THE WOOD AT MIDWINTER

Susanna Clarke's spellbinding performance of this enhanced audiobook brings out the alluring beauty of this mystical tale. Nineteen-year-old Merowdis Scot is most at home when she's walking in the woods with her dogs and Apple, her pig. Evocative sound effects and music add to Clarke's haunting narration, highlighting Merowdis's deep connection to nature as she engages with the trees and animals around her. The theatrical sensory experience intensifies the mystery of Merowdis's encounters with a blackbird, a fox, and a strange figure, all of whom foreshadow a life-transforming vision. While this immersive imaginative journey may be too vivid for easily spooked youngsters, children and adults who enjoy mysterious wintery tales set in nature may find this a magical listening experience. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]