The Winter Witch (Shadow Chronicles)

by Paula Brackston

Mute fledgling witch Morgana is married for her safety to a kind farmer in the mountains of Wales before she is targeted by townspeople who are being manipulated by a dark force that compels Morgana to harness her powers.

• ISBN10: 1250042704
• ISBN13: 9781250042705
• Publish Date: 24 December 2013 (first published 29 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St. Martin's Griffin
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

This story of a mute (by choice) woman, Morgana, who has powers she doesn't understand, who marries a widowed drover, Cai Jenkins, and finds space for herself in the relationship, but very little space in the village he lives in. There are forces at work here and it will take all her power to keep alive and to keep Cai alive.
 
I enjoyed the read, the characters were interesting but the villains were a little thin.

[Cocktails and Books]

This book is absolutely wonderful. From the moment I picked it up, I could not put it down. The author’s meticulous attention to detail transports you back to 19th century Wales, painting a beautiful, breathtaking picture. She introduces you to Morgana, a mute witch who conveys far more through expression and actions than she ever could in words. After losing her father, Morgana’s mother worries for her, and arranges a marriage between Morgana and Cai, the most powerful man in town. Reluctant at first, Morgana slowly becomes accustomed to her new life, slowly but surely becoming fond of her new home, and of Cai.

As time goes on, Morgana and Cai begin to develop deep feelings for one another. Their romance is even more touching than most, as it proves that words are just words, and even the smallest of gestures can have the power to convey just how much you love and care for someone. The idea for this goes beyond romantic, and was one of my absolute favorite things about this story.

Mixed in with the romance, is a thrilling mystery, as Morgana and Cai find themselves fighting the evils of another witch to save their home, their land, and each other. Exciting, sweet and brilliantly written, this book is one of my favorites of the year so far. I would recommend this to anyone who believes themselves a true romantic at heart.

Reviewed by Marie for Cocktails and Books

[EBookObsessed]

Although this was a heavier read than I normally grab, I was entertained throughout the story.

There was some frustration in the beginning of the story. The problem with our heroine is not her silence, but her childishness. She is only 18 and apparently indulged by her mother and allowed to run wild rather than learning to cook or keep house. That in and of itself would make it hard to find her a husband, especially in a town that knows there is something different about her. When her mother agrees to allow Cai to marry her daughter, her mother neither mentions this to Cai nor advises her daughter she will need to take care of her husband. So she spends her first few days, burning the food and running around in fields.

Cai is rather shy himself, and although he is a widower, he decides to allow time for affection to grow between them before he forces wifely duties from her. Which is wonderful, but he is awkward and bashful, and many times misses opportunities to grow the affection between them, so we take a longer time than necessary to get build the relationship between them.

Although her silence doesn't bother me, I have to wonder how she managed all those years with her mother without some way to communicate since she reads, but cannot write. How can you read, but not be able to write?

It was a good story, and once we got to it, the relationship between Cai and Morgana was heartfelt, but I was not overwhelmed by the story.

It is not one that I would feel compelled to re-read.

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