Wynter’s Thief

Although appropriate for the time period (1346) I found the cover a bit dark and dreary. Would a teenager pick it up? So I asked a few students and I was surprised by the response. The boys I questioned were a bit hesitant and immediately asked ‘what it is the book about?’ Once told, they were keen. One avid female reader said she would definitely pick it up because the cover was ‘peculiar’ and she was drawn to that. Another said ‘yes, it looks really interesting’. So, never judge a book by its cover! If I hadn’t been asked to review this book I would have missed out on a great read!

The storyline is character driven, the differences of the medieval protagonists bring them together; she has special gifts that lend to ‘witchcraft’ and he is physically branded as a thief. The tone is sobering, they must fight superstition, injustice, prejudice and ignorance. There is a roller-coaster-ride of drama, with an unpredictable, hopeful, ending. I loved this book. The authors writing style is descriptive, lending to a leisurely pace. The story switches between the protagonists but there are helpful reading aids such as the changing of fonts and an ‘avatar’ symbol at the top of every page. It is one of those books I couldn’t wait to get back to. I had previously purchased ‘Winter of fire’ by the author and will be seeking it out for my summer reading.

Title: Wynter’s Thief

Author: Sherryl Jordan

Publisher: One Tree House Ltd

ISBN: 9780995117464

RRP: $24.99

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: October 2019

Ages: Secondary students, years 9-13

Reviewer: Suzanne Calder, Library Manager, Greymouth High School, West Coast

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

Opening sentence: There is wild danger, a dancing on the knife-edge between sacredness and devilry, when a witch works magic.

You can buy this book here