Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Mad Max: Fury Road meets Frozen in this striking YA fantasy about a rig driver’s journey to save her friend
 
Twice-orphaned Sylvi has chipped out a niche for herself on Layce, an island cursed by eternal winter. Alone in her truck, she takes comfort in two things: the solitude of the roads and the favor of Winter, an icy spirit who has protected her since she was a child.
            Sylvi likes the road, where no one asks who her parents were or what she thinks of the rebels in the north. But when her best friend, Lenore, runs off with the rebels, Sylvi must make a haul too late in the season for a smuggler she wouldn’t normally work with, the infamous Mars Dresden. Alongside his team—Hyla, a giant warrior woman and Kyn, a boy with skin like stone—Sylvi will do whatever it takes to save her friend.
            But when the time comes, she’ll have to choose: safety, anonymity, and the favor of Winter—or the future of the island that she calls home.  

Review:

When one reads the synopsis for Winter, White and Wicked, by Shannon Dittemore, you think, "Mad Max crossed with Frozen?"  But that is really the most apt description for this wonderfully strange mix of YA Dystopian and Fantasy.  In the scariest version of a road trip ever, Sylvi, the driver of a monster hauling vehicle, must drive a group of rebels across the frozen mountain pass, dodging monsters, impossible road conditions, and attacks by locals, all the while as she has Winter whispering truths (or is it lies?) about herself and her companions into her ears.  This was a really unusual, and entertaining book.

What I Liked:

Setting:

This novel is set in a snowy, dystopian landscape filled with monsters (many of which are human), terrible road conditions, and characters filled with secrets.  The area where Sylvi lives is in the control of The Majority, an oppressive regime who controls all the resources and keep people addicted to Kol, in order to manipulate them.  The region is in a perpetual winter.  But winter isn't just a season, it's a character in itself.  And she uses all her powers to manipulate and control Silvi.  But why...?

Characters:

Sylvi is a survivor.  She leaves a very abusive parent and is taken in by Lenore and her father.  She finally feels safe.  But when Lenore's father dies, and Lenore leaves to join the Rebels, her world (once again) is turned upside-down.  And she will do anything to regain that sense of security.  As the story progresses, you learn why she feels this way (trigger warning for sexual abuse).  In a world filled with people who want to use her, I don't blame her for her choices.

I loved Sylvi's companions on her road trip to find Lenore.  There is Hyla, a strong soldier who takes duty seriously.  I loved how she teaches all the characters about ethics, and sacrifice, while also kindness.  Mars Dresden, the rebel leader, is charasmatic, and persuasive.  But Sylvi can tell he's hiding something.  He wants Silvi to become a true believer in the rebel cause.  And he is trying, with all his might, to turn Sylvi against Winter.

Winter is an actual character.  She has befriended Sylvi and protected her when no one else has.  This created a strong bond between Sylvi and Winter.  If Sylvi betrays Winter, will she be all alone?  Will she be in danger?  

Road Trip:

I love a good road trip book.  But this is the road trip from Hell!  There are monsters, scary locals, and the ever-present thaw that could make driving the roads impossible.  Plus, as her "cargo" are rebels, they are on the run from military patrols who will kill them.  Everywhere they turn, someone wants them dead.  I loved how Silvi uses everything The Dragon has to keep the group going toward the rebel camp.  It was very Mcgyver as Sylvi pieces together spare parts in new ways to drive, fight, and fix machines.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT!

Rating: 

Release Date:  October 13th, 2020

Author:  Shannon Dittemore

Genre:  YA Dystopian Fantasy

Publisher:  Harry N. Abrams

Page Length:  384 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A satisfying YA Dystopian story.  This is a world that is scary but has characters you will invest in.