Bird, Blood, Snow

By Cynan Jones

The eighth installment in the New Stories from the Mabinogion series transforms a classic tale into a modern Quixotian romp. The original Peredur tale recounts the adventures of a youth bent on recognition as a knight in King Arthur’s court. In true questing fashion, he defends maidens, defeats giants, and eventually overcomes the witches who have cursed him. Hoping to save him from the same fate as his father and brothers—dead, jailed, or missing—Peredur’s mother takes him from the estates. But the world won’t be held at bay in this version; when local kids cycle into his life, he follows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seren
• Release date: Mar 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781854116079

Book preview

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Reviews for Bird, Blood, Snow

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This series seems to be quite hit and miss, with me. I rather enjoy the whole idea of it -- and even the idea here makes sense and isn't bad in itself, I suppose -- but this seemed very light, despite the heavy subject matter, and I'm not sure what to make of what the author did with Peredur.

[modioperandi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Coming to this after having read The Cove and The Fart Cynan Jones does not fail to impress with Bird, Blood, Snow. However if you are coming to this book series fresh without knowing much about the Mabinogion I highly recommend reading the introduction then skipping to the end for the afterward notes to understand what this story is and what is going on. Bird, Blood, Snow is essentially an adventure story of a youth bent on recognition. This young man will do all it takes- fight, terrorize, defend, to gain the glory he seeks. It is all at once complete and incomplete a new written work that has the feeling of playground gossip about 'the new kid'. The New Stories from the Mabinogion book seires are retellings of the Mabinogion folk tale(s). The series goes from retellings to total transformations. Bird, Blood, Snow is a I do now know what. It is weird and amazing and urgent. Reading it now in 2020 after the release of the new Beowulf translation by Maria Dahvana Headley the story makes even more sense and I have a greater appreciation for it. If you are coming to folk story retellings fresh maybe read Beowulf first and Headley's introduction to it or at the very least a review of Maria Dahvana Headley translation to get in the headspace of retellings. For me that was useful because I am not a big reader of classic stories and old folk tales. Either way the story is great and wonderfully written and conceived. Even without the background information it is so weird and disorientating and Cynan's writing is so affecting that it almost will not matter if you do your Mabinogion homework or not. The story really does stand on its own in its strange way. Loved this story.