The Winter Sisters: A Novel
The Winter Sisters: A Novel book cover

The Winter Sisters: A Novel

Paperback – August 7, 2019

Price
$16.95
Format
Paperback
Pages
322
Publisher
QW Publishers
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0984974894
Dimensions
5.25 x 0.73 x 8 inches
Weight
11.9 ounces

Description

US Selfies Winner (Publishers Weekly and Booklife)Foreword Reviews INDIES 2019 Gold Winner for Fantasy2019 Authors Circle Fiction Book of the Year AwardIPPY's Bronze Medal for Best Southeast Regional Fictionxa0"A mesmerizing gem of a novel. The author's talent for conveying beauty is striking, [and] his talent for conveying tension, conflict, and fear is equally impressive and used with great skill. This is a fine example of Southern literature at its most moving and vivid and beautiful."- Southern Literary Review , November 2019 Read of the Month"Historical fiction fans will be riveted by this immersive portrait of medicine and superstition in 19th-century rural Georgia. Great for fans of Adriana Trigiani, Jennifer Chiaverini."- The BookLife Review , Editor's Choice"Solid writing and strong characters buoy this examination of a captivating moment in American history when old beliefs encountered the new. An enthralling, cozy tale set in an era when folklore reigned over science." - Kirkus Reviews " The Winter Sisters is a spellbinding frontier-America historical fantasy that showcases author Tim Westover's genuine flair for originality and a distinctively engaging narrative storytelling style. With its unique twists on history and deftly crafted characters, The Winter Sisters will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections" - Midwest Book Review "A well-plotted, perfectly paced novel whose chapters paint a colorful portrait of the frontier town of Lawrenceville, Georgia and its residents. What begins as a story of the clash between so-called scientific and folk medicine in the second decade of the nineteenth century turns, by the end, into a much more profound reflection on the role that personal belief plays in how people of any time or place conduct their lives." -The BookLife Prize , 9.75 / 10"Amid Lawrenceville's shenanigans and swirling fears, a witty, tender story arises and unexpected partnerships form.... The Winter Sisters is an entertaining historical fantasy in which lives change and minds open." - Foreword Clarion Reviews , 5 stars"Regardless of your personal beliefs regarding traditional healing or western medicine, this novel is a balm for the soul, or perhaps a mirror, reminding us that what truly matters is not who ends up being wrong or right, but rather how we treat one another along the way." -Independent Review of Books, 5 stars"A spellbinding blend of historical fiction and magic realism, The Winter Sisters mixes science with superstition in this enchanting, lush novel." - IndieReader , 5 stars

Features & Highlights

  • A stuffy big-city doctor. Three rural folk healers. An unexpected partnership could put lives on the line…
  • Georgia, 1822. Dr. Aubrey Waycross puts his faith in science, not superstition. So when he moves to a remote mountain town, he’s dismayed to see the townsfolk reject his scientific blood-letting methods in favor of potions and witchcraft. And with a rabid panther stalking the area, he’s running out of time to convince the citizens of the error of their ways.Confronting the trio of spell-peddling sisters, he’s stunned to find their herbal remedies may contain the missing ingredient he needs for a cure. But with the local pastor hellbent on driving them out and the youngest sister unwilling to share her mysterious abilities, he worries he could lose the sick to madness and death.Can Dr. Waycross discover the right combination of science and sorcery to save the townspeople?
  • The Winter Sisters
  • is a spellbinding frontier-America historical fantasy. If you like unique twists on history, complex characters, and a touch of enchantment, then you’ll love Tim Westover’s richly woven tale.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(502)
★★★★
25%
(419)
★★★
15%
(251)
★★
7%
(117)
23%
(385)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Good book

The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover is an interesting novel that is part fiction/part fantasy. It intertwines both genres to create a quick, engrossing read.

I enjoyed the characters and felt they had multiple layers which led to a nice complexity.

I enjoyed the location/setting 1800s Georgia and I also enjoyed the cast of characters.

I enjoyed the ending, and also the aftwerward that the author wrote to add some historical significance from a medical aspect. As someone in the medical field, that part, as well as how alternative treatments were dispersed between what “traditional medical treatments” were widely accepted at that time, added a layer of interest for me.

A great read. 4/5 stars
9 people found this helpful
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Underwhelmed

Great premise, great promise, but this book fell flat. All over the place, ether, folklore, snake oil salesman, rabies, lost loves, hidden backstories, supernatural cures on and on and on. Just when I thought the novel was going on some path, there was a curveball. Three sisters in the backwoods of the south, and add one new, young doctor. (SPOILER ALERT- Bottom line, the oldest sister took off with the young MD. the youngest daughter took off with the snake oil salesman, and the middle sister just took off. )Somewhat annoyed I spent time on this book. OH- I forgot to add the panther as well to the themes.
2 people found this helpful
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What did I just read?

In The Winter Sisters, author Ted Westover seeks to create a frontier tale featuring a medicine show salesman, 3 sisters accused of witchcraft, and an almost quack doctor whose “scientific” remedies fail more than they succeed. While I enjoyed the occasional tongue-in-cheek bits of humor, the author’s use of archaic words and his tendency to speak in vague terms almost felt like the characters were enjoying an inside joke that I was not privy to. I was hoping for more from this book. It was entertaining, but the conclusion was confusing with no real explanation for why the story ended as it did. 2 stars.
1 people found this helpful
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Strange, rambling

Strange book. Not much plot. Very random. Surprised it has such good reviews.
1 people found this helpful
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Wonderful writing, slow story.

The story fell a little flat. The writing was beautiful and I learned a few new vocabulary words. The plot just seemed a little disjointed. I was expecting an amazing book and felt it ended up being just okay. This was my first book by the author. I have a couple other titles from him on my reading list. I am interested enough in his writing to try another title.
1 people found this helpful
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History was interesting but that's it.

I really wanted to like this book but the insufferable doctor ruined it. His dumbest recurring remarks about how could there be a panther in N. Georgia - well, they were pretty much everywhere in N. America before the Europeans began killing them. The Winter sisters were by far the most well written characters. Herbal meds were well known and used in the 18th century so his stubborn rejection of them didn't make sense. I finished the book bc I wanted to see what happened to the sisters and that did not disappoint.
1 people found this helpful
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Mysterious and magical

I was given this book as a gift, and I just say- it was quite the gift! I placed it in my pile of “need to read books”, but I finally finished reading it. It’s fantastic. I love the quip and sass of the Sisters, the fervor and faith to medicine by the Doctor, and the overall sense of loyalty to the Sisters by the villagers. If applied to modern times, if very much rings true of hometown sensibilities. It’s definitely a thrilling read and I plan to add it to my rotation of “will read again and often”. Very pleased with this read- will be following the author for more!
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Unable to finish this one

After seeing all of the reviews I decided to go ahead and purchase this book. Unfortunately, I am halfway through the book and I just am not enjoying it at all. Even managed to power through lines such as “saw a supposedly learned man putting a lancet into his own a$$hole (to cure a headache) but this is all I can manage. I definitely believe this could’ve been a great story told from the sisters perspective but this is just not for me.
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Old World Medicine vs. New World Medicine

Interesting book with some interesting characters. Old World medicine vs. New World medicine. I wish the Winter Sisters lived by me.
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Interesting

A very interesting read.