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.

A beautiful and wintery short story, narrated by the author herself.
I loved the addition of the music to support the story.
It is beautifully written, but I am not sure what to make of it and if I fully understood.

Nice christmasses short story. The narration was enchanting and really good. This was just an half an hour recording so very quick and easy. Generally I enjoyed it

Beautiful. I am just the biggest fan of Clarke's writing and have been waaaaaiting for something new since Piranesi. I will forgive her for it only being a short story because it was so beautiful and mystical. A simple story, a wonderful message, a lingering feeling of magic.

This audiobook is read by the author, which I find really cool, especially if you like a nice British accent.
This a very atmospheric short novel, including some sound effects like wind and birds.
There are talking animals, a talking forest... and I think that's all you need to know since the book is so short.
If you liked Piranesi try it, it gives the same kind of "not sure where this i going but I'm in for the ride" feeling.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for access to the audiobook against an honest review.*

This was one of my last reds last year, perfect to catch up to the reading challenge. The story is short, well-written and published with gorgeous illustrations, making this an enjoyable read.

The plot of The Wood at Midwinter is rather odd. It’s an original and beautiful story, but I didn’t expect it to develop the way it did. Still, I enjoyed the writing. Also, I listened to the audiobook, and I highly recommend it, as the author narrates it and some atmospheric music is added.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for the ARC

A short and magical novella from a brilliant writer. Atmospheric and wonderous, The Wood at Midwinter packs a puck within the short pages