Something extraordinary is coming this winter. A story filled with wonder, danger, friendship, and the magic of Christmas. Get ready to step into a world where snowflakes shimmer with ancient power, where lanterns float through the night sky, and where one girl holds the key to saving two worlds. This is Alice Winnter and the Winter’s Key, the first book in a brand-new young adult fantasy trilogy from author Matt Newnham.
On a quiet Christmas Eve, seventeen-year-old Alice Winnter is doing what most of us do at that time of year. Helping to decorate the family Christmas tree. Searching for the last box of tinsel. Listening to carols in the background. But when her mother asks her to fetch some old decorations from the attic, Alice stumbles upon something far more mysterious than dusty baubles and tangled fairy lights. Beneath years of forgotten boxes and memories, she discovers a small wooden case containing a tarnished silver key resting on deep blue velvet. The moment she touches it, a chill runs up her arm and the world feels somehow different.
Alice remembers her grandmother mentioning the Winter’s Key once, many years ago, in the middle of one of her strange but enchanting stories. At the time Alice had dismissed it as a bit of seasonal make-believe. Now, holding the cold weight of it in her palm, she realises this key is real, alive with a faint pulse, and meant for her.
From that moment, her Christmas changes forever.
That night, unable to sleep, Alice is drawn outside into the softly falling snow. She sees flickering lights deep in the woods, lights that seem to beckon her closer. Against her better judgement, she follows them, crunching through the snow until she reaches a clearing. There, waiting for her, is a boy like no one she has ever met before. Eryx is pale, with eyes the colour of storm clouds. He knows her name, he knows about the key, and he speaks of a world beyond the woods. A world called Yuletide, where Christmas never ends, where frost sprites play in the snow, and where magic flows through every tree and snowflake. But he also speaks of a growing darkness, seeping in through a forgotten gate, threatening to destroy the magic forever.
In the blink of an eye, Alice finds herself stepping through an ancient oak door into Yuletide. The sight takes her breath away. Snow-covered cottages lit by golden lanterns. Market stalls selling enchanted gingerbread and scarves that knit themselves. Sleighs gliding through the air. Music and laughter everywhere. It feels like the perfect Christmas village. Yet Alice quickly notices that all is not well. Lanterns flicker and fall. Streets lie in shadow. Villagers whisper of strange happenings and lost joy. The magic here is fading.
Eryx takes her to meet Elder Nymora, the wise leader of Yuletide. The elder tells Alice the truth. The Winter’s Key once sealed a great gate, keeping an ancient shadow from returning. For generations, the key has been hidden in Alice’s family, waiting for the moment it would be needed again. That moment has come. Alice, whether she likes it or not, has been chosen to bear it. She must find the breaches where the shadow seeps through and seal them before it is too late.
But Alice is not the only one who has noticed her disappearance. Back in the real world, her friend Jack calls round with a Christmas gift only to find she has been gone for hours. Concerned, he sets out into the snowy night, following her usual paths until he reaches the woods. There, he finds Alice’s footprints, crisp in the snow… and then gone. Simply gone. In the silence, he catches a glimpse of a strange shimmering light between the trees and hears a whisper that makes the hairs on his neck stand on end. Jack is determined to find her, not realising that the same magic that has taken Alice is watching him too.
As Alice begins her journey across Yuletide, she faces trials that test her courage, kindness, and belief in herself. She meets frost sprites who leave trails of sparkling ice as they dance. She walks through forests where the trees whisper secrets and try to steal her memories. She learns that the Winter’s Key responds to acts of selflessness, growing warmer and brighter in her hand when she chooses to protect others. And with every step she takes, the bond between her and Eryx grows stronger. She sees glimpses of the pain he carries and begins to suspect he is hiding something about his own past.
The darkness is never far behind. It seeps into villages, freezing fountains solid, extinguishing the joy in children’s laughter. Alice discovers that this shadow is not just an enemy to fight, it is a wound in the world itself, a force with its own reasons and desires. She must decide whether to simply lock it away again or risk everything to understand and heal it.
Meanwhile, Jack’s search in the real world brings him closer to the edge of Yuletide. He finds strange relics belonging to Alice in the snow. He leaves her messages in a hollow tree, unaware that they are crossing into her world and appearing in magical fountains and mirrors. Each time Alice sees one, she is reminded of home, of the people who care for her, and of the danger of never returning.
As the breaches grow larger and the shadow more aggressive, Alice is forced to confront the true cost of being the bearer of the Winter’s Key. To seal the gate for good, she may have to give up her life in the real world and become Yuletide’s permanent guardian. It is a choice that will change her forever.
Alice Winter and the Winter’s Key is more than just a magical Christmas tale. It is a story about courage, loyalty, and the bonds between people across worlds. It is about finding light in the darkest moments and understanding that true magic often lies in the choices we make for others. The vivid settings, from the glowing streets of Yuletide Village to the frost-bitten forests and the ancient mountain gates, create a world that feels as real as it is fantastical. Readers will walk alongside Alice through wonder and danger, laughter and loss, feeling the crunch of snow underfoot and the sharp sting of winter air as if they were there themselves.
The first book in a planned trilogy, Alice Winnter and the Winter’s Key lays the foundation for an epic adventure that will span realms, test friendships, and explore the limits of hope. It is perfect for young adult readers and anyone who still feels the magic of Christmas in their heart. Whether you love heart-pounding fantasy quests, mysterious friendships, or festive worlds filled with light and shadow, this is a story that will pull you in and not let go.
Coming soon to bookshelves and e-readers, this enchanting debut of Alice Winter’s journey is set to become a seasonal favourite for years to come. Make sure you’re ready to step through the gateway when it opens. Keep your eyes on the snow, listen for the whisper in the wind, and remember… the key has chosen you.