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Hild
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt
- Length: 23 hrs and 38 mins
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Publisher's summary
Award-winning author Nicola Griffith's brilliant, lush, sweeping historical novel about the rise of the most powerful woman of the Middle Ages: Hild.
In seventh-century Britain, small kingdoms are merging, frequently and violently. A new religion is coming ashore; the old gods are struggling, their priests worrying. Hild is the king's youngest niece, and she has a glimmering mind and a natural, noble authority. She will become a fascinating woman and one of the pivotal figures of the Middle Ages: Saint Hilda of Whitby.
But now she has only the powerful curiosity of a bright child, a will of adamant, and a way of seeing the world—of studying nature, of matching cause with effect, of observing her surroundings closely and predicting what will happen next—that can seem uncanny, even supernatural, to those around her.
Her uncle, Edwin of Northumbria, plots to become overking of the Angles, ruthlessly using every tool at his disposal: blood, bribery, belief. Hild establishes a place for herself at his side as the king's seer. And she is indispensable—unless she should ever lead the king astray. The stakes are life and death: for Hild, for her family, for her loved ones, and for the increasing numbers who seek the protection of the strange girl who can read the world and see the future.
Hild is a young woman at the heart of the violence, subtlety, and mysticism of the early Middle Ages—all of it brilliantly and accurately evoked by Nicola Griffith's luminous prose. Working from what little historical record is extant, Griffith has brought a beautiful, brutal world to vivid, absorbing life.
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Critic reviews
“You will never think of them as the Dark Ages again. Nicola Griffith’s command of the era is worn lightly and delivered as a deeply engaging plot. Her insight into human nature and eye for telling detail is as keen as that of the extraordinary Hild herself. The novel resonates to many of the same chords as Beowulf, the legends of King Arthur, The Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones—to the extent that Hild begins to feel like the classic on which those books are based.” —Neal Stephenson
“Nicola Griffith is an awe-inspiring visionary, and I am telling everyone to snatch this book up. Hild is not just one of the best historical novels I have ever read--I think it's one of the best novels, period. It sings with pitch-perfect emotional resonance, and I damn well believe in this woman and everyone she engages. I finished the book full of gratitude that it exists, and longing for more.” —Dorothy Alison
“You could describe Hild as being like Game of Thrones without the dragons, but this is so much deeper than that, so much richer. A glorious, intensely passionate walk through an entirely real landscape, Hild leads us into the Dark Ages and makes them light, and tense, and edgy, and deeply moving. The research is flawless, the characters fully alive. If it wasn't like this, it should have been--and I'm sure that it was!” —Manda Scott
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Really good!
- By David Groveman on 09-29-16
By: Giles Kristian
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Blood Eye
- By: Giles Kristian
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In a thrilling adventure of brotherhood, warfare, and treachery, Giles Kristian takes us into ninth-century England, a world of darkness, epic conflict, and an unforgiving God served by powerful priests. On ships shaped like dragons, bristling with oars and armor, Jarl Sigurd and his fierce Norsemen have come in search of riches. And riches they are promised, by an English ruler who sends Sigurd and his wolves to steal a holy manuscript from another kingdom.
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ODIN DESPISES WEAKNESS
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-01-14
By: Giles Kristian
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The Bull from The Sea
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Kris Dyer
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
This second instalment in the story of the legendary hero begins with Theseus' triumphant return from Crete after slaying the Minotaur. Having freed the city of Athens from the onerous tribute demanded by the ruler of Knossos - the sacrifice of noble youths and maidens to the appetite of the Labyrinth's monster - Theseus has returned home to find his father dead and himself the new king. But his adventures have only just begun: He still must confront the Amazons; capture their queen, Hippolyta; and face the tragic results of Phaedra's jealous rage.
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Vintage Mary Renault
- By DPD on 08-30-19
By: Mary Renault
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Lady Macbeth
- A Novel
- By: Susan Fraser King
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Lady Macbeth takes listeners into the heart of 11th-century Scotland, painting a vivid picture of Gruadh, the last female descendent of the country's most royal line. Married, pregnant, then quickly widowed, she is forced to wed her husband's murderer, the warlord Macbeth. Determined to protect her interests and those of her infant son, she vows to preserve her family's legacy at any cost.
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boring
- By Lanlady on 11-27-09
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The Mists of Avalon
- By: Marion Zimmer Bradley
- Narrated by: Davina Porter
- Length: 50 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A posthumous recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Marion Zimmer Bradley reinvented - and rejuvenated - the King Arthur mythos with her extraordinary Mists of Avalon series. In this epic work, Bradley follows the arc of the timeless tale from the perspective of its previously marginalized female characters: Celtic priestess Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and High Priestess Viviane.
