A warm magical read that I didn't want to end. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend. We'll written and good plot

Sorry that i didnt leave this review before.

This was a good story, moody and compelling, i enjoyed the story of Mina, her connection to the cat which isnt exactly natural, and the dashing man who comes to her rescue in the end. The community of Murr was charming, loved the idea of the pub that was also a shop and the fact that they needed to take a boat to get to the mainland.

Charming read, very ethereal.

Lovely story for cold autumn evenings as it is getting darker, I absolutely adore the cover too. Thank you for letting me read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this heartwarming Christmas story! Mina Kestle is a rising business star focused on landing a big deal. But her plans get sidetracked when she receives a mysterious letter from her estranged godfather. The letter asks her to care for his cat, but upon arrival, Mina finds the magical island of Morgelyn in danger. Greedy contractors threaten the island's peaceful way of life, and Mina must decide where her priorities lie.

This short novel shines with its charming characters and vivid descriptions. The author beautifully paints a picture of Morgelyn's windswept shores and close-knit community. Though initially wary of outsiders, the islanders eventually warm up to Mina, becoming her allies in protecting their beloved home. The plot itself is light and predictable, but the heartwarming message and nostalgic folk stories make it a perfect Christmas read.

I had a good feeling from the very beginning. Everything needed for a Midwinter pick me up. The writing is beautifully descriptive, especially about the sea and the smell of the gorse.. A warm, magical read.

I love this story and I don't want to turn the last page as I would suffer from serious book hangover.
So please read it as it's well plotted, sweet and features a great cat
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was the perfect little story for Christmas. Steeped in Cornish legend, it had the warm cosy feel to it that you want from a nice Christmas read. It also had absolutely everything you get from a Christmas movie. I do feel I read it a bit early to really get into the Christmas spirit, but I can't deny that it would be good to read on Christmas eve!

I loved how much this book centred around the cat, Murr. And how right from the start Murr is set up as a mythical cat of the sea. Though the characters don't believe this, the book led me to believe in Murr's power right from the start and I loved the magical realism feel that it gave to the book.


It was great for cat lovers and anyone interested in Cornish mythology or even just anyone who loves a good underdog fights against big developers story!

Mina Kestle is trying to tie up a mega business deal and make herself seem credible in her boss's eyes when she opens a mysterious letter from her Godfather. A man she once cherished, but turned his back, taking with him the comfort and security of the magical island of Morgelyn. All the letter asks is for Mina to care for her godfathers cat, Murr, but soon it becomes apparent that more than one cat is at stake on Morgelyn, with contractors circling and threatening the quiet island.

The writing was extremely captivating in this little folksy story, with lush descriptions of the island and it's windswept shores to all that nature had to offer. It's incredible well done, and as the reader you can almost feel that wins through your hair and smell the sea salt. The characters who live on this island are equally as well described, being a close knit and prickly bunch who aren't that fond of outsiders. They elevate the story someehst, as initial adversaries to Mina and later close confidantes and friends.

The plot itself is OK, if very predictable. It had enough to hold my attention, especially when the plot is interweaved with folk stories that brim with nostalgia, but overall it felt lacking in substance. I guess that's the fault of being a little over 200 pages - something has to give. However, overall this was a warming and heartfelt Christmas read.

This is a cute and cosy Christmassy tale / tail...

Mina lives in London, having grown up on the Isles of Scilly and when she is summoned back by her godfather Davy who she's not seen for years she knows something must be seriously wrong. Asked to take care of his cat, Murr, this becomes about so much more than a simple cat sitting trip.

This is a quick read you can get through in an afternoon cosied up by the fire whilst you're whisked away to the beautifully described Isles of Scilly which will make you want to book a visit!

A Midwinter's Tail is set on Morgelyn, a tiny island off the coast of Cornwall, where Mina is sent to look after her godfather's cat, Murr over Christmas whilst he is recovering in hospital. This book contains elements of magical realism and lots of folklore.

I absolutely loved this book! The setting was perfect for the festive season and the descriptions were very vivid. I loved the slightly whimsical, fairytale atmosphere created. The characters were all developed and I liked that each character we meet on the island is very distinct and loveable. Although some elements of the plot were quite predictable, this was a great feel good story and would be the perfect book to read by the fire over Christmas!

My only complaint is that the romance subplot did feel slightly rushed and not very fleshed out. It became very apparent from the moment that we met the love interest that there was going to be an element of romance however in my opinion it doesn't really add anything to the story.

Overall, I loved this book and think this would make the perfect stocking filler for any animal lover this Christmas!

