Scan barcode
borjabilbao's review against another edition
4.0
El libro en que bien se puede basar el próximo éxito navideño de Netflix.
dan1el_ji's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
5.0
I basically already wanted to read this book based on the title alone. I love a good wordplay. Even though I'm not even a cat-person. When I read the summary of the book I was sold completely. And because I have of course overestimated my speedreading skills (and miscalculated the amount of review copies I requested and accepted) I could only really start this book, which I got from Little Brown Book Group via Netgalley, yesterday.
This book was the most magical experience I had ever had reading. At some point while reading the book I started crying and I can't even pinpoint why. I can't tell you why at that point. I can't tell you why I couldn't stop anymore. I can't tell you why all those emotions, mostly tears of happiness, were overwhelming me so much. It just happened. It might have been a strange kind of magic, slowly bewitching me while reading this book.
Which isn't weird. Because this book is constantly balancing on the brink of reality and magic. Or maybe it's a tale about real magic. Or maybe it's a story about magical realities. There are stories being told filled with magic and miracles. And surprisingly enough there are loads of moments where the magic and the people from those stories briefly show their faces during celebrations and storms and other important moments for this small town.
And yet, the true magic is the power of this community and the power of this one girl being stubborn enough to fight for it until the bitter end. There is so much love in this community, these people care so much about each other. It's the kind of community everyone wants to be a part of and I think everyone wants to feel once what the heroine gets to experience in this novel: The magic of coming home and belonging.
This book was the most magical experience I had ever had reading. At some point while reading the book I started crying and I can't even pinpoint why. I can't tell you why at that point. I can't tell you why I couldn't stop anymore. I can't tell you why all those emotions, mostly tears of happiness, were overwhelming me so much. It just happened. It might have been a strange kind of magic, slowly bewitching me while reading this book.
Which isn't weird. Because this book is constantly balancing on the brink of reality and magic. Or maybe it's a tale about real magic. Or maybe it's a story about magical realities. There are stories being told filled with magic and miracles. And surprisingly enough there are loads of moments where the magic and the people from those stories briefly show their faces during celebrations and storms and other important moments for this small town.
And yet, the true magic is the power of this community and the power of this one girl being stubborn enough to fight for it until the bitter end. There is so much love in this community, these people care so much about each other. It's the kind of community everyone wants to be a part of and I think everyone wants to feel once what the heroine gets to experience in this novel: The magic of coming home and belonging.
nifelhollow's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely heartwarming tale, one with deceit and lost tales. How even after years kind hearts can reconnect and bring new times and things of old will never forgotten as they will be passed down through tale and song.
barefootmegz's review
4.0
Two major things that first made me pick up A Midwinter’s Tail:
One, it has a cat on the cover;
Two, the intentional spelling of “tail” suggests that the cat plays an important role in the novel (she does).
Two minor things that encouraged me to pick up A Midwinter’s Tail:
One, the mention of Cornish folklore, which I knew very little about until a recent mention in [b:Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror|93481619|Christmas and Other Horrors An Anthology of Solstice Horror|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675201841l/93481619._SY75_.jpg|117706319];
Two, it is set during the Holidays/Christmas/festive time.
“A night when the old year stumbles and the new is yet to be born, a night when time does not flow but pools, and everything that could be, is.”
The thing that draws A Midwinter’s Tail together, and makes it so enjoyable and lovely, is the gentle mystic background. Nothing on the little Cornish island of Morgelyn is overtly magical or paranormal, but there is just a trace of the “other”, the very hint of something intangible behind a semi-opaque curtain. It is enough to make this more than a cute novel about a community pulling together to save themselves from big investors taking over; more than a young woman giving up big corporate London for a cozy, artistic life on the Cornish coast.
I honestly didn’t so much read to find out what happens to Morgelyn, than to make sure that Murr is okay - the seemingly ageless cat that has a penchant for making people worry about her. I just want to squeeze her face and love her! (Don’t tell my cats.)
The lilting voice of the storyteller with their intermittent folk tales, and the lyricism knitted into the fabric of A Midwinter’s Tale, makes this a pleasure to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
One, it has a cat on the cover;
Two, the intentional spelling of “tail” suggests that the cat plays an important role in the novel (she does).
Two minor things that encouraged me to pick up A Midwinter’s Tail:
One, the mention of Cornish folklore, which I knew very little about until a recent mention in [b:Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror|93481619|Christmas and Other Horrors An Anthology of Solstice Horror|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675201841l/93481619._SY75_.jpg|117706319];
Two, it is set during the Holidays/Christmas/festive time.
“A night when the old year stumbles and the new is yet to be born, a night when time does not flow but pools, and everything that could be, is.”
The thing that draws A Midwinter’s Tail together, and makes it so enjoyable and lovely, is the gentle mystic background. Nothing on the little Cornish island of Morgelyn is overtly magical or paranormal, but there is just a trace of the “other”, the very hint of something intangible behind a semi-opaque curtain. It is enough to make this more than a cute novel about a community pulling together to save themselves from big investors taking over; more than a young woman giving up big corporate London for a cozy, artistic life on the Cornish coast.
I honestly didn’t so much read to find out what happens to Morgelyn, than to make sure that Murr is okay - the seemingly ageless cat that has a penchant for making people worry about her. I just want to squeeze her face and love her! (Don’t tell my cats.)
The lilting voice of the storyteller with their intermittent folk tales, and the lyricism knitted into the fabric of A Midwinter’s Tale, makes this a pleasure to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
patchworkbunny's review
4.0
A festive tale of community versus capitalism, with an island myth woven through it. And a very special cat.
helloiammikki's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
Coined as far more magical realism than it really was. In the end, it's a story about a community coming together to fight off a threat, with some bland and forced romance thrown in because writers seem to feel this is necessary. The writing is fine, and if you suspend your disbelief, the story is cozy and decent. I didn't get much of a midwinter vibe from it, despite it constantly being mentioned, and the cat is really only a character on the periphery. It's fine to while away an afternoon, but don't expect anything groundbreaking or amazing.
jwinfield_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5