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The Winter Witch

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 1,126 ratings · 198 reviews

Fledgling witch Morgana must defend her love, her home, and her life in this enthralling tale perfect for fans of Discovery of Witches

In her small Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana. She has never spoken, and her silence as well as the magic she can't quite control make her a mystery. Concerned for her safety, her mother quickly arranges a marriage with Cai Bev...more

Hardcover, 340 pages

Published January 29th 2013 by St. Martin's Press (first published January 1st 2012)

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Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors

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Feb 23, 2013 Paradoxical rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reading-list, books-otherwise

I am of various minds about this book. The Winter Witch tells the tale of Morgana, a girl who hasn't spoken for years, being married off to Cai, a widower who needs a wife because his job requires he have one. You have a supernatural flair as Morgana is a witch (though magic not something she can control so easily), and a fairly somber tone throughout the entire book as Morgana discovers enemies and circles around Cai warily.

First off, the book is both in first person (through Morgana's POV) and...more I am of various minds about this book. The Winter Witch tells the tale of Morgana, a girl who hasn't spoken for years, being married off to Cai, a widower who needs a wife because his job requires he have one. You have a supernatural flair as Morgana is a witch (though magic not something she can control so easily), and a fairly somber tone throughout the entire book as Morgana discovers enemies and circles around Cai warily.

First off, the book is both in first person (through Morgana's POV) and third person (a more omniscient one, though it centers mostly around Cai). I have never ever liked this (I hardly like POV switches, but I particularly dislike switching from third person to first and vice versa). Your mileage may vary, of course, it makes me think the story is messier than it actually is.

While pretty and holding my attention in the beginning, I rapidly lost interest as the story progressed. There is something about doom and gloom and misunderstandings that never seem to lighten that just makes me wander away. You get brief flashes of Cai and Morgana getting along with one another, but that lasts for scarcely a page before BAM, more misunderstandings and hurt feelings and back to both of them angsting over the other. Yeahhhh no.

You get a series of misfortune that just come one after another, and while you think that maybe Morgana can do something about any of it--no, sorry, nothing. At least she's defiant in the face of her enemies, but other than that she doesn't amount to much until the end of the book (and, in my opinion, that still doesn't amount to much, for all that she can do).

The characters themselves weren't too awful, but they brought nothing new to the table. Beyond that, I was rather bored--Morgana and Cai kept doing their push/pull thing, the antagonist was very consistently awful--I just expected a little more and didn't get it.

Maybe I just wanted to read a different sort of book. The ending felt anticlimactic. It had a very distinct and so life goes on and everything is pretty much wrapped in a little bow. I wanted to feel for the characters, but mostly I was thinking that it's a little bit cold in my house and, oh, what should I do tomorrow? In other words, it never grabbed onto my attention, I was never fully sucked into the world (because I can read slow books! Just not boring ones. There is a difference). All in all, 2 stars.(less)

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May 24, 2013 Trish rated it 4 of 5 stars

As the plot line to this book has been told already by other reviewers I won't retell it here. I will say however that this book had me riveted- the events in the story were dramatic and pulled you in deeper the more you read. I also really loved the characters- there was something very familiar about them and reading this book felt comforting (almost like this was a sequel to a well loved book). There were however a couple of negatives I found when reading The Winter Witch. As other reviewers h...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Kathy Dini rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 16, 2013 Cocktails and Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cnb-reviewers

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...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are times the best thing to say is nothing at all

Morgana has been gifted since birth with the ability to say everything without making a sound. Morgana cherishes the small sights another would take for granted but also vindicates herself when ill-treated. Being married to a man she does not know is the last choice she would have made but her mother insisted and Morgana obeyed.

Quickly Morgana discovers that her new husband, Cai Jenkins and his life is a treasure trove of discovery. The anim...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Jessica Knauss rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this sensitively written novel, Morgana, a wild girl who went mute upon the disappearance of her gypsy father, must marry a man she hardly knows and learn to fit into the social fabric of his Welsh town. Cai, the man in question, must take a wife in order to become the porthmon, the leader of the yearly drove of cattle to London and the most powerful man in town. But we quickly find that, in spite of his continued love for his previous wife, who passed away in childbirth, Cai harbors a deep a...more In this sensitively written novel, Morgana, a wild girl who went mute upon the disappearance of her gypsy father, must marry a man she hardly knows and learn to fit into the social fabric of his Welsh town. Cai, the man in question, must take a wife in order to become the porthmon, the leader of the yearly drove of cattle to London and the most powerful man in town. But we quickly find that, in spite of his continued love for his previous wife, who passed away in childbirth, Cai harbors a deep affection for Morgana that quickly turns to love.

The chapters alternate, beginning with Morgana's perspective in first person. This is a smart move on the author's part, because Morgana's silence makes observing her from the outside a little too enigmatic without these chapters of insight into why she does what she does. The other perspective is Cai's, in a limited omniscient third person. This way, the reader doesn't sympathize as closely with him as with Morgana, but still fully understands his thinking. I was skeptical about the approach, but Brackston pulls it off, and I now see that the romance would have been one-sided and disappointing without it. Because we now that their love is genuine, we can root for Cai and Morgana as the united front they present.

The story begins slowly, carefully inducting the reader into the unusual world of nineteenth-century Welsh cattle drovers (I know I'd never read about them before) and the beloved landscape the animals and people occupy together. It also plants the seeds that will grow into something of a mystery by the first quarter of the book, and by the middle, the reader knows that all is not what it seems in this town. Heart-wrenching tragedies begin to happen, and the pace picks up significantly during the cattle drove, in which Morgana is more helpful than any civilized wife would be, but also falls victim to witchcraft more powerful than her own and much more evil. The novel ends with a fast-paced epic battle between the two witches that hardly lets up until almost the last page. We can tell when Morgana is about to let her witchiness show because she isn't easily provoked. When she is, she prefaces her drastic actions with the delicious opinion of what her tormentors are doing to her: "It will not do. Really, it will not."

The Winter Witch is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic escapade. The historical context and characters are developed so well that when the fantasy elements appeared, I was convinced that that's the way it must really have happened. Highly recommended.(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cai Jenkins needs a wife, his job, as head drover demands it. He’s been widowed a few years and is ready to marry again and his farm, Ffynnon Las is ready for a new mistress. The wife he’s chosen is as wild as his beloved home deep in the hills of Wales, a pretty, young, silent waif who calls to something earthly inside him. But his new wife comes with secrets and some think they’re dark and taboo.
Morgana Pritchard’s always known she’s different, even before her father’s disappearance silenced h...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Morgana’s mother marries her to Cai Jenkins. She does it out of love. She worries about Morgana and who will take care of her. Morgana is a nice girl but she has a slight flaw. She does not talk. Morgana has not spoken a word in years.

In the beginning Morgana did not care for Cai. Over time, she came to love Cai and their home together. Morgana meets a woman who helps her unlock the magic within Morgana. Later strange things start happening in town. People grow anxious and blame Morgana for the...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Diane Wilkes rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of a Welsh Witch.

But her name is not Rhiannon. It's Morgana, another name that rings with magic and mystery and power. Paula Brackston has created a compelling protagonist more than worthy of the name: a girl with a magical father who left when she was young--and she didn't speak again. Morgana's muggle mother, Mam, adored and protected her, even as those in her village at least suspected her daughter's powers, for Morgana would make things happen when treated with injustice by...more This is the story of a Welsh Witch.

But her name is not Rhiannon. It's Morgana, another name that rings with magic and mystery and power. Paula Brackston has created a compelling protagonist more than worthy of the name: a girl with a magical father who left when she was young--and she didn't speak again. Morgana's muggle mother, Mam, adored and protected her, even as those in her village at least suspected her daughter's powers, for Morgana would make things happen when treated with injustice by classmates or teachers.

Morgana loves nature and spends as much time there as possible, once she is asked to leave school. When she and her mother sell their cheeses at the town fair, Morgana's wild beauty catches the eye of Cai, a widower and drover. Mam, who is ailing and will no longer be able to care for her beloved daughter, gives Cai permission to marry Morgana and cajoles her into marrying him. Cai gives Morgana an unusual amount of time and space--allowing her to sleep alone, a maiden, untouched, while they get to know one another.

Of course, it's hard to get to know someone who doesn't talk. At all. And Morgana's unconventional behavior makes him question himself as to the wisdom of his choice--especially as he realizes she has certain atypical powers.

If that was all there was to the story, it would be a pleasant and well-written romance, evocative in its Welsh setting. But it seems that someone (or several someones) bear Morgana dangerously ill-will. And it takes Morgana a while to discover her truest allies and powers, as well as uncovering her true nemesis.

Brackston is a masterful storyteller, and I self-transported (witch-walked) to Wales and Morgana's world rapidly and with great fascination. I regret that the author felt it necessary to burden Morgana with muteness and deaths of just about everyone whom she cared about; really, didn't she suffer enough? But the fact that I actually felt her suffering attests to the power of Brackston's character building. I won't forget Cai--and especially Morgana--any time soon. (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Paula Brackston has spun a vivid and absorbing tale that captivated me from start to finish. I loved this book.
This is a novel that encompasses fantasy, romance, and suspense and combines them to create a very absorbing story. The female protagonist, Morgana, is a wonderfully penned character that I felt an immediate attachment to. Her speechlessness means that words do not define her, her actions do, and this was a thought-provoking concept. At times there was much frustration on Morgana's part...more Paula Brackston has spun a vivid and absorbing tale that captivated me from start to finish. I loved this book.
This is a novel that encompasses fantasy, romance, and suspense and combines them to create a very absorbing story. The female protagonist, Morgana, is a wonderfully penned character that I felt an immediate attachment to. Her speechlessness means that words do not define her, her actions do, and this was a thought-provoking concept. At times there was much frustration on Morgana's part because of her silence, but at other times the author gave me the distinct impression that Morgana's lack of words actually produced more beneficial results. It made me think that sometimes people speak so many words, when often few or no words would have sufficed.
The romantic aspect of this tale was also cleverly crafted. This is a story of two people who come to love one another with time, as opposed to falling in love at first sight. In many ways this made it all the more substantial when they each began to realise their feelings for one another. Their romance is one I would consider to be more subtle and peaceful in nature, one built upon mutual trust and appreciation, rather than out-and-out lust or desire. The desire came later, and it was portrayed in such a way that it added to the story rather than being written in just for the sake of it.
The descriptions of the Welsh countryside in this book were transcendent. Ms Brackston has a remarkable way with words. She is able to portray the sights and smells of the scenery without having to rely on extensive description. I felt myself become absorbed in the natural world that Morgana loved so well, and because of this it was easier to understand the magic that was inherent within her. Although the genre of this book is fastasy, and shouldn't be picked up by one who doesn't enjoy magical tales, the fantastical side of it isn't so much that you are overwhelmed by it. Rather it is used to spin an enchanting tale set in a world that is ours, but in a time that isn't.(less)

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Nov 28, 2012 Ava rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was under the initial impression that The Winter Witch would be a different sort of novel than the one I read - which is a historical romance novel about a Welsh witch. Nothing wrong with the latter genre, but it's jarring to switch expectations in the midst of reading.

Basically, the plot line of The Winter Witch follows a formula romance with a marriage of convenience, similar to a Western rancher picking a wife for status purposes. However, in this case, the ranch is in Wales. Further, the...more I was under the initial impression that The Winter Witch would be a different sort of novel than the one I read - which is a historical romance novel about a Welsh witch. Nothing wrong with the latter genre, but it's jarring to switch expectations in the midst of reading.

Basically, the plot line of The Winter Witch follows a formula romance with a marriage of convenience, similar to a Western rancher picking a wife for status purposes. However, in this case, the ranch is in Wales. Further, the plot is influenced by his young bride's hidden and untapped powers as a witch and supernatural forces, both good and malevolent, complicating their growing love for one another.

The rancher (or drover) should have suspected his mute (yes, she has no voice but clearly displayed a fiery spirit beneath her fetching exterior) bride's hidden nature because her name is Morgana Rhiannon. Dead giveaway for Welsh witchery and some horsey skills coming into play later on.

Morgana's muteness was puzzling to me as it was never sufficiently explained. It seemed more of a device to complicate the plot because she could never sufficiently communicate or explain herself; although Morgana can read very well, she can barely write. I also had a problem with Morgana's personality. She was described as "the wild one" - free-spirited, independent, proto-feminist. However, her wild temper and seeming lack of common sense cause some of the negativity that surrounds her. I suppose if she had a voice she would get in even more trouble. At times, it was hard to sympathize with her being misunderstood when some of her troubles could have been easily avoided.

The villain in the story is easily spotted and way over the top. [SPOILER] I have no problem with that but one plot hole that I couldn't get over was it was quite obvious that she would do whatever it takes to get what she wanted and seemed to have considerable powers of her own to do so. But why did she wait until the drover got himself a new wife before making her move instead of lying low for 2 years? Never really explained. [END OF SPOILER]
(less)

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May 21, 2013 Anne Monteith rated it 5 of 5 stars

The "WINTER WITCH" is the story of a young woman, Morgana who is considered strange and different because she does not speak, she is not mute she just stopped talking after a traumatic incident when she was very young. Sometimes when she is around strange things happen and the villagers in her Welsh community start avoiding her and treat her as an outcast.

When her mother arranges for her to marry a drover from another village in the Welsh mountains, Morgana feels somewhat abandoned and betrayed...more The "WINTER WITCH" is the story of a young woman, Morgana who is considered strange and different because she does not speak, she is not mute she just stopped talking after a traumatic incident when she was very young. Sometimes when she is around strange things happen and the villagers in her Welsh community start avoiding her and treat her as an outcast.

When her mother arranges for her to marry a drover from another village in the Welsh mountains, Morgana feels somewhat abandoned and betrayed by her mother. The reader is lead to believe that she was sending Morgana to a new place where people did not whisper about the strange things that sometimes occur when she is around. Her new husband, Cai, is a widower who is still grieving from the death of his first wife. He needs a wife in order to keep his position as the Head Drover that he inherited from his father. This position can only be held by a man who has a family; the reasons for this are explained. Although Cai needs a wife, he does not want to settle for anyone. He has watched Morgana and talked to her mother during several of his last trips. He made a point of staying overnight or longer on his way to unload and on the return trip. He assures her mother that he will be good husband to Morgana.

The author builds Cai and Morgana's relationship slowly. Cai does not act to consummate the marriage, he gives her a bedroom of her own in his home. He hopes that if he takes things slowly Morgana will grow to trust, like him and maybe love him. Morgana finds an ally in the Welsh housekeeper that has worked for Cai for a long time. Since Morgana is a terrible cook a housekeeper is a necessity, but cooking is not the only thing she needs to teach Morgana. When Cai, takes her to church to introduce her to the community she becomes aware that there is an evil presence in the village. This entity sees her as a threat and is determined to run her out of the community or kill her. When Morgana and Cai fall in love, they become a committed couple, which puts them in grave danger. Morgana will learn that people are not always as they appear. To save herself and everyone and everything she has grown to love she will have to learn to use her powers.

This is the first novel that I've read this year that I could not put down until I finished the entire book. I love the setting, the prose, characters and the lack of unnecessary sex scenes. This is a sweet, wholesome story. I have downloaded her first novel on my Kindle. I look forward to more books from this author(less)

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May 16, 2013 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, paranormal, historical-fiction

4.5/5 stars

The Winter Witch is a historical fiction novel with a slight paranormal twist. This story does not gloss over the Welsh realities of the 1800s. Morgana is mute; she hasn't spoken since her father disappeared when she was a little girl. Now, she is being married to a drover, Cai, who is from Ffynnon Las. Cai's prior wife died in childbirth, and for him to be porthmon he needs a wife. Who would trust someone with the cattle and other livestock, financial arrangements, contracts, etc. if...more 4.5/5 stars

The Winter Witch is a historical fiction novel with a slight paranormal twist. This story does not gloss over the Welsh realities of the 1800s. Morgana is mute; she hasn't spoken since her father disappeared when she was a little girl. Now, she is being married to a drover, Cai, who is from Ffynnon Las. Cai's prior wife died in childbirth, and for him to be porthmon he needs a wife. Who would trust someone with the cattle and other livestock, financial arrangements, contracts, etc. if he does not have a home and wife to come back to? He could just run off with their money. Hence, he gets married to Morgana, who he has seen over the past several years when he was on his drive. However, there is something special about Morgana – besides her lack of speech. Her father was a gypsy and with that she has witches blood within her. She has been hiding it for whole life, with some slip ups when she became angry. Little does she know that Ffynnon Las is special, and with that comes dangers she never knew could be expected.

Characters:
The story is written in first person following Morgana, and third person following Cai. Morgana is young and likes being outdoors. She is not one for social calls and other societal conducts. She loves the horses on the farm and does well with helping Cai with the animals. However, she meets some people who are not what they appear at her new home. There is something evil about them but she cannot discuss this with Cai – for one, she is mute, and two she does not have tangible proof (only feelings.) Cai is getting over his first wife's death which happened a few years prior. He does not wallow in pity throughout the book, but rather discovers how much he likes his new wife – although she can be hard to understand. He wants her to fit in and tries his best to accommodate that. He ends up taking her with him on his drive to London (to sell the cattle and other animals along with business from the local town.) There are many troubles that test him along the way. A few other characters make appearances regularly. They are fun and have their own personality – such as Mrs. Jones who helps out at Ffynnon Las.

Plot:
The plot moved along well for me. It did not cuddle the reader from the troubles that drovers/farmers faced in Wales during that time. There are tragedies and the story pushes the characters to their limits. Everything ties up nicely, and there are a few surprises along the way. One reason I gave this novel a 4.5 instead of 5 is because of a slightly out of place event that takes place near the end. If you have the hardback version is it on pages 323-324. It just seemed a little out of place from the rest of the story. Other than that, I really liked the book.

The Bottom Line:
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. Not many authors like to push their characters very far. It's like they take the reader to the edge of a cliff, let them peek over, and then carry on with the story. Other authors go farther. They let the reader go over the cliff, only to be caught just below the ledge by a lip in the side. That is what happens in this book. If you like historical fiction with a splash of paranormal, you might like this book.
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Feb 12, 2013 Rouselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I literally breezed through the pages because I refused to just sit there and do anything else without knowing what fate awaits Morgana and her husband Cai.

Morgana is a Welsh witch who lost her ability to speak eversince her father upped and left her and her mother. She only came to know of just how great her magic was when she moved with her new husband to their new farm home, the Ffynon Las. There situated in the farm was a curious old well which held even greater magic that only the most des...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Sallee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

This is a wonderful book...the story draws you in and the main character named Morgana, who does not speak verbally is a young girl with powers that she has yet learned to control. Her mother, in ill health and dying arranged a marriage for Morgana with a man called Cai Jenkins, a farmer and a former drover taking people's livestock to market, He is a widower and you can not be a drover unless married. His marriage to Morgana was the answer to his problem and to her mother's. It is a new life M...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Scatty The Shadow Warrior rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

