Publication Date: 12th Oct 2023
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Magic Realism
4 Stars
One Liner: Beautiful!
It is Christmas time, and Mina Kestle gets one step closer to signing the biggest deal for her agency. This is everything she wanted, or so it seems until Mina finds a cryptic letter with an iron key in her handbag.
Why did her godfather contact her after twenty years? Mina doesn’t want to bother. After all, he didn’t respond when she needed the most. However, she rushes to his cottage on the tiny Cornish island of Morgelyn to take care of his cat, Murr. Mina is sure she can sort the matters in a day and rush back to London and her life.
However, many truths come out in the open, forcing Mina to reconsider what she knew about her life and her godfather. With more concerns added to the list, Mina might be the only one to set things right, with Murr’s help, of course! The grey cat with green eyes has its own stories to tell!
The book comes in Mina’s first-person POV and snippets of folklore/ stories in the third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a whimsical, cozy, cutesy story with Cornish folklore and contemporary drama set in December. The book is less than 250 pages and has a steady pace. While this sacrifices some character development, it’s easy enough to empathize with the main characters.
The book has touches of magic realism, though it is very light. The otherworldly elements get stronger as the story progresses. This works for the plot as Mina takes time to feel a part of the tiny island with a history.
The stories woven into the main plot are my favorite. They are short and evocative and stay connected to the overall storyline, even if it is not immediately apparent.
Murr, the mysterious cat, is one of the main characters. She does have a prominent role, though I think it could have been even better. I was hoping for Murr to be more active in the present. That said, the story relies on the cat and justifies the title and the cover (don’t you love that cover design).
The book has a bit of romance, too, though it doesn’t dominate the main plot. The same goes for a touch of inclusivity with a non-binary character (very minor role) and a lesbian ex-couple.
The villain or the grey character does what they are supposed to do. No depth again, though we do get a reason for their actions.
The writing, however, is beautiful. The descriptions have a touch of poetic charm without feeling verbose or overwhelming and also without slowing down the narration. I love how the words flow. The setting doesn’t just come alive. It sucks the reader in and transports them to the cold, mystical island with secrets from the past.
The book was an almost 5-star read until certain twists or revelations came to light. Though it sounds heartbreaking, I have too many questions and not enough information (also, I'm not a fan of that trope). I wish this aspect was handled differently. Not saying more to avoid spoilers.
There’s an epilogue with happy moments, so that’s a bonus.
To summarize, A Midwinter's Tail is a heartwarming novel about life, priorities, and being true to oneself, community, and family. You can finish it in a couple of hours on a cozy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Sphere, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #AMidwintersTail
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TW: Parental death
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