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

If we need a sequel to Hild, it has to be this. Nicola Griffith nails it again. Beautiful, lush writing. An incredible man, vividly detailed and simply one of the best.

4.5 stars
Good, epic historical fiction. Things I liked: while it's fiction, the book is based on a real person; the scope; the research; the attention to detail; the well-developed characters; Hild's understanding of human nature and of nature itself and how it made her a better leader.

I hadn't read the first in this series but will definitely add it to my TBR list.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

This book is a masterwork and I couldn't give it less than 5 stars. It covers three years in the life of Saint Hild of Whitby, from when she was about 18 to about 21. Since there is almost nothing recorded of Hild before she was 33 years old, this is very much fiction. But the author has done such extensive research into the time period that I felt steeped in the ways and world of seventh century Britain (not that it was called that then).

Hild is larger than life, literally and figuratively. Griffith has her as a large, powerful warrior woman who is also able to read the natural world and the political winds with almost preternatural ability. In this book, Hild loses almost everything, grows herself and her people back from the brink of oblivion, and shapes the leadership of her world to (mostly) suit herself and those she cares for.

Menewood ("old wood") has been prepared by Hild as a bolthole, just in case. Her king is weakening and wars could come again, and Hild wants a fallback. Menewood is concealed within a marsh and is purposely small but remarkably self-sufficient and able to perform its function.

The war wreaks epic change upon Hild (I had to suspend my disbelief a bit for this part but the author earned my patience IMO). She needs time to heal, to hide, to prepare herself and her people for the fight that will come after they are strong enough. Menewood and the people in it succor her and provide her solace even as she must focus beyond her own tragedy to plan for those that she leads.

Hild can be a little hard to take sometimes. She's almost perfect and doesn't always realize that she is not in fact perfect. The author clearly adores her. This book is about how she learns to lead in a different way.

I also loved the care that the author gave to the natural world. She painted beautiful word pictures with the assonances of old sagas and made her characters a part of that world, not apart from it. Animals were a big part of this- they were necessary for survival and animal husbandry was a vital skill. Most of the horses had names and descriptions and personalities of their own- they were very much part of the story. People thought differently but were still people. I loved reading the differences and similarities and the author drew wonderful characters.

I appreciated being able to think about how to maintain the loyalty of a warband, how to plan for growing your population of sheep for wool, about the importance of well-maintained roads, about how a song can inspire people, about how to make sausage. I can't think of an author who is better at portraying the feel of the medieval world (at least it seems so from this vantage).

This is a book that takes a while. I read more slowly than usual without meaning to. I saved it for when I knew I'd have more time for it. I sure look forward to more Hild.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

In the "Dark Ages" of Britain, after the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes established themselves but before the Viking incursions began, a woman lived such a notable life in Northumbria she made it into the history books. The year is 632, and Hild, the seer and godmouth for her cousin the King, is newly married and happily pregnant when war comes to Deira, an area south of Hadrian's wall which includes York. At 18, Hild loses everything to the two warlords sacking and ravaging their way through Northumbria, and has to find the will to rebuild for herself and her people.

Menewood is the second book in Nicola Griffith's series about Hild. The first, Hild, covers her childhood, and Menewood picks up right about where the first novel ended. I foolishly did NOT read Hild first (it's currently on the top of my TBR pile) because I didn't realize until I was a few chapters in that Menewood was a sequel. Griffith's continuity of storyline made it easy enough to jump into the second phase of Hild's life without much confusion, and ensured I go back to read the first book in the series.

This woman's story is utterly fascinating. Hild was a real woman living in Anglo-Saxon Britain during a time where most men don't make it into the history books unless they're nobility or extraordinary, yet Hild is written of as an Abbess and consultant to Kings. The fame and respect she must have collected during her life in order to show up in written history is astounding, and yet sparse enough to allow Griffith to create a richly imagined world for Hild. She is a warrior, a leader, and a political genius who expertly manipulates her environment to the benefit of her people and her sanctuary (all under the age of twenty-one).

