Winter Plague: A Dark Apocalypse Romance (THE WINTER PLAGUE) Paperback – December 11, 2023

I absolutely love this author. Besides being a skilled writer and talented storyteller, I admire the risks Blackbird takes with both character and plot. She creates complicated heroines who are, at times, frustrating and unlikable.I am so tired of the same tropes, Mary Sue heroines, half-baked romances, and formulaic plots in this genre. So I applaud Blackbird’s writing moxie in trying to create something fresh and different. Her endings are always so satisfying to me because they are never neat and pretty. They’re messier, occasionally shocking, and usually a mixed bag of bitter and sweet.Her stories can get quite dark (Dark Fae, Gods and Monsters series), which I absolutely love when it’s done well. Winter Plague is among her less dark work, yet it didn’t feel as though she pulled any punches or lowered the stakes. It felt real in its grittiness and Winter as the protagonist was very relatable. So although less dark than I normally prefer, Winter Plague gripped my interest through all four books—an impressive achievement.The author also skillfully used journaling as a device to bookend each installment of the series. I appreciated how these references infused emotional heft and set up the stakes at every ending and beginning.This was a slow-burn romance, and the heat level was moderate, which usually leaves me feeling dissatisfied (I enjoy a lot of smut in my smut 😉) But that did not hurt this series for me at all.Well done, this author. She once again proved to me that her books are the antidote to boring, hackneyed dark romance.

Well-paced, good action, and plenty of hints at character backstories & world-building. I can't wait to read the next book. A points off for so much use of British vocabulary given the US characters & setting. Small details that throw off an otherwise great world-building & plot.I had other issues that were resolved after reading Bk 2. Great series, nice plot twists!

Winter Plaque has been an amazing journey all the way. From the very first page to the last one. Quinn Blackbird managed to encapsulate in her storytelling the very essence of human nature : the good parts, the bad parts and the very bad parts, bathed in the harsh light of a world destroyed unrepeatably by a deadly virous.You will find no zombies in Winter's diaries. No detailed and steamy sex scenes. You will find no heroes either. What you will find is the very real narrative of a girl who had no place in this world, slowly and painfully finding her place in a new world created by chaos and destruction. You will find all the logistics of chaos and realise how chillingly easy it is for chaos to materialize in our lifetime and destroy mankind as we know it, by our very own doing.The real evil described in this book is bitter in it's nature. It stems from our dark parts. From everyone's dark parts. For me at least, the horror was not in the realization of how easily a lab virus can kill millions or turn them into mindless beasts in the blink of the eye, but in the plausibility of an even worse fate: the easiness with which the scarce survivors of such a holocaust can loose their humanity and become worse monsters than the crazed out infectees. And that was sublimely given by the author. Along with the humans having lost their humanity altogether when they realise that Laws are not applicable any more, she masterminded a bunch of anti-heroes (oh, how I love those!), a group of ordinary people focusing on survival and surpassing their ability to withstand. Strangers who come together out of necessity and sheer luck, battling with their fears, their vulnerabilities, their will to live- and the world they knew having crumbled to pieces. Along with a beautiful love story which lucked nothing in the way of details for the reader, because it was not the centrepiece of the book- and that was fine. The book was perfect as it was. Absolutely perfect. I would rate it with more stars if I had the chance.

I am not one to re-read books generally, even though I am a daily reader. I have now read this series 3 times. It is one of the best story lines I’ve ever experienced(because that is what it is, an experience). I have read Ms. Blackbirds other books and for one reason or another, I just could not get into them. These characters, however, drew me in deeply. If you like romance or, apocalyptic books, or zombie books or any variation of the three, you should give this series a go.

Other reviews have given a food good synopsis of the story. Which I enjoyed. I liked the fast pace and world building. Sometimes I felt like there was too much detail and sometimes not enough.I didn’t quite understand the break with the delta team. I did enjoy both Castle and Leo. I liked Vicki. I cannot believe how much I disliked that ridiculous dog. I understood her attachment but good grief was that an awful animal.I absolutely could not stand Winter. And not like the main female character is what lost a star. I disliked almost everything about her. TSTL choices. Her inability to bond with anyone. Her inability to emphasize. Her lack of kindness. She acted like a petulant child. I could not understand how all of these guys fell for her. At all. She didn’t grow at all through the story. Her snarky “banter” got old. Her inability to forgive. Particularly Leo at the end.So, good story, but awful female character.

This story was surprisingly good I got it free on stuff your kindle day. I was not expecting such a joke well post apocalyptic zombie Book.

I loved this book, it is amazing. It’s not exciting or action-packed but because of the main character, Winter, it is a compelling read.

I went through every emotion with this read. I laughed, cried, got way too angry, cried some more, and was left emotionally exhausted. Like all of Quinns books, this was well written and sucked you in. The heat level is faaarrrrrrr from spicey and the sex scenes are not what I'd usually expect from her, but it's still high on my books I'll re read again, and again and again. Thank you Quinn for inviting me into your world. It was an excellent adventure.

This is a dark romance with a love triangle. No menage scenes. The main characters were divinely complex, twisted and realistic. Each novella ends on a cliff hanger except the last one. I dont know why i love this author when there are rarely any sex scenes in her works. If you are a fan of twisted,dark, unique antiheroes and antiheroines , zombie like apocalypses then you will love this set. If you like virginal, stale and goodie two shoes type of characters then this set is not for you.

I felt it was such easy reading I just disappeared into the story. It's so much better than the maze runner. You feel the dire need for survival at every corner. I never had to skip a page. An excellent post apocalyptic view that brings chills.

I feel a bit ruined after this read.I know this was written some time back but gosh it’s just a touch too close to home.To be honest I’m not sure I like winter, but at the same time I do. She’s not the super strong “I can do everything” “I am Wonder Woman” which I both like and also hate. When you want an escape from reality in a book I find it a nice ride to read about some ideal super hero woman that a real one. One that’s not handy with a gun. Or good and offing people when the time calls for it. Someone who feels fear and isn’t quick to forgive and forget.This was a rollercoaster. I mean I want sure if I wanted to read it all because it was giving me full blown anxiety.But we’ll worth it.