A review by onthesamepage
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“Myriad Virtues, why have you done this?” 
“For sorrow,” she said. “For grief, and for remembrance. Humans don’t understand grief, not like a neixin does.”

I think this is my favourite installment so far (I know, I've said this before, but new books means new insights okay).

This is compelling because it really zooms in on Chih as a character, in a way that the previous novellas haven't done. We're at their home, getting an in-depth look at their upbringing and the people they care for, all while tackling what it means to lose someone, and how a person can be different things to different people in different phases of their life.

The writing is absolutely stunning, as always. I've really grown to love this novella series in general, and highly recommend it.

Also, the mammoths! So cool.
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