Reviews

This was a perfectly respectable novella, though I honestly think it suffered from being too short. The story was a bit boring to me personally, but the entire mood of the novella was pretty good and it read like an epic (but 1/8 of one's length).

bookwomble's review

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informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A wonderful little book, deeply researched and told plainly, as befits the worldly-naïf MC. It's marketed as a historical fantasy, but the second half of that description is somewhat misleading, I think. The story is presented within the world view of its protagonists, who believe in ghosts, magic and the supernatural, so naturally those elements appear, but they are part of life, not apart from it.

The story follows 7th century Icelander, Eyvind, in his travels into Central Asia, his experiences with the peoples he meets along the way, his bonding with an unnamed spirit mare, and his journey home with his precious cargo of Mongolian horses. Part Secret History, part Just So story, part Culture Hero mythic journey, all wonderfully fascinating.

mallen1114's review

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4.0

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review! I loved the story telling and the prose of this book. I wish it was longer, but I really loved the following the journey of the main character.

thelostvoid's review

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3.5

Orilium Autumn Equinox 2023 Reading Challenge • Animal Studies • Ordinary • Pet Pick

I have been vaguely wanting to read this for a while after hearing it was pretty much a folk/fairy-tale and like yeah, absolutely correct assessment. Unfortunately, I didn't super click with the writing style or characters in this (which I believe is a fairly common experience considering the average rating). Definitely an interesting story which I enjoyed, but equally not something I can see myself rereading or feel a desire to buy and own. (although both of those things might change, depending on how much I find myself thinking of this in the future)

loraking's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

m4tr1m0ny's review

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4.0

I love the way Sarah Tolmie writes, both of her books have felt like fables or fairy tales.

altlovesbooks's review

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4.0

"This mare's story proves that one can be famous without a name, a valuable lesson."

I don't normally pick up novellas unless they're a part of a series I'm reading, but the cover for this one and the blurb on NetGalley were to interesting to pass up. This short story follows Icelandic trader Eyvind as he accompanies another trader on a three year trading journey to trade with the qan's tribe. There, he performs a great task for the qan and is given wealth (in horses) and prestige.

The story has a weird ebb and flow to it that took me a bit to get into. What really compelled me forward was the mythological feel to the story, like I was reading an actual retelling of a myth. The writing style was fantastic, I thought, and I know some people found Eyvind flat or distant, but I thought he was pragmatic and had a dry sense of humor. The horses, despite being the key part the novella hinges on, don't actually feature in the story until the last half or so, and I was a little disappointed at them not being more of a feature.

I'm still giving this novella 4 stars, if only because I liked the short journey we went on, and for a really unique and intriguing writing style.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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