The Way Past Winter

In a land of endless winter, 13-year-old Mila lives with her sisters and brother in a remote cabin. When her brother disappears along with all the other young men from their village, Mila refuses to believe he abandoned them like their father did years ago. Determined to find her brother, Mila embarks on a journey through the frozen wilderness with her remaining siblings and a mysterious magician. The group faces the harsh elements and mythical dangers as they travel north, where ancient magic still holds power. Along their quest, Mila and her companions encounter creatures from old Norse legends and discover truths about their world's perpetual winter. The survival of both their family and the natural order hangs in the balance. This middle-grade fantasy explores themes of family bonds, courage in the face of loss, and humanity's relationship with the natural world. Through its winter setting, the story examines how people adapt to environmental extremes and find hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Readers appreciate the atmospheric winter setting and Norse-inspired folklore elements. Many note the strong bonds between siblings and highlight Hargrave's lyrical writing style. Multiple reviews mention the book's success at blending adventure with emotional depth. Common praise focuses on: - Rich descriptions of the winter landscape - Character development of protagonist Mila - The balance of magic and realism - Themes of family loyalty Main criticisms include: - Pacing feels slow in the middle sections - Some plot points remain unresolved - Target age range unclear (marketed as middle grade but reads older) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) "Beautiful prose but the story dragged" appears in several reviews. One frequent comment notes the book is "more character-driven than plot-focused." Readers often compare it favorably to other Nordic-inspired fiction like "The Bear and the Nightingale."

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell In the depths of the Russian wilderness, a girl who teaches tamed wolves to return to the wild must embark on a dangerous journey through snow-covered forests to find her missing mother.

The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson A young girl lives in a house that wanders across cold northern lands while her grandmother guides the dead to the afterlife, leading to a story of loss, destiny, and courage.

East by Edith Pattou A Nordic-inspired tale follows a girl who travels into frozen wilderness to rescue her sister from a mysterious white bear, drawing on folklore and the power of mapmaking.

The Wild Folk by Sylvia V. Linsteadt Two children venture into a realm of ancient magic and nature spirits to save their world from destruction, encountering creatures from Slavic mythology along their path.

The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente Four siblings step through a portal into a magical frozen world of their own creation, where they must navigate both real and imagined dangers to find their way home.

🌨️ The book draws inspiration from Scandinavian folklore and the "eternal winter" motif common in Norse mythology 🏹 Author Kiran Millwood Hargrave wrote this novel while living in Oxford, England, but traveled to the Arctic Circle to research the setting and atmosphere ❄️ The main character's name, Mila, means "gracious" or "dear one" in Slavic languages, reflecting the character's nurturing nature toward her siblings 🌲 The novel's setting was influenced by the real-life "Little Ice Age," a period of cooling that affected Northern Europe from the 14th to the 19th centuries 🎭 Before becoming a novelist, Hargrave was an award-winning poet and playwright, skills that contribute to the lyrical quality of her prose in this book