A Midwinter's Tail - Lili Hayward - ★★★.½

AUTHOR: Lili Hayward

GENRE: Contemporary Drama

RATING: 3.5 stars.

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.

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 to 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:

😻 Murr, the cat who also graces the cover. While I would have liked to see Murr in a greater and possibly more active role, I still enjoyed the scenes where she is present.

😻 The writing is absolutely lyrical. Even when the story goes beyond the islands to the urban landscapes of London, the imagery is stunning. But the island setting is where the author’s writing truly shines, almost paying an homage to nature. From the gorse to the sea holly to the rocky land and the sea itself, every natural feature of the island is captured with such picturesque vividness that I was not just reading about but living the Cornish atmosphere, feeling the waves and the wind as I sauntered through the story.

😻 The island dwellers are as close-knit as people in a small town usually are. Many of them are vivacious characters, thereby adding a lively spirit to the otherwise sombre plot.

😻 Davy’s myriad stories, all coming through Mina’s recollections of her childhood, are penned beautifully. Written in folktale style, they are infused with an earthly yet magical charm, making me feel like I was listening to a talented raconteur narrating some beautiful lore.

😻 Though the story is contemporary, there is an old-world feel to it, courtesy the midwinter festival, the close-knit community vibes among the islanders, the island itself that is almost untouched by capitalism, and the lore. I enjoyed this old-new medley.

😻 A special shout-out to that gorgeous cover and the punny title. My first two points of attraction for this book!

Bookish Mixed Bags:

😾 The prologue gives the perfect start to the story, but it also made me expect a lot more magic from the main plot. However, there is just a mild dash of magical realism, enough to satisfy but not enough to thrill. The surreal content increases as the plot progresses but is never explained. I would have loved more magic and at least some more answers. For instance, what was the deal with Murr? Was he on his ninth life or has he already exhausted his quota and received a divine extension?

😾 There is an ex-lesbian couple and one non-binary character. However, the latter just has a fleeting appearance and the former has already broken up, so there’s nothing much explored there except bitterness. While I appreciate the inclusivity, it felt more like a token gesture than a genuine need of the plot.

😾 I did love Davy’s anecdotes and Mina’s imaginative forays into her past, but these made the flow of the plot somewhat complicated. I am not sure how this book will work on audio because the random flashbacks and interspersed lore aren’t conducive to easy listening.

😾 The book is quite short. However, the initial half is relatively weak. As I have mentioned many times before, I like prose but I love plot even more. The plot herein is minimal in the first half, with too many secrets and not enough explanation. This created a dragged feel, and I felt no compulsion to return to the book once I set it aside. The second half performs much better.

😾 While I did like many of the characters, the fact is that their development is too straightforward. There is no depth to their sketching. All fit in their roles –whether good or bad - without any unpredictability. The layering is almost non-existent.

😾 The word ‘predictable’ is always seen as a negative trait. But sometimes, predictable is safe, calming, reassuring. In that sense, the book is good as you can see where things are going and hence it works well as a light read. Unfortunately, this also makes the plot slightly boring. There’s no challenge to the mind.

Bookish Nays:

😿 There is a (minor) romantic track even here, though the story doesn’t need one at all. The romance, while not over the top (Thank God!), is oh-so-guessable. The minute the potential suitor comes on the page, you understand that he has been tagged for Mina. I didn’t like this development, all the more because there was no apparent chemistry between the couple. Does a journey back to your roots have to involve romance? I wish some relationships were left platonic. Not every book needs to compete with Hallmark!

😿 The backstory about Mina’s childhood on the island wasn’t entirely convincing to me. There were a few gaps in the explanation. There was also one reveal connected to this aspect that was somewhat annoying. I guessed the reveal much before the plot even came close to it, but that still didn’t make me a fan. I think it was a needless twist and the story would have worked better without it.

All in all, this is a feel-good Christmas-time story with some beautiful writing. The story doesn’t offer many surprises, but if you are looking for something safe and satisfying that is also somewhat whimsical, this book ought to work nicely.

My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK, Sphere, and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Midwinter's Tail”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.