What do you think?
Rate this book
Songs of Sefate #3
Glass Rhapsody
Five years ago, the Boundary fell. Now the Union is coming to claim Shine Territory as its own.
But not everyone wants to live under their heel.
In a hidden town run by women with rough pasts, life remains untouched until greed paves the way for conflict. Faced with few choices, Grace Hart must stop the Union to protect the women under her care.
Elroy McGlover has spent the past five years running from what he’d done in Matthew Esco’s name. Haunted by ghosts from his past, he returns to where it all went wrong. Enlisted to help Arlen Hobson fight against Union control, Elroy soon finds himself in the middle of a war for the heart of Shine Territory.
In the fight for the soul of the West, no one is innocent.
But not everyone wants to live under their heel.
In a hidden town run by women with rough pasts, life remains untouched until greed paves the way for conflict. Faced with few choices, Grace Hart must stop the Union to protect the women under her care.
Elroy McGlover has spent the past five years running from what he’d done in Matthew Esco’s name. Haunted by ghosts from his past, he returns to where it all went wrong. Enlisted to help Arlen Hobson fight against Union control, Elroy soon finds himself in the middle of a war for the heart of Shine Territory.
In the fight for the soul of the West, no one is innocent.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2021
About the author
Sarah Chorn
31 books492 followersSarah has been a compulsive reader her whole life. At a young age, she found her reading niche in the fantastic genre of Speculative Fiction. She blames her active imagination for the hobbies that threaten to consume her life. She is a freelance writer and editor, a semi-pro nature photographer, world traveler, three-time cancer survivor with hEDS, and mom to two. In her ideal world, she’d do nothing but drink lots of tea and read from a never-ending pile of speculative fiction books. She has been running the book review blog Bookworm Blues since 2010, editing full-time since 2016, and currently works freelance and as the staff editor for Grimdark Magazine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 15, 2023
4.5 stars
Every once in a while, you stumble across a book that you just can’t do justice in a review. You know, the types of stories that just need to be experienced, lived, and felt on your own. That is what The Songs of Sefate is.
Glass Rhapsody takes everything that was so brilliant about Of Honey and Wildfires and Oh, That Shotgun Sky, and beautifully blends it together to close out this brutal yet achingly tender steampunk fantasy western series with a true bang. The Boundary has fallen, but the impact of Shine Company continues to haunt this world and these characters every day of their lives. And now, the time for rest and healing is yet again postponed as a new threat in the form of The Union is coming for Shine Territory.
Now, while this is technically the follow-up to Of Honey and Wildfires, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not reading the novella Oh, That Shotgun Sky first. This book takes place 5 years after the end of both of those prior instalments, and the storylines set up in both of those instalments converge in a truly masterful way here. This series is so deeply character-driven that I don’t think this finale will hit the same if you haven’t gotten the full picture through reading the novella first.
With that out of the way… time for the gushing. The complex relationships between all of these characters are just… chef’s kiss. In this series, you will find some of the most authentic yet painful depictions of fraught family dynamics, but also some of the most heartwarming and casually queer relationships. And seeing all of these characters find solace in each other’s company just left me with a lump in my throat, because their raw emotions just bleed through the pages.
Themes of grief, addiction, sex work, terminal illness, letting go, regret, redemption, hope, parenthood, love, and healing lie at the heart of this story, and are explored in a such a gutwrenchingly brutal yet beautiful way. All of these characters are broken in their own way, yet they are some of the strongest and most resilient characters I have ever read about. I especially loved Arlen and Grace, though every single one of these characters is a powerhouse in their own right. Their souls are laid bare on the page, and I just adore how they are all allowed to be so human, so vulnerable, and so realistically flawed and messy.
The intensity and weight of this story simply cannot be overstated. There is so much passion, fire, and emotion poured into these pages, and Chorn’s soul-stirring and razorsharp prose only amplifies the melancholy and impact of the story. Her writing is a punch to the gut and a balm to the soul; she is truly a wordsmith of the highest calibre.
Now, while the climax of this story felt maybe a bit lacklustre from a plot perspective, I personally still loved this finale because I was here for the characters anyway. Seeing how their personal journeys came to a close was so cathartic and satisfying, especially when looking back on how much they have grown from the point we first met them. While this is a story full of tragedy, there is ultimately so much hope and healing woven into the narrative, and I truly love that.
