Young Adult > Fantasy
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.
Literary Award: Carnegie Medal in Literature Nominee (2013)
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Seven stories. Seven lifetimes. How can love, any love, survive through that?
Midwinterblood reminds me of Cloud Atlas (in terms of the connecting stories), When the Sea is Rising Red and The Brides of Rollrock Island (because of the richness in tales of love lost, found, and lost again).
Dark. Creepy. Awesome!
The stories are mesmerizing, marvelous in the way that they can stand alone as a short story. I remember I loved most of them, whether its sad, romantic, gory or tragic. Marcus Sedgwick did not stick to the conventional plots, for his were far out! The imagination involved, the emotions stirred – those elements made Midwinterblood really worked for me.
I think I was on the fourth story when I caught up on the connection. I say, that could not be it, but then, why not? And it was unbelievably unusual that I want to revel in the uniqueness of it. And let me not forget the horror, and gore. Wee!
How come the most saddest people have the most beautiful of histories? What could’ve gone wrong? If there is another chance, will they be strong enough to fight for that same love, over and over again?
Midwinterblood is an acquired taste, for I think not many readers will be inclined to claim it as a favorite. But I hope you do. It will be a shame to be deterred by the tragedy alone. 😉
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MIDWINTERBLOOD by Marcus Sedgwick
Hardcover, 272 pages
reading is the ultimate aphrodisiac. 