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Jan 25, 2015forbesrachel rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Journalist Eric Sevens seeks to uncover the mystery of Blessed Island, but before he can come to understand what he's discovered...Thus begins a tale of two love-bound souls, reborn over and over again. Throughout Eric's and Merle's lifetimes, love comes in many forms, including one between a parent and child, lesbian lovers, and siblings. As the story progresses we travel further into the past, delving deeper into this island's dark secrets, as well as discovering all the connections between lifetimes. While trying to connect the dots is quite engaging, the significance of repeating names, lines, objects, and events often eludes us until the appropriate moment. Even with reoccurring elements, Midwinterblood never feels repetitious. Each story has a different tone binding us to that particular experience; we get the tale of a pilot from World War II, a ghost story, and the facts behind legends. As for the whole, there is a great deal of tragedy, but it never overwhelms thanks to the hope created by such a strong bond. The author's interesting approach to the themes blessing and sacrifice is also worth noting. Over such a large swath of time, the island goes through many changes: language morphs, the spellings of names differ, and while new structures are built, the space retains its function throughout. Midwinterblood is singular in the variety of its storytelling, beautiful in its descriptive language, and deeply satisfying in its interconnected tale of eternal love.