If you don’t mind unconventional fantasy stories where the plot takes a backseat in order to dive deep into the messy mental journeys and complex interpersonal relationships of a cast of truly broken yet utterly resilient characters, then The Songs of Sefate is the series for you.
Full of strong women, vulnerable men, found family, and queer love, this diverse, highly imaginative, and emotionally resonant story will tear you apart and then piece you back together. It’s truly unlike anything you will ever read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Every once in a while, you stumble across a book that you just can’t do justice in a review. You know, the types of stories that just need to be experienced, lived, and felt on your own. That is what The Songs of Sefate is.
Glass Rhapsody takes everything that was so brilliant about Of Honey and Wildfires and Oh, That Shotgun Sky, and beautifully blends it together to close out this brutal yet achingly tender steampunk fantasy western series with a true bang. The Boundary has fallen, but the impact of Shine Company continues to haunt this world and these characters every day of their lives. And now, the time for rest and healing is yet again postponed as a new threat in the form of The Union is coming for Shine Territory.
Now, while this is technically the follow-up to Of Honey and Wildfires, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not reading the novella Oh, That Shotgun Sky first. This book takes place 5 years after the end of both of those prior instalments, and the storylines set up in both of those instalments converge in a truly masterful way here. This series is so deeply character-driven that I don’t think this finale will hit the same if you haven’t gotten the full picture through reading the novella first.
With that out of the way… time for the gushing. The complex relationships between all of these characters are just… chef’s kiss. In this series, you will find some of the most authentic yet painful depictions of fraught family dynamics, but also some of the most heartwarming and casually queer relationships. And seeing all of these characters find solace in each other’s company just left me with a lump in my throat, because their raw emotions just bleed through the pages.
Themes of grief, addiction, sex work, terminal illness, letting go, regret, redemption, hope, parenthood, love, and healing lie at the heart of this story, and are explored in a such a gutwrenchingly brutal yet beautiful way. All of these characters are broken in their own way, yet they are some of the strongest and most resilient characters I have ever read about. I especially loved Arlen and Grace, though every single one of these characters is a powerhouse in their own right. Their souls are laid bare on the page, and I just adore how they are all allowed to be so human, so vulnerable, and so realistically flawed and messy.
The intensity and weight of this story simply cannot be overstated. There is so much passion, fire, and emotion poured into these pages, and Chorn’s soul-stirring and razorsharp prose only amplifies the melancholy and impact of the story. Her writing is a punch to the gut and a balm to the soul; she is truly a wordsmith of the highest calibre.
Now, while the climax of this story felt maybe a bit lacklustre from a plot perspective, I personally still loved this finale because I was here for the characters anyway. Seeing how their personal journeys came to a close was so cathartic and satisfying, especially when looking back on how much they have grown from the point we first met them. While this is a story full of tragedy, there is ultimately so much hope and healing woven into the narrative, and I truly love that.
If you don’t mind unconventional fantasy stories where the plot takes a backseat in order to dive deep into the messy mental journeys and complex interpersonal relationships of a cast of truly broken yet utterly resilient characters, then The Songs of Sefate is the series for you.
Full of strong women, vulnerable men, found family, and queer love, this diverse, highly imaginative, and emotionally resonant story will tear you apart and then piece you back together. It’s truly unlike anything you will ever read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
January 15, 2022
Wonderful! What an amazing end to a trilogy, which is arguably one of the best I have read...ever. Right now my soul needs mending after this one and then a full review will be on the blog. Needless to see this is a brilliant read!
July 21, 2021
The much awaited sequel to Sarah Chorn’s emotionally devastating Of Honey and Wildfires is here! Get your tissues handy.
Sometimes it can be be hard for sequels to live up to their fiery origins, and Of Honey and Wildfires certainly ended with a bang. However, I feel like Glass Rhapsody is a true sequel in the sense of the word. After the events of Of Honey and Wildfires which left our two main protagonists of Cassandra and Arlen shaken and their lives completely upended, the sequel takes on a more pensive tone as they both struggle to deal with the aftermath. For Cassandra, she’s shouldering a world-ending amount of grief, and for Arlen, he’s coming to terms with his new identity and the consequences of his past actions. Both are nurturing open wounds and guilt, and as I would expect from Sarah Chorn’s prose, these emotions are explored with depth, care, and a poetic flair. A true fragile rhapsody.
In this sequel, we’re also joined by new POV characters including Elroy, an ex-company man who is entangled in Cassandra and Arlen’s life, for better or worse, and also being haunted quite literally by his own ghosts. And we also have Grace from the novella Oh, That Shotgun Sky, who offers a more outside perspective on the goings on across the territory as the Union thugs of the big city start moving in to claim land for themselves. This story builds on the wild west frontier feel of the first book as these characters begin to piece together their lives and decide the future of shine territory.
There are a few characters here making their appearance from the novella, including Grace who takes the stage as a POV character. You can learn some of their past in context through the story, but I think you’ll need to read Oh, That Shotgun Sky to really understand how these characters fit in the world. So if you haven’t read it already, I’d recommend you read that first!
This is a book full of confessions, guilt, forgiveness, and healing. The relationships take centre stage here and are the main focus of the story. I can’t think of many books which really dig deep into the heart of their characters like this series does. The author is an artist who paints in emotion, and these colours are carefully applied throughout, from the more muted and subtle darker tones of the characters dealing with their pain and trauma, to the more dramatic and explosive colours of these characters clashing and bleeding out their emotions. But there’s also some bright pastels dotted here and there, especially between Grace and her son, which show there’s plenty of good worth fighting for in a world which otherwise seems hopelessly bleak.
The end reveals that this world will carry on in a new way, which I’m excited to see. I’ve not read much wild west-inspired fantasy, but I’ve been truly drawn into this world and can’t wait to explore more of it.
Glass Rhapsody begins with a mournful dirge that takes the reader on a journey through a gamut of emotion but the ending will leave your soul healed and satisfied. A fitting end to this series.
Sometimes it can be be hard for sequels to live up to their fiery origins, and Of Honey and Wildfires certainly ended with a bang. However, I feel like Glass Rhapsody is a true sequel in the sense of the word. After the events of Of Honey and Wildfires which left our two main protagonists of Cassandra and Arlen shaken and their lives completely upended, the sequel takes on a more pensive tone as they both struggle to deal with the aftermath. For Cassandra, she’s shouldering a world-ending amount of grief, and for Arlen, he’s coming to terms with his new identity and the consequences of his past actions. Both are nurturing open wounds and guilt, and as I would expect from Sarah Chorn’s prose, these emotions are explored with depth, care, and a poetic flair. A true fragile rhapsody.
In this sequel, we’re also joined by new POV characters including Elroy, an ex-company man who is entangled in Cassandra and Arlen’s life, for better or worse, and also being haunted quite literally by his own ghosts. And we also have Grace from the novella Oh, That Shotgun Sky, who offers a more outside perspective on the goings on across the territory as the Union thugs of the big city start moving in to claim land for themselves. This story builds on the wild west frontier feel of the first book as these characters begin to piece together their lives and decide the future of shine territory.
There are a few characters here making their appearance from the novella, including Grace who takes the stage as a POV character. You can learn some of their past in context through the story, but I think you’ll need to read Oh, That Shotgun Sky to really understand how these characters fit in the world. So if you haven’t read it already, I’d recommend you read that first!
This is a book full of confessions, guilt, forgiveness, and healing. The relationships take centre stage here and are the main focus of the story. I can’t think of many books which really dig deep into the heart of their characters like this series does. The author is an artist who paints in emotion, and these colours are carefully applied throughout, from the more muted and subtle darker tones of the characters dealing with their pain and trauma, to the more dramatic and explosive colours of these characters clashing and bleeding out their emotions. But there’s also some bright pastels dotted here and there, especially between Grace and her son, which show there’s plenty of good worth fighting for in a world which otherwise seems hopelessly bleak.
The end reveals that this world will carry on in a new way, which I’m excited to see. I’ve not read much wild west-inspired fantasy, but I’ve been truly drawn into this world and can’t wait to explore more of it.
Glass Rhapsody begins with a mournful dirge that takes the reader on a journey through a gamut of emotion but the ending will leave your soul healed and satisfied. A fitting end to this series.
Read
August 4, 2021Like the other books in the Sefate saga, Glass Rhapsody is a study in pain.
Beautifully lyrical in its prose, the plot here takes a back seat to the character studies, some of which are new and some carrying over from the earlier books. Various characters have to confront their tragedies and find a way to overcome them, working through the various degrees of trauma and earning both their forgiveness and their happy endings. It's emotional and heart-wrenching in places, though I found the interpersonal conflict between Arlen and Cassandra to be the most interesting of all the conflicts and wish it had gotten more page time. The end wraps up the current tale nicely and leaves the door open for future stories in the world.
All in all, a suitable capstone for the series!
Beautifully lyrical in its prose, the plot here takes a back seat to the character studies, some of which are new and some carrying over from the earlier books. Various characters have to confront their tragedies and find a way to overcome them, working through the various degrees of trauma and earning both their forgiveness and their happy endings. It's emotional and heart-wrenching in places, though I found the interpersonal conflict between Arlen and Cassandra to be the most interesting of all the conflicts and wish it had gotten more page time. The end wraps up the current tale nicely and leaves the door open for future stories in the world.
All in all, a suitable capstone for the series!
July 11, 2021
It was a privilege to edit this series, and I'm proud to have had any small part in such a wonderful conclusion.
Years after the events in Of Honey and Wildfires, we meet characters trying to redefine themselves in this new era. Choices have a weight, a cost. Who we used to be can keep us in chains, if we let it. We see the struggle to break these chains and forge a new destiny. It's not easy. It can't be easy.
Glass Rhapsody is as painful as anything Sarah has ever written. But it's also a story of profound healing. It is the perfect ending, the one we and all these characters we love needed.
Years after the events in Of Honey and Wildfires, we meet characters trying to redefine themselves in this new era. Choices have a weight, a cost. Who we used to be can keep us in chains, if we let it. We see the struggle to break these chains and forge a new destiny. It's not easy. It can't be easy.
Glass Rhapsody is as painful as anything Sarah has ever written. But it's also a story of profound healing. It is the perfect ending, the one we and all these characters we love needed.
September 9, 2021
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Glass Rhapsody
The boundary has fallen and the Union sees its chance to claim the land. But the settlers of Shine Territory do not want to be owned again. Arlen must find a way to keep Shine Territory free. Or else women like Grace who have come from tragic pasts will once again be owned and used. Grace and the women of her town fought and won their freedom, and they have no intention of giving it up.
The way Sarah Chorn captures the essence of grief in Glass Rhapsody is truly stunning. Each character has a chance to tell their story and experience grief in their own way. And Cassandra...Cassandra feels the deepest grief of all. She is like a ghost of her former self, waking only to grieve day after day. Your heart will break as she struggles to come to terms with her loss.
And then there is Elroy who deals with his addiction to shine and the abilities it grants him. There is no hiding the raw and bleeding emotion that pours from his story as his physical and mental anguish over addiction is laid bare. But woven within his story is also a sliver of hope, a fighting chance for him to overcome the challenges of shine addiction and burnout. And it’s that small bit of hope readers will grasp as his story unfolds.
But let’s not forget Grace, a woman who suffers from a form of PTSD. She is fierce in her determination to stay a free woman and to keep her son safe. The love she shows for her son is so heartwarming and wholesome. To see how good of a person she is, makes it all the more difficult to witness her flashbacks and associated helplessness they make her feel.
Then last but not least we have Arlen. Between his own grief and the stress of trying to do what’s expected of him, Arlen is worn down to the breaking point. Add into the mix the insecurities Arlen feels as he begins to explore relationships. After being a boy left untouched for so long, experiencing the nuances of small touch and intimacy is nearly overwhelming.
In this stunning addition to the Songs of Sefate series, Sarah Chorn has spun tales of hardship, hope, and love. Each of Sarah Chorn’s characters is so intricate and complex. Watching their stories unfold and come together is breathtaking. The writing flows across the pages painting vivid pictures of characters and scenes. It’s realistic in ways I’ve never experienced before in fiction. I absolutely loved Glass Rhapsody.
The boundary has fallen and the Union sees its chance to claim the land. But the settlers of Shine Territory do not want to be owned again. Arlen must find a way to keep Shine Territory free. Or else women like Grace who have come from tragic pasts will once again be owned and used. Grace and the women of her town fought and won their freedom, and they have no intention of giving it up.
The way Sarah Chorn captures the essence of grief in Glass Rhapsody is truly stunning. Each character has a chance to tell their story and experience grief in their own way. And Cassandra...Cassandra feels the deepest grief of all. She is like a ghost of her former self, waking only to grieve day after day. Your heart will break as she struggles to come to terms with her loss.
And then there is Elroy who deals with his addiction to shine and the abilities it grants him. There is no hiding the raw and bleeding emotion that pours from his story as his physical and mental anguish over addiction is laid bare. But woven within his story is also a sliver of hope, a fighting chance for him to overcome the challenges of shine addiction and burnout. And it’s that small bit of hope readers will grasp as his story unfolds.
