Review: Silver in the Wood, by Emily Tesh

There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.
When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.

"He had thought himself a thing uprooted." 

Emily Tesh's Silver in the Wood is a soft achillean novella about the cycle of death and rebirth, loosely taking inspiration from the Green Man myths. It takes its time, slowly taking us into the forest, detailling each tree with lush and atmospheric writing. Told entirely from the point of view of Tobias, it's a reflection on time and on overcoming an abusive relationship, but also on curiosity and love.

The format works perfectly; novellas so rarely get the pacing right, but this one does. Even if the narration is slow, it's packed with warm emotion and so much care and a small mystery that hooks the reader, pulling us into a small enclosed space that brims with magic and dryads and the quiet strength of old trees. The romance between Tobias and Henry follows the same slow rhythm, steady and dreamlike, towards a fitting conclusion.

Silver in the Wood is a small treasure.

✨ 4 stars

 

 

Snippet: The Raven Tower, by Ann Leckie

For centuries, the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by the god known as the Raven. He watches over his territory from atop a tower in the powerful port of Vastai. His will is enacted through the Raven's Lease, a human ruler chosen by the god himself. His magic is sustained via the blood sacrifice that every Lease must offer. And under the Raven's watch, the city flourishes. But the power of the Raven is weakening. A usurper has claimed the throne. The kingdom borders are tested by invaders who long for the prosperity that Vastai boasts. And they have made their own alliances with other gods.
It is into this unrest that the warrior Eolo--aide to Mawat, the true Lease--arrives. And in seeking to help Mawat reclaim his city, Eolo discovers that the Raven's Tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself...and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever.

“Perhaps, long or short, it mattered how one spent that time.”

Ann Leckie's The Raven Tower is an excellent standalone Hamlet-inspired novel with a twist about manipulative and manipulated gods. It features fascinating mythology and magic system, and a beautiful usage of the second person narration. The narrator is a delight, going on with patience about the past and the present and the power of language and stories, and about finally caring for someone. The novel explores themes of imperialism, power, and personal identity, the latter especially through the eyes of the ostensible main character, a transgender man named Eolo, whose gender is not what the story is about, but rather his gender is an important part of his identity that informs his decision-making and emotions and his relationships with several other characters. This books is a gem that I, for one, certainly intend to reread, as I read it upon publication.

✨ 5 stars

Review: Thorn, by Anna Burke

On a cold day deep in the heart of winter, Rowan’s father returns from an ill-fated hunting trip bearing a single, white rose. The rose is followed by the Huntress, a figure out of legend. Tall, cruel, and achingly beautiful, she brings Rowan back with her to a mountain fastness populated solely by the creatures of the hunt. Rowan, who once scorned the villagers for their superstitions, now finds herself at the heart of a curse with roots as deep as the mountains, ruled by an old magic that is as insidious as the touch of the winter rose.
Torn between her family loyalties, her guilty relief at escaping her betrothal to the charming but arrogant Avery Lockland, and her complicated feelings for the Huntress, Rowan must find a way to break the curse before it destroys everything she loves. There is only one problem―if she can find a way to lift the curse, she will have to return to the life she left behind. And the only thing more unbearable than endless winter is facing a lifetime of springs without the Huntress.

"All flesh, all blood, all teeth and bone and grace". Anna Burke's Thorn is a sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling with a very evocative and graceful atmosphere. The prose is simple but beautiful, immersive. One can almost feel the biting cold of the land trapped in eternal winter by a curse; in a way, the atmosphere can be reminiscent of the Snow Queen, with the Huntress' castle surrounded by ice, and the wolves and big bear that she hunts with. The element of the rose, from the Beauty and the Beast, is well-incorporated.

The story follows almost all the beats of the tale, giving it its own spin. The Huntress is a fascinating character, enigmatic and inesorable, trapped by her own interpretation of the curse. Her POV is in third person, granting her a measure of mystery. Rowan on the other hand narrates in first person, giving the reader a glimpse into her life and desires. The rest of the characters are given some depth by the narration, especially Rowan's sisters. The resolution gives Rowan more agency, as she has learnt to hunt in her time with the Huntress, and she uses well what she knows. The witch who cursed the Huntress is a character in her own right, appearing more than one would think.

