Midwinterblood

April 25, 2014 Book Review 1

MidwinterbloodMidwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Published by Macmillan on 2013-02-05
Pages: 272
Source: Purchased
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads

Seven stories of passion and love separated by centuries but mysteriously intertwined—this is a tale of horror and beauty, tenderness and sacrifice. An archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact, an airman who finds himself far from home, a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and a Viking: the seven stories in this compelling novel all take place on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed where a curiously powerful plant that resembles a dragon grows. What binds these stories together? What secrets lurk beneath the surface of this idyllic countryside? And what might be powerful enough to break the cycle of midwinterblood? From award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick comes a book about passion and preservation and ultimately an exploration of the bounds of love. A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2013A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013

My Thoughts:

Another short but intense book from Marcus Sedgwick. How does he do it? Fit so much depth and nuance in one book that only takes a couple hours to read?!? Color me impressed. Again.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick reads… well… backwards. Chronologically, that is. It’s told in seven parts. The first is set in the not so distant future. The next is in 2011 and it goes back and back from there until the events are so far back we don’t have a date.  In the first section we are introduced to the most mysterious character of all… the island Blessed where the stories take place. The events of the first section come to a climatic point and then we jump back in time. Each section beyond that carries a story out with some closure but it isn’t until the end of the book that we get closure on section one. I was amazed at how this all played out and the many different connections revealed as the reader learns more and more.

This book is just so very layered. Each story is tied to the others but often the reader doesn’t see it until a couple sections later. There were so many interesting themes and symbols that are woven through Midwinterblood. I was so interested to see how each one related to the individual sections as well as the story overall. I mean, how many other books can work vikings, vampires, ghosts, archeology and hares together in a way that makes sense?!? Marcus Sedgwick’s storytelling is truly something to behold!

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick is unlike anything I’ve read before. You don’t want to miss this hauntingly beautiful and delightfully creepy tale!

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