But let’s not forget Grace, a woman who suffers from a form of PTSD. She is fierce in her determination to stay a free woman and to keep her son safe. The love she shows for her son is so heartwarming and wholesome. To see how good of a person she is, makes it all the more difficult to witness her flashbacks and associated helplessness they make her feel.
Then last but not least we have Arlen. Between his own grief and the stress of trying to do what’s expected of him, Arlen is worn down to the breaking point. Add into the mix the insecurities Arlen feels as he begins to explore relationships. After being a boy left untouched for so long, experiencing the nuances of small touch and intimacy is nearly overwhelming.
In this stunning addition to the Songs of Sefate series, Sarah Chorn has spun tales of hardship, hope, and love. Each of Sarah Chorn’s characters is so intricate and complex. Watching their stories unfold and come together is breathtaking. The writing flows across the pages painting vivid pictures of characters and scenes. It’s realistic in ways I’ve never experienced before in fiction. I absolutely loved Glass Rhapsody.
July 8, 2021
GLASS RHAPSODY is the second book for THE SONGS OF SEFATE series by Sarah Chorn. The original volume, OF HONEY AND WILDFIRES, was my pick for best fantasy book of 2021. No small praise since I read about 200 a year. The series is a fantasy steampunk one set in a sort of pseudo-Old West where instead of cattle barons, the economy is dominated by a corporation that owns all of the mines that extract the magic substance known as shine. Shine is a food additive, drug, and power source that just about everyone wants but has a drastic toll.
In a very real way, the Frontier of this universe is more like the Gilded Age of Appalachia than it is the Wild West. The Shine Corporation has a pretty decent lock down on society so it wasn't particularly "wild" with the majority of towns dominated by the company's mercenaries and their abuses. All of that came to an end with the previous book where the company's owner was taken down and his vast wealth passed into the hands of his son, Arlen.
Unfortunately, Arlen is psychologically unfit to be the leader of a massive corporate empire built on the backs of an exploited proletariat. Even if the people want him to be a leader since the absence of the Shine Corporation's rule, the even-worse Union are ready to annex the territory for its own use. Arlen just wants to treat his PTSD-suffering sister, Cassandra, and give up the Shine Corporation to the people even though no one can manage it. Really, it's fascinating as a deconstruction of the millionaire who gives away their fortune because it's clear that is just passing the buck versus improving the lives of the people directly.
The book also adds the perspective of new character Grace and former villain Elroy. Grace is a former prostitute who was sold to the Shine Corporation's bordellos when she was a girl by her stepfather (I really wanted to see that confrontation but it's sadly not in the book). Now a single mother living in a boomtown, she's terrified that the collapse of the Shine Corporation will lead to a return of human trafficking as well as general chaos. Elroy is someone that Arlen desperately wants to save despite the fact that the former is suicidal with guilt over his actions as a Shine agent.
Unfortunately, I will say that the book's biggest weakness is probably the Elroy plot. I'm a big fan of redemption stories but I also note that a lot of preclude the idea of justice. Elroy is guilty of atrocities and really should be punished for his actions. Arlen desperately tries to insist to both his sister, who Elroy murdered the adoptive family of, that Elroy was just a weapon but last time I checked, "Just following orders" wasn't a valid defense. I couldn't get into Elroy and Arlen's romance as a result as I was pretty sure he did deserve the rope and his self-hatred was fully justified.
This is a character-heavy sequel and if you aren't heavily invested in the characters of the original book, then it is not going to be great. Also, you need to remember facts like Shine allows you to see ghosts if you're completely wasted on it. Still, I absolutely loved the first book and I was heavily invested in these characters. Sarah Chorn also makes LGBT issues front and center in this story in a way that is both a major part of the characters' identities properly explored as part of the worldbuilding versus simply thrown in.
As such, I recommend Glass Rhapsody as a very different kind of fantasy. There's very little action that happens and, indeed, the protagonists are aggressively non-violent to the point the best thing they could do is impossible because they don't want to hurt anyone. That and the unique world Sarah Chorn has created makes this a solid and entertaining book. I will definitely be picking up the third installment.
In a very real way, the Frontier of this universe is more like the Gilded Age of Appalachia than it is the Wild West. The Shine Corporation has a pretty decent lock down on society so it wasn't particularly "wild" with the majority of towns dominated by the company's mercenaries and their abuses. All of that came to an end with the previous book where the company's owner was taken down and his vast wealth passed into the hands of his son, Arlen.
