The Wood at Midwinter Clarke Susanna (2024)

This enchanting and haunting Christmas short story follows nineteen-year-old Merowdis Scott, an unusual girl who can talk to animals and trees and is happiest when walking in the woods. One snowy afternoon, accompanied by her dogs and Apple the pig, she encounters a blackbird and a fox. As darkness falls, a strange figure enters their midst and changes the path of her life forever. The book includes an afterword by Susanna Clarke and exquisite illustrations by Victoria Sawdon.