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A Song of Winter
Edinburgh is basking in an unnaturally warm winter until the snow starts falling. When a student disappears, along with his climate research, and the national government close down all communications, Professor Finlay Hamilton realises there is a link between his own research into dark matter and the freak weather. Suddenly he is in a desperate race to save his wife, Jess, and their young family from a catastrophic event. His only help is a man from Jess's past, a past he never knew existed. Under the relentless snowfall, only the strong will survive – and Jess must be strong enough to keep her family safe.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2022
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 9, 2022
‘A Song of Winter’ is a lament for the world. Have we gone too far and damaged our planet to the degree where is it not sustainable? Global warming is the mainstay of climate debate but the author has gone the other way to the beginning of an Ice Age which is just as much as a catalyst for the end of humanity. Yes, this book has a lot of science in it but it is written in an accessible manner which readers will be able to process and understand the concepts. I can't claim to be a scientist, far from it (A Level Geology!) but it's clear that this book is impeccably researched and doesn't shy away from the complex data models and concepts.
There is a varied and wide cast of characters and they were all interesting and well-drawn, from the self-served interests of people in Westminister to the students whose work governments around the world are now working upon. I could understand Fergus’s excitement on seeing his stimulation being found to be true without realising what this meant for the world until he was in that hotel room. I know too many people like Jess and Titch, my dad was in the SAS and they were definitely on point by instantly reverting to old personas of survivalists with military bearing.
I think the atmosphere of this tale was enhanced by where I was reading. I'm on holiday at the moment right at the tip of the Cowal Penisula in a place called Toward. The garden ends at the shore of the Firth of Clyde and today the weather has been wild! But being able to be warm and cosy whilst listening to the wind buffet off the windows and whistle down the chimney has made me appreciate being safe! Unless you are trained like Titch and Jess you wouldn't survive the situation in ‘A Song of Winter’ and that is scary. As a species we have become weak, reliant on others to provide food, shelter and heat. I know I wouldn't be able to survive, would you?
There is a sub-genre of climate thrillers emerging now but this is one of the best ones I have read. The writing was superb and I honestly had goosebumps reading this during certain points. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it.
Let me know if you read it!
There is a varied and wide cast of characters and they were all interesting and well-drawn, from the self-served interests of people in Westminister to the students whose work governments around the world are now working upon. I could understand Fergus’s excitement on seeing his stimulation being found to be true without realising what this meant for the world until he was in that hotel room. I know too many people like Jess and Titch, my dad was in the SAS and they were definitely on point by instantly reverting to old personas of survivalists with military bearing.
I think the atmosphere of this tale was enhanced by where I was reading. I'm on holiday at the moment right at the tip of the Cowal Penisula in a place called Toward. The garden ends at the shore of the Firth of Clyde and today the weather has been wild! But being able to be warm and cosy whilst listening to the wind buffet off the windows and whistle down the chimney has made me appreciate being safe! Unless you are trained like Titch and Jess you wouldn't survive the situation in ‘A Song of Winter’ and that is scary. As a species we have become weak, reliant on others to provide food, shelter and heat. I know I wouldn't be able to survive, would you?
There is a sub-genre of climate thrillers emerging now but this is one of the best ones I have read. The writing was superb and I honestly had goosebumps reading this during certain points. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it.
Let me know if you read it!
October 3, 2022
This is the first cli-fi thriller that I have read and I really enjoyed it. It was a bit heavy to get into at first due to all the science but I still enjoyed it even when it was heavy.
The writing gripped me all the way through and I found the characters to be relatable and believable. It was fast paced and reminded me of all the good disaster movies that use climate as a force.
I wasn't a massive fan of the ending, I felt that it felt very rushed and kind of fell flat compared to the rest of the book and the build up within it but it was still a good read.
The writing gripped me all the way through and I found the characters to be relatable and believable. It was fast paced and reminded me of all the good disaster movies that use climate as a force.
I wasn't a massive fan of the ending, I felt that it felt very rushed and kind of fell flat compared to the rest of the book and the build up within it but it was still a good read.
September 26, 2022
{3.5 stars}
Climate change thrillers are becoming quite popular these days and I've been interested in the different approaches they take to a similar looming threat. A Song of Winter gives us a very technical and tactical story surrounding a sudden weather event which throws humanity into the path of extinction. We follow a group of people in Scotland who each have unique skills to navigate such an event and have a shot to survive. Finlay is a professor whose students stumble upon a prediction that threatens humanity. When the cold and snow begins, his wife takes matters into her own skilled hands and gets them on the road. Her military training and unique childhood give her the chance to save them. Titch grew up with Jess and is also looking to settle back in the old community, one that has trained for ways to survive off the grid. As these stories weave together we learn more and more about the cosmic events that are causing the extreme weather and whether humanity has any chance to come out the other side.