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Davina Porter brings an old favorite back to life!
- By Carolina on 07-13-12
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A Wind from the South
- Raetian Tales, Book 1
- By: Diane Duane
- Narrated by: Jessica Almasy
- Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A goddess in the making... or a demon reborn? In the remote mountain village where she was born, Mariarta dil Alicg lives the untroubled life of a peasant girl...until, soon after a mysterious stranger's arrival, she starts to hear voices in the wind. The voices whisper strange secrets in Mariarta's ears -- promising her the power to command the stormwind, hinting at an unknown, magical heritage, and prophesying a fate marvelous past all Mariarta's imaginings. Then a curse falls on Mariarta's village, shattering the lives of her family and friends.
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This was a suprise!
- By Yvonne on 03-11-12
By: Diane Duane
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Dragon's Keep
- By: Janet Lee Carey
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On Wilde Island, Rosalind and her mother live their lives in exile, awaiting the time they can reclaim their rightful place on the throne. And there is reason to hope - a 600-year-old prophesy has decreed that they will do just that. But little do they know, their destinies hinge on Rosalind's amazing, shameful secret. Beneath her gold gloves, the fourth finger of her left hand is in truth a dragon's claw.
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Get ready to be whisked away!
- By Corinne on 06-27-08
By: Janet Lee Carey
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Beka Cooper Book 1
- The Legend of Beka Cooper #1
- By: Tamora Pierce
- Narrated by: Susan Denaker
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Tamora Pierce begins a new Tortall trilogy by introducing Beka Cooper, an amazing young woman who lived 200 years before Pierce's popular Alanna character. For the first time, Pierce employs first-person narration in a novel, bringing readers even closer to a character they will love for her unusual talents and tough personality.
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love it
- By Clara on 07-26-08
By: Tamora Pierce
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Daughters of the Storm
- By: Kim Wilkins
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Lying in a magic-induced coma, the King of Thyrsland is on the brink of death: if his enemies knew, chaos would reign. In fear for his life and his kingdom, his five daughters set out on a perilous journey to try to save him, their only hope an aunt they have yet to meet, a shadowy practitioner of undermagic who lives on the wild northern borders. No one can stand before the fierce tattooed soldier and eldest daughter, Bluebell, an army commander who is rumoured to be unkillable....
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Boring, could not even get through half…
- By Diana M Meredith on 10-30-23
By: Kim Wilkins
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A Vision of Light
- A Margaret of Ashbury Novel, Book 1
- By: Judith Merkle Riley
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 15 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Margaret of Ashbury wants to write her life story. However, like most women in 14th-century England, she is illiterate. Three clerics contemptuously decline to be Margaret’s scribe, and only the threat of starvation persuades Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar with a mysterious past, to take on the task. As she narrates her life, we discover a woman of startling resourcefulness.
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Old fashioned heroine
- By Margaret on 06-22-13
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Firstborn
- Dragonlance: Elven Nations Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Paul B. Thompson, Tonya C. Cook
- Narrated by: Steve Coulter
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
When the leader of the Silvanesti elves dies, conflict threatens to drive his sons apart. While Sithas wishes the elves to withdraw more and more from any contact with other races, Kith-Kanan and his Wildrunners forge connections and trade goods with the humans of Ergoth. As the world of Krynn watches, a new elven nation rises from the strife.
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After all this time
- By Jesse on 04-17-13
By: Paul B. Thompson, and others
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Cold Magic
- By: Kate Elliott
- Narrated by: Charlotte Parry
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming the cities. But the old ways do not die easy. Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust?
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Absolutely Brilliant Fantasy!
- By bluestatereader on 08-14-13
By: Kate Elliott
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Goddess of Yesterday
- By: Caroline B. Cooney
- Narrated by: Christina Moore
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Spirited and pretty, Anaxandra is playmate to King Nicandor’s crippled daughter, Callisto, until pirates attack Nicandor’s small Greek island kingdom and slay everyone except Anaxandra. When Sparta’s King Menalaus comes to investigate, Anaxandra assumes the identity of Princess Callisto to avoid becoming a slave. But Menalaus’ beautiful half-goddess wife, Helen, doubts the girl’s story. Worse, Helen is about to join forces with Trojan prince Paris. Now Anaxandra must reinvent herself in a desperate attempt to prevent war.
