A review by wardenred
Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

“I have to burn,” she says. “I have to feed. But it doesn’t have to be that bright. It doesn’t have to be . . .” She pauses, again, as if words were hard to get. “It doesn’t have to harm.”

There was a lot I enjoyed about this novella, but compared to Aliette de Bodard's other works of similar length that I've read it felt a bit clumsily constructed. In some parts, at least. I really liked how the political plotting unfolded, and everything about the mystery fires leading up to the reveals about Giang. But I wish Eldris was more flashed out, and I wish there was more background information about Thanh's past history with her, trickling in more gradually and steadily. I also feel the story would be stronger without the blackmail subplot—it added nothing of value and took up space that could have been used to expand on other parts of the story.

The love triangle aspect came a bit out of the blue for me. There was internal logic to it, sure, but I think I would have preferred
to see Thanh and Giang as friends, perhaps with a subtle hint at their relationship developing further in the future instead of a definite "this is where this is going, look, they're kissing already." Not because there's anything wrong with the two of them getting together, but because it feels like Thanh is only just getting the chance to fully get over Eldris. She could use some time to better process the events of the novella, and of her past as a hostage, before low-key rushing into figuring out "a connection, a start" that she feels with Giang.


All that said, I think I overall rather enjoyed the story. Thanh is a compelling protagonist who might seem like she wavers a lot now and then, but there's a quiet strength inside her that turns into a quiet stubbornness when it comes to things that matter to her a lot. Her relationship with her mother is rather complicated, but not devoid of hope and very interesting to follow. While the story has an almost claustrophobic feel, contained to just a few rooms and a garden, it is clear that there is an entire big, compelling, politically fraught world around the palace. I'd love to know more about what goes on in this setting, in fact!
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