The beginning of this one might be a little dense for you if science isn't your thing, but I really appreciated how well researched and clearly communicated this complex issue was. I would have been happy with a little more detail and dialogue with some of the characters. I felt like the end was a little abrupt although the epilogue gives you an idea of where things end up. But I really liked the role reversal where Jess was the bada** veteran with a serious military history. If you like fast paced stories with unlikely heroes and really bleak threats that humanity must surmount, then definitely check this one out.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Climate change thrillers are becoming quite popular these days and I've been interested in the different approaches they take to a similar looming threat. A Song of Winter gives us a very technical and tactical story surrounding a sudden weather event which throws humanity into the path of extinction. We follow a group of people in Scotland who each have unique skills to navigate such an event and have a shot to survive. Finlay is a professor whose students stumble upon a prediction that threatens humanity. When the cold and snow begins, his wife takes matters into her own skilled hands and gets them on the road. Her military training and unique childhood give her the chance to save them. Titch grew up with Jess and is also looking to settle back in the old community, one that has trained for ways to survive off the grid. As these stories weave together we learn more and more about the cosmic events that are causing the extreme weather and whether humanity has any chance to come out the other side.
The beginning of this one might be a little dense for you if science isn't your thing, but I really appreciated how well researched and clearly communicated this complex issue was. I would have been happy with a little more detail and dialogue with some of the characters. I felt like the end was a little abrupt although the epilogue gives you an idea of where things end up. But I really liked the role reversal where Jess was the bada** veteran with a serious military history. If you like fast paced stories with unlikely heroes and really bleak threats that humanity must surmount, then definitely check this one out.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
September 28, 2022
Everybody needs to read this book!! - It is chilling in so many ways!
I have to admit that listening to politicians drone on about climate change on the TV absolutely drives me mad - they all just seem to want to look the best, be doing the most - but ultimately it's all about power.
Obviously, I totally get the issue and absolutely feel like we all need to do something about it - but if people aren't listening ?
Well, this book will change your life.
A student develops a model to predict the course of climate change and how it will affect our Earth.
Currents and weather systems are failing, creating devastating knock on effects and the addition of interference from millions of light years in space speeds up the consequences, causing a rapid development of a new ice age.
That description totally does not do justice to this book at all as is just so basic - but what hit me so hard was that all of these individual issues are real life concerns! Things that are in the news, relevent to our world today and are individually chilling enough, but here we see what might happen if these events do collide.
Greig's writing is so evocative.
His characters totally relatable and although we follow a few different threads, each part slots together perfectly.
I also found that I was thrown about from extreme highs to extreme lows within a few sentences .... I could be reading a passage being drawn into the beauty of the language only to be dropped from a great height into despair, destruction and death. Just brilliant!
An absolute must read for all - and I'm so excited to read more from this author
I have to admit that listening to politicians drone on about climate change on the TV absolutely drives me mad - they all just seem to want to look the best, be doing the most - but ultimately it's all about power.
Obviously, I totally get the issue and absolutely feel like we all need to do something about it - but if people aren't listening ?
Well, this book will change your life.
A student develops a model to predict the course of climate change and how it will affect our Earth.
Currents and weather systems are failing, creating devastating knock on effects and the addition of interference from millions of light years in space speeds up the consequences, causing a rapid development of a new ice age.
That description totally does not do justice to this book at all as is just so basic - but what hit me so hard was that all of these individual issues are real life concerns! Things that are in the news, relevent to our world today and are individually chilling enough, but here we see what might happen if these events do collide.
Greig's writing is so evocative.
His characters totally relatable and although we follow a few different threads, each part slots together perfectly.
I also found that I was thrown about from extreme highs to extreme lows within a few sentences .... I could be reading a passage being drawn into the beauty of the language only to be dropped from a great height into despair, destruction and death. Just brilliant!
An absolute must read for all - and I'm so excited to read more from this author
October 11, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read by Andrew James Greig and after reading it it definitely won’t be my last. I just want to say….it..freaked…me…out! I did not sleep so easy after reading this before going to sleep. The genre of Enviromental Thriller is a knew one to me and definitely an exciting new Genre that I will read more of.
