Short and sweet and, in audiobook format, very atmospheric with the music and sound effects. Clarke's writing is always lovely and really conjures up a world. That said, I would like to have stayed in that world longer, but I suppose those are the limitations of the short story.

I did appreciate the author's note at the end which explained the inspiration for the story. It gave me a bit of insight into how it came about and made me think deeper about it.

A magical winter walk! Susanna Clark once again manages to create a heartfelt, imaginative story full of wonders and love for life itself. A totally different and yet befitting Christmas tale that connects humans back to nature. There remains a bit of a spooky note though, so it is not a typical feelgood story, but nonetheless the reader is left with a sense of deep love and connectedness.
I also really enjoyed the informations in the afterword!

I would have liked this to have been longer - it finished quite abruptly just as I was getting into the story. I still enjoyed the lovely writing though and the afterword was fascinating.

This is a strange and magical short story set around winter. Overall, I think it was a little too short to really get invested, but it was very atmospheric, and the pictures were nice!

I’ve loved Susanna Clarke’s writing ever since Piranesi, so I got excited when I saw she had a new short story out - especially one where animals and nature play such a central role.

"The Wood at Midwinter" is definitely atmospheric. The writing has that same lyrical feel I’ve come to expect from her, and the audiobook production was really lovely. The author narrates it herself, which was nice enough, but what stood out more was the sound production/design - it really felt like you were walking through the woods.

That said, I didn’t actually enjoy the book itself all that much. The writing was pretty, but I just wanted more from it. Maybe it’s the limitations of the short story format, or maybe it just wasn’t quite for me. I also think this might work better in print, especially since it’s meant to be illustrated - something definitely felt like it was missing in audio.

Still, if you’re a fan of Clarke’s writing, it might be worth giving a go. It just didn’t hit quite the way I hoped it would.

3/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very short story, the audiobook was lovely with music and sound effects that made it very atmospheric. However I was a little confused by the story... I liked the pig named Apple a lot!! And yes, we do need more pigs in stories!

I think I could have really enjoyed this, but it was just a bit too short for me. The audiobook narrator is great though.

I really enjoyed the music and sound effects. However I was a little confused by the story, probably something I need to re-listen to!

3 stars ✮
beautifully atmospheric, however way too short to be truly impactful, sadly this didn’t do much for me.
i found. Self getting super interested into the story closer to the end and in a few short minutes it was over. i adore short stories but i feel like this particular one needed to be a bit longer to really reach 5 stars.

Having read and enjoyed Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell I suspected that this would be a tale out of the ordinary and with a touch of magic. I was not wrong.

I enjoyed the short story and also the bonus information by the author about the background for creating the story, in part supported by a love of the music of Kate Bush.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for this copy.

I really enjoyed this short story although I definitely read it at the wrong time of year. I’m a big fan of Susanna Clarke and I am always impressed that she can make such an impact with her stories no matter the size. I look forward to revisiting The Wood at Midwinter during the darker months.

That was a whimsical tale. Truly short and festive. I could see listening to this every year with your children as a Christmas tradition. The score was truly magical, and I loved hearing the inspiration to the story. Thank You Netgalley, Susanna Clarke and Bloombury UK Audio for the ALC.

This book includes:
- theological reflection
- whimsical storytelling
- author narration
- winter wonderland

This short story is such a lovely, whimsical little tale. It follows a woman who is luxuriating in a quiet winter wood with her animals, reflecting on her life and hopes for her futures. It contains Christian themes, particularly centering on Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. This is my first book from Susanna Clarke and I am looking forward to reading more.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Susanna Clarke, and Bloomsbury UK Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
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The Wood at Midwinter marks my first venture into Susanna Clarke’s works, as I have yet to read the much-acclaimed Piranesi - though it’s waiting patiently on my TBR! 😊 This book, however, was unlike anything I’ve encountered before. Not only was it narrated by the author herself, but the atmospheric background music infused the experience with a deep sense of mystery and magic. The ethereal soundtrack perfectly complemented the story, adding to its otherworldly feel and giving me chills at times.

The tale follows a young woman who finds herself caught between two worlds: she has no desire to marry, nor is she suited for the life of a nun. However, she possesses a rare and wondrous gift: the ability to communicate with animals, trees, and plants. On a quiet winter’s evening, she ventures into the woods, accompanied by her loyal dogs and a pig. There, she encounters a blackbird and a fox, and what unfolds is a night of quiet yet profound conversations, reflections, and dreamlike moments. The story is slow and meditative, weaving together themes of nature, solitude, and the thin veil between reality and dreams.

Though I found the book beautifully written and rich in atmosphere, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. It was as if the story ended too soon, leaving threads of thought and emotion hanging in the air. I would have loved a longer exploration of the world Clarke introduced - perhaps more insight into the protagonist’s past, or a deeper dive into the lore of the woods. That being said, I greatly appreciated the afterword, where Clarke shared the origins of the story and her creative process. It added another layer of depth to the experience, offering a glimpse into the mind behind the tale.

Despite its brevity, The Wood at Midwinter was an enchanting listen, one that lingers in the mind like a half-remembered dream. It’s a book that invites you to slow down, to step into the hush of the forest, and to listen—to the trees, to the animals, and to the quiet voice of the unknown.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for the opportunity to experience this magical tale.

What a great but short story. I really enjoyed listening to it and i really should read Sosanna Clarkes other Novels.

Thank You, NetGalley and the publishers for letting me listen to The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke.

I enjoyed this short story. It was magical and I really wish this was a full-fledged novel instead of a short story.

Definitely one to be read.

Thank You!

An uplifting tale for the darkness of midwinter, Clarke blends the natural and supernatural worlds so seamlessly it feels entirely true. Merowdis feels like a slightly lonely, misunderstood character and I loved Clarke's explanation at the end of the audiobook as to how Merowdis came to be.

Clarke narrates clearly and I always love when an author narrates their own book as you know you are getting the exact feeling in the narration as was intended when the piece was written.

Thank you to Bloomsbury UK Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Wood at Midwinter" captivates with its enchanting storytelling and atmospheric depth. The audio narration excels, breathing life into the characters and setting. The narrator's voice perfectly matches the mystical tone, enhancing the immersive experience with superb pacing and emotion. It is a nice treat that the author narrated the tale. A must-listen for fantasy lovers.

Story

The story was so delightful. I loved it and will be looking into other books by this author

Narrator

I think narration by an author can be good or bad. It's their book so they have the passion behind it but they are also not a professional narrator.

I didn't enjoy the narration of this book. On, normal speed it came across as a slow university lecture rather than someone reading about this enchanting story. I had to put it on 1.5 but then the sound effects were ruined and that's what makes this audiobook.

5 stars for story and 3 stars for narration

The wood at midwinter is a Christmas story born out of Susanna Clarke's beautiful and twisted brain. In the audiobook musical production, the narrative is much enhanced by the background noises and the author's powerful reading. There is a theme of bridging the gap between humans and animals and such a person should be a saint.

More than the story, I loved the afterword where Susanna Clarke talked about how Piranesi was unconsciously influenced heavily by some book she was reading. How her other book seemed to be influenced by the songs she was listening at the time and hence this could be an influence too.

I did not expect it to be such a short read, but it's Ms.Clarke!