Unfortunately, Arlen is psychologically unfit to be the leader of a massive corporate empire built on the backs of an exploited proletariat. Even if the people want him to be a leader since the absence of the Shine Corporation's rule, the even-worse Union are ready to annex the territory for its own use. Arlen just wants to treat his PTSD-suffering sister, Cassandra, and give up the Shine Corporation to the people even though no one can manage it. Really, it's fascinating as a deconstruction of the millionaire who gives away their fortune because it's clear that is just passing the buck versus improving the lives of the people directly.
The book also adds the perspective of new character Grace and former villain Elroy. Grace is a former prostitute who was sold to the Shine Corporation's bordellos when she was a girl by her stepfather (I really wanted to see that confrontation but it's sadly not in the book). Now a single mother living in a boomtown, she's terrified that the collapse of the Shine Corporation will lead to a return of human trafficking as well as general chaos. Elroy is someone that Arlen desperately wants to save despite the fact that the former is suicidal with guilt over his actions as a Shine agent.
Unfortunately, I will say that the book's biggest weakness is probably the Elroy plot. I'm a big fan of redemption stories but I also note that a lot of preclude the idea of justice. Elroy is guilty of atrocities and really should be punished for his actions. Arlen desperately tries to insist to both his sister, who Elroy murdered the adoptive family of, that Elroy was just a weapon but last time I checked, "Just following orders" wasn't a valid defense. I couldn't get into Elroy and Arlen's romance as a result as I was pretty sure he did deserve the rope and his self-hatred was fully justified.
This is a character-heavy sequel and if you aren't heavily invested in the characters of the original book, then it is not going to be great. Also, you need to remember facts like Shine allows you to see ghosts if you're completely wasted on it. Still, I absolutely loved the first book and I was heavily invested in these characters. Sarah Chorn also makes LGBT issues front and center in this story in a way that is both a major part of the characters' identities properly explored as part of the worldbuilding versus simply thrown in.
As such, I recommend Glass Rhapsody as a very different kind of fantasy. There's very little action that happens and, indeed, the protagonists are aggressively non-violent to the point the best thing they could do is impossible because they don't want to hurt anyone. That and the unique world Sarah Chorn has created makes this a solid and entertaining book. I will definitely be picking up the third installment.
July 27, 2021
A brilliant and beautiful conclusion to Chorn's Weird Western saga set in Shine Territory. For me this was the most moving of the three books, and Elroy the most compelling of all of Shine's residents, although I loved visiting once more with Arlen and Cassandra.
Full review here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2021/glass...
Full review here: http://fantasy-faction.com/2021/glass...
August 23, 2021
Glass Rhapsody is the second book in the Songs of Sefate series by Sarah Chorn (I have previously reviewed the first book, Of Honey and Wildfires) and it very much continues in the same pattern. It is a tale of pain and grief and I warn you: you will need the tissues on hand throughout.
This focus on our character’s grief post Of Honey and Wildfires is clear from the first page. The consequences of the previous book have been deeply impactful for our characters on a deeply personal level, as well as on a more societal level. This leads to a great deal of internal conflict for our main POV characters, Arlen especially, as they are not only dealing with what has happened to them but society’s expectations for them in this new world. Overall, exploring how people deal with their personal trauma is, for me, the main theme of this book and is something Sarah Chorn does exceptionally well. As someone who has suffered bereavement of a brother, I can tell you that the way she writes survivors guilt sure felt a little close to home at times!
Now, I mentioned Arlen in my previous paragraph ad he is one of two returning POV characters. The other being Cassandra. These two provide a really strong juxtaposition on how people deal with loss. On the face of it, Arlen is dealing with his grief far better. Cassandra spends much of her time locked away in her room or at gravesides and openly grieving for Ianthe and her father, whereas Arlen never truly lets himself grieve – he has thrown himself into his work with gusto so that he never has time to properly process what has happened to him. And it is his internal monologue and thoughts that truly highlight the damage this is doing to him.
The other POV characters are Grace Hart and Elroy McGlover, a returning character from Of Honey and Wildfires but a new POV. Often, I find myself wanting repeating POVs in a series as it gives a sense of continuity, but I have to say that Grace was my favourite in this book. I believe she featured in an earlier novella by Sarah Chorn, and I will definitely be looking that up as she is a great character. An excellent example of a strong female character – she isn’t an ass-kicker, she is strong in her own way and does what is necessary to look after her son and her friends.