Two major things that first made me pick up A Midwinter’s Tail:
One, it has a cat on the cover;
Two, the intentional spelling of “tail” suggests that the cat plays an important role in the novel (she does).

Two minor things that encouraged me to pick up A Midwinter’s Tail:
One, the mention of Cornish folklore, which I knew very little about until a recent mention in Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror;
Two, it is set during the Holidays/Christmas/festive time.

“A night when the old year stumbles and the new is yet to be born, a night when time does not flow but pools, and everything that could be, is.”

The thing that draws A Midwinter’s Tail together, and makes it so enjoyable and lovely, is the gentle mystic background. Nothing on the little Cornish island of Morgelyn is overtly magical or paranormal, but there is just a trace of the “other”, the very hint of something intangible behind a semi-opaque curtain. It is enough to make this more than a cute novel about a community pulling together to save themselves from big investors taking over; more than a young woman giving up big corporate London for a cozy, artistic life on the Cornish coast.

I honestly didn’t so much read to find out what happens to Morgelyn, than to make sure that Murr is okay - the seemingly ageless cat that has a penchant for making people worry about her. I just want to squeeze her face and love her! (Don’t tell my cats.)

The lilting voice of the storyteller with their intermittent folk tales, and the lyricism knitted into the fabric of A Midwinter’s Tale, makes this a pleasure to read.

‘A town in need.
An extraordinary cat.
A season for miracles...’ - cover tag line

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. Sphere for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Midwinter’s Tail’ by Lili Hayward.

I was initially drawn by the beautiful Christmas themed cover of this novel though once I began reading I quickly fell in love with it.

Mina Kestle is committed to her life in London and is close to securing a career making deal. Then she receives a short enigmatic letter along with an ancient key. The letter is from her godfather, Davy Penhallow, whom she hasn’t seen for decades.

Davy is an artist who lives in a cottage on the tiny Cornish island of Morgelyn. His only companion is his grey cat, Murr. Mina discovers that Davy has had a stroke and wants her to look after his cottage - and his cat - while he recovers in hospital. While Mina is uncertain why Davy has written after all these years, she decides to do the right thing and travels to Morgelyn with the intention to sort out care for Murr and then return to London in time for her big meeting.

Yet once Mina arrives she finds herself remembering how much she had loved the island and the magic of the local folklore. She also begins to make connections with the local community. Her decision to leave is initially held up by a winter storm but then she discovers that ruthless property developers have plans for the island that will destroy its heritage. As Christmas grows closer, Mina remains determined that Morgelyn will not be lost.

I began this book with little knowledge of its content and had expected either a cat-themed holiday romance or cosy mystery. I was delighted to discover that Lili Hayward had infused her novel with Cornish folklore and sea lore and was very impressed with her storytelling skills.

Overall, I adored ‘A Midwinter’s Tail’, falling in love with its characters and atmospheric setting. It was beautifully written and flowed so well. Since finishing it I have been enthusiastically recommending it.

A perfect (and purrfect) Christmas read. One of my favourite books of the year. After this, I certainly plan to read more of Lili Hayward’s writing.

This book was the most wonderful reading experience I'd ever had. I started crying while reading the book for reasons I can't even pinpoint. I'm not sure why at the time. I'm not sure why I couldn't stop myself. I'm not sure why all those feelings, largely happy tears, were so overwhelming to me. It happened quite recently. It could have been a peculiar type of sorcery slowly enchanting me as I read this book.

That's not unusual. Because this novel is always teetering on the edge of reality and magic. Perhaps it's a story of true magic. Or it may be a narrative about magical realities. There are stories being recounted that are full of magic and marvels. Surprisingly, there are numerous occasions when the magic and characters from those legends appear briefly during festivities, storms, and other significant events in this small community.

The true enchantment, however, is the force of this community and the power of this one girl's will to fight for it until the bitter end. This community is filled with love, and its members genuinely care about one another. It's the kind of community that everyone wants to be a part of, and I believe that everyone wants to feel what the protagonist does in this novel: the enchantment of coming home and belonging.

Id like to thank NetGalley and Lili Haywood for letting me read the ARC of A Midwinter’s Tale.

First off, this story is written beautifully. It has a lyrical flow and the way she describes the world building of the isle of Morgelyn, the cottage. It’s very easy to transport yourself off to the very ends of Cornwall. I could almost taste the salt of the sea!

The characters were wonderful, you had a good sense that the people of the island knew something and remembered who Mina was. It was almost conspiratorial and loved how she eventually warmed up to the people who were trying to help her.

Murr, I fell in love with and brought back so many little memories of our English grey, Vienna. Definitely a catittude there. I would have loved to of seen more of Murr in the storyline but what you did see/read. You knew there was a very old soul in Murr.

