff than I did in the beginning which is really sad. They both could have been really interesting characters if they had been developed a little bit more.
February 24, 2024
This starts a bit rough, with Grif being needlessly cruel (which really put me off), and Kiernan behaving like an idiot (which annoyed me). But things settle down, and I did believe in their connection by the time they really got to know each other. And I liked the optimistic ending, and really thought that their lives going forward were going to be so much better. I also quite liked the survival elements. There are no human antagonists here, just nature, and the details of how to survive in the frozen mountains were fascinating.
April 28, 2018
Recieved from Netgalley. Two troubled men on one mountain in the middle of winter. Grif the grumpy and Kiernan the naive. I like the cover artwork and the story was a good one. I felt there could’ve been more of an ending. Everything flowed smoothly but a little epilogue would’ve made it better. I liked the imp. Karma needs to pay a visit to Vin.
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