Thorn is a lovely retelling with a unique atmosphere.

✨ 3.5 stars

Review: Tarnished are the Stars, by Rosie Thor

 

A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws. Nathaniel Fremont, the Commissioner's son, has never had to fear the law. Determined to earn his father's respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father's elusive affection is worth chasing at all. Their game of cat and mouse takes an abrupt turn when Eliza, a skilled assassin and spy, arrives. Her mission is to learn the Commissioner's secrets at any cost -- even if it means betraying her own heart.

"We do not have to use the same words or share the same definitions to understand one another". Rosie Thor's Tarnished are the Stars is a YA scifi book with big ideas and a big heart. Set in a distant future, it follows the descendants of the people of Earth as they settled in a space station and, later, on a terraformed planet after Earth's destruction. The majority of the population still lives on the station as the terraforming didn't have the desired effect, and people are dying of a heart disease. The main characters will have to try and find out the truth.

The plot is pretty straightforward and there are no big surprises; even the few big shocking moments were a bit predictable. The timing of certain events also felt a bit convenient. But this book sticks the landing with its heartfelt exploration of abuse and self-discovery. Two of the characters are brought up in a hellish manner, abused by their caretaker. While one understands that the other is being abused, they seem blind to their own abuse, until finally the veil is lifted from their eyes too. I found that very believable. Then we have the precious moment of self-discovery of another character, who's asexual and aromantic and finds the words to describe their nature thanks to another character. Both terms are explicitly used, and it was lovely to find them in the text.

There's also a little bit of wlw romance, with a quick enemies-to-lovers that despite its startling speed packs quite a punch when a moment of betrayal eventually comes. The relationships between various female characters - including the supporting cast - are certainly quite varied and interesting, ranging from an old love, to a friendship marred by loss, to a mistress/pupil relationship turned sour. The villains' motivations turned out to be a bit confusing, but the Commissioner got a backstory that was more complex than I thought.

The world-building was simple but clear enough, and the idea of clock-hearts sounded interesting enough that I would have liked it to be explored more.

Tarnished are the Stars is a good read for a questioning teen who likes the genre.

✨ 3.5 stars

Review: The Impossible Contract, by K.A. Doore

 

Thana has a huge reputation to live up to as daughter of the Serpent, who rules over Ghadid’s secret clan of assassins. Opportunity to prove herself arrives when Thana accepts her first contract on Heru, a dangerous foreign diplomat with the ability to bind a person’s soul under his control. She may be in over her head, especially when Heru is targeted by a rival sorcerer who sends hordes of the undead to attack them both. When Heru flees, Thana has no choice than to pursue him across the sands to the Empire that intends to capture Ghadid inside its iron grip.
A stranger in a strange city, Thana’s only ally is Mo, a healer who may be too noble for her own good. Meanwhile, otherworldly and political dangers lurk around every corner, and even more sinister plans are uncovered which could lead to worldwide devastation. Can Thana rise to the challenge—even if it means facing off against an ancient evil?

"She was more than just the Serpent's daughter". K.A. Doore's The Impossible Contract is the second book in a trilogy of standalones set in a wondrous city standing high from the sands. Ghadid is the true protagonist, its setting rich and interesting, the book showing us even more of the city, but also what lies beyond the sands. Ghadid houses a family of elite assassins, and each novel follows a different one.

This second volume is focused on the journey of Thana, with her heavy heritage of being the daughter of a legend. The book explores her struggles well, but also her forging of her own path as she stumbles upon a plot that could destroy the world as she knows it. She also finds a delightful romance in the meanwhile, a sort of meet-cute with a kind healer, a woman with a big heart and clear morals. The love interest's profession sparks an interesting and compelling conflict with Thana, whose own profession after all, means she has to end lives.

The world-building is truly phenomenal, with an interesting water-based magic system and its more sinister possible use. This is a land were necromacy is real, while deemed blasphemous, and where souls can be swallowed or possessed; where zombies can be created. But things aren't black and white, and when we spend some time with Thana's mark, the en-marabi Heru, we may find him too compelling and wickedly funny to want him dead. We also meet again the previous book's protagonist, and it was definitely interesting to see how he was faring.