My favourite quote was :
“That with every step we take, we change the land and are changed by it in turn. The land remembers us, just as we must remember.”

“The people who went before are all around us, Mina, if only we could learn to hear them …”

In a Nutshell: A predictable but heartwarming story. Works to a great extent; could have improved on character development. Prose and atmospheric setting lovers will enjoy it more.

Story Synopsis:
When Mina receives a note a few days before Christmas from her estranged godfather Davy Penhallow, an acclaimed artist who lives on Morgelyn Island off Cornwall, she is initially not sure what to do. But it’s not like she’s enjoying her boring job, so when she learns that Davy is recovering from a stroke in hospital and wants her to take care of his cat Murr, she leaves her work obligations and rushes to the remote location. Her only intent is to ensure that someone is looking after Murr so she can return to London immediately.
However, as she spends more time in Davy’s cottage, she recollects his engaging narration of Cornish folklore and the few happy months she spent there with her mother. The support of the island community also touches her. But she soon discovers a hidden agenda behind one islander’s friendly overtures. Now it is up to Mina to save Murr and Morgelyn.
The story comes to us in Mina’s first person perspective.

Bookish Yays:
😻 Murr, the cat who also graces the cover. While I would have liked to see Murr in a greater and possibly more active role, I still enjoyed the scenes where she is present.
😻 The writing is absolutely lyrical. Even when the story goes beyond the islands to the urban landscapes of London, the imagery is stunning. But the island setting is where the author’s writing truly shines, almost paying an homage to nature. From the gorse to the sea holly to the rocky land and the sea itself, every natural feature of the island is captured with such picturesque vividness that I was not just reading about but living the Cornish atmosphere, feeling the waves and the wind as I sauntered through the story.
😻 The island dwellers are as close-knit as people in a small town usually are. Many of them are vivacious characters, thereby adding a lively spirit to the otherwise sombre plot.
😻 Davy’s myriad stories, all coming through Mina’s recollections of her childhood, are penned beautifully. Written in folktale style, they are infused with an earthly yet magical charm, making me feel like I was listening to a talented raconteur narrating some beautiful lore.
😻 Though the story is contemporary, there is an old-world feel to it, courtesy the midwinter festival, the close-knit community vibes among the islanders, the island itself that is almost untouched by capitalism, and the lore. I enjoyed this old-new medley.
😻 A special shout-out to that gorgeous cover and the punny title. My first two points of attraction for this book!

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😾 The prologue gives the perfect start to the story, but it also made me expect a lot more magic from the main plot. However, there is just a mild dash of magical realism, enough to satisfy but not enough to thrill. The surreal content increases as the plot progresses but is never explained. I would have loved more magic and at least some more answers. For instance, what was the deal with Murr? Was he on his ninth life or has he already exhausted his quota and received a divine extension?
😾 There is an ex-lesbian couple and one non-binary character. However, the latter just has a fleeting appearance and the former has already broken up, so there’s nothing much explored there except bitterness. While I appreciate the inclusivity, it felt more like a token gesture than a genuine need of the plot.
😾 I did love Davy’s anecdotes and Mina’s imaginative forays into her past, but these made the flow of the plot somewhat complicated. I am not sure how this book will work on audio because the random flashbacks and interspersed lore aren’t conducive to easy listening.
😾 The book is quite short. However, the initial half is relatively weak. As I have mentioned many times before, I like prose but I love plot even more. The plot herein is minimal in the first half, with too many secrets and not enough explanation. This created a dragged feel, and I felt no compulsion to return to the book once I set it aside. The second half performs much better.
😾 While I did like many of the characters, the fact is that their development is too straightforward. There is no depth to their sketching. All fit in their roles –whether good or bad - without any unpredictability. The layering is almost non-existent.
😾 The word ‘predictable’ is always seen as a negative trait. But sometimes, predictable is safe, calming, reassuring. In that sense, the book is good as you can see where things are going and hence it works well as a light read. Unfortunately, this also makes the plot slightly boring. There’s no challenge to the mind.

Bookish Nays:
😿 There is a (minor) romantic track even here, though the story doesn’t need one at all. The romance, while not over the top (Thank God!), is oh-so-guessable. The minute the potential suitor comes on the page, you understand that he has been tagged for Mina. I didn’t like this development, all the more because there was no apparent chemistry between the couple. Does a journey back to your roots have to involve romance? I wish some relationships were left platonic. Not every book needs to compete with Hallmark!
😿 The backstory about Mina’s childhood on the island wasn’t entirely convincing to me. There were a few gaps in the explanation. There was also one reveal connected to this aspect that was somewhat annoying. I guessed the reveal much before the plot even came close to it, but that still didn’t make me a fan. I think it was a needless twist and the story would have worked better without it.

All in all, this is a feel-good Christmas-time story with some beautiful writing. The story doesn’t offer many surprises, but if you are looking for something safe and satisfying that is also somewhat whimsical, this book ought to work nicely.

3.5 stars.

My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK, Sphere, and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Midwinter's Tail”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is the perfect cosy book to curl up with!

Mina lives and works in London, but gets a mysterious letter from someone in her past, summoning her back to a small Cornish island that she thought she’d left behind twenty years ago…

Suddenly back on the remote island, she’s swept up by the islanders, the wishes of her estranged sick godfather, and the task of looking after his old cottage, alongside his seemingly immortal grey cat, Murr.

I really loved this book. The writing is superb, and despite being only 240 pages, I felt fully whisked away to the Cornish coastline, and a deep connection to the storyline. It’s a contemporary, set around Christmas time, but Christmas isn’t the overly cloying event that it can be in other festive books, merely the time we find ourselves in. There’s also a magical realism thread that runs throughout the book, which I loved, tying us into the folklore of the island, and the magic that maybe truly does run through it.

I also adore that Murr the cat is such a prominent part of the story, as the cover and title suggests. Sometimes books that lead with a cat theme can have them fading away into the background of the actual story, but she is very much there, and, as a cat lover myself, I loved that.

If you’re looking for a sweet, heartwarming, cozy read this winter, then I can’t recommend this enough.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

A Midwinter’s Tail (2023) is a beautifully written, feel good, Christmassy and magical story which even if predicable in plot warms one’s heart and keeps one engaged from start to finish.

Mina Kestle is a young woman working in London, on shaky ground as far as her job is concerned but for an important deal that she manages to lay the groundwork for, and to seal which a significant meeting is coming up a few days before Christmas. But she receives a letter from her godfather Davy Penhallow, who lives far away on the Cornish island of Morgelyn with his cat Murr. The letter comes with the key to his cottage and a five word message—Mina, please look after her. Mina is shaken not least because after one memorable and wonderful visit to the island when she was eight, Davy has cut off all contact, something she sees as a betrayal. Nonetheless on a spur of the moment decision, she decides to make a quick trip to the island and see that everything is taken care of before returning to her London life. Needless to say, this will be anything but a quick trip. Davy has suffered a stroke and is in hospital fighting for life. When she gets to the island, she finds plenty of memories, friendly folk, and her mind going back to all the beautiful stories of folklore from the island that Davy had told her. And of course, there is Murr the cat herself, a beautiful, yet mysterious grey creature whose presence and magic is what makes Davy’s home the special place it is. As she spends time in the cottage and around the island, secrets are revealed and some problems the islanders are facing become known. Will Mina be able to help them? Will she find out why Davy broke off contact, and why he’s reached out now?

As I cracked open (so to speak since I was reading an e-copy) this book, the first thing that I read was the quote with the dedication from Pangur Ban, the 9th Century Irish poem that I only recently discovered and love very much—a purrfect start! This is a book filled with folklore, gorgeously written, and with a subtle form of magic, always involving the presence of the grey cat. The opening folktale that Davy once told Mina (once again reminiscent of The Bear and the Nightingale and a few other stories I’ve been reading recently), is of people forgetting to thank the spirits, in this case the sea for what they have given them—

Until one dark Midwinter’s eve, when the people of Lyonesse were so caught up in their merrymaking, in their spices and tin and riches, that they forgot to give thanks to the sea. And the sea, having always calmed its waves for them, was angry at being forgotten. …

And this of course has consequences. Many such tales are interwoven in the story, often coming back to Mina from memory—stories that were told to her when she spent time on the island as a child. All lovely, and beautifully told. There is a sense of magic to them and also in the present, with Murr the cat bringing in not only comfort with her purrs but also representing the spirit of the very place, her presence alone sufficient to indicate that things are ok. She may not play an active role in the story, yet she forms its backbone.

The plot as I already said was fairly predictable. One knows the secrets that will be revealed, and it is mostly a question of how and when Mina will uncover them. The secret that she discovers towards the end too, one can guess well before her. Likewise, the ‘villains’ of the piece are clear to the reader as one sets eyes on them, but Mina (though one can’t entirely blame her) is slow to see them. There is a romance thread, fairly clear from the start, but I was glad this remained secondary, and didn’t take over the story which was what was worrying me

The Christmas spirit and feeling simply oozes from all the pages—from the early Christmas party at Mina’s London office right at the start to the festive atmosphere on the island, even amidst their various troubles, one is there experiencing it all with them.

A Midwinter’s Tail is an uplifting and well-told story, with plenty of hope, feelings of community and belongingness, warmth and love, and a little bit of magic (and plenty of purrs), all making for a quick and lovely read (I started this only at bedtime so had to split my reading into two, but I think I can be easily read in one sitting). A great read for the season.

I was so excited to read this novel because of its cute and adorable cover (hehehehe). Well, not because of its cover only but due to its synopsis as well.

The story actually revolves around Mina Kestle, a marketing executive. She one day got a mysterious letter from her Godfather Davy Penhallow. The strange thing about this sudden contact is that Mina wasn’t in contact with Davy for almost 20 years. Davy asked her to look after his estate and his ancient cat Murr. Arriving at Morgelyn she encounters many people, many secrets, new friendships and a refreshing new start.

This is a pretty comfy read and I finished it in just one sitting. The story I won’t say is predictable (means there is a cozy suspense). I was dying to know what will happen to the cottage and especially Murr.

The people along with Mina who were trying to save the cottage from the clutches of Olivia were also great. I loved how they were supportive especially Jem and his sister Elodie. Typical of a small island where almost everyone knows each other and stands beside each other through thick and thin. That’s why the story seemed realistic to me.

The Cornish myths and tales told by Davy are a great addition to the novel. I personally enjoyed them a lot.

Next, I like the character of Davy. His words of advice and his love for this land is really moving. Plus I loved how he guided Jem but it breaks my heart he wasn’t there for Mina to do the same thing as well.

‘Don’t try to capture what you see,’ Davy said, his sleeves already spotted with green paint. ‘Try to capture what you feel.’

Now I’ll talk about the reason why I couldn’t give it full 5 stars. In the novel, it is mentioned that the relationship between Mina’s mother and father was strained from the start. But I couldn’t get what was actually the problem between them. After reading the novel I found Mina’s father less at fault apart from what his character is actually portrayed in the novel ( but I’ll not forgive him for what he has done to Davy’s letters). I think the writer should make this character a bit more clearer.

I read A Midwinter’s Tail by Lili Hayward last week and it is simply gorgeous! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was TOTALLY seduced by the cover alone but if you tell me a book is about a remote island and heavily features a cat with potential otherworldly connections - then I am SOLD.

The book is about Mina, a staunch Londoner and career girl who receives a mysterious letter with a key from her estranged godfather, Davy. Without explanation, he has entrusted his house and his cat Murr, to her.

Intrigued and filled with anxiety by the message, she drops everything and hot foots it to the tiny Cornish island of Morgelyn where she is met with mistrusting eyes and hostility from the locals.

It’s fine though because Mina only came here to check on Davy and when she’s done that she’ll hop straight back on a plane and back into her hectic London life - right?

But Christmas is coming and the familiar lure of the island has her firmly ensconced amidst the icy heather and then she finds herself in the impossible situation of trying to save memories she thought she had long forgotten…

A Midwinter’s Tail is a beautiful piece of festive prose - I could see and smell all of the sights that Hayward evoked and the mystical element of Murr really added to the atmosphere conjured up on the idyllic island of Morgelyn, I wanted to be right there in the freezing cold, munching on horse chestnuts and tucking into freshly caught crab. A Midwinter’s Tail is the perfect festive read to cosy up with as the cold nights draw in.

This book was sweet and whimsical.

The atmosphere is amazing. I loved the small town/fishertown aspect of the book. The stories told by Davy were haunting and beautiful and added a certain fantastic mystery to the book. I could feel the storms, smell the sea and see all the wildflowers and cottages. This part was truly beautifully written. A perfect midwinter setting.
Murr was obviously the best. Huge mysterious cat? Love it.

Unfortunately, there were a quite a few things that could've been better, first of all the story itself. It was, let's be honest, a bit boring. The book seemed so mysterious, but it was just flat. Very straight forward, very obvious. One story, no little side plots to add some depth. The mysteries were hinted at, but never got any proper screen time. Was this supposed to be fantasy? Mystery? I don't think so, but there were just enough unexplained mysteries to make it confusing. I didn't even know what to expect anymore.

The characters were very one dimensional. The only one with any depth at all was Mina herself and even her character development was flat, obvious and somehow still without any explanation.
Even the romance was flat, without any chemistry.

Another thing was the ending. The big reveal was very obvious and everything felt rushed. There were quite a few loose ends that could've been made into something bigger, but nothing. I would've loved to read more about some of the characters.

This book was sweet and had very nice ideas, but it was simply too short and therefore without any depth. Add a hundred pages of character development and deepen the plot and it might've been great.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Book group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.