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One Girl's Courage in the Era of Myth and Antiquity
- By Lisa Davidson on 04-28-24
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The Briar King
- The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 1
- By: Greg Keyes
- Narrated by: Patrick Michael
- Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Two thousand years ago, the Born Queen defeated the Skasloi lords, freeing humans from the bitter yoke of slavery. But now monstrous creatures roam the land and destinies become inextricably entangled in a drama of power and seduction. The kings woodsman, a rebellious girl, a young priest, a roguish adventurer, and a young man made suddenly into a knight all face malevolent forces that shake the foundations of the kingdom, even as the Briar King, legendary harbinger of death, awakens from his slumber.
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Good stuff
- By Jake on 06-10-10
By: Greg Keyes
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Enjoyable Read
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Od Magic
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July 1346. Ten men land on the beaches of Normandy. They call themselves the Essex Dogs: an unruly platoon of archers and men-at-arms led by a battle-scarred captain whose best days are behind him. The fight for the throne of the largest kingdom in Western Europe has begun. Heading ever deeper into enemy territory toward Crécy, this band of brothers knows they are off to fight a battle that will forge nations, and shape the very fabric of human lives. But first they must survive a bloody war in which rules are abandoned and chivalry itself is slaughtered.
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Loved and Missed
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Ruth is a woman who believes in and despairs of the curative power of love. Her daughter, Eleanor, who is addicted to drugs, has just had a baby, Lily. Ruth adjusts herself in ways large and small to give to Eleanor what she thinks she may need—nourishment, distance, affection—but all her gifts fall short. After someone dies of an overdose in Eleanor's apartment, Ruth hands her daughter an envelope of cash and takes Lily home with her, and Lily, as she grows, proves a compensation for all of Ruth's past defeats and disappointment. Love without fear is a new feeling for her.
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Powerful narrative, felt so personal!
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Hopscotch
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Since being forced into retirement by the CIA, Miles Kendig had tried everything in an effort to satisfy his hunger for excitement. But he could not recreate the ultimate conflict of life or death with no rules, the experience of pitting himself against the enemy with no holds barred. Despite his bitterness at being shelved by the CIA, Miles was still scrupulously American--so when he found himself tempted by an offer from the Russians, he realized the time had come for him to put up or give up.
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Good story
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Da Vinci's Ghost
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Toby Lester, author of the award-winning The Fourth Part of the World, masterfully crafts yet another century-spanning saga of people and ideas in this epic story of Vitruvian Man, Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic drawing of a man inscribed in a circle and a square. Over time, the nearly 550-year-old ink-on-paper sketch has transformed into a collective symbol of the nature of genius, the beauty of the human form, and the universality of the human spirit.
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Haunting Expierience
- By Paul on 02-10-12
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The Riddle of the Labyrinth
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In the tradition of Simon Winchester and Dava Sobel, The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code tells one of the most intriguing stories in the history of language, masterfully blending history, linguistics, and cryptology with an elegantly wrought narrative. When famed archaeologist Arthur Evans unearthed the ruins of a sophisticated Bronze Age civilization that flowered on Crete 1,000 years before Greece's Classical Age, he discovered a cache of ancient tablets, Europe's earliest written records.
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Discovery and Translation of Linear B Script
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A Time for Swords
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Lindisfarne, AD 793. There had been portents - famine, whirlwinds, lightning from clear skies, serpents seen flying through the air. But when the raiders came, no one was prepared. They came from the North, their dragon-prowed longships gliding out of the dawn mist as they descended on the kingdom's most sacred site. It is 8th June AD 793, and with the pillage of the monastery on Lindisfarne, the Viking Age has begun. While his fellow monks flee before the Norse onslaught, one young novice stands his ground.
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Good start to a new series.
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What listeners say about Hild
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- Beth Dorton
- 03-20-17
highly recommended
I've only listened to a few audio books and have given up on several, often because I can't make it past the first chapter due to the narrator's grating, irritating voice This narrator is leagues above any I've yet heard. I highly recommend her, as I do this novel. Engrossing and fascinating, with psychologically rich and well-developed characters and sophisticated plotting.
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- Diana
- 08-08-16
Excellent story!
Very believable characters so that I cared about what happened to them. I found it difficult not to keep listening all night because the narrator did such a great job.
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- A. Fagelson
- 02-14-20
Excellent research and good storytelling
Warning spoiler ahead. Griffith created a deep rich world that gives life to a woman during a time when women in history books are limited, if they appear at all. If you are interested in the early middle ages of Britain, this is a book to read. However (and here's the spoiler) there is a completely unnecessary extension of the Morgan La Fey metaphor that makes the end gross. Maybe Griffith is setting up for the next book? Either way, consider yourself warned.
