Book Review
Jun. 6th, 2014 11:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariHild
by Nicola Griffith
This beautiful historical novel imagines the early life of St. Hilda of Whitby, as she grows up at the court of the Anglo-Saxon Kind Edwin in 7th century Britain. At that time, Britain was not a single country, but several smaller kingdoms which were almost constantly in conflict. Hild is raised by her canny mother to be a seer to the king, which makes Hild's position in Edwin's household both valuable and dangerous. As seer, Hild relies less on dreams, visions, and omens and more on her own sharp mind, keen observations, and ability to gather information.
I loved reading this book, and was pretty sad to finish it. The writing is beautiful and evocative - I could feel the wind on my face and feel the textures. Griffith also really did her research and thus does an impeccable job of bringing the early middle ages to life. Hild is also a great look at women's lives in that era and a fascinating take on how they may have navigated the political world in which they moved. Griffith brings you into this world, and really lets you live there with her characters. Hild herself was also an endlessly interesting character. She's complex and fierce and I'm going to miss her now that I'm no longer reading about her, her experiences, and her relationships with the people around her.
Griffith is apparently writing a sequel, and I can't wait until it comes out.
by Nicola Griffith
This beautiful historical novel imagines the early life of St. Hilda of Whitby, as she grows up at the court of the Anglo-Saxon Kind Edwin in 7th century Britain. At that time, Britain was not a single country, but several smaller kingdoms which were almost constantly in conflict. Hild is raised by her canny mother to be a seer to the king, which makes Hild's position in Edwin's household both valuable and dangerous. As seer, Hild relies less on dreams, visions, and omens and more on her own sharp mind, keen observations, and ability to gather information.
I loved reading this book, and was pretty sad to finish it. The writing is beautiful and evocative - I could feel the wind on my face and feel the textures. Griffith also really did her research and thus does an impeccable job of bringing the early middle ages to life. Hild is also a great look at women's lives in that era and a fascinating take on how they may have navigated the political world in which they moved. Griffith brings you into this world, and really lets you live there with her characters. Hild herself was also an endlessly interesting character. She's complex and fierce and I'm going to miss her now that I'm no longer reading about her, her experiences, and her relationships with the people around her.
Griffith is apparently writing a sequel, and I can't wait until it comes out.
