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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I...what? Wow. Absolutely fantastic. But I have to go do a lot of thinking now...Full review to come.
EDIT: I found a copy of Midwinterblood in Booksale.
But I can't find this cover/edition on Goodreads. Shame.
The first time I learned about Midwinterblood is when I've read a post about Printz-honor books of 2014. Midwinterblood is one of the short-listed. In the end, it won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award. But I didn't read the book at that time since I thought I will not enjoy this book. And that's one of the worst mistake I made in my life because now that I've read all I can say is I LOVED it!
Midwinterblood is one of the books that "if you know less before reading it, the better". I had the experience for that. I started this book without much knowledge what it is all about and I'm glad for it since I had really appreciated the book's beauty and brilliance. So, to be fair, I won't say much (because frankly, I really don't know what to say lol).
Midwinterblood is an epic tale of love and memories that transcends time. It is a compelling and page-turner. It is unique and original. It is odd and weird. I don't exactly know what is happening in the first chapter but it made me curious as fuck. Which is an enough reason to push through and boy, it was all worth it. Chapter by chapter, it builds up my anticipation and that gut feeling inside my chest. That feeling which, somehow, I already knew what I am reading and at the same time, I don't. I swear, Marcus Sedgwick is a hella good of a writer for doing this to me.
If you already read his books, you know, he didn't write a typical YA novel and that's what I liked about him. Midwinterblood is not an exemption. So, yeah, READ IT! :D
But I can't find this cover/edition on Goodreads. Shame.
"To bless means to sacrifice, and in blood."
The first time I learned about Midwinterblood is when I've read a post about Printz-honor books of 2014. Midwinterblood is one of the short-listed. In the end, it won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award. But I didn't read the book at that time since I thought I will not enjoy this book. And that's one of the worst mistake I made in my life because now that I've read all I can say is I LOVED it!
Midwinterblood is one of the books that "if you know less before reading it, the better". I had the experience for that. I started this book without much knowledge what it is all about and I'm glad for it since I had really appreciated the book's beauty and brilliance. So, to be fair, I won't say much (because frankly, I really don't know what to say lol).
Midwinterblood is an epic tale of love and memories that transcends time. It is a compelling and page-turner. It is unique and original. It is odd and weird. I don't exactly know what is happening in the first chapter but it made me curious as fuck. Which is an enough reason to push through and boy, it was all worth it. Chapter by chapter, it builds up my anticipation and that gut feeling inside my chest. That feeling which, somehow, I already knew what I am reading and at the same time, I don't. I swear, Marcus Sedgwick is a hella good of a writer for doing this to me.
If you already read his books, you know, he didn't write a typical YA novel and that's what I liked about him. Midwinterblood is not an exemption. So, yeah, READ IT! :D
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What an odd little duck to have in the YA section at my library. Midwinterblood follows seven different lifetimes for two souls who yearn to be together. The timeline goes backwards, which is a super cool concept, but unfortunately when I got to the end I did not find much to make me care about their struggle over eons. Lots of creepy weird blood sacrifices, people who don't age, halluecineginic orchids, and Vikings. Also, sometimes the souls were brother and sister, or child and adult, so I didn't know if it was simply being together or a sexual/love relationship they were striving for.
Quick read, thought provoking, but I wish there was a bit more meat to the story. I like to feel something about the characters I read about and I didn't really here.
Quick read, thought provoking, but I wish there was a bit more meat to the story. I like to feel something about the characters I read about and I didn't really here.
This book was not at all what I expected. The American cover made it seem like some cultish, paranormal romance (and it certainly contains those elements), but the actual story is so beautiful that I couldn't believe it.
It's a story of reincarnation, of sacrifice, of how a place influences its people. It's full of folklore, and as the story worked its way backwards, I marveled at how Marcus Sedgwick crafted one place and people and their transition through time. Seven stories, beginning in 2073 and working backward to a time before the Vikings, establish the story of Eric and Merle, who find one another and love one another in different ways, in different times. The consistent imagery--the hare, the dragon, the painting--weaves each story together, and each story adds another layer to the folklore.
Y'all, this is so beautiful. The craftsmanship of the story, the structure of moving backwards in time.
I was surprised that Eleanor & Park didn't win the 2014 Printz Award, but now I understand completely why this one did.
It's a story of reincarnation, of sacrifice, of how a place influences its people. It's full of folklore, and as the story worked its way backwards, I marveled at how Marcus Sedgwick crafted one place and people and their transition through time. Seven stories, beginning in 2073 and working backward to a time before the Vikings, establish the story of Eric and Merle, who find one another and love one another in different ways, in different times. The consistent imagery--the hare, the dragon, the painting--weaves each story together, and each story adds another layer to the folklore.
Y'all, this is so beautiful. The craftsmanship of the story, the structure of moving backwards in time.
I was surprised that Eleanor & Park didn't win the 2014 Printz Award, but now I understand completely why this one did.
He wonders about them all, all the many lives that have been, and that will be, and wonders why they are not all the same, why they are what they are. It cannot be, he thinks, that when our life is run, we are done. There must be more to man than that, surely?
This is just as weird as Sedgwick's other books, thankfully. I was disappointed by She is Not Invisible but I loved The Ghosts of Heaven, and this was more like the latter. I went into it pretty much blind. It tells seven stories in reverse chronological order, each connected. I loved the bit of history. If you love weird books that make you think, this might be just the book for you. Be warned though, it is a bit macabre at parts.
This is just as weird as Sedgwick's other books, thankfully. I was disappointed by She is Not Invisible but I loved The Ghosts of Heaven, and this was more like the latter. I went into it pretty much blind. It tells seven stories in reverse chronological order, each connected. I loved the bit of history. If you love weird books that make you think, this might be just the book for you. Be warned though, it is a bit macabre at parts.
"Midwinterblood" by Marcus Sedgwick is certainly a strange story. This book follows the seven lives of Merle and Eric as they attempt to reconnect over the centuries since his initial sacrifice.
For all the praise this title receives, I find myself unable to understand why. While reading this book, I found myself inexplicitly bored and wondering how this could be classified as YA. While I can see the appeal this would have for a teen, such as those looking for a book that speaks of 'love lasting through the ages,' the characters are not teens, do not deal with teen themes, and I honestly believe this is more of a New Adult book.
Nevertheless, this is labeled a YA book. I would recommend this book for teens looking for metaphysical-type reads, but be warned. While this is labeled as a fantasy, it is not the kind of fantasy most teens would think of.
For all the praise this title receives, I find myself unable to understand why. While reading this book, I found myself inexplicitly bored and wondering how this could be classified as YA. While I can see the appeal this would have for a teen, such as those looking for a book that speaks of 'love lasting through the ages,' the characters are not teens, do not deal with teen themes, and I honestly believe this is more of a New Adult book.
Nevertheless, this is labeled a YA book. I would recommend this book for teens looking for metaphysical-type reads, but be warned. While this is labeled as a fantasy, it is not the kind of fantasy most teens would think of.