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library_gremlin's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Animal death, Death, Self harm, and Animal cruelty
shaipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Enjoyed this and it was a good conclusion to the series :) I did enjoy the first few books in the series more personally but glad I have the whole series and finished it up
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Deadnaming
anaheeta's review
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, and Grief
ishouldreadthat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.25
A beautiful look at death, grief, and the impact on those we leave behind. I absolutely love this series and this book takes a slightly different tone from the others, but suits the story and characters so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, and Grief
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This is a very beautiful, very powerful book. I have loved all of the Singing Hills Cycle so far, and this one is no exception... but this installment is a much harder book to read than the others have been. It deals with grief and loss, and doesn't pull any punches as it looks at the different ways people grieve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence and Deadnaming
Minor: Domestic abuse
jayisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Vo returns with beautiful prose for The Singing Hills Cycle, and I was really taken to the particular focus on the complexities of grief. Mammoths at the Gates felt a bit heavier and more serious than the previous installments, with Chih having to contend with grief and loss. Another key theme that I really appreciated was having to deal with the inevitability of change, which always is a struggle. I wish we could have sat longer with Chih's feelings and have time to reflect after they were away from home for years, but that would likely result in the book no longer being a novella. All things considered, though, I thought Vo did a great job exploring these deep themes without it being too shallow, while also still delivering a compelling story.
While these novellas can be read in any order, I personally think Mammoths at the Gates will be more impactful of a read if you read at least one the other novellas first.
While these novellas can be read in any order, I personally think Mammoths at the Gates will be more impactful of a read if you read at least one the other novellas first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, and Violence
Minor: War and Domestic abuse
leanne_miron's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Grief
Moderate: Death and Transphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse
f18's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Deadnaming, and Death
misgenderingdisplacedcactus's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
After three books of seeing Cleric Chih out in the world, this book finally takes us to the Singing Hills monastery, so we can learn more about the order and Chih's youth, their friends, and the people who are like family to them. We also get to learn a lot more about the neixin. In fact, despite being very short, this book did a beautiful job of answering some questions I had about the world, while also dropping tempting breadcrumbs about other parts of the world we haven't seen yet.
While this is technically a stand-alone, I think it will have more emotional impact if you've read at least one of the other books first, so that you already know Chih and Almost Brilliant.
Speaking of emotional impact, I'd definitely say this was the most emotional of the four books so far, at least for me. It's pretty focused on grief and mourning.
While this is technically a stand-alone, I think it will have more emotional impact if you've read at least one of the other books first, so that you already know Chih and Almost Brilliant.
Speaking of emotional impact, I'd definitely say this was the most emotional of the four books so far, at least for me. It's pretty focused on grief and mourning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, and Domestic abuse
There are several instances of misgendering.clarabooksit's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse