The Circle – a thousand miles of perilous forests and warring clans. No one has ever tamed such treacherous territory before, but ex-soldier Teyr Amondsen, veteran of a hundred battles, is determined to try.

With a merchant caravan protected by a crew of skilled mercenaries, Teyr embarks on a dangerous mission to forge a road across the untamed wilderness that was once her home. But a warlord has risen in the wilds of the Circle, uniting its clans and terrorizing its people. Teyr’s battles are far from over . . .

It’s difficult to gather your thoughts when you finish a book like The Winter Road. Then again, I’m not entirely sure there are books like The Winter Road. 

But yeah. You’re just gutted. Emotionally brutalized. Astonished at the talents of the author. Challenged. Happy & sad. Angry & hopeful. 

The Winter Road is an instant classic fantasy novel…one that almost defies classification. Sure, it’s savagely grim, but also there’s this bright & pure current of hopefulness that runs through the entire novel. It’s also a standalone, which seems to be quite a rarity in fantasy. Adrian Selby has created something so fucking beautiful with this book…goddamn…

This is the story of Teyr Amondsen, and the vast majority of the book is told through her first-person POV. She’s a former mercenary, and while we don’t get a ton of her backstory, we get enough to know that she has lived hard. She is a fearsome fighter, and a great leader. In this world, The Circle, warriors take plant-based fightbrews to increase their strength & senses. The fightbrews are crafted by a drudha, and their recipes are unique & secret. The effects of a lifetime taking these brews has worn Teyr down quite a lot. 

When we meet her, she is attempting to unify The Circle by building a road. The road will make trading amongst different clans easier, and will help keep conflicts to a minimum. Only, early into her new mission, she learns that a warlord, the utterly vicious Samma Khiese, is strong-arming the different clans into swearing fealty to him.

At some point, this conflict between Teyr and Khiese becomes bitterly personal.

The book is divided into a few different sections, and each one almost…functions a little differently. The way Selby handles that feels incredibly thoughtful & meticulous, and really enhances the reading experience. Part two in particular is just fucking gut-wrenching, relentless, and intense. Like…holy shit, y’all. 

While the secondary characters in this book are outstanding, this is without question Teyr Amondsen’s story. This woman is as compelling a main character as I’ve ever met. While many of the pages of The Winter Road are nearly dripping with blood and gore, she is so much more than a just a badass warrior. She has an enormous heart, and is so full of love for her family, and her allies. She’s bright, forgiving, and has an absolutely iron will. Teyr is a character you’ll never forget, ever. 

Fucking hell. I loved this book down to my bones. Adrian Selby has created something that is somehow harsh, brutal, and unforgiving…but also very beautiful, hopeful, heartfelt, and more than a little bit romantic.  This isn’t just one of the best books I read this year, it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. 

Endless thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of this one!!