Menewood

A Novel

By: Nicola Griffith

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Length: 28 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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

“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 a searing depiction of a world at war, and the ferocious and complicated woman at the center of it."—Maria Dahvana Headley, author of The Mere Wife and Beowulf: A New Translation

Worth the wait

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

Absolutely Stunning!

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

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.

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

So good!

This is so beautifully written and impeccably researched. I missed Hild and could not be happier to be back in her world !

Better than Hild!

This was everything that Hild was, and so much more. Like Hild, it’s slow fiction. And by that I don’t mean there isn’t tonnes of thrilling action, just that Griffith takes her beautiful, lyrical time with her characters, their inner world and especially the beautiful, plant and animal and water filled world their lives play out in.

More than Hild, there is a delightful sense of building something great, of deep planning and reaping its rewards. There is a rags to riches element that was deeply satisfying.

If you loved Hild, you’re in for a wonderful treat. I can’t wait for more.

Outstanding thematic range, writing

Thematically the writing, and story oscillate in scale and range from the early medieval history of England to events in a newly established village from the activity, and wondrous nature and mystery of bugs and plants, and the intelligence and wisdom of birds and horses to the strengths and weaknesses of characters, so realistically depictedthey feel actual and authentic. certainly a great vision must lie behind this writing, because how else could this expense of scale in history people and nature be constantly pulled to dramatic points of intersection that have us stopping what we’re doing so we can listen, or pushing the back up button so we can make sure we caught events and then, when it ends make us check to see if the next book is out or what the other book by the author might be available. We are nearing the end of 2023 and I listen to audiobooks constantly as I work or exercise or enjoy my hobbies. I have to say this is one of my top three favorite books of the year, perhaps of the last couple years.

Even better than the first book, Hilde.

Such a good book! It's one of those books that makes you sad that it ended, but ties up nicely in the end.

So Bad It Almost Hurt

I LOVED Hild, and had so looked forward to this sequel. But, a mere 8 hours in (ahem...), I've had to stop. The excessive, laborious, excruciatingly tedious detail--maps, battle strategy, death reports--and the repetition of same made it hard to follow an actual storyline. And then the line "death came on cat's feet" completely bowled me over. Sandburg? She's cribbing Carl Sandburg!?!? It was just too much. Maybe I'll go back for the remaining 20 hours some long, rainy winter's day. But I just couldn't take any more.