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.

An impressive and rich follow-up to Hild. Sometimes long and not especially fast-moving, but by design. The descriptions and time spent in Hild's mind are well worth the pace.

MENEWOOD
Nicola Griffith, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023, $35.00, hb, 720pp, 9780374208080

Menewood is a sequel to Griffith’s earlier novel Hild and the reader will get the most from it by having read Hild first, but even alone Menewood is a brilliant novel as well as a craft class in world building, as crucial to a historical novel as it is to fantasy or science fiction. The seventh century Britain of Griffith’s novel is so fully realized that we feel as if she had been there, observing, as Hild does, everything about her world from the smallest of its wild things to the ambitions of its kings.
Menewood continues the story of the woman who would (far beyond the end of this novel) become St. Hilda of Whitby, abbess and advisor to kings. Almost nothing is known of Hild’s early life before she joined the Church. Griffith has constructed a fiction to fit the few known facts, revolving around Hild’s determination to protect Menewood, her hidden valley in what is now West Yorkshire, and its people, from the ravages of both invading kings and her own family, a tangled royal dynasty most often at war with itself. In the process Hild becomes both warrior and kingmaker, navigating the ambitions of rival lords and the equally ambitious rivalry of factions within a church at this point only tenuously established among the kingdoms of Britain, and often distrusted by kings as likely to wear Thunor’s hammer around their necks as a cross.
To help the reader navigate this unfamiliar world, the front matter provides three maps, a family tree for Hild and the rival branches of her family, and a cast of characters necessary to untangle the many unfamiliar and often similar sounding names of the early English. The back matter includes a useful glossary.
Highly recommended.

Amanda Cockrell
This review appeared in the November 2023 issue of Historical Novels Review.

I loved Menewood by Nicola Griffith. The 10-year wait was absolutely worth it and the story is amazing.

The story picks up right after Hild ends and carries on seamlessly. I was worried that the story would change drastically but it didn't. The writing style did change slightly from Hild, but it is very subtle and fits very well.

The writing style is not the only thing that has changed since Hild. As a character, Hild faces many challenges, both physically and mentally, but in the end, she becomes a stronger and more passionate person. Gwladus becomes more of a main character and really helps move the story along. All the other characters have strong character arcs as well.

Because Menewood picks up where Hild left off, all of the questions I had were answered quickly and were replaced with so many new ones. Menewood covers a fairly long length of time but there is so much action that the story never lagged. I felt so many emotions throughout the book I almost cried at the end. The ending is perfect and I had no questions that were left unanswered.

Thank you to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishing and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

TW
childbirth
war
death of spouse/child
sexual assault
weapons

"Menewood" by Nicola Griffith is a riveting sequel that picks up where "Hild" leaves off. In this second installment of The Hild Sequence, Griffith continues to immerse readers in the world of seventh-century Britain through extensive details of daily life that infuse the story with realism. "Menewood" continues to unfold the political and cultural changes of this era. Hild herself has evolved from the bright, observant child from the first novel into her new role as the Lady of Elmet.

From the outset, it is apparent that the Isle will soon face tumultuous change. Edwin Overking, who once valued Hild's counsel, has become increasingly volatile and unpredictable, with rival kings threatening his position. The specter of war looms, and "Menewood" wastes no time launching us directly into the heart of the action. Hild must then navigate the chaos and upheaval of the aftermath to ensure the safety and and security of the people she loves.

What distinguishes "Menewood" and The Hild Sequence generally is its unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of life in seventh-century Britain. It doesn't shy away from depicting the violence, suffering, and daily hardships of the era. Content warnings for war, death, including the death of children and animals, as well as instances of sexual assault, are essential. These elements add depth and authenticity to the story, and while the world is a brutal place, it is compelling in evoking feelings of empathy with the characters.

While the subject matter is unapologetically gritty, the novel's exploration of the lives of historical figures about whom there is limited historical information, is completely engrossing. The author skillfully weaves her imaginative storytelling into the historical tapestry. This book is a testament to Nicola Griffith's writing and her ability to bring history to life. If you were captivated by "Hild," "Menewood" will exceed your expectations. It's a gripping and immersive journey that leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the series.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD, for an advance copy, which has not impacted the content of my review.

