Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Naomi Novik is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw she was publishing this short novella, I couldn’t resist picking it up!
As expected for a novella, it’s a brief read (don’t ask me why it still took me ages to finish — I think the whimsical tone just didn’t match my reading mood at the time, lmao). Still, in its short length, it manages to deliver a wonderfully fairytale-esque story, filled with Novik’s signature wittiness, clever riddles, enchanting atmosphere, and quirky characters.
At its heart is Celia, a heroine who grows up under her famous father — a warrior turned Duke, celebrated across the land for his extraordinary feats in bringing peace to the kingdom. As the tale unfolds, we see Celia mature, and her relationships with her family, which take center stage here, deepen and evolve. Witnessing Celia grow from having her child’s perspective into her maturing into a thoughtful young woman, learning the complexities of her world, was well-told and interesting to follow.
Much of the story’s focus was really set on familial love, particularly the dynamics between her and her siblings. Anyone that’s looking for a more romance-driven story is definitely not going to find this here, as that aspect of the story is there, but not the most substantial.
But if you’ve enjoyed Spinning Silver, Uprooted, Buried Deep and Other Stories, or any of Novik’s other works, I think you’ll find this just as enchanting.
This is a fantastical, beautifully atmospheric tale that’s short but still an absolute delight to read — a perfect, self-contained story for when you want a quick but satisfying escape!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Advance copy from Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore (hold on, I need to catch my breath), via NetGalley
Loved this. I wasn't sure about it at first, so I encourage anyone who has doubts to keep going. I was worried I wouldn't like Celia, but I ended up liking her very much indeed. I loved how the relationships developed and how the characters changed, grew, and realized they could be wrong.
Loved this. I wasn't sure about it at first, so I encourage anyone who has doubts to keep going. I was worried I wouldn't like Celia, but I ended up liking her very much indeed. I loved how the relationships developed and how the characters changed, grew, and realized they could be wrong.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent, War
hopeful
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
I think it's a craft to be able to tell a rich and beautiful story succinctly, even more so if we're talking about a tale in the Fantasy genre. Usually, these worlds are so vast, it's tough to condense it all to its core and not feel like you've left out all the important lore - but Naomi Novik managed it almost perfectly!
I felt immediately immersed in the tale, which was both heartbreaking and absurd at times. It had politics, it had magic, it had intrigue and romance and friendship and family - what more could one ask for?
While there were some parts that felt a bit info-dump-y, I was too eager to find out what happened next to really care. There was definitely potential to expand on the characters and the world more, but I didn't feel like I was lacking anything by the end. I just enjoyed seeing people deeply care for each other!
Fazit: 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I felt immediately immersed in the tale, which was both heartbreaking and absurd at times. It had politics, it had magic, it had intrigue and romance and friendship and family - what more could one ask for?
While there were some parts that felt a bit info-dump-y, I was too eager to find out what happened next to really care. There was definitely potential to expand on the characters and the world more, but I didn't feel like I was lacking anything by the end. I just enjoyed seeing people deeply care for each other!
Fazit: 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This fairy-tale novella follows three siblings: Celia (sorceress), Roric (unwanted, forgotten), and Argent (skilled knight and also gay).
This is a fairy story in that a novella's shorter length necessitates quick, fairy-tale storytelling, but also in that it deals with the fae. Celia's home, Prosper, borders the Summer Lands, a magical place inhabited by the fae, who had been fighting an eternal war of vengeance against her people until her father's cleverness ended it. However, the war may not stay in the past forever.
This was very cute in the harsh, raw Naomi Novik style. I am THEEE sucker for sibling dynamics, and I loved all of them here. And I loved how Celia is indeed her father's daughter.
This is a fairy story in that a novella's shorter length necessitates quick, fairy-tale storytelling, but also in that it deals with the fae. Celia's home, Prosper, borders the Summer Lands, a magical place inhabited by the fae, who had been fighting an eternal war of vengeance against her people until her father's cleverness ended it. However, the war may not stay in the past forever.
This was very cute in the harsh, raw Naomi Novik style. I am THEEE sucker for sibling dynamics, and I loved all of them here. And I loved how Celia is indeed her father's daughter.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This reads like a fairy tale. It's a very short story about three siblings and two kingdoms. It has a bit of a Holly Black feeling to it.
It's a good novella, probably my favorite from Naomi Novik.
Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC.
It's a good novella, probably my favorite from Naomi Novik.
Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC.