Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

Title: Mammoths at the Gate

Series: The Singing Hills Cycle #4
Author: Nghi Vo
Source/Format: NetGalley; eARC
More Details: Fantasy; Novella
Publisher/Publication Date: Tordotcom Publishing; September 12, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest. Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass--and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather’s body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honoring their mentor’s chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve. But as Chih and their neixin Almost Brilliant navigate the looming crisis, Myriad Virtues, Cleric Thien’s own beloved hoopoe companion, grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate... 

I was very excited to be approved for an ARC of Nghi Vo’s latest installment in The Singing Hills Cycle. This adventure sees the traveling cleric, Chih, return to Singing Hills abbey, and I was all for the change of scenery. It meant getting back to one of my favorite characters, the neixin named Almost Brilliant. And, while the world at large in this series is fascinating, I’ve always kind of wanted a story set at the abbey—since it was a pivotal part of Chih’s background.

This novella was everything I was hoping it would be. It still had the nested story format, but I liked how Chih was far closer to this conflict and some of the history—rather than only an observer—since the focus was on a fellow cleric who they were once close to (who had passed away). It was a messy and sensitive situation, especially where tempers and mammoths are involved. In spite of its short length, I appreciated the emotional depth that was present in the story. It’s one of the aspects that the series has excelled at since its beginning. Again, there weren’t the most pages here. But it wasn’t necessary, since, like the other novellas in The Singing Hills Cycle series, it was easy to care about and understand the perspective of even the new characters that were introduced.

Mammoths at the Gate, has reaffirmed my love for this series, its characters, and the stories within the story.

About the author....

Nghi Vo is the author of the acclaimed novellas The Empress of Salt and Fortune and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain. Born in Illinois, she now lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. She believes in the ritual of lipstick, the power of stories, and the right to change your mind. The Chosen and the Beautiful is her debut novel.

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Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Tordotcom Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you! 

The Friday 56 (240) & Book Beginnings: The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Rome, 1965: Aspiring actress Silvia Whitford arrives at Rome's famed Cinecitta Studios from Los Angeles, ready for her big break and a taste of la dolce vita. Instead, she learns that the movie in which she was cast has been canceled. Desperate for money, Silvia has only one choice: seek out the Italian aunt she has never met. Gabriella Conti lives in a crumbling castello on the edge of a volcanic lake. Silvia's mother refuses to explain the rift that drove the sisters apart, but Silvia is fascinated by Gabriella, a once-famous actress who still radiates charisma. And the eerie castle inspires Silvia's second chance when it becomes the location for a new horror movie, aptly named The Revenge of the Lake Witch--and she lands a starring role. Silvia immerses herself in the part of an ingenue tormented by the ghost of her beautiful, seductive ancestor. But when Gabriella abruptly vanishes, the movie's make-believe terrors seep into reality. No one else on set seems to share Silvia's suspicions. Yet as she delves into Gabriella's disappearance, she triggers a chain of events that illuminate dark secrets in the past--and a growing menace in the present . . .

Beginning: "By the time I reached Cinecitta Studios, I was footsore and dry-throated."

56: "She looked mournful. Her espresso steamed in front of her, untouched."

Comments: I won a copy of The Woman in the Castello alongside another book. It was a fun gothic read centered on the set of a movie. What are you reading this weekend?

What I've Been Listening To Lately...

It’s been a while since I last wrote at length about music on the blog. So I figured it was time for another “What I’ve Been Listening To” post.

A recent addition to my playlist is The Family Jewels (Deluxe edition) by Marina, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds. This is an album from 2010, but I didn’t listen to it during its release year. I happened to finally give Oh No! a try while I was on break from the blog last month, and I went on to check out the rest of the album. It’s one of my favorites of the year so far. I really like Marina’s vocals, as well as the alternative pop and the undeniable style of the album. Also, I’m a fan of the deluxe edition specifically. There were remixes that reworked the songs Hollywood, Obsession, and I Am Not a Robot, with different melodies. Overall, I know I’ll end up eventually listening to more music by Marina.

For this next one I’m simply putting Wednesday Campanella, because I would be here all day listing what I enjoyed about each album. I like their new stuff with more of a bright bubblegum pop/electronic sound, as well as their older releases before the singer changed—i.e. songs like Bamboo Princess, Zeami, Yeti, Sakamoto Ryoma, and many-many others.

From the track names to lyrics, Forever or Whatever by Holiday Sidewinder is just plain fun to listen to! The style can feel a little nostalgic since, from what I can tell, there are synth as well as disco influences. I like the mixture, and each song was interesting. Overall, Forever or Whatever is another favorite.

Singles…

Of course I have to mention Halle's Angel again. It plays into her vocal capacity and is, generally, interesting to listen to. I really love the song, and I’m looking forward to whatever solo music she release next.

On My Mama by Victoria Monét has a strong R&B sound, and I absolutely love it for how much it felt like something from the 90s or the early 2000s.

The only reason why I’m including Caroline Polachek in this section is because I’ve only listened to two of her songs so far. They’re Welcome To My Island and Bunny Is A Rider. They’re both on my playlist and are among my top-favorite songs.

So that’s pretty much what I’ve been listening to recently. The year isn’t over yet, and there are still a couple of albums that I’m waiting on. Until next time, thanks for stopping by, and happy listening!

Music Monday (254): Florence + The Machine, Michele Chiavarini featuring Jillian, Anthony Hamilton

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I decided to check out Florence + The Machine's latest album, Dance Fever (the complete edition). I feel just so-so about it right now (that could change the more I listen to it), but there are a couple of gems on it I really like. One of the songs is Choreomania.

Adri: This week I'm choosing a song that I've had on repeat for some time: Don't You Take Your Love (Groove Junkies Remix) by Michele Chiavarini featuring Jillian.

Andrea: This week I'm listening to Can't Let Go by Anthony Hamilton.

What are you listening to this week?

Short Stories I Read in July

 
It’s August twenty-ninth. So it’s time to talk about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in July.

The Real Worlds by Lauren Bajek (Lightspeed Magazine; Issue 128; July 2023)

The Real Worlds by Lauren Bajek was a short but incredibly enjoyable story. There was plenty of tension, and I instantly connected with the narrator, Amelia. I sympathized with her view on her experiences with the fantasy elements of the story. Much of it had to do with dimensions—hopping from one potential world to another potential world—but from a fantasy angle, since making changes was part of the father character’s pursuit of tenure. But that also played into the conflict that arose within the family, which had something of a domino effect leading to a moment of carelessness and a valuable lesson. All-in-all, The Real Worlds was a great story.

Gim of P by Benjamin DeHaan (Apex Magazine; July 13, 2023)

Moving on, one of my other reads was Gim of P by Benjamin DeHaan. What I liked most about this story was the imaginative use of algae and how it related to the society and characters created by DeHaan. It starts unassumingly enough, but I enjoyed the gradual build-up of tension as well as some hints of a mystery. Gim of P was just a lot of fun to read.

The Dancer by Catherine Yu (Fantasy Magazine; Issue 93; July 2023)

Up next, I read a piece of flash fiction called The Dancer, which was an interesting take on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes. Catherine Yu’s story is set in the present with a focus on ballet and the heavy toll to a dancer being observed by the narrator. I enjoyed the writing for this one as well as how Yu concluded the story. This was another good one!

From around the web…

• Read an Excerpt From A Multitude of Dreams [Mara Rutherford; Tor.com; July 24, 2023]
• Barbie Is an Existential Delight [Emmet Asher-Perrin; Tor.com; July 21, 2023]
• Our Opinions Are Correct Episode 132: A Sense of Place with Jessica Johns