HildHild
Score Modern
What it's about
In 7th-century Britain, small kingdoms are merging, often violently. Edwin, King of Northumbria, plots to become overking of all the Angles, using blood, bribery and belief. Into his brutal, vibrant court steps a girl with the brightest mind of her age, a prophet and seer whom the king and his lords will one day want to kill.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula Award finalist. It's an immersive novel about the young life of the woman who became St. Hilda of Whitby.
You'll love it if you liked
Wolf Hall
Spear
The Crystal CaveGood to know
It's dense, with many names and early medieval detail.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #125 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #275 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #994 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1841 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Nicola Griffith
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
The Golden Compass
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Hild worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula Award finalist. It ranks #1,841 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Hild about?
In 7th-century Britain, small kingdoms are merging, often violently. Edwin, King of Northumbria, plots to become overking of all the Angles, using blood, bribery and belief. Into his brutal, vibrant court steps a girl with the brightest mind of her age, a prophet and seer whom the king and his lords will one day want to kill.
How long does it take to read Hild?
About 14 hours (564 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Hild?
If you liked it, try Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, Spear by Nicola Griffith or The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart.