But following the opening segment, the plot moves backwards in time, and by the third story 'The Airman,' the pieces start fitting together. To tell you too much about the seven interconnected stories would be to give away too many of their delicious secrets. Eric and Merle's story has elements of the shrieking madness of the film The Wicker Man, including a distinct undercurrent of unease and disturbing pagan rituals. I love fiction that is unsettling, particularly when it comes to the YA genre. Little does he know that his story is but one chapter in a piercingly poignant, savage saga that stretches across time and transcends the boundaries of life and death. He is immediately drawn to a woman named Merle, but soon begins to notice that the locals are behaving strangely.very strangely. A young journalist named Eric arrives on a remote island, where it is rumored that the people live forever. The unusual story of Midwinterblood begins in the future, in the year 2073. Plus win a finished copy of this fantastic book!Ĥ.5 stars Blood-soaked nightmares. Why are readers drawn to horror? Read our Q & A with Marcus Sedgwick, the Printz honor author of Midwinterblood. He has published novels such as Floodland (winner of the Branford Boase Award in 2001) and The Dark Horse (shortlisted for The Guardian Children's Book Award 2002). He used to play for two bands namely playing the drums for Garrett and as the guitarist in an ABBA tribute group. Poe's story, as well as his own fascination with technique, provided that final piece of the puzzle.' I had the initial idea some years ago but was just waiting for the right ingredient to come along. The most recent of these nominations rekindled a fascination with Poe that has borne fruit here in (in The Restless Dead, 2007) the form of 'The Heart of Another' - inspired by Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart.' Of his story, Sedgwick says, 'This was one of those stories that I thought might be a novel originally but actually was much better suited to the tight form of the short story.

He is the author of several books, including Witch Hill and The Book of Dead Days, both of which were nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. Marcus is a British author and illustrator as well as a musician. Marcus Sedgwick was born in Kent, England.

Midwinterblood by marcus sedgwick