Review time!
I Shall Return With Winter by C. F. Welburn @c.f.welburn
My rating: 
I Shall Return with Winter is an intriguing, dark and gritty tale by C.F. Welburn.
Oben, our protagonist, sets off on a journey of revenge after Skalgs ransacked his home and murdered his sister. He is determined to exact vengeance on four leaders of the Skalgs and promises his wife he shall return by winter.
Well, needless to say, things don’t exactly go to plan.
Oben is thrown into the midst of an age-old prophecy, of which he believes none, but he is forced to partake if only to survive. Yet, as the parts of the prophecy are revealed and events play out, his own faith is put to the ultimate test, and the stakes are sky-high.
With a fresh take on The Chose One-trope, I Shall Return with Winter has twists and turns you won’t see coming. The prose is flowing and intricate (no surprise there – all of Welburn’s books are fabulously written), the world-building is fantastic, and everything holds a mysterious quality that only adds to the book’s appeal and immersiveness.
I devoured this book in search of answers, wholly invested in Oben and the other characters. They were all wonderfully depicted and, despite their flaws, highly entertaining (even if they were not always likeable) as they all had their part to play in the prophecy. This was one exciting yet bloody ride, from start to finish.
And even though I Shall Return with Winter is a standalone novel, I’m happy to see Welburn leaves it open for a sequel. I, for one, will look forward to it!
