A Midwinter's Tail
by Lili Hayward
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Description
'A wonderful tale of love, loss and community with folklore and magic. I adored it!' LIZ FENWICK A town in need. An extraordinary cat. A season for miracles... It's nearly Christmas and committed Londoner, Mina Kestle, is close to signing a deal that will make her career and give her everything she's ever wanted. And then she receives a mysterious letter in the post along with an ancient key, sent by her long-estranged godfather . . . Davy Penhallow is an artist who lives on the tiny Cornish show more island of Morgelyn with only his pet cat, Murr, for company. Mina hasn't seen or heard from him in decades, but now it seems he wants her to look after his cottage - and his cat - while he recovers from a stroke in hospital. Mina doesn't know why Davy has written after all these years, but she intends to do what's right: sort out the cottage and the cat and then get back to London in time for her career-saving meeting, before everything she's built comes crashing down around her. But the more time Mina spends in the cottage, looking after Murr and remembering the magic of Cornish folklore, the harder it becomes for her to tear herself away. And when she discovers that a set of ruthless property developers are coming for Morgelyn, she realises she might be the only one who can stand in their way to save the island, Davy's cottage and Murr's home. As Christmas draws ever closer and echoes of the past - her own and the island's - wash up in her memory, Mina begins to unravel a generation of secrets... and discover what it is she has truly always wanted . . . The perfect magical read to cosy up with on chilly winter nights... WINNER of The Fantasy Hive's "Short and Sweet" award 2023 show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
DNF @ 36%
Turns out this book isn't what I had wanted out of it. Specifically:
— It is tagged as "fantasy" but "minor magical realism" would be more accurate. (Emphasis on MINOR.)
— Too much misunderstanding / lack of communication as the main plot element so far.
— Highly unbelievable (and for me, unlikeable) main character.
— It seems like a very predictable plot, and based on other reviews all my guesses about the book are accurate. (I did not want to be able to guess the rest of the book's plot "twists" based on 36%.)
From what I can tell, this story is like a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form. That wasn't what I wanted to read. If it's what you want to read, you might have much better luck than I did with this book.
Turns out this book isn't what I had wanted out of it. Specifically:
— It is tagged as "fantasy" but "minor magical realism" would be more accurate. (Emphasis on MINOR.)
— Too much misunderstanding / lack of communication as the main plot element so far.
— Highly unbelievable (and for me, unlikeable) main character.
— It seems like a very predictable plot, and based on other reviews all my guesses about the book are accurate. (I did not want to be able to guess the rest of the book's plot "twists" based on 36%.)
From what I can tell, this story is like a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form. That wasn't what I wanted to read. If it's what you want to read, you might have much better luck than I did with this book.
In a Nutshell: A predictable but heartwarming story. Works to a great extent; could have improved on character development. Prose and atmospheric setting lovers will enjoy it more.
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Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays: show less
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Story Synopsis:
When Mina receives a note a few days before Christmas from her estranged godfather Davy Penhallow, an acclaimed artist who lives on Morgelyn Island off Cornwall, she is initially not sure what to do. But it’s not like she’s enjoying her boring job, so when she learns that Davy is recovering from a stroke in hospital and wants her to take care of his cat Murr, she leaves her work obligations and rushes to the remote location. Her only intent is to ensure that someone is looking after Murr so she can return toshow more
London immediately.
However, as she spends more time in Davy’s cottage, she recollects his engaging narration of Cornish folklore and the few happy months she spent there with her mother. The support of the island community also touches her. But she soon discovers a hidden agenda behind one islander’s friendly overtures. Now it is up to Mina to save Murr and Morgelyn.
The story comes to us in Mina’s first person perspective.
Bookish Yays: show less
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- Canonical title
- A Midwinter's Tail
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- Members
- 35
- Popularity
- 820,720
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English, Hungarian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 3
