Winterveil by Ava Reid
What would the world look like if the Cold War still raged on?
Winterveil by bestselling author Ava Reid (A Study in Drowning, Fable for the End of the World) dives headfirst into that dystopian future, inviting us into the lives of four students/inmates at Valeran Academy, an academy where the United States sends exceptional young people who also find themselves with a prison sentence. They are Julian Joyce-Young III, a disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty; Klaudia Shimonova, a coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win; Giselle Buckley, a former pageant queen with a unique talent that could change the world; and Nadiya, an expert female soldier with a secret past.
At Valeran, they train in strategy, combat, espionage and more, set to become the latest soldiers in the fight against the enemy. The Cold War has dragged on for nearly a century, and the United States seeks a new generation of elite assets — the students at Valeran may be what it takes to finally turn the tide. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace; new weapons are being tested, and a breaking news story reveals that Dr. Satow, a defected East German scientist, has now been abducted by Soviet intelligence.
An Unlikely Team on a Dangerous Mission
When their training at Valeran takes a sudden turn, Julian, Klaudia, Giselle and Nadiya form an unlikely team — though some are more likely to be at each other’s throats than to collaborate. Valeran leadership is keeping secrets from them, and when the four are taken from the Academy to begin a classified mission for the government, it becomes clear that the truth has been twisted and warped to manipulate and to instigate. They don’t know who can be trusted, even each other, and there is no way out. Julian, Klaudia, Giselle and Nadiya must learn to work together, to utilize each other’s strengths and cover for each other’s weaknesses, if they want to make it out of this mission alive.
Reid delivers another masterful dystopian world in Winterveil, from the simulations and technology of Valeran Academy to the political machinations of the Cold War-gripped society of the United States in the 2030s. It’s an intricately woven tale, featuring an impressive cast of characters that draw you in, only to surprise you time and time again as each backstory and secret is revealed. These characters are all hiding pieces of their past, from each other and from the reader, and Reid does an excellent job of layering in their backstories, leaving us a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the book while revealing fascinating fragments along the way in a manner that will have you gasping in shock.
Secrets and High-Stakes Action
Julian, Klaudia, Giselle and Nadiya are each unique and well-developed. We hear the story from their different perspectives over the course of Winterveil, and I enjoyed the different voices, experiences and worldviews that they each brought to the overall piece. Their relationships with each other are also incredibly fun to watch evolve over time, from the intimate, romantic moments shared by some to the raw, explosive moments we get with others.
Reid has done an excellent job with pacing in Winterveil, which features all sorts of action, suspense and tension. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, desperate to know what would come next, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in this thrilling duology.
Perfect for fans of Reid’s Fable for the End of the World, if you love a dystopian book with an academy setting, filled with high stakes, political scheming, interesting technology, plenty of action, a touch of romance and so much more, then Winterveil is for you!
About Ava Reid:
Ava Reid was born in Manhattan and raised right across the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey, but currently lives in Palo Alto. She has a degree in political science from Barnard College, focusing on religion and ethnonationalism.