The story is so clever in that many of the elements are based on real Climate change theory which makes it all the more of a scary read. It follows the path of the climate change theory which suggests that the ocean currents we rely on to keep the cold artic air away will decline and eventually stop should the planet continue to warm. Andrew James Greig brings that theory to life with a chilling (no pun intended) scarily real feeling tale of climatic collapse.
It will make you think and it will perhaps challenges peoples views and it’ll certainly keep you up at night and I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Review was originally published at: https://www.thepursuitofbookiness.co....
We received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
The story is so clever in that many of the elements are based on real Climate change theory which makes it all the more of a scary read. It follows the path of the climate change theory which suggests that the ocean currents we rely on to keep the cold artic air away will decline and eventually stop should the planet continue to warm. Andrew James Greig brings that theory to life with a chilling (no pun intended) scarily real feeling tale of climatic collapse.
It will make you think and it will perhaps challenges peoples views and it’ll certainly keep you up at night and I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Review was originally published at: https://www.thepursuitofbookiness.co....
We received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
September 26, 2022
I have read one of this author’s books before and I remember really enjoying it, so my hopes were quite high for this one. I felt the cover was quite Christmassy with its snow and the blue and red lettering (it’s not a Christmas story) I thought this was going to be a cosy read.
The book itself is well written however, I did find that the story within was not my cup of tea, it is difficult to pinpoint why the story didn’t gel with me but it could be because I was expecting something completely different, could have been the political stuff, I’m not sure.
The characters were all very different and had their own ways of doing things and their own unique personalities which I liked. There was plenty of action and a few tense moments and because of the reasons above I’m giving this 4 stars.
4 stars
The book itself is well written however, I did find that the story within was not my cup of tea, it is difficult to pinpoint why the story didn’t gel with me but it could be because I was expecting something completely different, could have been the political stuff, I’m not sure.
The characters were all very different and had their own ways of doing things and their own unique personalities which I liked. There was plenty of action and a few tense moments and because of the reasons above I’m giving this 4 stars.
4 stars
January 7, 2023
I’ve been worried about the weather since I started reading this, suspiciously looking at rain and snow wondering what I’d do if ……. It’s a good tale and always good to be able to relate to places folk write into their stories. This is totally different from Andrew James Greig and I think a reflection of his talent for relevant storytelling. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2022
A book that combines science, mystery, and the unknown of the what if scenario.
Though confusing at first as the chapters jump between characters you barely know, it hooks you in with the growing mystery of what's happening in the world and how these characters connect. I enjoyed how the science behind it read. As someone who isn't too familiar with science (beyond school level), it was surprisingly easy to keep up.
I loved the whole what if? Element that gets explored within this novel. It reminded me of The Day After Tomorrow but with a thriller twist that lays the past of a seemingly innocuous woman.
Though confusing at first as the chapters jump between characters you barely know, it hooks you in with the growing mystery of what's happening in the world and how these characters connect. I enjoyed how the science behind it read. As someone who isn't too familiar with science (beyond school level), it was surprisingly easy to keep up.
I loved the whole what if? Element that gets explored within this novel. It reminded me of The Day After Tomorrow but with a thriller twist that lays the past of a seemingly innocuous woman.
February 10, 2025
I ordered this on the strength of Andrew James Greig's writing, having much enjoyed, and been impressed with, his two previous book. Only when I got it home did I read the ugly "cli-fi" categorisation, so began this with some trepidation. However, the writing, the strengths of the characters and the increasingly chilly and threatening tension kept me reading and left me well-satisfied. Now to order his next book.
July 10, 2023
This book is my favourite read of the year so far. It is both thought provoking and could so happen in a couple of years. Look towards Orion and the bow wave.
August 31, 2023
independence propaganda and I am here for it
September 3, 2023
I’m not gonna lie, this book scared me a little bit! Climate crisis is such a real concern and the way the consequences are portrayed in A Song of Winter gives way for a very real terror.
The book is fast paced and engaging. It follows a few different people that are involved in discovering and knowing about what’s going to happen, but they almost all end up having different endings to their stories.
An excellent read for people who enjoy thrillers, suspense, and realistic outcomes in their fiction books!
The book is fast paced and engaging. It follows a few different people that are involved in discovering and knowing about what’s going to happen, but they almost all end up having different endings to their stories.
An excellent read for people who enjoy thrillers, suspense, and realistic outcomes in their fiction books!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews