From the scant historical record of Hild of Whitby, Griffith spins an extraordinary story of a girl who learns to navigate the world of kings and thegns. Hild is fierce and clever, learning through observation and performance that she can effect events that would otherwise only be manageable by the sword. Griffith’s immensely detailed research brings seventh-century England into relief, but it’s her resolve in letting Hild emerge from that world that really stuns. Every sentence is a bright, sharp stone demanding your attention.