Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - Fireheart Tiger

“I have to burn,” she says. “I have to feed. But it doesn’t have to be that bright. It doesn’t have to be . . .” She pauses, again, as if words were hard to get. “It doesn’t have to harm.”

There was a lot I enjoyed about this novella, but compared to Aliette de Bodard's other works of similar length that I've read it felt a bit clumsily constructed. In some parts, at least. I really liked how the political plotting unfolded, and everything about the mystery fires leading up to the reveals about Giang. But I wish Eldris was more flashed out, and I wish there was more background information about Thanh's past history with her, trickling in more gradually and steadily. I also feel the story would be stronger without the blackmail subplot—it added nothing of value and took up space that could have been used to expand on other parts of the story.

The love triangle aspect came a bit out of the blue for me. There was internal logic to it, sure, but I think I would have preferred

to see Thanh and Giang as friends, perhaps with a subtle hint at their relationship developing further in the future instead of a definite "this is where this is going, look, they're kissing already." Not because there's anything wrong with the two of them getting together, but because it feels like Thanh is only just getting the chance to fully get over Eldris. She could use some time to better process the events of the novella, and of her past as a hostage, before low-key rushing into figuring out "a connection, a start" that she feels with Giang.

All that said, I think I overall rather enjoyed the story. Thanh is a compelling protagonist who might seem like she wavers a lot now and then, but there's a quiet strength inside her that turns into a quiet stubbornness when it comes to things that matter to her a lot. Her relationship with her mother is rather complicated, but not devoid of hope and very interesting to follow. While the story has an almost claustrophobic feel, contained to just a few rooms and a garden, it is clear that there is an entire big, compelling, politically fraught world around the palace. I'd love to know more about what goes on in this setting, in fact!

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crownoflaurel's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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rhi_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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clairesfullshelves's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Very captivating story between two royals town between kingdoms. The main princess torn between the needs of her kingdom, a spicy romantic love interest, and standing true to her own self. The ending takes an intruder twist, but ultimately is a perfect ending for this type of story.

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vigil's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

a cute yet underbaked novella. thanh was, to put it bluntly, a dislikable idiot and her plotlines were unconvincing in regards to the character that we see on the page. the other characters were there mostly, aside from the mother, who i couldn’t figure what the author wanted me to think about her. i’m assuming we’re supposed to feel bad and disagree with her mother calling her a stubborn selfish idiot who’s bad at her job but she IS a stubborn selfish idiot who’s bad at her job.

the

endgame romance

was awfully rushed and uninteresting (considering their backstory, it didn’t need to be) it but it saved me from the clutches of

eldris x thanh

so i can find it in my heart to forgive it.

this book does fall prey to the narrative of “violence upon your abusers / colonizers makes you just as bad as they are! see how you can go too far!” which i feel as if every fiction book that is even vaguely about abuse or colonization takes this position and i’d dearly like for authors to cut that shit out. it is not nuanced, it is not revolutionary, it’s not even interesting. do something else.

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strange_little_ranger's review

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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drudeger's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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ladykatka's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I struggle through the first half because I found it boring and I couldn't even remember what happened once I finished the page however I pressed on and it got really good in the last half. It was much more exciting and interesting so if you can make it to about page 50 it gets so much better.

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