Review: Winter Omens

Winter Omens
The Last Year, Book 2

Author: Trisha Leigh
Pages: 398
Publisher: Createspace
Source: YA Books Central for review

Description from Goodreads:
Althea and Lucas barely escaped the Others’ clutches in the autumn, and were separated in the process. Alone and on the run from the cruel alien race determined to exterminate her, Althea struggles to adapt and survive in a world she never imagined.

When a boy named Pax appears out of nowhere, he quickly recognizes Althea for what she is – a human/Other hybrid just like him. Althea begs him to help her find Lucas, but Pax refuses, intent on following his own mysterious agenda.

The Others’ presence continues to devour the planet’s resources, and if history is an indication, they won’t leave until Earth is destroyed beyond repair. Althea and Pax sense the only way to save themselves – and maybe their home – is to understand the powers simmering inside them.

Together they push the limits of their capabilities in the quiet Wilds, but are soon confronted with a terrifying fact: no place is safe from the relentless pursuit of the Others.

Least of all their own minds.

Prior Book in Series:
1: Whispers in Autumn

First Sentence: "I guess when we travel on our own we don't magically wake up tucked into our beds in clean pajamas."

Review:

After reading Whispers in Autumn, which I liked, I was a little bit wary of picking up the sequel. The sequel could really go any number of directions, some of which I really would not have been happy with. Thankfully, Leigh quickly assuaged my fears. From the very beginning, I found myself even more engaged in Winter Omens than I was with Whispers in Autumn. Also, I'm warning you know that the rest of this review will have spoilers for Whispers in Autumn.

Where Whispers in Autumn focused a lot on establishing the world, Leigh now really fleshes out the characters, adding real depth and emotion to the story. Althea and Lucas escaped at the end of the first book, but were separated. This is the best thing that could have happened for me as a reader, and, I think, for Althea as a character. Thus far, I really don't like Lucas a love interest; he runs a bit too much to the overprotective, boring side of the hero spectrum. Some time away from him gives both Althea and the reader a chance to get to know Althea as an individual.

Trisha Leigh also introduces a couple of new characters, both of whom I love to pieces, to journey with Althea. The first one is another Dissident, like Althea and Lucas, named Pax. I love how much Pax is all about his own survival. He's not easily trusting, he's grumpy, and he's a bit of a coward sometimes. While he's more obviously flawed than Lucas, I took to him immediately. Also, I'm adding this series to my list of awesome love triangles, because Althea has very different kinds of chemistry with both boys and I have no clue at this point which one she's going to end up with down the road, though you know which one I'm hoping it will be.

The best character BY FAR, though, is Wolf. He just steals the show and has my heart forever. Wolf is in fact a dog, but Althea, unfamiliar with animals, couldn't initially tell the difference and the moniker stuck. I'm slightly more of a cat person, but, you guys, I want a dog so much right now. If you are a dog lover, you are going to be all over this book. Like all over. Also, Wolf is just about the most useful dog ever. Trisha Leigh obviously loves animals, which means she is super cool in my book.

Some of the elements of the world building that I was previously confused on get a bit more clarified in Winter Omens, though I am still a bit confused about exactly what the Elements are. Hopefully that will be explained down the road. There's some really awesome mental battling that takes place and it gets pretty seriously creepy. Winter Omens actually gets quite disturbing at some points, and I want to know so much more about all of these powers the Others have. The four Dissidents are supposed to take out the Others, and I really do not see how that is possible, but I must know!

With Winter Omens, I am officially hooked and pretty much have to read the last two books in the series. I am now fully engaged in the characters and very curious to discover how the plot will resolve, since the odds these four teens are facing are monumental. This is a great read, and the quality does not suffer at all from having not been traditionally published.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite Quote: "'You can love people, and you can befriend them, but the only person you can ever one hundred percent depend on is yourself.'"