Sylvi is a big rig driver in Whistletop, where it's always winter. She earns money to keep herself, her nearly-sister Lenore, and their inherited tavern running by taking long-haul delivery jobs. One of those jobs is with smuggler Mars, whose cargo is to be delivered to a rebel camp in the worst of the coldest season. Sylvi has her own reasons for taking the job--Lenore has recently run away to join the rebels--but she did not expect the journey to be so fraught. If they all survive the trip, can she save Lenore? Does Lenore even want to be saved? The prelude that introduces Sylvi, Lenore, and the spirit Winter to the reader doesn't give much background information, and as such, the setting and history of the world are all dropped into the first chapter in a muddled sort of way that makes the novel read more like a film script. Still, the intriguing concept and high-interest themes make this debut a good choice for larger collections.

A motley crew takes a dangerous road trip. Winter--a sentient and sometimes spiteful force first used by the Kerce refugees against the native half-rock, half-flesh Shiv and their god, Begynd, three centuries ago--rules Layce. White-haired, sylver-eyed 17-year-old Sylvi Quine considers Winter a friend, not a foe, talking to the sentient season and relying on the frozen roads to haul goods with her big ice rig, the Sylver Dragon. When her friend Lenore runs away, Sylvi pursues her with a mysterious cargo in tow and three unwanted guests riding along: the smuggler and magician Mars; noble Paradyian warrior-woman Hyla; and friendly Shiv mechanic Kyndel. En route to the rebel camp, Sylvi faces hostile Shiv, reanimated monsters, wrathful Winter, and the omnipresent but dangerous magical kol that taints the air and waters. Dittemore succeeds more at the cinematic science-fiction dystopian elements than the intermittent and somewhat trite fantasy subplot. At times, the Kerce's oppression of the Shiv reads as an extended rumination on colonialism, though without a conclusive critique or remedy. With Sylvi at the wheel, more concerned with mechanics and money than revolution, this reads as Ice Road Truckers meets generic chosen one coming-of-age. Relentless action sequences propel the tale through plot-heavy patches, but an abrupt cliffhanger ending necessitates a sequel. Some characters read as White; the cast's various skin tones are less of a factor than their magical abilities or mythical origins. Both mystical and mundane, a typical tale via unusual transportation. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 7 Up--When her best friend disappears to join the rebels, rig driver Sylvi agrees to a dangerous job in exchange for bringing her home safely. Hauling cargo across Layce--a land perpetually ravaged by Winter--isn't easy at the best of times, but hauling illegal wares for a smuggler during the dangerous season is perilous even for one as favored by Winter as is Sylvi, who has white hair and pale gray eyes. Hazardous roads, corrupt Rangers, zealous societies, and even monsters stand between the teenager and the hidden rebel camp. But with the contractual help of the smuggler and his crew, Sylvi is determined to pull it off. Elaborate creation stories and warring political powers govern daily life for the diverse islanders on Layce and immerse readers in Sylvi's world from page one. Winter, anthropomorphized as a female spirit, is a main character in her own right, setting the scene, creating the mood, maintaining the atmosphere, and manipulating the plot in her own favor. Sylvi is a resilient though conflicted character, and the changing relationship between the two drives the nonstop action throughout the book. In addition to Winter, Sylvi's shifting ties to the crew of smugglers provide readers an emotional pause between adventures. VERDICT A truly unique tale that will leave readers shivering with anticipation for the next installment.--Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson Univ., SC