Having meant to try one of Riddle's books for some time I finally took the plunge with Winter's World, first of a two-book series set in a future where the Earth is dying during a mysterious ice age like phenomenon which threatens all of mankind. As an avid Sci-Fi reader, I can easily suspend reality and give the author wide berth, but this book is cliché and pretty deng annoying. It’s like high schoolers playing grown up. These characters and their respective internal dialogue lack the maturity, or portray the intelligence necessary to pull off the feat required to save earth. My second pain point is the general intelligence and maturity level of humanity’s last hope. Even the apparently accomplished doctor is easily flustered by discord on the team she’s there to treat and ensure the well-being of. They are either argumentative or overly sensitive. Oh James, oh James, lets hold hands, oh James is so smart, oh James tell me what you’re thinking, oh my! whatever are we going to do James… Urgh! Other female characters also never quite seem to provide any applicable solutions to whatever predicament. The lead female character is but a damsel-in-distress. First off, was the poorly scripted women. Great narration, but a couple pain points. I'm definitely not going to bother with the sequel. I wanted to like it but it just didn't deliver. All in all, I was super disappointed in this book. The author really seems to have phoned in some of the effort on this one, and the editor also doesn't seem to have done much to help either. Many plot points were never followed up on or glossed over. Many of the 'plot twists' were completely predictable, chapters in advance. The Martian managed to get the science right. I've heard some reviewers compare this book to 'The Martian' for some reason. A lot of inaccuracies in how things would play out were the planet to undergo massive cooling. Making an astronaut play the part of a damsel in distress was embarrassing to read.

This is the epitome of a male author writing a part for a woman without having a clue about women. Her entire reason for existing in the story seemed to be to validate all of the things James says and does. The character of Emma was really poorly executed. The premise of this book was interesting, which is what led me to purchase it, however I was disappointed for a number of reasons.

Ag riddle lost in time