Midwinter Folk

by Rebekah Clayton

When Rowan's parents divorce, her brother Luke turns 'cold and strange', and suddenly Rowan starts hearing voices. Is someone stalking her or is she going mad? London is caught in the grip of the coldest winter on record. The Thames freezes over and the streets are half-buried by snow. Rowan soon realises that Luke has been snared by the enemy; the voracious Hunters who want 'power over all', and finds that she is running for her life across the increasingly bizarre landscape of the frozen city. It takes a journey into the treacherous depths of Midwinter to save not only Luke, but all that she holds dear. " The old lady looked long into Rowan's eyes. In the green depths Rowan thought she could see faces amongst leaves, human-like, creature-like, deer running in the shadows of a great forest. "They are in for the kill, Rowan. Remember you have allies. But take care, for 'The Hunters' have many spies ."

480 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2019

Reviews

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very nice and interesting read.
And i really, really liked the front page, with that in mind - the pages flew by and the book felt sort of magical. Though this sadly, is not a favorite book of mine.

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect atmospheric read for winter, but I just didn't fully jive with it. 3.5 ⭐

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was ready to love this book but unfortunately, I just can't. There are too many things about it that I can't disregard. Thankfully, there were also quite a few things I did enjoy, so I thought I'd first talk about those and then get into the issues.

Things I liked:
1. The story is engaging from the get go. And the fast pace keeps it that way. From the first page, it got my attention and spiked my curiosity. It made me want to keep reading to see what would happen to Rowan.

2. The setting is magical and Rebekah Clayton does such a lovely job with the descriptions. She paints a vivid picture of a winter landscape which is beautiful and deadly. Some of those scenes made me feel like a child reading Narnia for the first time.

Things I struggled with:
1. Is this a children's book or is this YA? I'm not entirely sure. At first glance, this is definitely a children's book. Young protagonist who's innocent and good gets thrown into a Narniaesque world of adventures. But Clayton constantly tackles some more mature issues that are honestly way too intense for a children’s book. Seriously, I’m not one to say that lightly. I don't believe children should be overprotected or shielded from anything and everything. But, I do believe they shouldn't be exposed to abuse, rape, and more, all in one book. (Those themes could be toned out a lot to reach the right audience.) This confusion meansI can't recommend it as a children's book due to some of its mature themes and I also can't recommend it as a YA book because so much of the story is set up for children.

2. While reading, I often felt like the story wasn't fleshed out enough. I kept waiting for things to get explained but some of them never were. Or were given such a thin explanation that I was left wanting more. Why is Rowan the Durae, why is the world the way it is. What is this ancient fight she's thrown into? I kept feeling hungry for more and I just didn't get it.

3. It often felt like the book jumped from one scene to the other without much of a transition, leaving me to try to figure out what was going on for a few paragraphs, sometimes rereading a page a few times until I finally got the context. That could just be a me problem but I think having smoother transitions would've not only made the reading experience better, it might have also helped flesh out the story and set up clearer connections between events.

Conclusion:
So here you go. I almost loved Midwinter Folk. Clayton sets up a compelling story and I could've honestly disregarded most of my issues with the book if I wasn't constantly confused by its intended audience.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Find this review and more here: https://page-a-vu.wixsite.com/page-a-...

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spectacular start to early winter.

With influences of Tolkien, CS Lewis, Masefield and Susan Cooper, this is a incredible story featuring elements of British folklore, adventure, and the power of friendship.

Sure to be an annual re-read.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers who adore the old-fashioned Fairy Tales (prior to dilution for modern consumption) will adore MIDWINTER FOLK, a beautifully detailed and lyrically imagined panorama of a slightly near-future London and Yorkshire (think ICE DIARIES), in what appears a new Ice Age; and the "other worlds," those of the Fae and the Foul Folk--so close to mundane reality that if we could only "polish the glass" we could see. So close....that they can reach through and touch us...with their icy wintry fingers...and their blazing-eyed hounds....

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Troubadour Publishing Ltd/Matador for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Midwinter Folk’ by Rebekah Clayton in exchange for an honest review. It was published in September 2019 and my apologies for the late feedback.

The protagonist of ‘Midwinter Folk’ is Rowan. Her age isn’t given but she’s stated as being in Year Six at school, which makes her 10-11. Following her parent’s divorce Rowan is disturbed when her older brother Luke becomes ‘cold and strange’. Then Rowan starts hearing voices. Is she going mad?

With London in the grip of the coldest winter on record, Rowan and Luke are sent by their mother to York to visit their grandparents. Yet the countryside proves even stranger and then Luke goes off with a sinister group oblivious to his sister’s concerns.

Rowan learns of the dangers facing them and of her own destiny after she befriends Charli, a girl of her own age who is a member of the Wandering Folk. Charli’s Aunt is a wise woman who is able to alert Rowan as to the nature of the danger facing Luke and sends both she and Charli on a quest into the Otherworld. There they make contact with Faerie and magical creatures and again are sent on a journey.

This was a hard story to summarise though I was delighted at how artfully Rebekah Clayton embraced the folklore and mythology of Britain to weave this fantasy with its mixture of the modern and the timeless.

I know that judging a book by its cover is dangerous but I loved this one by artist Amanda Clark and after reading the novel it was clear that it had well represented the enchantment within.

I found that the descriptions were vivid and lyrical. Most of all ‘Midwinter Folk’ evoked a sense of nostalgia for those classic works of British fantasy where young people stumble into a wider reality. The winter setting and the sinister hunters especially brought to mind Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark is Rising’ sequence. Yet there were also reminders that it is set in the modern day with references to popular culture and technology.

Still, I did have concerns. ‘Midwinter Folk’ is listed on U.K.’s school reading list site as suitable for ages 12-16. Given its dark themes and some disturbing scenes, this feels right though Rowan’s young age might well attract younger readers. In addition, that stunning cover feels more suitable for a children’s book.

Aside from the age appropriate issues, I also felt that there were aspects of the plot that weren’t explained leaving me a bit confused. The ending also felt rather rushed and a bit disconnected. I wondered if this was intentional or if a sequel is planned to further explore Rowan’s destiny.

Overall I enjoyed it.

[Beth Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to give this book 3 1/2 stars, because though I enjoyed it, I had some serious problems with the plot.

First, the writing is absolutely 4 star quality; solid, evocative, and very readable. The imagery was strong, the main character compelling, and I found myself very immersed in the book.

But, as I said, I have some plot issues.

Firstly, and most importantly, rather than being the solution to the problem, Rowan does virtually nothing at the climax to warrant all the bother over her by both the Fair Folk and the Foul. Instead, by having her saved by the father who has been absent the entire book, the author introduces a deus ex machina ending. When it comes right down to it, Rowan lacks the courage to act, and I wanted to see her work through that. Yes, it might be argued that she got the other children to help, but in the long run, they didn't kill At'rax either, so it's not a case of an ending where everyone works together to defeat the enemy.

The second part - well, it's important, too. At the end, Luke is all better. But without knowing exactly what sent him into being the person he is through most of the book, it's hard to believe that transition. The problem for me is that he has no real transition at all - he's such a well-defined character during the first two-thirds of the book, that I want to see his understanding of where he came from in the third, and how he works his way back. A magical solution is a cop-out, and it's intensely frustrating, because that would have been part of the pay-off of the book for me. I wanted to see Luke come back to being the person he should have been, and I never got it.

One very minor point - rather than Rowan using the Earth stone twice and then being told that it can only be used once more, it would IMHO have been better if she'd been told by Mother Meg, "You've used it once, there's only twice more," because that would have kept the tension somewhat higher.

And a tiny little niggle - the very American president uses some decidedly British phrasing.

I am interested in seeing what the author has got up her sleeve in the future - I think she's a promising writer, who needs to think a little harder about her plots.

[Samantha Paterson (Magic.between.pages_za) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Troubadour Publishing Ltd/Matador for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Midwinter Folk’ by Rebekah Clayton in exchange for an honest review.

When Rowan’s parents divorce, her brother Luke turns ‘cold and strange’, and suddenly Rowan starts hearing voices. Is someone stalking her or is she going mad? London is caught in the grip of the coldest winter on record. The Thames freezes over and the streets are half-buried by snow.

Rowan soon realises that Luke has been snared by the enemy; the voracious Hunters who want ‘power over all’, and finds that she is running for her life across the increasingly bizarre landscape of the frozen city. It takes a journey into the treacherous depths of Midwinter to save not only Luke, but all that she holds dear.

I really enjoyed this book. It has all the makings of a great adventure tale.
The pace was fast and the story flowed very well. The world building was by far the best part of this book. The reader was submerged into a wintery world.
The main character has a lot to deal with at such a young age but she develops well throughout the story.
I did however find that some characters just fell off the map and we don’t get any closure on them.

I really did enjoyed reading this book but felt that the target age group for this book may be a bit too young. There are definitely some dark and mature themes that would be considered inappropriate for a young audience.

[Betanda Shanam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midwinter Folk is an enjoyable story which took me on the adventures of the heroine, Rowan. This magical fairy tale is Rebekah Clayton’s first childrens’ book which is centred around a young girl who is destined to undertake a treacherous journey and quest to save her brother and all that she knows. Rowan struggles with keeping her family together and completing her quest with the help from her friends. The discoveries of Rowan’s new abilities and who she really is, along with the troubles of her family life, will help this story resonate with many young people.

Midwinter Folk has all the great features a child’s fantasy novel should have: villains, self-discovery, mystical people and places, trusting and knowing supporters of the main character, a deep driven reason to complete the quest. I found myself comparing this book to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The vivid descriptions enable the reader to visualise the scenery and the characters, some of which are quite graphic and gruesome. Readers who have a spot for animals or are a little squeamish may find a few of the scenes in the final part of this book unnerving. Some of the descriptions were confusing; for example, I was unsure of the age of Rowan and got a bit lost in some of the battle scenes, however, this did not take away the true enjoyment of the storyline.

[Helgafj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, rather old fashioned children´s fantasy, in the sense that like many classic children´s tales it is heavily inspired by fairy tales, in this case celtic folklore. There is little focus on technology and more on relations between the characters as the main character is also dealing with her parents divorce, her mum is turning every penny and her father is not much around and her brother has become alienated from the family. Although of course in this case there turns out to be an underlying sinister reason for why all of this has happened to this family. I´m sure a lot of today´s children can relate with many of the every day challenges Rowan has to deal with and at the same time enjoy the fairytale that unfolds as well. I find it a bit hard to judge the proper age group for this book, the main character is still a child and thinks and acts as one, so I would say that on the whole this would be a suitable read for 9-12 years old, but at the same time there´s hinting about darker subjects that would suggest an older reading group.


Thank you #TroubadorPublishing and #RebekahClayton for providing me with an E-ARC of #midwinterFolk via the good people at #Netgalley.

[Rowan MacBean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some weird pacing issues—it sometimes felt plodding without quite feeling slow, and at other times it moved at a breakneck speed—but overall very very enjoyable. There were some things which reminded me of The Dark is Rising in the most delightful ways, and I know I would have absolutely adored this story as a child; I probably would have written fanfiction about it!

My only major complaint, I think, is that there are some very good and important characters who sort of just drop out of the story. It’s always for solid reasons—most often that they stay in one place while the main character continues her quest elsewhere—but they’re such engaging characters that I feel slightly robbed that I wasn’t given more information about them, and didn’t get to hear how they were at the end of things.

[Sarah Olin · Rating 3 out of 5]

eBook received for free from NetGalley in return for a review.

I found Midwinter Folk an interesting read, with lots of adventure and mystery. Parts of the story were predictable and the main character was slightly annoying at times, but I think that's more to do with my being older than the target audience. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for providing this book.

Unfortunately it was not my style, but a good one nevertheless

Is definitely a book for teens, with teens problems that they faced daily, and a need to escape to a whole new world.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young teens will likely enjoy this story. It's has a nice fairy tale-ish quality to it that I am sure will draw in the young teens. Magical!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Katie Clayton-Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a descriptive book, you're completely transported into Rowan's world and adventures!

[Tim Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read fantasy novels but this one really gripped me. It's an incredible achievement for a first time author, with the worlds of Summerland and Midwinter richly imagined, and builds to an impressive climax that had me sneaking upstairs - away from invited guests - to read the final chapters!

The hero/ine of the piece is like Frodo Baggins - unsure of her ability, full of anxiety, yet grows through her challenges and adventures into a brave soul yet still vulnerable, still motivated by her simple desire for family.

Part One of the book, set in a frozen London, is dark and menacing and I found this a little tough going. However, once Rowan and her brother Luke travel to Summerland and the adventure proper begins, I found myself completely absorbed in their story. Part 3 becomes much darker as a Mordor-like territory is richly imagined. The author pulls no punches in describing some of the more grisly things that take place there - vegetarians take note!!

I sincerely hope Rebekah has another book up her sleeve, it would be interesting to see what else she can conjure up in that fertile imagination of hers!