A healer and a warrior fight to survive the winter . . . and each other.Grif is tired of life as a mercenary–tired of life, period. So he heads off into the mountains, not much caring whether he lives or dies. But when his indifference leaves him unconscious in a snowbank, a stranger finds him and insists on dragging him back from death.Kiernan doesn’t really have time to nurse a stranger back … to nurse a stranger back to health; he’s on an important mission. He doesn’t know why the message he’s carrying is significant, but he’s determined to deliver it, even if it means risking his life in the winter mountains. Still, he can’t just walk away from a fellow traveler in need.
Grif didn’t want to be saved, and he sure as hell doesn’t want to be stuck with an annoying, na ve do-gooder. But since when do the mountains give men what they want? The snow is too deep to travel. Food is scarce. Grif and Kiernan learn to depend on each other, and eventually to care about each other. Neither of them wanted it to happen. But sometimes the mountains don’t give men what they want; sometimes, the mountains give men what they need.
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah –
I’m still not quite sure what to make of this story. Part fantasy and part romance, there isn’t quite enough world building for readers to understand where it sits in time and place and the characters share far too few emotions for a romance.
It took me far too long to engage with either Grif or Kiernan. Grif starts out brutish and cruel while Kiernan is whiny and helpless. Not enough backstory is shared to give readers any real insight into either of these characters, so I struggled to care about their survival. And at its core, this is a survival story. Most of the book focuses on the men’s daily struggle for food and shelter.
There is sex in the book but while descriptions are quite graphic, the scenes lack heat and the sex often feels somewhat utilitarian. The relationship between Kiernan and Grif builds to an unconvincing happy for now.
I struggled with this story. I’m not a huge fantasy fan and I need a whole lot of world and character building when I do engage with fantasy. This sits somewhere between fantasy and historic fiction and it lacks the human emotion I need to engage with a story. Parts of it read like Game of Thrones fanfic and I’m guessing GOT fans might enjoy this more than I did.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out our Shelter from the Storm post on Wicked Reads at http://bit.ly/WRShelterStorm
4 stars- Shelter from the Storm was so incredibly different from what I’ve been reading lately and I loved every bit of it. I don’t know if I’d classify this novella more as a fantasy or historical romance but it has that other worldly, non-contemporary feel to it. There isn’t substantial world building, but it didn’t feel scant on details either. Rather, the book focused on the environment and the elements the men faced as they tried to survive a winter in the mountains.
A survival story, Shelter from the Storm features an experienced mountain man who’s all but given up on life unexpectedly meeting up with an inexperienced man on a mission. The men get trapped in a winter storm in the mountains and rely on one another to survive. The author did a fantastic job making the environmental factors into a secondary character. The stark coldness and barren areas felt alive and substantial, lending an intensity that created a different sort of conflict for characters to face in a romance and providing ample opportunity for both men to grow over the course of the winter.
The romance between Grif and Kiernan was steady and unrushed. Considering the shorter length, I was impressed with just how palpable the connection was between the men, delivering both a good amount of steam and emotional depth. Between the romance, setting, and characters, I found myself completely submerged in the story and would definitely recommend Shelter from the Storm to anyone looking for a romance that’s a bit different.
*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*
Shelter From The Storm by Kate Sherwood
When I finished reading last night (at 3:30 am) I thought, “M/M…or is it…M/m fantasy fairy tale.” With Griff the rather gruff sellsword starting out the story two weeks into on his journey while at the lowest point in his life and thinking he is ready to pack it in somewhere in the snowy mountains he keeps plodding only to fall off a cliff and…be saved by Kiernan. Now, Kiernan is much softer and some younger and totally clueless in more ways in one BUT also much more clued in to what he wants and…that is…Griff. This is a survival story with Griff teaching Kiernan many skills while Kiernan opened Griff’s heart and created a life that was so much better than he had experienced before. And, over time their relationship grows and changes significantly creating a sense of trust, caring, sharing and also the potential for a future together.
Did I like this novella? I must have – stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.
Would I read more by this author? Yes
I can see this as the introduction to a series set in the mythical land Griff and Kiernan speak of and would enjoy reading such a series if it existed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars