The Very Dead of Winter

A Sinner's Cross Novel

Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
380 Pages
Reviewed on 09/15/2023
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Author Biography

I wrote this book because when I finished SINNER'S CROSS, I realized the story wasn't over -- in fact, it had just begun. THE VERY DEAD OF WINTER is a bathosphere-deep dive into the psychology of men at war. As a reader, I had often been disappointed by the characterizations in historical novels, and I am writing this series so the audience would get to know the men as human beings: feel what they felt, share in their sufferings and rare triumphs. This is not a novel about strategy or technology. It's a novel about ordinary men under extraordinary pressure.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Very Dead of Winter: A Sinner's Cross Novel is a work of fiction in the historical, military, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for mature adult readers owing to the presence of wartime violence and explicit language throughout. Penned by author Miles Watson, the action unfolds on the eve of the infamous Battle of the Bulge during World War II. The survivors of Sinner's Cross are scattered across war-torn Europe. Halleck, a hardened Texan, finds himself leading inexperienced soldiers in the frigid Eifel Mountains. Breese, a troubled figure nursing a grudge, embarks on a perilous mission behind enemy lines in search of redemption. Meanwhile, Cramm, a one-eyed, one-armed German officer, struggles to reconcile his duty with a burning desire for vengeance against the fellow officers who maimed him. As the war rages on, these three men, separated by circumstance, will inevitably cross paths once more, their fates entwined in the very depths of winter.

Author Miles Watson has crafted a gripping work that blends together the lives of these complex characters against the backdrop of a brutal conflict. The book is a compelling exploration of courage, redemption, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity, peppered with atmospheric, cinematically described hardships that stick in your mind long after you close the book. It's a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by ordinary people during extraordinary times. Watson's vivid storytelling transports readers to the heart of history, where bravery and desperation collide on the snowy battlefields of Europe. Overall, The Very Dead of Winter was a gripping reading experience that plunged me deep into the harsh realities of WWII, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to historical and military fiction fans everywhere.