Midwinterblood

{{short description|2013 novel by Marcus Sedgwick}} {{Infobox book |  | name = Midwinterblood | image = Midwinterblood-BookCover.jpg| caption = | author = Marcus Sedgwick | country = England | language = English | translator = | cover_artist = | genre = [[Young adult fiction]] | publisher = [[Roaring Brook Press]] | release_date = 2013 | media_type = Print Hardcover | pages = 262 | isbn = 9781596438002 | oclc = 793339976 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}

'''''Midwinterblood''''' is a [[Young adult literature|young adult]] novel by [[Marcus Sedgwick]], published by [[Roaring Brook Press]] in [[2013 in literature|2013]]. The book is composed of seven connected storylines told in reverse-chronological order, with time periods ranging from ancient times to the near future. Inspired by Swedish painter [[Carl Larsson]]'s controversial painting ''[[Midvinterblot]]'', the stories feature themes of love and sacrifice.

==Reception==

The book received mostly positive but mixed reviews. In a ''[[New York Times]]'' review, [[Eoin Colfer]] describes the book as "a tale for the ages, expertly spun and completely satisfying in its conclusion".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colfer |first=Eoin |date=2013-02-08 |title=Seven Stories |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/books/review/midwinterblood-by-marcus-sedgwick.html |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> One ''[[School Library Journal]]'' review recommends the book, stating that "with ritual sacrifice, a vampire and plenty of blood secondary pupils will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is well worth having two on the library shelves." <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Charlish |first1=Rosamund |title=Midwinterblood |journal=School Library Journal |date=Winter 2011 |volume=59 |issue=4 |page=249 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/912477044 |access-date=22 March 2025|id={{ProQuest|912477044}} }}</ref>

In a review in ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[Anthony McGowan]] praised the book as having "Sedgwick's characteristically brilliant structural complexity", but described some sections as "less successful" than others, noting that "the first story, which should propel the novel's backward momentum, stutters and falters".<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGowan |first=Anthony |date=2011-10-07 |title=Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/07/midwinterblood-marcus-sedgwick-childrens-review |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> One review from a ''[[School Library Journal]]'' blog describes the book in depth, but admits "I still waver between work of art and stinking hot mess." <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Silverman |first1=Karyn |title=Midwinterblood |journal=Someday My Printz Will Come (School Library Journal) |date=9 December 2013 |url=https://blogs.slj.com/printzblog/2013/12/09/midwinterblood/}}</ref>

The book was awarded the [[Michael L. Printz Award]]<ref>{{cite web|author=American Library Association |title=The Michael L. Printz Award |url=https://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz-award |access-date=2025-03-12 }}</ref> in 2014. In 2013, it was shortlisted for the [[Carnegie Medal for Writing]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=The CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist for 2013 |url=http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2013awards/carnegie_shortlist.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174528/http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2013awards/carnegie_shortlist.php |archive-date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The CILIP Carnegie Medal}}</ref>

==References== <references/>

[[Category:2013 British novels]] [[Category:2013 English-language novels]] [[Category:British young adult novels]] [[Category:Michael L. Printz Award–winning works]]