10/10

A Masterpiece

Griffith is not just a wordsmith, she is a master storyteller of our time.

Reading Hild and Menewood was much like stepping from my living room directly into 7th-century Britain and I couldn't have been more delighted.

Menewood picks up a several months after the ending of Hild and takes us through the next four or so years of Hild's life. Griffith does a wonderful job of recreating this world for the reader. I'm not sure which details I loved the most because they were all interesting. One of the things that stood out for me, as a military veteran, is the descriptions of Hild sitting with all of her men to learn of their tales of events after a battle. This was mostly done so Hild could learn of events she didn't witness herself, but I recognized it as an early way to help her men work through their trauma.

I also enjoyed the insight into daily life of the times. How the paper was made for Hild to write to another leader, planting of crops, the care of wounds and injuries. Griffith weaves all of this into Hild's story in a way that is both beautiful and fascinating. I can't wait for the next part of Hild's story.

Nicola Griffith picks up right where Hild left off. Like it hasn’t been 10 years.

Hild is now married but there’s no quiet life for her. She and Cian are pulled back into King Edwin’s court. But Hild has secrets she doesn’t want the king to know. Welcome back to 7th century England and the history that unfurls.

I loved getting to know Menewood and more about Hild and those she loved. Griffith does a great job of once again painting a rich world that the reader can fall into. I’ve read a fair bit of historical fiction but it’s always been later in history. So I was thrilled to be able to experience that same wonder at something completely new.

In this highly anticipated sequel Menewood sees the return of Hild, now a woman grown at 18 faced with war and turmoil she can no longer afford to be the bright eyed child she once was. Instead we find a young adult who, undoubtedly, carries the world on her shoulders as she harbours a power that could shift the tides of fate. She must do what she can to protect those she cares for most and ensure that not only do her people survive, she does too.

Given the scarcity of original source material pertaining to Hild, Griffith masterfully crafts a character that is both relatable and distant, powerful yet powerless in the throes of war. Her attention to detail paired with her illustrative prose builds an immersive seventh century Northumbria and the people who live, breath and die for it.


While the size of this tale can, understandably, be off putting to some at first glance, it contains an engaging narrative seen in only a few historical fiction novels. A strong sequel comes from Griffith and I greatly look forward to what she produces next. Though a note to any future readers - make sure to bookmark the maps, notes and glossary. They will be your best friend on this endeavour.

A Farrar, Straus and Giroux ARC via NetGalley. Many thanks to both the author and publisher.

Griffith’s tale follows the life of Hild, a real historical figure, and Griffith fleshes out her heroine with snippets of recorded history; the reader is swept up in the day-to-day travail of Hild’s complicated life as a singular aristocrat with an inheritance of old world abilities, a lightbringer. Her mother, a powerful figure whose mastery of diplomacy helped to protect her and her two daughters, teaches Hild to observe closely, and to wield her powers of observation like a weapon. As a result, Edwin King, Hild’s uncle, uses Hild as such, alongside the new priests that bring Christianity to the British Isles, who offer their own version of counsel and see Hild as a witch. It’s a difficult path to tread. Griffith does an excellent job of capturing the critical juncture of old religion clashing with new under a king whose greed forces him to accept counsel from any and all sources.

As a reward for her skills in assisting Edwin with gaining allies against Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia, who are setting their sights on conquering Northumbria, Edwin awards her land and marriage to Cian Boldcloak. Even as she rejoices in the gift of Elmet, she is plagued by the knowledge that Cian should not be hers. Edwin’s gift effectively removes Hild’s influence from his court. This is fine with Hild. Her desire has always been to gain Elmet as her own, to make Menewood a sanctuary. So now she makes a shift from Godmouth and Light Bringer to King, with Cian by her side. Hild knows that it’s only a matter of time before war comes to Edwin, so she works with her people to make Elmet secure and hidden.