This was one of those instant want to reads. The cover and the name of the title had me signing up for the giveaway without even reading the description (which is not something I do all too much). I was very intrigued about figuring out the reason behind Morgana’s muteness. Well I found out soon enough, that her not being able to talk really wasn’t too important to the story. And not important to who Morgana was. I really loved Morgana’s character. She was head strong and willful and had her own...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Ireneirenegoodman.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you want to swept back into 19th century Wales, where the community relies on the head drover to move the valuable livestock into England for the best price, you will find no better mode of transport than THE WINTER WITCH. Imbued with the values of the land and the close relationships with the animals in their care, the drovers are a hardy lot. Brought into their world is the mysterious Morgana, an 18-year-old girl who has not spoken a word since her father disappeared when she was a child. A...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I adored The Witch's Daughter. There is something about the way that Paula Brackston uses language to paint a picture. The way this book is written allows the reader to get a dreamy glimpse of this olden world that is the setting, without being so flowery that we are distracted. If this is possible to say, this is a witch novel without being too witchy. I feel like the story line just happens to be about a witch and even though it is the basis for the story, it doesn't overwhelm the pages. The p...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Missy Sherriff rated it 2 of 5 stars

Although a better read than Brackston's "The Witch's Daughter", it is still rather a messy read. In this case the author refused to settle into one type of point of view-- and no, I am not referring to 1st person character jumping. Half the tale is told in the main female character's 1st person voice (I assume to allow for the fact that she is mute throughout the story) while the other half is told via a 3rd person narration which centers strictly on sharing her husband's view. It created a stra...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Deanna Drai Turner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jury is in. I love Paula Brackston. She is a great teller of witch tales. I have now read her two stories, very different in flavor and found myself always falling in friendlship with her heroine. She has a nice balance of grief, pain, fear, magic, hope, courage and challenge. Writing of a similar topic, i would have expected redundancies. Not the case. I like the new twist she has put on the very old and familiar witch under scrutiny and unsafe in society stories. If you like reading old world...more

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May 07, 2013 Bruna Bellini rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story started good, even with the main character being a little annoying in the begin, when her husband doing everything to make the things to be good for her, but she only wanted be free, enjoying the nature, without wanting to have any responsibility. The romance between the two main characters is really adorable, but the story has so many bad things like too many death and unnecessary descriptions with details ( the poor dog's death skinning a rabbit, cutting off the horse's head, rats'at...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Barb rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Winter Witch is an intriguing story. I got a little lost in trying to sound out the Welsh names and words, especially the ones without vowels. Morgana is a young beautiful woman that does not speak. She reads but has little experience with writing so communicating is difficult. Her mother arranges for her to marry Cai, a widower needing a wife to keep his job as a porthman, a special drover of cattle and livestock to big city market. They also carry all sort of business papers and personal p...more

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Jun 07, 2013 Rachel P rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

***SPOILER ALERT***

I won a free copy as a first-reads giveaway.

Despite a slow start, I really enjoyed reading “The Winter Witch” by Paula Brackston. It is a well written historical fiction novel set in the 19th century Welsh countryside. It is a tale as much about witches and witchcraft as it is about love and the ability to live a happy life being one’s self. The story alternates between the two main characters; Morgana, a half gypsy with magic blood, and her husband Cai Jenkins, a porthmon (he...more ***SPOILER ALERT***

I won a free copy as a first-reads giveaway.

Despite a slow start, I really enjoyed reading “The Winter Witch” by Paula Brackston. It is a well written historical fiction novel set in the 19th century Welsh countryside. It is a tale as much about witches and witchcraft as it is about love and the ability to live a happy life being one’s self. The story alternates between the two main characters; Morgana, a half gypsy with magic blood, and her husband Cai Jenkins, a porthmon (head drover) and owner of a prosperous farm named Ffynonn Las.

Morgana’s father left when she was just a child and she hasn’t spoken since. Her mother is dying so she marries her off to Cai to secure her daughter’s future. But what began as a marriage of convenience, for a porthmon is required to have a wife, turns into something much more—friendship, genuine affection, and love.

Initially they struggle to communicate as Morgana is mute and strange unexplainable occurrences seem to happen whenever she’s around. Cai knows there is something different and mysterious about his wife but he is love with her despite her peculiarities and what the rest of society thinks of her. But when a severe winter descends upon the village, old friends become bitter enemies and a witch hunt begins. Morgana must focus her powers and harness the special magic of the Witches of the Blue Well if she hopes to defeat the evil that is plaguing her village, threatening her home, and killing her husband.

