Scan barcode
arielkirst's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
This book was beautiful! my first by this author, and honestly I read it because I love mammoths and it popped up when I searched for that, but I'm so glad I did. The world building was subtle and poetic, the characters all felt very real. I will definitely read more!
kathrinpassig's review against another edition
2.0
Ich mochte den Rest der Serie, aber dieses Buch las sich für mich wie eine plotlose Found-Family-Huldigung, bei der ich die ganze Zeit überlegen musste, welches Gegenwartsgeschehen hier wohl als Kloster voll redender Vögel verkleidet wird. Das Geschichtenfurnier war mir zu dünn.
annaclaire's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cupoladoro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
matt4hire's review against another edition
Vo doesn’t miss with her Singing Hills novellas.
This one’s about Chih coming home to their temple, only to find out that their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and that Thien’s grandchildren are outside with their war mammoths, wanting the body to lay at rest with their grandmother.
What follows is a meditation on grief; the ways it makes you act, the memories it dredges up (both good and bad), the way people are then distilled down to stories, because that’s all we have left, that and the possessions left behind.
To say this hit home is an understatement. I found myself thinking about my mom’s recent death, about the things that occurred afterward as my brother and I took care of her possessions while thinking about her.
This novella’s a small distillation of that experience, but no less powerful for it.
This one’s about Chih coming home to their temple, only to find out that their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and that Thien’s grandchildren are outside with their war mammoths, wanting the body to lay at rest with their grandmother.
What follows is a meditation on grief; the ways it makes you act, the memories it dredges up (both good and bad), the way people are then distilled down to stories, because that’s all we have left, that and the possessions left behind.
To say this hit home is an understatement. I found myself thinking about my mom’s recent death, about the things that occurred afterward as my brother and I took care of her possessions while thinking about her.
This novella’s a small distillation of that experience, but no less powerful for it.
girlbosslindsey's review against another edition
i just. dont have any desire to keep reading
sciamachy7's review against another edition
5.0
Crying myself to sleep tonight!!! Nghi Vo never disappoints!!!
“Of course I will forgive you. Only a beast cannot forgive.”
“When the world has changed so completely, why should I remain the same? I cannot remain. I cannot stay.”
How someone can endure and change and survive through the toughest times!!!!
“Of course I will forgive you. Only a beast cannot forgive.”
“When the world has changed so completely, why should I remain the same? I cannot remain. I cannot stay.”
How someone can endure and change and survive through the toughest times!!!!
ldgraca's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ka_schulze's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, War, Violence, and Abandonment
readwithdiana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0