Kate A Boorman - Winterkill

Winterkill is a speculative young adult novel about Emmeline, a teenager in a walled-off settlement who lives under the strict rule of a council and is haunted by her grandmother's banished past. Surrounded by a terrifying, monster-filled forest and facing a forced marriage to the community's leader, Emmeline feels trapped. However, her dreams and the woods themselves begin to call to her, urging her to explore the dangerous world beyond her walls. As she follows this mysterious path, Emmeline uncovers a shocking secret that her village's powerful leaders are desperate to protect. With her forbidden crush and her best friend at her side, Emmeline must decide whether to embrace the relative safety of a life she despises or risk everything to uncover the truth. The novel explores themes of deception, control, and the bravery it takes to defy a repressive society.