Even though I really liked this book it did have a few problems. I think the major flaw is the detailed and at times tediously in depth descriptions of the scenery and landscapes. It interrupted the flow of the story so frequently that after a while I had to fast forward through those parts. I also feel that Cai’s character is not authentic. Not just because he waits months until his wife is finally ready to consummate their marriage (I find it very unlikely that a real man would wait so long) but because of his nearly unwavering patience when it comes to Morgana. It’s not the constancy of his regard for her that I find unbelievable but the way he always berates himself for some lack of understanding or patience when it comes to her. His constant deference to her needs and feelings is selfless in the extreme to the point of being unrealistic.

However, despite the points made above this is still a wonderful novel with an excellent plot, an idyllic setting, and some great characters. I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction, romance, fantasy, or witch lore.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Ampersand Canada's Book & Gift Agency Inc rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dot-s-reads

A good historical novel with magic, Winter Witch is set in Wales and is about a young woman who is different – she doesn’t speak and the villagers are suspicious of her. Her mother arranges for her to marry a widower from another village, hoping to give her daughter a new start. (The mother is dying but the daughter doesn’t know this.)
The husband is a drover, he drives his villages livestock to England to sell and brings home the money for the villagers. Of course, things start to go wrong and t...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Karen Avila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Morgana, a free-spirited, mute girl moves to the town of Fannan-Las after her mother arranges her marriage with Cai. Because of her disposition and incidents, the town becomes afraid of her. Morgana means no harm to the town but a mysterious evil doesn't want her there and will do anything to ruin her reputation. When Morgana ignores the warning of leaving town, a plague of death surrounds her branding her as "The Winter Witch". Morgana must a find a way to break the spell and save the man she l...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Roseanne Pikul rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was a quick & easy read. It starts out interestingly enough with Morgana, who doesn't speak having gone silent after the loss of her father, being married off by her mother to a man she doesn't know. Unfortunately the author is unable to maintain the momentum and the story becomes predictable. Morgana is a witch who through the course of the story learns how to use her powers to save her husband, the town, and herself from the resident "bad" witch. The ending went on too long and I was...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I read it all in one sitting.

In the story line, Morgana is a fledgling witch who does not fully understand her powers. She is married to Cai and soon learns to love him and his land. Without giving away the story, I will just say that she is mentored by an older more experienced witch and she soon comes to appreciate the magical history if her husbands land.

I debated the rating on this book, whether to give it a four or five star rating. From a character an...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fiction

If you like historical novels with Welsh witches and a little romance, this book is for you. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of the gothic romances I read when I was young. New young wife in danger, former wife dies much too prematurely, mysterious ambience, evil moving in, and budding love. New wife must find herself, overcome the disability that interferes with her ability to effectively communicate, and learn to stand her ground against the evil that would destroy her and those she...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good book with some charming aspects that are best discovered rather than mentioned in review. A few things kept it from excellence: the grand showdown took too long and did not involve enough of the critical elements of the story to be fully satisfying. It was almost as if there was a second book envisioned and that is disappointing. I think the main character needed to finish the book with more than just her husband, I.e., she needed a friend in some form. Or a confidant or a ch...more

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May 02, 2013 Annie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Honestly, I skipped about 75 of the last pages and just read the last few pages. The characters showed promise, the story-line was interesting, but it just never really took off for me. Even once I had skipped to the end, I didn't feel that twinge that told me I had done the wrong thing... on the contrary, I was more relieved I didn't have to go through all that to get to the ending! It got very long winded and dragged along after a certain point. And I found the characters to be very frustratin...more

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Fantasy

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Romance

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About Paula Brackston

Paula Brackston lives in a wild, mountainous part of Wales. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and is a Visiting Lecturer for the University of Wales, Newport. Before becoming a writer, Paula tried her hand at various career paths, with mixed success. These included working as a groom on a racing yard, as a travel agent, a secretary, an English teacher, and a goat herd. E...more

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