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.
No Pithy Phrase 