Menewood

A Novel

By: Nicola Griffith

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Named a Best Book of the Year by Vox and Autostraddle

Making a much-anticipated return to the world of Hild, Nicola Griffith’s Menewood transports listeners back to seventh-century Britain, a land of rival kings and religions poised for epochal change.

Hild is no longer the bright child who made a place in Edwin Overking’s court with her seemingly supernatural insight. She is eighteen, honed and tested, the formidable lady of Elmet, now building her personal stronghold in the valley of Menewood.

But old alliances are fraying. Younger rivals are snapping at Edwin’s heels. War is brewing—bitter war, winter war. Not knowing whom to trust, Edwin becomes volatile and recalls his young advisor to court. There Hild begins to understand the true extent of the chaos ahead—and realizes she must find a way to navigate the turbulence and fight to protect both the kingdom and her own people.

She will face the losses and devastation of total war, and then must summon the determination to forge a radically different path for herself and her people. In the valley, her last redoubt, Hild draws strength from the fierce joy she finds in the natural world, as, slowly, her community takes root. She trains herself and her unexpected allies in new ways of thinking, learning what it means to gather and wield true power. And she prepares for one last wager: risking all on a single throw for a better future.
In the last decade, Hild has become a beloved classic of epic storytelling. Menewood exceeds it in every way.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Nicola Griffith (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Redemptive, absorbing, and deeply satisfying.”—Constance Grady, Vox

“[A] masterpiece of immersion . . . Menewood is everything Hild was in terms of prose craft, depth of research and immensity of feeling. . . Menewood doesn’t feel like a sequel so much as the same book, the same life, spooling a little farther along its path. While I hope not to have to wait another 10 years for another volume, I trust that it would be worth it."—Amal El-Mohtar, The New York Times Book Review

"Menewood is marvelous. Hild is an epic hero living through extraordinary times yet through her, Nicola Griffith helps us bear witness to our own time and our place within it. I wanted to read for a thousand pages."—Kelly Link, MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer-nominated author of The Book of Love

Worth the wait

Listen to Hild first, if you haven’t. What a world to visit. You’re in for a treat.

great heroic story

Menewood (The Hild Sequence, #2)
by Nicola Griffith
The book is amazing. I loved the development of the characters. Coming at this second book in the series, as a new reader I was absorbed by the characters and their personal growth. The rise and fall of the events made it like a roller coaster, with a surprise out of blue events that add to the drama.
The character of Hild, is a great influential character for young girls. She shows how the observant nature of watching nature can help with predicting future events understanding the cycles of the world. Her connections with the changes may make her magical to the people of her country and times. She works through so many personal struggles, where the reader follows along with her finding insight and understanding as she navigates her personal and societal struggle, between kings, and invasion.
This is no reflection on the writing but I had to go get the audible version of the book as I scoped through the book. I found myself focusing on the text, not knowing the terms and meanings of new vocabulary, that the audible book poured though with ease. I hope that the published edition will have more of a definitive explanation of the terms.

Absolutely Stunning!

28 hours of pure bliss. Nicola is a poet, and Pearl is an aural treasure!

I love the whole series of these books

I received an advanced copy of this book from netgate. all opinions I write here are my own. when I originally started this book I didn't finish it on time because I went back and read held the book previous to this one because I felt I needed some background. I'm glad I did. the two books fit together perfectly in the same way that the patterns fit together that they talk about in the two books. I love the characters in this book. in fact, I love them so much that it was hard to finish this book in places and it's taking me many months. I went through the whole range of emotions reading this book emotions that I think have been dormant for a while in my day today. life that's good to read books that can force you to think for you to feel. when I say force, it's not like the force of the battle, but you still end up exploring things you didn't intend to. I love books like this because it gives you a window into the past with just enough fiction that it makes everything okay and still leaves questions that we might not find answers to. I thank the author for having the passion and dedication to put this book together in such a wonderful way and for introducing me to a new set of literary friends that I wouldn't have found anywhere else. I highly recommend this book and it's previous book Hilld they are wonderful

Excellent history with fluffy noise

Intriguing and engaging
I did not know the history of England being an American. Hild’s rich story, peaks my curiosity. I can’t wait for the next installment.