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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Summer War is a fairy tale and a glittering gem of a novella. It’s about empathy. It’s not a story where empathy is someone’s gift or superpower, but a story where empathy is a choice one makes again and again. Real flaws and feelings are packed into less than 150 pages, somehow. Naomi Novik casts some of my favorite sorcery in this one.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
The Summer War was a lovely, whimsical tale of sibling love and camaraderie. It had the same Naomi Novik prose I know and love, with the style of a fairytale.
Celia, Roric, and Argent have such an interesting sibling dynamic, and seeing it change throughout the novella was delightful. What twelve-year-old doesn’t want to curse their sibling? Couldn’t be me 😂
As always, Naomi Novik writes books that delight! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 4 stars.
Thank you to Del Rey for the earc and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.
Celia, Roric, and Argent have such an interesting sibling dynamic, and seeing it change throughout the novella was delightful. What twelve-year-old doesn’t want to curse their sibling? Couldn’t be me 😂
As always, Naomi Novik writes books that delight! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 4 stars.
Thank you to Del Rey for the earc and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood
I was given a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished re-reading Uprooted and wanted to stay in the shimmering faerietale worlds Novik spins, a desire perfectly fulfilled by The Summer War. The only reason I've rated it less than 5 stars is that I want more than a novella from this world.
I just finished re-reading Uprooted and wanted to stay in the shimmering faerietale worlds Novik spins, a desire perfectly fulfilled by The Summer War. The only reason I've rated it less than 5 stars is that I want more than a novella from this world.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Summer War is a short story, brief but lingering. It reads like a classic fairy tale passed down through generations, and feels both familiar and fresh.
The heart of this novella lies with three siblings, and the deep and tangled love between them. This isn’t a romance, though there is love, and this isn’t a quest, though there is sacrifice. It’s something a little… quieter and older? It’s a story of seasons and bargains, and what it means to hold someone’s fate in your hands.
I read it in 2 sittings, totally absorbed. The pacing is perfect, unhurried with just enough detail to root you into the world without weighing you down with worldbuilding. While I do think this could (and should!) be turned into a full novel, I also admire how fully realized it feels in its current form. There’s so much potential here for deeper worldbuilding, and more complex character story arcs. But I guess there’s also something satisfying about a story that knows its shape.
If I had one wish, it would simply be to wish for more. More time with the characters, more glimpses into the strange, summer world.
Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something short, beautiful and a little bit haunting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the advanced copy of this book! I enjoyed the read, and this review is my honest opinion and feedback.
The heart of this novella lies with three siblings, and the deep and tangled love between them. This isn’t a romance, though there is love, and this isn’t a quest, though there is sacrifice. It’s something a little… quieter and older? It’s a story of seasons and bargains, and what it means to hold someone’s fate in your hands.
I read it in 2 sittings, totally absorbed. The pacing is perfect, unhurried with just enough detail to root you into the world without weighing you down with worldbuilding. While I do think this could (and should!) be turned into a full novel, I also admire how fully realized it feels in its current form. There’s so much potential here for deeper worldbuilding, and more complex character story arcs. But I guess there’s also something satisfying about a story that knows its shape.
If I had one wish, it would simply be to wish for more. More time with the characters, more glimpses into the strange, summer world.
Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something short, beautiful and a little bit haunting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the advanced copy of this book! I enjoyed the read, and this review is my honest opinion and feedback.
adventurous
emotional
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
I loved reading The Summer War by Naomi Novik. Celia, the youngest of three children of the king, unintentionally curses her eldest brother—Argent, her favorite—to a loveless life as he leaves their home. She doesn’t hear from him again for years, only of him, and his tales of greatness in the neighboring fairy land. She takes over the household with her unappreciated middle brother, and they concoct a plan to reconnect with Argent. This plan goes awry in a terrible way that only Argent, it turns out, can help rectify.
The Summer War utterly charmed me, as Naomi Novik and fairy tales are wont to do. I loved Celia’s point of view—Novik completely nails the misery and resolve of being a teen girl shouldering an absurd amount of responsibility. The narration captured me the most: it read so much like a classic fairy tale. Further to the point, the plotting is so tight—each story element returns to contribute to the plot or its resolution. There are no dropped threads, no abandoned players. It’s the shortest of Novik’s works that I’ve read, and in my view she uses it to show off her skill in plotting and pacing. I adored reading The Summer War—I’m already considering a reread. I’d recommend this to readers of T. Kingfisher’s retold fairy tales or fans of Amal E-Mohtar’s The River Has Roots, as well as anyone who’s already enjoyed Novik’s works, particularly those who appreciate the Scholomance trilogy for El’s angst and grit. Thank you to Del Rey and NetGally for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced