The Winter Goddess

by Megan Barnard

“The Winter Goddess is a gripping, bittersweet tale that explores love, loss, and the price of power and immortality. . . a perfect read for cold winter nights. I couldn’t put it down.” —Genevieve Gornichek, bestselling author of The Weaver and the Witch Queen

"Utterly bewitching. . . Barnard's novel pairs the beauty and fragility of the human experience with the sharp bite of winter. The result is an enthralling and emotional saga mythology lovers everywhere won't want to miss!" —A.D. Rhine, author of Daughters of Bronze

A goddess is cursed to endlessly live and die as a mortal until she understands the value of human life, in this inventive, moving reimagining of Irish mythology.

Cailleach, goddess of winter, was not born to be a blight on humanity, but she became one. She would say with scorn that it was their own mortals were selfish, thoughtless, and destructive, bringing harm to each other and the earth without cause or qualms.

One day, Cailleach goes too far. Thousands die, lost to her brutal winter. In punishment, her mother Danu, queen of the gods, strips the goddess of her powers and sends Cailleach to earth, to live and die as the mortals she so despises, until she understands what it is to be one of them. Though determined to live in solitude, Cailleach finds that she cannot help but reach for the people she once held in such disdain. She loves and mourns in equal measure, and in opening herself to humanity, hears tales not meant for immortal ears—including a long-buried secret that will redefine what it means to be a god.

From the author of the “stunning . . . riveting” historical reenvisioning Jezebel (Library Journal), a vividly imagined and arresting story of a goddess punished—and a goddess reborn, as she discovers the importance of a life ephemeral…and what it means to truly be alive.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Retellings, Adult, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2005

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little too simple for me. I really liked the premise and thought that since it involved gods and goddesses it would be a bit more exciting, but it was very repetitive. There also wasn’t a ton of character development, most of the characters felt pretty flat and didn’t have qualities that made you want to know more about them. I also think it took Cailleach too long to see the value and the lesson of living a mortal life, especially after living so many. She came off very selfish and childish most of the book and when she would start to see the errors in her actions and words, it was time for a new life. I wish there was more depth to the story, the idea is good, but this book was monotonous. Despite all of that, I still kind of enjoyed it, and it was a very quick read,

Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit I was hooked from the second I saw this gorgeous cover but the story lives up to the high bar set by it! If you like mythology and books about flawed female characters and power hungry gods, this is a perfect winter read that follows Cailleach, the goddess of winter, who is cursed and forced to live and die over and over as a mortal woman.

I liked how the book followed the seasons and the way that Cailleach slowly learned to appreciate the simple pleasures of a mortal life. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Natalie Haynes or Genevieve Gornichec. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winter Goddess by Megan Barnard is a beautifully reimagined tale of Gaelic mythology that follows Cailleach, the goddess of winter, cursed to live and die as a mortal after causing countless deaths. Stripped of her powers, she is forced to experience humanity's fragility and learn the value of life. Barnard’s writing is both lyrical and immersive, bringing the cold, harsh beauty of winter to life as Cailleach’s journey unfolds. The goddess’s emotional transformation, from scornful detachment to loving vulnerability, is compelling and poignant. With rich world-building and a captivating plot, this novel explores redemption, empathy, and the true meaning of divinity. A must-read for fans of myth-inspired fantasy!

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram

[Marnie (Enchanted Bibliophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love stories about the ancient gods and their lives. So this tale about the Gaelic Goddess of Winter sounded right up my alley.
But I found it a little repetitive, and the lack of character growth in the first majority of the book got on my nerves.
The ending did somewhat compensate for the beginning and left me satisfied.

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit, I could not put this down. I read it in like three hours, it was so freaking great.

I sobbed way too much while reading this but this is a beautiful, heartbreakingly good story and I need this to be on my shelf pronto.

[MICH ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

alexa play “to be human” by MARINA

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Winter Goddess by Megan Barnard is a first person-POV historical fantasy reimagining of the Gealic goddess of winter, Cailleach. When Cailleach creates a long, harsh winter that kills many humans, the queen of the gods and her mother, Danu, sentences her to be mortal until she learns what it means to be human. But Cailleach struggles with mortality and experiences more pain than she ever imagined.

I was not familiar with Cailleach or the importance she plays in Irish, Scottish, or Manx mythology before reading this. A quick check online tells me that there are several versions of this goddess and that The Winter Goddess is more of a reimagining rather than a retelling of her story. I’m curious about her story and will be doing more research in the future, especially into her relationship with Áine.

