A review by readerbot_lu
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Did I like it? Yes
Do I recommend it? Yes

Favorite Quote

“People grow up. I get to grow up, and I get to change. I’m not going to mope around heartbroken forever because we thought we were both going to get to leave and see the world, and then I couldn’t. You can’t expect me to be your old friend from home who loves to hear about your great adventures!” (Ru, 57)

Positives

This novella felt much darker than the others because Chih was actually one of the story participants. I mentioned in my review of Into the Riverlands that Chih seems to be taking a more active role in the stories they “observe” and that trend continues here. Chih’s grief and nostalgia Chih felt very real to me.

Negatives

One of the themes of this series is how people aren’t always human. This was a powerful subplot in this novella, but I felt like

having Myriad Virtues turn into a human doppelgänger of Thien at the end (which solved the main plot problem)

doesn’t reinforce the neixins’ personhood and independence from the human clerics.