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thebetterstory's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Brilliant writing, and my favourite of the Singing Hills Cycle by far. I can't believe I almost stopped at the second. I want to spend so much more time with these characters, even though that isn't at all the point of a novella or even what the novella is trying to say―the briefness and incompleteness of what you get to find out about them is the point.
Throughout this series, Vo's had clever things to say about the act and art of storytelling, how that relates to history and entertainment and the lives of the people the stories come from, and here it felt like many of those themes showed themselves off to their best advantage. I particularly love what the story does with the word "beautiful" and when it's used to describe women in stories, when it isn't, and how that relates to the ways real people see and love each other.
Throughout this series, Vo's had clever things to say about the act and art of storytelling, how that relates to history and entertainment and the lives of the people the stories come from, and here it felt like many of those themes showed themselves off to their best advantage. I particularly love what the story does with the word "beautiful" and when it's used to describe women in stories, when it isn't, and how that relates to the ways real people see and love each other.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Infidelity, and Violence