I’m afraid this was a dnf for me as I found the narrator’s voice unbearable. I think it was a mistake to let the author read this audio book. I got a friend to listen and she felt the same. I would like to gI’ve the book another try as a written version.

Thank you NetGalley, Bloomsbury UK Audio and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review

This was a nice a cosy read. Very fitting for the holiday season.

Ms Clarke’s magic works again and I was lost in her voice, the story, and brought to a different world. I was expecting the King Raven but he was present in the background
I think
Live it
Many thanks for this audio book

Misunderstood by the people around her Merowdis is only truly happy when she is walking in the woods with her animals. One afternoon they meet a blackbird and a fox, and as darkness falls a strange figure joins them and in doing so changes Merowdis’s life forever. A brief fairytale, set in the same world as Jonathan Strange, beautifully written and narrated.

This is beautiful and magical. Read by the author, I loved the accompanying music in the audiobook, and the note at the end about stories influencing stories. Truly wonderful.

I loved both of Susanna Clarke's novels, and would highly recommend them, and I was really excited about this short audiobook which I saved to listen to on Christmas Eve. I probably had built up too high expectations, and as a result was disappointed. Of course, it's not possible to build a story of the sort of complexity and originality as seen in 'Piranesi' or 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' in a short story. But the 35 minute running time led me to think the story would be longer. In fact, the 'afterword' is almost as long as the story itself (or at least I perceived it to be).

What we get is a neat little fairy-tale like yarn about a young woman who prefers the company of animals and nature to conventional human life, and ultimately decides to go and live in the woods. That is the entire plot. It's not exciting, or suspenseful, or funny, or even atmospheric. Clarke can certainly write all those things, but she doesn't have time here.

The audiobook is read by the author, and she reads adequately, but it does make you realise what you get extra from a professional voice narrator. There's definitely more to it than just being able to read out loud. The music, written especially for this audiobook, is nice but there's not much of it.

There's nothing terrible about any of this, but I don't think it's worth spending money on.

The Wood at Midwinter was a beautiful, intense novella by Susanna Clarke. She captures the beauty and complexity of the forest and draws inspiration from her obsession with Kate Bush’s 50 Words for Snow album, as well as the connections between neurodivergence, intense attachment, witches and sainthood.

The story is set at Yule and follows Merowdis into the forest - I listened to the audio version which I believe is a recording of the BBC Radio 4 adaptation from Christmas 2022. The accompanying music is beautiful and definitely adds to the atmospheric prose.

The novella itself is tantalisingly short - read by Clarke herself with an afterword that talks about her inspirations behind the story and characters. A lovely seasonal listen - thank you to @bloomsburypublishing audio for a copy in return for an unbiased review. The Wood at Midwinter is available to download now!

I will post on my instagram @charlottereadshistory tomorrow.

This is a very (very) short little tale that's half fantasy story and half author's note. I was intrigued by the tale itself but really would have liked more of it, as we barely know who's who before it's over. It's certainly a strange one and I did enjoy hearing more of the background to it from the author in the note but ultimately, I did need more from it. That being said, if you are looking to read it then the audiobook is as good a format as any - it was well narrated and I enjoyed it overall.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

After reading Piranessi, a book that became a magical favourite of mine, I was very curious to explore this short story. I’m developing this hypothesis that everything that Susanna Clarke writes is, in fact, magical.

This was a really short story, so incredibly short but beautiful and full of depth and meaning added by the narrative and the soundscapes. Every single detail matches perfectly and it paints a picture of the woods, of the different animals and characters. It’s strange but in the most perfect mystical way that makes sense for cold days before Christmas, by the fire, surrounded by your loved ones.

Thank you so much Bloomsbury Circus and NetGallery for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a quaint magical story! Truly enjoyed listening to Susanna narrate the audiobook. Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC!

The most perfect story for a dark winter solstice. As in her other books, in this short audio feature Clarke interweaves literary inspirations - in this case the inspiration comes from the lyrics of Kate Bush - with familiar literary narratives to create an entirely new story full of magic and an almost child-like "sense of wonder"; the forest that is not a setting but a character, the animals that speak their own language and are still understood, the girl, who has always been interested in things that others do not find interesting and creates her very own lore. The writing style - superb. I cried because it was so beautiful.
I am sure I will find new litte thematic bits and references in this story upon re-reads. The audiobook is nicely produced, the music fitting - all in all, it puts you in a contemplative mood, perfect for this time of the year.

This book, like others of Susanna’s, is magical.
It’s mysterious, it’s gentle, it trusts its audience’s intellect and it develops its magic/fantastical elements slowly and gently. The descriptions of the woods are so tangible and I loved finishing and thinking over what had happened in the previous 50 pages. It’s perfectly strange and mystical and makes total sense for Christmas.

As an audiobook the production value is so high. The soundscapes are a perfect way of accentuating Susanna’s words and the fact that it’s read by her herself is wonderful.

Merowdis Scott is a peculiar 19-year-old with strange habits. Talking to animals, trees and all things possibly living, she meanders through the woods. On one such stroll, she encounters a mysterious being that changes her life!

A really short story, but good enough to immerse you in Susanna Clarke's world. The story is enchanting & well-suited for this season, especially if you seek a magical escape. Tropes you can expect here:
• Enchanted Forest
• Christmas charm
• Animal companionship
• Coming of Age

I was listening to the audiobook version of this story & must say it was narrated superbly. Towards the end, the author also shares a few additional details, related to the writing process & thoughts encountered - which felt like a special touch.

This was a lovely little book with a great wintery atmosphere for the Christmas season. The production was fantastic with sound effects and music. Though the story was short and felt like there was more left to say at the end, it really reflected the feeling of a dark Christmas tale, such as stories like The Fire Tree or A Christmas Carol.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story, I just wish there was a slightly longer story to enjoy the characters more, and to understand the consequences of the ending of the story.

Like all things Susanna Clarke, this book features exquisite writing from a talented author. As with many of her works, you are never quite sure if you are in this world or another, as she masterfully creates mystery and magic that are absolutely captivating.

This would have benefitted from another fifty pages to fully flush out this short story. It felt like a concept of an idea that could have been really interesting.

Most of the book was the Afterward from the author explaining things.

Disappointing.

Thank you to Netgalley, Author Susanna Clarke and Bloomsbury UK Audio for providing me with a copy of this work.

The wood at midwinter was short, but also right to the point. Not all characters were introduced into the story, but they still had their meaning and place without the reader feeling confused and missing parts of the story. Personally, it took some time for me to understand what was happening, especially as I was listening to the audiobook and did not have the visuals that physical book readers had access to, but the afterwords at the end put it all together for me and made it a sweet experience.

Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.

Merowdis Scott isn't like her peers. She isn't like anyone she has ever met before really. She makes friends with the spiders in her bedroom and feels most at home walking through the woods on her own. Those who don't know her think her odd and those who love her fear for her safety but Merowdis has no fears and only one wish.

I was immediately immersed in this atmospheric short story. The setting, the tone, and the protagonist all gave this the vibes of the perfect Christmas Eve story. The ending, however, felt blunt and gave no proper conclusion to the events that occurred.

The author's afterward did explain why this was her intent when writing this, given the subject matter and the saintlike qualities of the central character, and it did make me like this story more. I can see it being one I often revisit, for its sweet nature and short page length, but not a favourite by this author.

I also think the audiobook is the perfect way to consume this story as there were subtle added background noises, which added to the ambience of the story and the author herself narrated it.

The short story of Meredis and her interactions with speaking (well, to her!) animals and trees in the forest felt like an old fashioned fairy tale told and retold over the decades and centuries rather than a newly written book. It was atmospheric, magical and eerie.

I did think it felt a bit short and ended a bit abruptly, but overall I enjoyed it!

I was lucky enough to be given an advance copy of the audiobook. How lucky to hear it performed by Clarke herself. It is very short but loved it and definitely got me more interested in reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel.
There is also an afterword that includes some notes about one of my favourite reads this year, “Piranesi”. Excited about what else she writes in the future!!