Griffith's worldbuilding is excellent, and her writing style is very fast paced. I was occasionally disappointed by how much of the story occurs off-screen: often a paragraph leading Hild to an important discussion or event or trial is followed by a jump in time that only gives us the aftermath of the event. During climactic moments this was extremely effective in pacing the story, but there were sections that I wanted that extra detail that was omitted. It's worth noting that at this time in Britain there were multiple languages spoken, and many of the person and place names are tricky to pronounce: Griffith has included a useful section on pronunciation and a glossary that make it easier to get immersed in the 7th century story.

I loved that all the characters have their own motivations and backgrounds, and I think the way Griffith handles Hild's post-war trauma and how she understands her warband's traumas is brilliant writing. Menewood has me not only reading the first in the series but also looking back at that era of history for more of Hild's real story.

Menewood is an excellent historical novel about a woman I wish I could meet. I highly recommend it (after you've read Hild, of course), and I wish Netflix or Amazon would pick this story up: it would make an absolutely gripping TV series. I hope Nicola Griffith continues Hild's story, because I'd love to read more.

I didn't have the time to look at it.

But afterword, I still got into my bookstore and buy it! I really like this author and I had the time later to read it!

This book is incredibly dense and not for the faint of heart. You absolutely need to read the first book in the series and then this one there is just too much information you need to know. Hild’s character becomes even more interesting the older she gets and the world she inhibits just as vibrant. Griffith truly knows how to describe the Middle Ages in such vivid detail. Despite all that it did take a very long time for me to finish this book but I truly believe if you enjoyed the first book you will like this one as well. Cannot wait for the third one though I selfishly hope we won’t have to wait another 10 years!

<i>First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

Right off the heels of finishing [book:Hild|17332243] I dove head-first into <i>Menewood</i>, the next book in the Hild sequence. This book is a little bit longer, so I waffled between wanting to immediately start this one or break up my reading and do something short and sweet in between, but decided I didn’t want to lose steam.

I am not sure how I would have faired if I had read <i>Hild</i> all the way back when it was first published (which was like, a decade ago) and trying to read <i>Menewood</i> without a reread of <i>Hild</i>… It was because of this that I decided to just go for it, since I knew the longer I waited the more likely it would be that I wouldn’t remember any of the characters or what happened like, at all.

With that being said, having already done the “work” of getting into the setting, the language, the characters, the plot (etc) fairly recently, I didn’t find <i>Menewood</i> to be significantly more difficult than <i>Hild</i> (if y’all recall that review, I said that it was a ton of work on the upfront to get into the book) - but I think this is a “your mileage may vary” scenario.

Overall, I think I enjoyed <i>Menewood</i> more than <i>Hild</i>, just based on the character development and plot. Listen, it’s a hefty read, but I didn’t feel as if there were a ton of fluff and filler - even between battles (which frankly are the least exciting part of basically any book WITH fighting for me) there was so much rich text, character development, etc, that it all made it worth it.

I have to say, I am no expert on battles or on nature, so there is a lot of stuff in this book (and its predecessor) that I’m just trusting that Griffith either knows mor than me on or that, you know, it’s <i>fiction</i> so I just took it all at face value.

I will say that apart from both books being a lot of work upfront, I am not sure I could suggest this series to someone because… Like when are we going to get the next book? In another decade? While you could read each book and just sort of wash your hands of the story (since there are no like MAJOR cliff-hangers or anything at the end of each novel), to enjoy it as it is meant, a series, I think you’d need to either have a really good memory, not really care, or be at peace with a 1,000+ page reread in… whenever in the future.

I don’t know where I fall yet, meaning - when the third (and supposedly final) book comes out, I’m not sure if I will reread or just sort of do my best off memory alone and googling. I guess we’ll see, and who knows! Maybe the next book will come out sooner than this volume - but also there is probably so much research and it is so detail-dense I am not sure how Griffith could quickly pump out the next one.

I also have mixed/complicated feelings about my rating - what I mean by that, is that my head seems to think both <i>Hild</i> and <i>Menewood</i> should be 5 star ratings, rationally speaking based on my reviews and my enjoyment that seems right, but for some reason my heart is really only there to 4 stars. I don’t think this is necessarily a reflection on Griffith because I think both of these books are literally feats and I greatly enjoyed reading them both, but my heart says they don’t quite have that… <i>je ne sais quois</i> that lifts a book up from a 4 to a 5 for me. Ah well.

Overall a splendid and spectacular sequel to an already amazing first novel, and it didn’t even fall into the worst trap I feel almost all 2nd-novel-in-a-trilogy falls into… essentially being only long-winded fluff and filler to set up the third and final book (which I hate! Just right a duology then!!).

My only <i>real</i> complaint is there are so many characters, it was easy to forget who someone was or what they had done - and at the end a character dies and I’m not quite sure if I somehow <i>missed</i> this person’s death OR if it truly was just an after the fact “ah yes and also this guy died as well, <i>c’est la vie</i>.”

I’m a bit surprised more people haven’t rated/reviewed this book yet since it’s been out for a few months, but also I am not sure how many people who read <i>Hild</i> are in a place of remembering to want to read this one - and frankly, I haven’t really seen any buzz about it, not like with <i>Spear</i>.

Epic historical fiction. Hild, not yet twenty, is one of the toughest and most powerful women of seventh century Britain. She's a renowned advisor in service to her cousin, King Edwin. War is coming, and Hild is needed. After one harrowing battle, she has to pick up the pieces, discovering her true strength as she fights for her people.

When I started this novel, I don't think I was fully prepared for the length and the complexity of language. At times, it was a bit of a struggle... but the character of Hild more than made up for it. She was absolutely amazing to follow, insanely strong and insightful, hard yet caring. This story is definitely dark. So much war and loss can be hard to take. But there are also so many beautiful relationships between characters, thoughtful takes on the world and God, and other bright spots throughout. I have not read Hild, but had no problem with this sequel as a standalone. Worth the read, as long as you're prepared to put some time into it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Menewood. Menewood. What can I possibly say that will do this book any kind of justice??? Griffith’s prose is pure poetry, revelling in the natural world and the sensuality of living fully in your body, and Hild remains one of my favourite characters of all time. In this book, she finally starts carving herself out a sanctuary, becoming a power in her own right – but Griffith subverts the arc of that story, casting Hild as creator and protector rather than power-hungry conqueror. There’s grief here, and so much love and beauty, and this fabulous woman giving a middle finger to her culture’s idiotic notions of honour and glory in favour of getting shit done. Hild’s hyper-competence, almost supernatural pattern-spotting and pattern-weaving, and her tender ruthlessness all make me swoon, and Griffith held me completely hypnotised with this…this blossoming of Hild’s story. In so many ways, Menewood is about Hild coming into her own, and somehow it’s soft and gentle as well as vicious, all hazelnuts and gold, milk and arrows, twin foals and hands stained red. I couldn’t love it more. It’s a masterpiece – so much more than worth the wait! – and I cannot express how much you are missing out if you’re not reading this trilogy. It’s a true treasure of our time.

If you enjoyed Hild by Nicole Griffith then you will enjoy this follow up. I will say it’s a hefty and wordy read. I would not recommend reading this without first reading and enjoying Hild as it is a continuation and followed the same writing style.

I read and enjoyed Hild very much, so was looking for this continuation of her story. However, unlike other reviewers, I thought this one was in need of copious editing because there was so much extraneous detail that did not add to the story in any way. And there was so much thinking. The first and the final sections were breathtaking and heartbreaking. But the middle was quite the slog. Hild thinks (in great detail), Hild plans (in great detail), Hild makes ink (in great detail), Hild thinks some more about her plans (in great detail), Hild makes something else (in great detail).... Hundreds of pages of this. And my degree was history, so it wasn't because I wasn't interested in the everyday aspects of the time period. But I feel it should have been integrated a little more smoothly so as not to bog down the narrative, but bogged down it was.
Yet I wouldn't have missed it. Hild is a fascinating, little known individual, and this interpretation of the smattering of known details of her life seems relatively plausible, and emotionally true. So if you didn't get enough detail in Hild, then this is the novel for you.
Recommended.

Finally finished this - it's a loong book. Almost reduced to 4 stars due to the length, it's extremely detailed - 750 pages covering about a 2 year span. But since the story and writing are so good, and many people love a long and detailed book, 5 stars it is.
It's a great story of a strong woman who rose to power and played an instrumental role in bringing peace to northern England. For a while at least!
The writing is really good, dense and lyrical with good use of old Britain words: names, places and things. Griffith does a really good job of keeping things straight and not too confusing, and there is a glossary at the end (which I didn't really need). There's also a good author's note at the end explaining her research and which parts are fiction. Not a lot is known for sure about St Hilda! I didn't know that there were several languages in use at the time, although with the fragmented nature of the land then, it's not surprising. Back then what's now Britain was many small territories, each with its own "king", and a complex overall governmental structure to keep things somewhat peaceful.

Disclaimer: I ended up buying this one and reading it back to back with Hild. NetGalley gave me an ARC for Menewood!

I don't usually read fiction set in Medieval/early Europe, but boy was I happy I picked this one up. Without spoiling anything, the love and detail put into Hild's universe is insane and not talked about enough. Genuinely one of the best written books I've read in a very long time.

I cannot recommend this enough - if you like historical fiction at all, please give Nicola Griffith a try. You will not be disappointed. 5/5 stars, and my first 5 stars of the entire YEAR.

Nicola Griffiths creates a singular work of medieval fiction that accurately portrays the period and the many mysteries of people's lives during this time. This title starts immediately after the first book's events and takes its time to show where Hild has ended up, and where she must go next in the face of new developments. Would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this period!

Its been several years since Hild came out so I was a bit lost coming into the second book in the series. From my review, I know I liked Hild but this book was just so full of names & places that I couldnt remember that I struggled through it. I also generally do not like battle scenes so that contributed to my frustration with this book. I wont be purchasing this book for my library unless a patron specifically requests it. I did finish Menewood but I felt like it was more a chore than a pleasure. Even the parts about the natural environment and the characters relationship were not enjoyable because the difficulties I had with the book.

Hild is a young woman at the heart of the violence, subtlety, and mysticism of the early medieval age. I did not read the first book, but the 2nd book. But Menewood was really good and the way history comes to life. Now I'll go back to read Hild the first one.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.

I am admittedly conflicted about the Hild series. On one hand, I was continually annoyed by the lesbian content especially given that it is out of place in its historical context. If I had known this was in there, I would never have cracked the cover. On the other hand, these two books contain some of the best prose I have read in my 65ish years as an avid reader. The story, characters, pacing, and prose are among the best ever written. In most books fluffed up with flowery description, I speed read right past, but Griffith's entire style is "descriptive". It is woven between each drop of ink and paper fiber and lives and breathes and leaves you hungering for each and every word. Bravo, Ms. Griffith. I love what you have done. In all my years, I have rated very few works with 5 stars, but Hild and Menewood are two of those elite few.

I'm late on giving feedback bc I had to go back and read the first book. There are a lot of references with no backstory, so it was making it difficult to invest without having the initial story. Others may not have that issue but I did.

The book is very dense and slow paced. It's not meant to be something you sprint through. So be prepared to spend the time on this book and you may pick it up/put it down over time. It's well worth it though. It's well written and plotted and there is so much richness involved in the storytelling.