The Winter Witch (Shadow Chronicles)

by Paula Brackston

New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston transports readers to the windswept mountains of Wales in The Winter Witch, an enthralling tale of love and magic.

In her small early nineteenth century Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana. She is small and quick and pretty enough to attract a suitor, but there are things that set her apart from other girls. Though her mind is sharp she has not spoken since she was a young girl. Her silence is a mystery, as well as her magic--the household objects that seem to move at her command, the bad luck that visits those who do her ill. Concerned for her safety, her mother is anxious to see Morgana married, and Cai Jenkins, the widowed drover from the far hills who knows nothing of the rumors that swirl around her, seems the best choice.

After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother, and wary of this man, whom she does not know, and who will take her away to begin a new life. But she soon falls in love with Cai's farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Here, where frail humans are at the mercy of the elements, she thrives, her wild nature and her magic blossoming. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly, he begins to win Morgana's affections. It's not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village. A dark force is at work there--a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana, even at the expense of those closest to her. Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself from all comers, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything in this beautifully written, enchanting novel.

"An enthralling tale of love and magic." -USA Today

• ISBN10: 1250001315
• ISBN13: 9781250001313
• Publish Date: 29 January 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 10 July 2014
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Saint Martin's Griffin,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• 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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