When she is summoned back to Edwin to give counsel to a king who is slowly losing his grip on his kingship, Hild knows that her time grows short. To complicate matters, Hild is pregnant. As much as Edwin needs her advice, he hates the idea that Hild’s offspring could potentially usurp his line. Hild knows that Edwin’s kingdom is doomed, but she is no oathbreaker. And so it is that Hild finds herself fighting for her life at the battle of Hatfield Chase, where Cadwallon and Penda defeat Edwin King, and Hild makes the ultimate sacrifice.

The reader has already come to appreciate Hild’s ability to survive, but it will take more than that to help her regain her footing after devastating loss.

The character development in these novels is just right to give you a firm sense of who Hild is, and the wonderful ways the characters have shifted and hardened to handle the new lay of the land past the death of Edwin King. In this, Hild truly is a light bringer, because her care for her people and care for the land removes the shadows so the reader can recognize its impact.

I love the way Griffith writes love – whether that is love held between friends, mother to child, child to mother, lover to lover. And I deeply appreciate her historical narrative, the way that the British Isles struggled under warring overlords and petty kings between the Roman colonization and decampment, Christianization, and the next wave of Viking raiders.

Reader advisory: complex, historical adult fiction, a couple of overt sexual scenes. Readers who are not familiar with Anglo Saxon/Briton history would do well to read up on the time period to better understand context.

Thank you, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley, for granting me a copy of this book for review. Any opinions are my own; I’m not receiving any kind of douceur for my write-up.

Truly, this is epic. It is wonderful, it is deep, it is carefully plotted and full of gorgeous detail. It is full of characters who grow and relationships that deepen. And at the center of it, Hild herself is magnificent.

Mind, exactly none of that equates to being a quick read. At times in my life when I moved through books more quickly, this still would have been at least a week, and as is, it was a full month. I regret nothing — rather, I look forward to circling back around to reread the first book. And then probably reading this again.

On that point, I’d say yes, if you have the time, if your memory of book one is fuzzy, do reread Hild before diving into Menewood. If I hadn’t had a NetGalley ebook with a countdown clock for this one, I would have. As is, I caught up within the first few chapters, but I’m sure there were details that would be more resonant if I’d read the first book more recently.

Fellow ebook readers, also know that there’s a glossary and a pronunciation guide waiting for you at the end. I’ll be picking up a hard copy of this one for the next read. (And to sit on the shelf next to Hild, as it so richly deserves.)

The arc of the book spans periods of preparation and information gathering that build up to two major battles. Hild is constantly weighing what she knows, working out what others are likely to do, and maneuvering to put herself at the best advantage. Her eye — and thus ours — is keen to patterns in the natural world, and she’s a very canny judge of character. The skills she learned as a young girl to make herself seem witchy are still serving her well, and her reputation continues to grow.

It’s not the only thing that’s growing. During the first third of the book, Hild is pregnant — but she’s still at the beck and call of the king, and she feels her position is somewhat precarious. The way she feels herself forced to balance her own family with her obligations to the wider world feels very relatable, even while the details of her situation are like nothing I ever expect to experience.

Content warning for child loss. Also for the occasional imagery that some may find gruesome, ranging from digging up a hastily buried body in order to bury it more properly, depictions of butchering and sausage-making, and battle scenes.

As alluded to before, thanks very much to NetGalley and @fsgbooks for sending me this ebook.

Powerful follow-up, with a vivid world and emotional depth that entranced me. Nicola Griffith has another fantastic book here. She has quickly grown to be one of my favorite writers.

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.

What a wonderful book! This is a very interesting second book about Hild, the seer of King Edwin, set in medieval Britain. This continues the story from the book , Hild.
This book follows the lives of Hild, her love Cian, mother Breguswith and many others who she has made her family. There is much adventure, intrigue, war, and also the simple pleasures of life, love and family. Hild has become tired of being used by Edwin and other royalty, and yearns to be with Cian, have a family, and take care of her people. She craves the quiet and beauty of nature, but is drawn into the battle to protect her people. She gains a fearsome reputation as the Butcherbird, is feared by many but also revered by many. I found it interesting to see how Hild’s mind worked, taking all the intel she received and making her battle plans.
This is a long book but I greatly enjoyed it and would definitely read another book about these characters! Thanks to Nicola Griffith for this wonderful series and also to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!

4.5 stars

I liked this even more than the first, although what kept me from giving it a full 5 stars is that I still found the different names to be confusing and I had to keep on checking back (thank goodness for the search feature on my kindle app) to figure out when I had last seen someone. I think both books would have been excellent if she had a people glossary at the end with a brief description of their family, country, etc. I understand if an author doesn't want to stray into spoiler territory, but it would really help the reader to be able to keep track of everyone, particularly because the names are so similar and unfamiliar.

Despite this challenge, there was something about these two books that held my interest despite the fact that each book was over 700 pages. Work has been extremely busy lately, so I haven't had as much time to read as I would prefer, and yet, even though this book took my over two weeks to complete, I kept wanting to go back to it. It was like I was waiting for the next episode. With each sitting, I did at least try to finish a chapter, but I wasn't always successful. Still, I never found my attention lagging, nor did I lose track of what was going on. There was something fascinating about Hild, and although I know there's very little historical record about her, I love this story the author created around the legend of Hild.

Looking back, a LOT happened in this book. The author spends a lot of time on the details of day-to-day living, as well as the gathering of information and the development of long-term strategies for keeping Hild's people safe. And that could be boring, but somehow I found it all fascinating. Despite the battles (with plenty of killing), this was a slow-paced novel that spans a 3-year time period. The author takes her time to paint the picture of the world in which Hild dwells, from the changing of the seasons, the crops that are planted and harvested, the cloth that is woven and dyed, the animals that are raised, hunted, butchered, and even cuddled (there is at least one pet cat). I could almost taste the mead, smell the flowers and herbs, and hear the birds.

I found the theme of religion (mostly Christianity vs. Paganism) to be fascinating. Paganism did not rely on the written word, so the growth of the written word mostly occurred because of Christianity. Hild is unusual because she not only speaks multiple languages, but she is a non-clergyman (and a woman to boot) who actually reads. Historically, she is mostly known from a document by Bede, a Christian monk, that was written about 50 years after her death. By the time she died, 66 years later, she was an abbess. Hild is an observer of nature, but she is also a learned woman, and using both those skills is what allows her to keep her people safe, or at least as many as she's able to.

I believe the big war with Edwin in the early part of the book and the big battle at the end of the book with Cadwallon actually took place, but the second one in particular has only a few records and the author is not convinced it occurs the way some historians have said. So I love that she created the legend of Hild to fill the uncertainty and have a logical reason for her to have been there and be pivotal in what happened.

Hild began the first book as a little girl of 5 (I think), and she finishes this book at around 20 years old. Despite the amount of time she spends on sharing Hild's thoughts, she still remains somewhat mysterious (though no less compelling). I think I enjoyed this second book more than the first and I am hoping the third book will be even better. I am so glad I read both books so close together. Another interesting thing is that while I was reading these books, I was also listening to Wild Swans about Communist China. The comparisons and contrasts were fascinating to ponder and while I don't recommend that people do that, I thought it was an experience in itself. After finishing Wild Swans (I usually finish audiobooks faster, although Wild Swans is just as long as this book), I actually started and finished Harry Potter Book 5 (narrator Stephen Fry). I ended up finishing HP the same night as I finished this book. Did those two books color my view of this one? I'm not sure, but I feel like I noticed things in this book that I may not have because of the contrast between the three books.

If you're a fan of slow-burn historical fiction with a strong, bisexual female character, beautifully written prose, and you don't mind being patient with the numerous names, I can recommend this for you. I am really looking forward to the third book, and although I have no idea what it's about, I'm hoping that it will have something to do with her becoming an Abbess later in life. Long though it is, I am so glad this book crossed my radar.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Finishing <i>Menewood</i> this morning, I'm reflecting on this month-long reading experience. I read <i>Hild</i> in August and started this one not long after. Hild was bright and shiny and sharp. This one is bloody and epic, all things I hoped for and expected after <i>Hild</i>.

But it's also a protracted and deep meditation on grief. That pain ebbed and flowed through this novel. I didn't expect this book to be so sad. Its effect surprised me, and each pang shivered through me. Pondering grief as deep as a lake.

The impact of war. Messy, bloody, heartbreaking, grim. Holding space in my heart and mind all month for that visceral tone. The permanent ache of family gone. The fear of losing everything. It's a big book on feeling small. And then rising up and becoming legendary.

So while it didn't captivate and enchant me like <i>Hild</i> did with its sparkling light of the world, it lay in my mind as dead weight and made me reflect on the suffering in the world caused by cruelty. How some never come out from beneath that oppressive weight. Some do manage to overcome, but can they ever be the same?

Nicola Griffith is a talented wordsmith and a storyteller and this time, she confronted me with the darkest shadows of humanity.

This book was more of a challenge and a greater reward than I ever dreamed. The writing is exceptional. The research that went into the details was deep. It took me a bit to slide into the titles used to designate relationship and social standing, however the story drew me along unstoppable through eddies and tsunami.

The story is a compelling tale fashioned from the bones of legends. I for one reveled in the unapologetic inclusion of the role of women usually shrouded in medieval mists.

I loved it so much I read the first book, Hild. This duet has the strength to haunt the reader.

This book is for the reader of smart fiction on the level of James Joyce, Falkner and George R R Martin

Genre: historical fiction
Northumbria, Britain, 632-635 CE

Menewood begins where the novel Hild leaves off: Hild, newly married to Cian, and granted title to Elmet in Deira, is faced with new challenges of estate management and pending motherhood, on top of being Seer for the King. But 7th century Britain is a dangerous place, filled with rival kings and new theologies and religions infiltrating the British Isles.

Nicola Griffith brings her incredible worldbuilding and storytelling skills to life in Menewood. It’s the next chapter in the life of St Hilda of Whitby, still decades before she became nun and abbess. Hild and Menewood are rich tapestries of early medieval life, tracing the solidifying power of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria and the expansion of Christianity.

Menewood is heartbreaking, with grueling war and devastating battles, and the hunger and fear common to life in the 7th century. Griffith exercises restraint in her writing as she describes these horrific moments but never veers into blood and gore for the sake of the writing. Each moment on page contributes to Hild’s character, making her a stronger leader in the face of devastation and grief. As Hild climbs out of her depression in later parts of the book, the story returns to the hopeful and brave tone of the first novel.

Power, leadership, and authority come not from gender. Hild proves that they come from an ability to protect, strategize, and see. Her followers take no note that she prefers to sleep with women - a fact I highlighted in my review of Hild is that the queer normativity of these books permeates an age a contemporary reader would assume has strict gender norms.

Hild says at one point years into leadership and campaign, “But men follow me because they believe I’m more than I seem.” Her lover responds, “Once, perhaps. Now they follow you because you are exactly what you seem: a woman who wins. They follow you because you take care of them, because they get fed and their horses are fed – because they have horses.” This snippet of conversation captures both the powerful and the mundane, Hild was known for her visions and transformed into as a leader because she sees the humanity in the people who follow her.

Deeply researched, and with the major power players also real historical figures, Menewood is a sharp, bold imagined hagiography, filling in the blank spaces of history left open by Bede (8th century author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People), bringing an incredible character to life. Despite the religious overtones of Hild’s story, Griffith has chosen to portray the rise of Christianity in a contemplative manner: despite her later role as an abbess, Hild as war-leader and peace-seeker, while baptized, views Christianity as tool to shape her goals, as many kings did in the era.

I don’t tend to recommend readalikes as a part of my reviews, but I can’t help comparing Menewood to She Who Became the Sun/He Who Drowned the World. Both feature a woman who steps out of tradition and takes on a male role to claim power to protect her people and her people and her vision for humanity. Both take on gender, sexuality, and queer normativity in time periods where a contemporary reader may assume strict gender roles.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an eARC for review. I ended up purchasing and listening to the audiobook, narrated by Pearl Hewitt, largely because my bandwidth to read a 730 page book with my eyes these days is limited. This book requires patience, but you’ll be rewarded with a stunning character sketch of an incredible woman.

I loved this book which is a sequel to the first wonderful story. Such a talented author. I started it and finished it 2 days.

As Nicola Griffith, author of Menewood, second in her Hild series, said in a recent interview, she expects to be writing about this seventh century British saint (the abbess of Whitby in her later years) for the rest of her life. The character of Hild she has created through 20 years of research is unforgettably there on every beautifully written page. She is fully alive along with every other person she meets, every animal and natural process she comes to know, every act of violence she participates in. Menewood, covering just two crucial years of Hild’s life, long before her entry into a religious order, is a staggering achievement of imagination that brings a vast world to life.

While Hild (2013) dramatized a young girl learning about life, the Hild of Menewood, about 20 years old, has mastered every sphere of living in the North of England where Anglisc, British, Irish and Latin and the traditions those languages support are very much alive. It’s a world where kings fight for wealth, for the loyalty of warriors and for control of lands through brutal battles and constant plotting and back-stabbing. In this world Hild is a giant in stature, military prowess, close knowledge of nature and an ability to see the individuality and value in each person. And Griffith makes this world live in us through Hild’s eyes and every other sense. I’ve never felt so completely drawn into the reality of a world so different from our own.

As Menewood opens, Hild is married to the young noble warrior, Cian Broadcloak, assigned by Edwin Overking, to protect a region called Elmet in the old kingdom of Deira, the eastern part of Northumbria where the major fort and town of York were located. Hild has been called a seer since childhood, one who knows everything, but for her the reality is that she sees patterns in things. The patterns of kings fighting for power, of warriors longing for gold and fame, of the changes of seasons and weather, of the movements and habits of animals, of the myriad processes that sustain life in the seventh century, from weaving, to raising and butchering livestock to navigating the perils of life in a royal family. She has integrated all this knowledge in a way that strikes her contemporaries as miraculous, apparently giving her insight into the future. But it is really her keen senses and mind that let nothing slip by.

What Hild sees and thinks brings out not just her keen perception but extraordinary empathy and love for the natural and human processes and beings of her world. She doesn’t catalogue vast knowledge, she lives it by entering into the experience of every other being, from a tiny vole risking emergence from the safety of its home to the power calculations of kings. Her insight makes her seem like a seer to those who know her, or simply know of her by reputation, but there is nothing mystical or magical about it. Her being seems to merge in a way with all the varieties of living things, from the innocent to the murderous, from the care a gardener or farmer takes with plants to the skills of a butcher, from the nurturing of children and family to the vicious killing of combat.

Hild has a great arc of experience to live through in the two years covered by this novel. The story is structured around two great battles, and we see Hild brought down by the first, her world destroyed, her spirit almost broken. But then she heals and sets about restoring plundered lands, reassembling warriors, rallying the people of Deira. She shows herself to be a great manager of land and people, a natural leader who inspires those around her to have faith again in their future. However, this arc of loss and recovery is no conventional hero’s journey that ends with the slaying of a monster. Instead it poses deep questions about Hild’s future, her hold as such power as she retains and her search for deeper insight into the world around her.

Her whole being is so attuned to all the cadences of life, it seems a small step for her to evolve later in life to a more religious existence, especially as she witnesses the constant destruction and ravaging of a warlord-driven society. But that will obviously be a complex journey since her world presents conflicting faiths and ideas of the sacred, as well as clashes within Christianity between Roman and British forms of worship.

Nicola Griffith captures all of this in Hild’s experience and perceptions of the totality of her world. Griffith says the next novel in this sequence will take Hild to the beginning of the religious life. I hope that book will take a bit less than ten years to appear, but whatever the time, it will be worth waiting for another great chapter in this dazzling fictional life.