The pacing was a little weird towards the last third, but the book made up for it with its fast-paced, exhilarating conclusion.

The Impossible Contract is a fun adventure with a fascinating setting.

✨ 3.5 stars

Review: The Soulstealers, by Jacqueline Rohrbach

 

Arnaka Skytree grew up believing she was chosen to bring new magic to the world. As the heir to the cult of druids responsible for keeping their floating palace habitable for the wealthy aristocracy, she’s expected to wield her power as those before her did: by culling the souls of peasant women.
But when Arnaka learns more about the source of her magic, and that her best friend’s soul will be harvested, she embarks on a journey to end the barbarous practice and to restore a long-forgotten harmonious system of magic practiced by the original druids. Along the way, she discovers she’s not the only girl chosen to restore balance to their world—many others have powerful magic inside, and with them, she will tear the floating palace from the sky so everyone can live in the sun—out of the shadow of the eclipse.

The premise was definitely interesting. Jacqueline Rohrbach's The Soulstealers is a well written Young Adult novel that nonetheless doesn't quite deliver, an intriguing and dark tale whose lukewarm delivery doesn't do it justice, juvenile at times despite the subject matter. There's so much to explore: the conflict between mother and daughter, brother and sister, between classes, between sexes. Occasionally, gems shine through; but on the whole it feels scholastic, unearned. The brutality of the magic system is almost glossed over after an explosive first chapter and the occasional moving reminder, with the narrative taking big leaps in time that don't help matters. By the end, I wasn't even sure of the protagonist's age.

Amidst the war for freedom and peace, the romance bit came out of left field, a sort of enemy-to-friends-to-lovers that progressed way too quickly to be satisfying. I enjoyed more the growing friendship between Arnaka and her servant, along with the glimpses we got of Arnaka's friendship with the girl who would have to become her sacrifice. We also got asexual representation, with one (1) line about not wanting to kiss anyone, and the matter is then swept away. If you want to read this book because of the alleged asexual representation, which is what I wanted to do, I'm afraid this isn't the book for you.

The Soulstealers is a good fantasy book for a young reader with little experience.

✨ 3 stars

Snippet: This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

 

Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.
Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.

This novella is a love letter. This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, needs no introduction; it was vastly acclaimed and it's still an instant classic. The prose is lyrical, intense, grandiose; the plot a mosaic slowly coming together. This book is an experience.

✨ 5 stars

Review: Miranda in Milan, by Katharine Duckett

 

After the tempest, after the reunion, after her father drowned his books, Miranda was meant to enter a brave new world. Naples awaited her, and Ferdinand, and a throne. Instead she finds herself in Milan, in her father’s castle, surrounded by hostile servants who treat her like a ghost. Whispers cling to her like spiderwebs, whispers that carry her dead mother’s name. And though he promised to give away his power, Milan is once again contorting around Prospero’s dark arts.
With only Dorothea, her sole companion and confidant to aid her, Miranda must cut through the mystery and find the truth about her father, her mother, and herself.

Full fathom five thy father lies. Katharine Duckett's Miranda in Milan attempts to be a sequel to the fascinating Shakespearean play The Tempest. After arriving in Milan, Miranda finds herself lost in an intricate web of lies with the sole help of one of her maids. The mystery behind the whispers following her everywhere, when solved, is by far the best part of the novella, with an intriguing twist on the classical characters.

The pacing is uneven, likely due to the short format. The relationships between Miranda and Dorothea develops far too quickly, not giving the reader a moment to breathe. But Dorothea is a fascinating character, unwilling to be shackled, and there are particularly good moments where she puts into question Miranda's sheltered worldview, challenging her racism.

Miranda in Milan is a good read for anyone who wants a queer take on the play.

✨ 3.5 stars

Snippet: The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon

 

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Lesbians and dragons; what more could you ask? Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree is a high fantasy stand-alone set in a world divided. For some, dragons are holy creatures; for others, they're monsters. The truth is, as ever, complex. The climax resolves perhaps a tiny bit quickly, but the journey is incredible; and the courtly love between two of the protagonists is swoon-worthy. This is a great read if you want something that takes its time to really delve into its world.

✨ 4.5 stars