Terrified she will harm hew newly-adoped daughter in the throes of a PTSD flashback, Kymbria James travels to the far Northwood of Minnesota to work with a Native American healer. Paranormal investigator Caleb McCoy is in the North Wood determined to learn how to kill a windigo similar to the entity he believes slaughtered his wife and son. As the monster captures tribal members one after another and drags each off to its lair, Kymbria is forced into the quest to destroy it. She must confront both her emotional situation from lingering PTSD and the monster only she can eradicate...if she can somehow find the courage to do so.
Reviews:
If you are a lover of action-packed stories of suspense or traditional horror, Winter Prey will keep you almost constantly on the edge of your seat. [Winter Prey] moves at a break-neck pace from chapter to chapter. Lovers of horror fiction will be satisfied, as well, with how the story crafts a constantly building sense of dread and tension. This is the kind of horror that is more about the feeling it creates than it is about the kinds of descriptions it offers. There is no gross-out factor here at all, yet the story leaves chills running down the reader's spine rather consistently.
I think that my favorite part of this novel, though, grows out of the story's nature. I am a devoted reader of horror fiction both classic and modern and, even though I might really enjoy a story, it is often pretty easy to figure out the building blocks that the author is using to tell their tale. In Winter Prey, however, Simmons takes some of the familiar elements of horror stories and turns them on their head, making the reader look at familiar situations in a completely new light.
The overall result is a novel feels both familiar and fresh at the same time and that is one heck of an exciting read . I can't wait for the sequel! Floyd Brigdon, Trinity Valley Community College, Department of English; She Never Slept, Assistant Editor
Winter Prey is one of the crowning pieces of T. M. Simmons' writing. She's crafted an exciting tale of mysticism and monsters expertly interwoven with the spice of budding romance. Her love of the far-north Minnesota landscape and Native American culture shine through in every aspect of this book, from the vivid descriptions of the North Woods to the endearing "Grandmother" Nodinens and the simultaneously down-to-earth yet enigmatic Keoman, Kymbria's childhood friend and Midewiwin counselor. Kymbria, the protagonist, is an engaging blend of strong modern female and devoted mother, who manages to be the heroine of the book without crossing that line into the unrealistic fantasy of warrior princess (sword slinging or gun toting). Handsome tribal outsider Caleb rings true as the haunted yet persevering male lead and Kymbria's romantic interest, whose heroics never trivialize Kymbria's, nor are they falsely cheapened to enhance hers. Simmons maintains just the right balance of heat and tension between them to make these two wounded souls shine. The entire cast of characters is captivating, and even the windigo itself prowls off the page as a multifaceted monster with a troubled past and a new purpose this hunting season. From start to finish, Winter Prey is a supernatural thrill! A. D. Guzman, author of Ghosts in the Footprints Anthology, Hadley Rille Books