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- c_annie
- 08-22-17
Enthralled by the world of Hild
This world and these characters are as complete and real to me as Tolkien's Middle Earth. The first read was difficult and engrossing; to keep everything straight, and understand it, I looked up words (thrilling word choices), found maps, and kept notes. The book has a beautiful rhythm between descriptions of nature and place, inner thought life of the magnificent Hild from a precocious toddler to a commanding young woman, illuminating political intrigue of actual people in seventh century England, soothing scenes of domestic activities of those times, gripping dramatic scenes of danger and consequence, and many varied relationships revealed in moments that ring very true.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of England, history, historical fiction, Lord of the Rings, House of Cards, Wolf Hall. It is satisfying on many levels. I am pre-ordering Part Two the moment it becomes available!
This recording is wonderful as well. The reader makes each character distinct and recognizable with her voices, yet never detracts from the story by over-acting. It is perfect. I recommend reading the book first, before listening. All the similar sounding 7th-century family names could be confusing. SO WORTH sorting out though!
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- KR
- 10-12-15
Hard work but worth it
If you could sum up Hild in three words, what would they be?
Intense, evocative, ambitious
What did you like best about this story?
Strong, multi-hued, female characters and their complicated relationship to each other and the men in their world. The sense of place, era, and history. The lovely, lyrical writing makes listening to the recorded version feel like immersion into a saga poem.
What about Pearl Hewitt’s performance did you like?
Initially, I did not like Ms. Hewitt's performance, thinking it sounded a little airy and lisp-y. As the story continued, however, the airiness and "lispy-ness" faded, and I grew to marvel at the many accents and nuances she brought to the characters, and her ability to pronounce all of the challenging names, words, and places featured in the story. Her excellent performance truly brought a challenging book to life for me.
If you could rename Hild, what would you call it?
The Light of the World
Any additional comments?
I listened to this book AND concurrently read a paperback version of it, which was extremely helpful to understand the characters' relationships to each other, the 7th century vocabulary and pronunciations, and the map of 7th century Britain where the action occurs. For me, it would have been difficult to get the most out of this book simply by listening to it alone.
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- Brian
- 12-11-23
An absurd attention to historical detail and a memorable main character.
A gorgeous look into the 7th century. Follows the young Saint Hild as she navigates a changing political landscape and religious turmoil. Readers beware! You will need a glossary, a character guide, and a good look at the maps involved. The author has pretty extensive resources on her website.
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- Foster E
- 04-18-24
A strange and vivid look into 7th century England through the eyes of a girl with great power and intelligence
Hild is a great book with a strange writing style. Its vividly descriptive, the characters are likeable, if a little hard to remember who everyone is since there are many characters with ancient names. You learn the truth of her power from the start, but even so I was questioning if it was true or not. Hild's intelligence, cunning, emotions and willpower are amazing. She takes on many roles, from King's Niece, Seer, Butcher Bird, to wife of a prominent lord. Constantly in power play with the church and it's allies without outright battle. The politics are interesting and for the most part easy to follow. I'm looking forward to reading the second book.
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- Liam Hall
- 08-25-23
Dry as an archaeological site
I am a student of this time and place and love the historical figure of Hild. We don’t know much about her but for some reason Griffith makes a very dull and long winded story of her youth. The immersion is great, though maybe too much in some cases. Overall if you want to feel a world with some speculation added in from the author’s hand, read this.
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- David
- 03-27-14
I'd give it 10 stars if I could
Where does Hild rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Probably the best.
What other book might you compare Hild to and why?
It's been described as "Game of Thrones without the dragons" and that's fairly accurate. But the writing is just beautiful, and the women are richly realized.
What does Pearl Hewitt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
She's got a gorgeous voice, and does a great job with choosing various contemporary UK or Ireland accents for the characters. I particularly enjoyed her performance of the narrator's ditzy friend Begu. She also reads like she admires and enjoys the prose, which is indeed worthy of it.
Any additional comments?
There's no supernatural elements in this book, just people who believe in the supernatural (Christ included), so if you're expecting a fantasy book, bear that in mind. Also, there's a lot of dynastic politics and geopolitical maneuvering, which can sometimes be hard to follow in audio format as one tries to keep track of names and places. Griffith's website has lots of resources, including maps and a family tree. The book felt real and vivid, totally immersing me in its world. What a place to visit!
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- Stormy
- 02-14-16
Hild by Nicola Griffith
Hild by Nicola Griffith was an interesting book. I'm very glad to have listened to the audiobook format as the pronunciation of certain words wouldn't have been enjoyable. I did find it hard to understand some of the words but could eventually figure them out. So this book was just a like for me not a book I love. The narrator, Pearl Hewitt, was amazing and made it easier to slip into the books world. As the reader can make or break a book, I would definitely recommend this narrator for any audiobook.
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