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emily_mh's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was a well-crafted novella. Kingfisher knows how to write a quest narrative! Often I find these to be filled with nonsensical obstacles thrown in to extend the story, but Kingfisher’s always serve a purpose beyond creating tension, and they also are tied up in who the characters are. The narrative was also well-structured, with the right amount of time spent at each stage of the quest.
I appreciated that Kingfisher actually acknowledged that traumatic events, such as being sent on a quest as a child by yourself, has an impact on a person. This is a concept rarely explored in fantasy.
There were a couple negatives. Oliver is our main character and while he undergoes development in regard to his confidence as a mage, I just wasn’t compelled by him as a person. As he is the one the story is focussed on, this was problematic for my enjoyment.
Another criticism is that the most interesting aspect of the world-building, the cloud herders, only comes in at the very end, so the world unfortunately feels bland up until that point.
While I do have these two critiques, I enjoyed my time with this novella overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Gore, Physical abuse, Death, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, Dementia, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
Major: drought Minor: loss of a loved one, earthquake, drowning, capital punishment, imprisonment
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