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Paromita's Reviews > Menewood
Menewood (The Hild Sequence #2)
by
by
Menewood is the sequel to Hild and having enjoyed the latter a fair bit, I was excited to read about the next phase in Hild's life.
This book has been immaculately researched (much like Hild). The level of detail that the author provides about the places, the methods of travel, the customs is incredible. The story is about a particularly tumultous period in Hild's life and how she faces many challenges, some seemingly insurmountable, with wit and grace. There are many heartbreaking moments, all executed with the care and deft writing that I have come to expect from Griffith.
My sense of disappointment arises from the fact that despite spending two novels with Hild, I don't really have an answer to the question - Who really is Hild? She remains an enigma, almost a vehicle for the events that shape her life and the world around her. This is not to say that she doesn't play an active role in decision-making, quite the contrary, but the interiority of Hild's nature remains largely unexplored for me. I would have preferred a little less historicity and a little more character work, not just with Hild, but also some of the side characters.
Overall I think this is a very strong novel. For me personally, the intricate historical detail came at the expense of some plot progression and character work, which is not my preference as a reader. However, I expect readers of immersive historical fiction to thoroughly enjoy this novel. I did learn a lot by reading it.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book has been immaculately researched (much like Hild). The level of detail that the author provides about the places, the methods of travel, the customs is incredible. The story is about a particularly tumultous period in Hild's life and how she faces many challenges, some seemingly insurmountable, with wit and grace. There are many heartbreaking moments, all executed with the care and deft writing that I have come to expect from Griffith.
My sense of disappointment arises from the fact that despite spending two novels with Hild, I don't really have an answer to the question - Who really is Hild? She remains an enigma, almost a vehicle for the events that shape her life and the world around her. This is not to say that she doesn't play an active role in decision-making, quite the contrary, but the interiority of Hild's nature remains largely unexplored for me. I would have preferred a little less historicity and a little more character work, not just with Hild, but also some of the side characters.
Overall I think this is a very strong novel. For me personally, the intricate historical detail came at the expense of some plot progression and character work, which is not my preference as a reader. However, I expect readers of immersive historical fiction to thoroughly enjoy this novel. I did learn a lot by reading it.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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Reading Progress
December 18, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 18, 2022
– Shelved
April 16, 2023
–
Started Reading
April 16, 2023
– Shelved as:
e-arcs
April 16, 2023
–
11.7%
"The immediate positive: pacing is much much better than Hild
Too early to say where the story is going.
I still think the character work is a bit weak and the tendency to constantly drop names of places (possibly with the intention of recreating an authentic setting) can be a bit too much.
But overall, I am intrigued and interested to keep reading."
page
88
Too early to say where the story is going.
I still think the character work is a bit weak and the tendency to constantly drop names of places (possibly with the intention of recreating an authentic setting) can be a bit too much.
But overall, I am intrigued and interested to keep reading."
April 16, 2023
–
35.24%
"Events are moving at a steady pace, yet I feel very disconnected with the narrative. This is an extremely difficult book to write and Griffith's research is so deep. Where I think it kind of misses is we still don't know who Hild really is as a person. That lack of interiority makes her struggles seem like going from X to Y to Z without the emotional resonance it could have."
page
265
April 16, 2023
–
48.94%
"The "how Hild became St Hilda" is going to focus on the world and on speculated events but the internal thoughts of Hild are not a priority.
I would have liked to see some more development of the secondary characters, they all seem very blah to me. But it's not because Hild overpowers the narrative. Rather it's the style of narration: X happened then Y happened and so on."
page
368
I would have liked to see some more development of the secondary characters, they all seem very blah to me. But it's not because Hild overpowers the narrative. Rather it's the style of narration: X happened then Y happened and so on."
April 16, 2023
–
67.55%
"Same comments as before. Now I'm just waiting for the story to play put and events to unfold for this installment."
page
508
April 16, 2023
–
80.32%
"My chief thought now that I am over 80% through:
How is Griffith going to finish this tale in one more book (unless the third book just ends with Hild becoming St Hilda and not her life as St Hilda), that could work. The pacing is still erratic actually - some parts have very fast plot progression but some others feel glacial."
page
604
How is Griffith going to finish this tale in one more book (unless the third book just ends with Hild becoming St Hilda and not her life as St Hilda), that could work. The pacing is still erratic actually - some parts have very fast plot progression but some others feel glacial."
April 16, 2023
–
Finished Reading