A major theme is mortality vs immortality and how an immortal could lose sight of what it means to be mortal or become warped in their views. Danu is convinced that Cailleach has to learn what life is like as an immortal after the harsh winter Cailleach caused, but every life Cailleach lives isn’t good enough for Danu. I got frustrated on Cailleach’s before after the third death as she’d already experienced the death of someone she loved deeply and then later betrayal and yet Danu was convinced Cailleach still hadn’t learned. About halfway through, I did start to view Danu as an emotionally abusive mother who is looking to punish their child until they get a very specific result instead of meeting their child halfway.

The pacing is on the slower side and while things happen, everything goes back to Cailleach’s feelings and how what is happening impacts her. It’s not quite literary fantasy, in my opening, but it is veering towards that subgenre because it is so very guided by themes and character in a way that lines up with literary fiction I have read before. I like a character study that recognizes complex feelings and relationships and while Danu’s reaction to Cailleach’s experiences frustrated me, I did find myself looking forward to their next interactions to see if we would ever learn why Danu was making it so difficult and what exactly she wanted her daughter to learn.

Content warning for arranged marriage, unwanted pregnancy, murder, child death, and the death of a dog

I would recommend this to fans of character studies using mythological figures and readers looking for a deep POV reimagining of a winter goddess

[Harley Zerega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely fantastic. A retelling of Gaelic mythology, "The Winter Goddess" follow Cailleach after she is cursed to live through mortal lives by Danu, the queen of the gods and her mother. Cailleach struggles through a learning curve, trying to figure out how to survive without her powers as the goddess of winter. Barnard explores how humans grieve, mourn, celebrate, and survive by writing how Callieach learns each of these things. Barnard has a gift with words, and her writing here sucks you in to each character introduced. I loved Callieach and each little family she found in her many lives.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book seemed really promising, and I love anything with mythology, lore, and gods, but I was disappointed with this one. It wasn't a bad book; I finished it, but it was so repetitive. A goddess is being punished and has to live with mortals until she "learns a lesson," but she doesn't seem to really learn it, the "bad thing" she did isn't really discussed much, and the ending didn't make a lot of sense.

[Patrick Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece; a contemplation on humanity as much as it is on the Gods.

[Olivia Mitas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Ate this up, need her to release another book ASAP.

[kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you netgalley, megan barnard, and penguin books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! i’m such a big fan of this author and i fell in love with her first book, jezebel, but i might like this one even more. they’re both criminally underrated and i hope more people start to find them both!

this one follows cailleach, goddess of winter, after she brings harm to mortals with a brutal winter. her mother danu, queen of the gods, makes her a mortal temporarily to live and die so that she will understand them more. this book follows many of her human lives and the people she meets in each.

i loved the way this story is set up and found it emotional and bittersweet. it was great getting to see her grow and make connections with people over time, while learning to appreciate what it means to be human. i don’t want to say much to avoid spoilers, but you will become so invested in her story and root for her as she matures.

this one also felt SO quick and i flew through it. i really hope barnard continues to write these type of books and i can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 5 stars!

[Hannah DCamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to the author and to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Because I'm a spaz who likes to jump into books blurb-less, I assumed this was going to be a cute little romantasy about Irish mythology. It is NOT THAT. This was literally a story about life and humanity, about the values in love and loss in spite of pain, and ultimately a bit about faith.

I'm a raging pessimist (unfortunately). I'm one of those people who says something that brings down the mood and then tells myself I was just being realistic. If you know me irl, you'll know that the last three years have been rough with a capital "UFF" which I'm sure many people can relate to in some way. Cailleach's story - her reactions, her questions, her thoughts about life and mankind - in some ways mirrored my own interior thoughts. Obviously I didn't bring a long winter that killed thousands of puny mortals, but otherwise I found her very relatable.

It's so difficult when you're in the midst of despair to see any way out. I remember going to prayer and feeling like I was at the bottom of a well, and the only light was a tiny ring far above me, well out of reach. It's easy in those moments to lose faith, because why bother with something if it's obviously not working. Cailleach's reaction to everything going wrong in her mortal lives is to blame Danu, who put her here, and who does nothing to help the humans she claims to love. She won't interfere, and Cailleach doesn't understand why - why not make her daughter immortal? Why not give her more time with Failnis? Why not save Dagda, or Siobhan, or Enya?** The problem of evil isn't a new concept, and it will continue to nag at our hearts for generations after I'm gone.

That's perhaps the only dissatisfying thing about this story, is that since it's not actually a religious story, the resolution doesn't make any steps to respond to the problem of evil. Cailleach comes to appreciate mortality because she finds love and contentment. She believes she will get to die and see her daughter and all the friends she's lost over the years, including Failnis.. And in a way this is the solution I came to, from the bottom of my well; the only thing I can hope in is Heaven, so that is my only hope. The only problem is that if you are lacking in the love and contentment that Cailleach received in her last life, hoping for life after death doesn't necessarily rid you of despair. In some ways, for me, it served only to deepen it. But again, that wasn't the goal of this story, and not only does Cailleach enjoy her life, she finds a purpose at the end of it that answers her own questions.

This again is where the story doesn't quite satisfy as far as the problem of evil. Danu is not God, and it's majorly obvious, increasingly so as the story goes on. She is flawed, and grasping, a bit vapid maybe, and disingenuous towards humanity (at least, that is how Cailleach interprets it), and very self-centered and short-sighted. The way she chose to punish Cailleach is frustrating, because Danu is her mother, and there is the permeating sense that Danu doesn't like who Cailleach is as the goddess of winter. It feels like Danu is trying to force Cailleach to be better, to fit the mold that Danu wants her to fill, and so I always felt that Cailleach's anger towards Danu was incredibly justified. As the years went on, I started to wonder if Cailleach wouldn't just always be angry. I was sure that the end would involve Cailleach coming to appreciate humanity, but I didn't entirely see how it would happen. Danu deserved a takedown. The ending was very satisfying, and there was something nice about Cailleach reclaiming her godhood so that she could right some of Danu's wrongs, but I find myself wanting a bit more.

Nevertheless, I rounded up to 4 stars for this one. It was a well-crafted story, the characters were interesting, the pacing was interesting and handled well. I think the story itself had a lot of potential, and as a secular story it stands up quite well. I'd highly recommend this story to anyone with a fancy for Irish mythology (although that wasn't as much the focus as I'd been expecting), character driven stories, or stories that really try to slam you in the feels. I'm looking forward to checking out more by this author.

*Just a note about the dog yes he does die and it's devastating, but it's ultimately kind of gentle if not heartbreaking and I had to read about it while listening to some very sad music which was A Choice that I wouldn't recommend
**Honestly, I think Enya and Enya might just be the same person, which is good news for Cailleach because Enya is very much still alive and kicking (and very cool)

[S. Bavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winter Goddess is a tale steeped in Irish mythology, set in medieval times when the gods, the Tuatha De Dannan, were said to roam the mortal world, sometimes showing themselves to humans. The main character, Cailleach, is the daughter of the chief goddess, Danu. When Danu observes how much she loves the snow and ice, Cailleach becomes the Goddess of Winter. In a fit of anger towards the humans who have spoiled her sacred grove, she causes winter to last way longer than usual, its harshness costing the lives of many mortals. As a penance for her actions, Danu decides to send her into the world as a mortal until she learns the error of her ways. She suffers hardships and dies over and over again, each time returning to the same croft in her village, but some generations later. The people never remember her, and she has to deal with untold heartbreak and pain.

The character of Cailleach is likeable despite the deaths she has caused. She was unaware of the consequences of her actions and like all the gods, was petulant and self-centred. Once she has spent time as a human she begins to see the error of her ways and to repent.

The changing of the seasons and the beauty of Spring, particularly when Danu appears, are beautifully described and easy to imagine, as is the simple contents of her croft and the joy she experiences from rescuing a puppy in one life and adopting a daughter in another.

The story is mostly gentle and character-driven, there is not a whole lot of action, but I found it to be a well-written and enjoyable novel. There is one particularly shocking scene which bordered on horror, but mostly, the novel pulls on the heartstrings as Cailleach's companions grow sick or old.

I received an arc from NetGalley - thank you to the publisher, Viking Penguin, the author, Megan Barnard, and NetGalley for my copy. My review is honest and my opinions are my own.

I received an arc from NetGalley - thank you to the publisher, Viking Penguin, the author, Megan Barnard, and NetGalley for my copy. My review is honest and my opinions are my own.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

{4.5 stars}

Thanks to Viking Penguin and Penguin Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

This is the story of the Celtic gods. Danu, the queen of the gods, loves her daughter, Cailleach and bestows upon her the power over winter. But Cailleach has never lived as a mortal and does not care when her winter immersions kill off the mortals of Tara. Danu decides to teach her a lesson by sending her to live a mortal life until she learns why she must love and protect mortals. She lives multiple lives learning so much about humanity, especially about love, grief and death.

