nymphread 's review for:

The Summer War by Naomi Novik

4.0

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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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.