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
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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!

I requested a reviewer copy of the audiobook for this from NetGalley - I hadn’t realised that the book itself is illustrated which I imagine adds a lot of the story. The accompanying music is pleasant and listening I thought this is like a radio 4 production (and have now realised it was). The story is a beautiful rumination on nature and spirituality. But I’m not sure it needed its own book. It would fit nicely in a collection. Susanna Clark is a gorgeous writer so I’d read that collection.

This is a really sweet story - my only criticism Is I wanted to it be longer and I wanted to know more.
I liked how magical and special it felt and I liked the authors note at the end, with real life explanations.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and the narrator was perfect.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is narrated by the author Susanna Clarke, she has a clear voice and easy to follow.
This is short story set in winter, the background noises complete the story really well, with the sound of horse on cart when moving, birds chirping in the background. It certainly adds to the story and the listening experience. The background noise doesn't distract at all and compliments the story well.

3.5 ⭐️ it's worth checking out the physical book as there is beautiful illustrations in the book. This is one I would recommend to read and listen as I think it would make it a bit more magical.

I love everything by Susanna Clarke. This one is perfect for the winter season and the Christmas holidays specifically. The story while short is lush with beatiful writing and such vivid descriptions that you feel like you can touch the snow.
I am sad I missed the pictures but loved the audiobook narrated by the author herself. Super curious what she comes out with next!

An exquisite short story that is, as you’d expect from this author, beautifully written. I know I’ll be heading back to it every winter when I’m wrapped up with a blanket in front of the fire. The perfect seasonal gift too.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

The design of both the physical book and the audiobook really make this story special. A lovely whimsical audio reading to accompany this tale. I loved the sound design and the pacing was perfect. I will be relistening this winter!

4.5/5

I enjoyed this dreamy, magical short story read by the author herself, but I think I enjoyed the discussion with the author even more. Its great to get a bit of insight into a writer's thought process and inspiration and this certainly delivers.

Perfect for fans of Clarke's stories.