When I first saw this title I too believed it was a graphic novel, but I'd already heard from others that it was a 'normal' book instead. That's fine as well, just a warning that this is NOT a graphic novel.

I'm not familiar with the Winterworld series, this book was my introduction. I'm however a big fan of Dystopian novels and this seemed to be one of those. And it is in fact a good Dystopian novel. The world is frozen over and only the law of the strongest applies. Scully's life is forced into new ways after a tragedy strikes.

It dark and brutal (sometimes perhaps a bit too much so), but it really fits the story. It made me interested in reading the graphic novels. I think it probably works great as a prequel novella for fans of the series.

The Mechanics song is the first book in the Winterworld series. It's also a prequel novella to the graphic novel series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this up from Netgalley thinking it was a graphic novel and was initially disappointed to find that this was in fact a novella that ties to a graphic novel series (Winterworld). It tells the younger years of Scully and his harsh start to life in the frozen landscape of a very bleak world.

Scully's is part of a family when we first meet him, you never really find out if this is his real family but I despised his 'mother' and 'father', his father being an abusive bully who uses Scully to take out his frustrations. His mother is too meek to stand up for him and it's not until an accident incapacitates his father that she even begins to notice him.

This was an enjoyable novella that sees Scully transitioning to manhood at a time where everyone is either hunting or being hunted. The brutality of the environment is described well and you get a real sense of how savage mankind has now had to become, as groups of people cannibalise and abuse the weakest members of society.

The pacing is pretty good for most of the read but for me it dropped off a little bit at the end and I wasn't as engaged in the outcome, I also felt the ending was very anti-climatic, to the point that I wondered if the e-arc had cut off the story prematurely.

Scully is a great character though and I wouldn't mind picking up the graphic novel series at some point. Recommended for those that love dystopian fiction.

Moonlight Reader started the TBR Thursday, and I think it's a good way to a) show what new books I've got and b) confront myself with my inability to lower my TBR. In fact, since I started recording it, it has risen significantly. I get the feeling I'm doing something wrong here...

I hoped that this week would be the one in which I actually started lowering the TBR. It was not to be unfortunately. Still, it looks like there are some awesome books in there...

TBR pile currently stands at 328. (+2)

(Netgalley ARCs at 155 (+7))

Winterworld Book 1: The Mechanic's Song was listed under graphic novels on NetGalley, so I was a bit disappointed when I realized it was a ordinary book instead. But I decided to read it since it was a short book and I actually came to enjoy it quite much. I like dystopian books and this one was really good, the world is frozen over and everyone has to fend for themselves. It's basically to eat or not to be eaten, seriously, there are cannibals out there in the frozen world.

I liked Scully, I liked the way the book was structured, him retelling Wynn about his upbringing. It was a great read to follow him from boy to a young man in this frozen world and I'm keen to read the rest of the books in the Winterworld series and to finally met Wynn.

4 stars

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!