Reviews

The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman

fionak's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.0

I wish I had realized beforehand that this was a prequel to a book I have not read. Objectively this was well done; there was some decent world-building, clearly drawn characters and a well-paced plot. But I never really got into it. The narration, with Galvicha recalling events and dropping half-spoilers, pulled me out of the story and I kept wondering if these hints would have been more telling if I had read the first book. Definitely recommended for fans of The Blacktongue Thief as this feels more like a companion read than a standalone to me.

Thanks to Tor books who kindly sent me an ARC for review.

rorycoleman44's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.75

Absolutely excellent book. Vast emotional depth. The relationships between the siblings were so well done, and the relationships between other characters were similarly fabulous. I especially enjoyed the platonic bond between Innocenta and Galva, beautifully done and combatting the idea that romantic relationships are always superior to others. The battle scenes were intense and others (no spoilers) were deeply moving. Would definitely recommend.

mattburris's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

5.0

eiion's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.5

I do not need to be loved as deeply as I love, and I do not need to speak of it.

This was an absolutely stunning read. I haven't read any of Buehlman's other books, but if they are anything like this one, we will be lucky to have them in our world.

The writing was beautiful. I have never read a book purely for the vibes, but this had the potential to be it. The prose, the structure of the chapters, the tone in which it was written is unparalleled and uncomparable. The entire book is written as if the main character is narrating or writing it. This is not the first book to have attempted such a thing, but it is the only book to have done it well and in such a way so that I believed it. It was incredibly immersive, and paired so well with the world building. This was such a complex, intricate world that we were tossed into, with layers upon layers of rich lore, heavy with stories, people, and places, against a backdrop of war, fighting, and carnage. In a land ravaged by the goblins, brief moments of respite were few and far between, and those who laid untouched by the horrors brought about from the conflict were non-existent. It felt so real, the worldbuilding was done so well, revealed to us in flashbacks, letters, and retellings, only shown where we needed it. 

Galva was a loveable character, who added a uniquely human touch to the world and the horrors going on within it. Her story, and the way she discovers herself felt vulnerable and raw. Part of an experimental regiment, she uses large corvids at her side to fight the ever pressing and important goblin threat. Her connection to these birds is tangible and so beautiful, and navigating a war within a book has never felt more gritty and heartbreaking.

Animals have no gospel.
And why not? Are they less than us, those who speak with beaks, or make questions with sideways heads, or give comfort with paw or tongue?
I do not think so. 
I will tell you I prefer them.
I like their silence better than our flattery.
I like their honest wants better than our lies.

I don't feel as though I missed out on any information here - if I had not been told this was a prequel, I never would have guessed it. This doesn't feel like a book just written to give an explanation for a world. It is its own tale, and it's own story. But I'm almost glad that it is a prequel. I now get to move forwards to the Blacktongue Thief, still brimming with excitement about this story, and about how much I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and  Christopher Buehlman for providing me with a copy of this book! 

hobbleit's review

dark tense medium-paced

3.0

katycherryreads's review

medium-paced

3.25

nclcaitlin's review

4.25

I was under sail, on my way to war. On my way to fall in love with death, and with a queen. On my way to lose all of my friends, and two of my brothers. I would see a great city fall in blood and fire, betrayed by a false god. Later, I would be commanded to die on a high stone bridge, but I would fail in this.

This opening sets up the rest of the story as Galva narrates her adventure. Her downfall. 

Galva is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Braga with three brothers, all fighting in the war against the goblins. She is in an experimental regiment using raven-like birds the size of stags and is basically resigned to dying a bloody death. 

This has been a hard skill to learn, the forgiving of self, and it is not always easy to know when it is good and when it is indulgent.

This was rich in world-building. Buelhman is self-aware that he lays the world-building on thick at the start but it is done creatively through different mediums so it doesn’t feel like an information dump: flashbacks, letters, observations. 
Not to mention, Buelhman has a way with poetry. Normally, I find multiple verses of poetry included in a fantasy book annoying and worthless, yet I was enraptured by his words and how it added to the story. 

Buelhman builds a gritty, dark world, full of the horrors, depravity, and cruelty of war. 
Told from a first person point of view, Galva offers many rich observations and depth to this world and her humanity really shows. 

To be loved by a man is to be issued a decree he has written in advance, and has presented to others; to receive a woman's love is to have a very personal letter written on one's body.

What I immensely enjoyed was that the goblins weren’t the traditional stupid creatures usually sent to overwhelm. They actually seem scarier, smarter, and crueler than humans. 

Magic also has a price to pay for its usage, and this raises stakes and doesn’t guarantee victory so each step forward is hard-won and questionable. 

The ending felt rushed, however, as this is a prequel book, I don’t feel as cheated as I might have.
I think you could totally read this without reading the Blacktongue thief. You might miss some allusions and details, but you wouldn’t miss out on any plot. 

Thank you to Tor Publishing for providing an archive of in exchange for a review!

gwynnas's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

spellsandspaceships's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

kajh23's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

Detailed writing, great world building, but it lacked the sheer delight that Kinch Na Shannack brought to The Blacktongue Thief. Galva is a force, but can’t entertain the reader like Kinch can.