★★★★★ An old story told backward

Midwinterblood

Marcus Sedgwick

Marcus Sedgwick's Midwinterblood begins in 2073 with reporter Eric Seven getting on a plane to travel to the remote far northern Island of Blessed. "Eric Seven" -- that's an odd name, is it not? Eric explains to those he meets how his parents came to choose it, but perhaps it has a significance that escapes even Eric himself? 2073 sounds like we're heading into a science fiction novel, but this is a 2073 that is, to my eye, almost indistinguishable from 2023, the year in which I am reading. The story of Eric Seven begins in Part One. After Part One comes, not surprisingly, Part Two. But it is not really after. Part Two takes place in 2011. Parts Three through Seven take place in 1944, 1902, 1848, the tenth century, and an unknown time long ago, in that order.

There are some stories that are so good, so fundamental, that they are told over and over. You have heard the story of Midwinterblood before. I will not tell you which story it is, because it is better that you figure it out for yourself. And, by the way, please skip the publisher's summary, which gives far too much away! I am not usually one who minds spoilers, but in the case of Midwinterblood the chief pleasure of the novel was figuring out what story was being told, what old friend we were meeting, so I would advise you to avoid spoilers.

It's a beautiful story with deep roots in Scandinavian history, though almost nothing in the story is literally historical. It is listed as romance, and that is accurate. It is also listed as Young Adult and even won a Printz Award for "excellence in young adult literature", but to be honest, I don't know why. I mean, I know why it won an award -- it's a REALLY good novel. But it's a good book for, I would say, age 15-∞.

So, a beautifully written novel for adult readers of all ages. A classic story with a little romance and a lot of mystery and no small amount of darkness.

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