Despite odd pacing—never quite slow, but varying between steady and breakneck—Midwinter Folk was a very enjoyable read. I found myself caught up in the characters, thinking about them not just when they weren’t on the page, but also at times when I had to put the book down to do other things. There was a moment or two that made me wince a little and wonder how suitable this is for children, which is not a thing I usually do, but I know I absolutely would have lost myself in this story when I was young.

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.

An enjoyable winter read, nice characters and story. Story felt quite slow paced though

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I enjoyed the slow unwind of this beautifully told fantasy. Rowan is a relatable heroine and the backdrop – first of a frozen London and later of the summer lands – has an almost Narnian feel to it. This draws a lot from fairy tales in its themes. It’s a gradual story. There is plenty of action but the prose forces you to slow down and pay attention. A perfect winter read.

Rowan feels like she is being followed through the snowy streets.she gets the feeling of being followed and next comes the distracting voices. A hard winter is expected.