I loved the beauty of the gods and their mythology balanced with the small monotonies of regular life in the ancient Celtic world. I devoured this book. I generally do enjoy a retelling of mythology and I haven't read enough about the Celtic gods so this felt like a real breath of fresh air. The writing style reminded me of Joanna Ruth Meyer meets Jennifer Saint.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This was a short, simple, yet moving tale of the goddess Cailleach. Her inability to emphasize with mortals results in her being cursed to live a mortal life over and over as punishment for her cruelty.

In each of her lives, one particular mortal impacts her. And in each life, she learns a bit more about what it really means to be mortal. How to live, how to love, how to find meaning in a fleeting life. It’s a rather straightforward story, but the emotional impact increases with each life. Her final “life” actually got me teary, so I’m rounding up on my rating for that.

I’d say Barnard’s Jezebel was the more impactful story, but I wouldn’t hesitate to also recommend this one.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winter Goddess is a lovely, if short, story about pride, redemption, and love. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, and Cailleach's flawed character was really interesting. Despite this, her development didn't really happen until the end of the book, and most of her emotions felt pretty flat. None of the side characters or romances (with Áine or Fionn) were convincing enough for me to truly sympathize with Cailleach and her experiences.
The writing and narration were lovely, though. The author did a beautiful job creating a lush setting that reflected what it means to be mortal, and I enjoyed the story. I think I would have liked it more if the book was longer and the characters were more complex.

[Priyanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕."

This book made my brain freeze, my eyes water and my heart throb like hell!! One of the most thought-provoking mythological retellings.

Cailleach, the winter goddess, knocks on every wall, surfacing the norms established by society. As a child, she fumbled around understanding humans and their criteria of life, but couldn't bear the harsh reality resulting in solitary.

Due to certain negligence, she is thrust into mortal life as a punishment, and her journey is combobulated deeper with the assimilations of human struggles, pains, emotions, life and death.

The writing is cavernous, leaving sobbing at her innocence, the world's cruelty, stubbornness and resilience. As you dig deeper, it showcases the mother-daughter relationship with its development fluctuating with the rebellious Cailleach to wise the goddess herself.

It digs deeper into the concept of mortality, human sacrifices, and fear. It beautifully delineates how fear controls your life beyond the parameters set by the universe.

It is an absolute character-driven story with thought-provoking instances that leave you lost in your musing.

Thank you @prhinternational for the free arc 🤎🍂.

[Morgan Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

What an absolutely gorgeous book! Circe meets Addie Larue with gorgeous imagery. I really loved this one and watching the main character discover her humanity. Humans have so much capacity for love and pain. Sometimes it is easier to isolate your heart so you will never get hurt, but then you would miss out on joy and love. 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would never have picked this book had it not been for my bookclub, not a genre I usually enjoy. But I am so glad I did! what an unexpected, beautiful, thought-provoking book! I enjoyed it immensely!!!

[Nataly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story! 4.5/5 stars

[Léah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reallllly, really wonderful story! Absolutely loved it. It’s quite sad though even if it is about learning how to truly love.

[Annika Ballestro · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 The way I cried the whole time I read this is insane.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this a 3.5. The writing was beautiful and I loved the way that all her different lives taught her a little something more about being human. I felt her pain and suffering, but I thought it was wild that it took her seven lives to figure out how to "appreciate" humankind.

I feel as though the heartbreak in life three should have taught her more so that she wouldn't have had her vengeful actions in the beginning of life four. As though she learned nothing from her initial punishment to begin with. Despite this though, I felt as though each life taught her valuable lessons about the different types of love - love for animals, lovers, family and friends.

I also thought that the whole world of the gods fell a little flat. Danu was the only other god involved and I wish others were touched upon a little more to give us a better picture of the world of the Gaelic gods.

[Luminea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read for the winter solstice ❄️

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy but ruthless gods! There were some shock and awww moments to this that I didn't expect from this read. Perfect for the wintery chilly season!

[Sandra4444]

*DNF:d at p.42/"The first life"*

Just not in the mood for this book at the moment.

[cameron b · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, it took me almost 50% of the book to really get into the story, but I loved the last 50%. It was beautiful, and the ending made me tear up

[Diana Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this! I teared up at times and got really attached at the characters. A beautiful story!

[Jarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its tempting to just list the things I loved about this book. So I will. The prose, the vibrant settings, the gripping familial relationships, the animals, real character growth that was actually earned! This was a quality book that dare I say... made me feel things. I admit to listening to the book, tears streaming down my face at a certain part of this book.

This is a beautiful book to add to my collection (both the cover and content). 5 stars, will read again.