One of the standout things about Of Honey and Wildfires was its prose, and the same is true here It is almost poetic and very cutting at times. Sarah Chorn definitely leans towards the more purple prose side of things, with heavy and beautiful descriptions of things. And she does it really well, but it doesn’t make this a fast-paced novel. I don’t say this as a negative – it is wonderful to get lost in the writing and feeling immersed in the world and the character’s thoughts – but it won’t be for everyone, certainly not those who need things to be constantly moving. I think it is safe to describe both this book and Of Honey and Wildfires as slow-burners.
Overall, I 100% recommend Glass Rhapsody. If you’re looking for a book to get lost in and feel strong connections to your characters, then it will be perfect for you. As I said at the start, though, you’ll need the tissues as Sarah Chorn repeatedly hits you right in the feels.
This focus on our character’s grief post Of Honey and Wildfires is clear from the first page. The consequences of the previous book have been deeply impactful for our characters on a deeply personal level, as well as on a more societal level. This leads to a great deal of internal conflict for our main POV characters, Arlen especially, as they are not only dealing with what has happened to them but society’s expectations for them in this new world. Overall, exploring how people deal with their personal trauma is, for me, the main theme of this book and is something Sarah Chorn does exceptionally well. As someone who has suffered bereavement of a brother, I can tell you that the way she writes survivors guilt sure felt a little close to home at times!
Now, I mentioned Arlen in my previous paragraph ad he is one of two returning POV characters. The other being Cassandra. These two provide a really strong juxtaposition on how people deal with loss. On the face of it, Arlen is dealing with his grief far better. Cassandra spends much of her time locked away in her room or at gravesides and openly grieving for Ianthe and her father, whereas Arlen never truly lets himself grieve – he has thrown himself into his work with gusto so that he never has time to properly process what has happened to him. And it is his internal monologue and thoughts that truly highlight the damage this is doing to him.
The other POV characters are Grace Hart and Elroy McGlover, a returning character from Of Honey and Wildfires but a new POV. Often, I find myself wanting repeating POVs in a series as it gives a sense of continuity, but I have to say that Grace was my favourite in this book. I believe she featured in an earlier novella by Sarah Chorn, and I will definitely be looking that up as she is a great character. An excellent example of a strong female character – she isn’t an ass-kicker, she is strong in her own way and does what is necessary to look after her son and her friends.
One of the standout things about Of Honey and Wildfires was its prose, and the same is true here It is almost poetic and very cutting at times. Sarah Chorn definitely leans towards the more purple prose side of things, with heavy and beautiful descriptions of things. And she does it really well, but it doesn’t make this a fast-paced novel. I don’t say this as a negative – it is wonderful to get lost in the writing and feeling immersed in the world and the character’s thoughts – but it won’t be for everyone, certainly not those who need things to be constantly moving. I think it is safe to describe both this book and Of Honey and Wildfires as slow-burners.
Overall, I 100% recommend Glass Rhapsody. If you’re looking for a book to get lost in and feel strong connections to your characters, then it will be perfect for you. As I said at the start, though, you’ll need the tissues as Sarah Chorn repeatedly hits you right in the feels.
June 22, 2021
At this point, I think I should just acknowledge the fact that I am never going to manage a completely coherent review about anything Sarah Chorn writes, and you know what, I am absolutely fine with that (especially with the books that I know are coming).
But, firstly….clears throat.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS SERIES!
While this remains very much character (and heartbreaking emotions) driven, Glass Rhapsody continues to build on the world and to nurture the seeds of change sown at the end of Of Honey and Wildfires and in Oh, That Shotgun Sky. Shine Territory is in flux, and here there were so many of the aspects of the Wild West that I love having grown up watching far too many Westerns (I had one channel that worked, so it was Stargate and then a western every Sunday) – with attacks on the frontier, the attempt to expand the railway regardless of what was in its path and oh so many little details, that built on this world that I already loved and gave an underlying feeling that history was being made between these pages.
One of the things that I love about Sarah’s writing in general, and about this series overall has always been the emotion, and how it’s written in such a way that you’re not just reading it, but feeling it deep in your soul. That was very much present in this book. Glass Rhapsody brings together the storylines and characters from both the previous books, and there is a world of grief and hurt, and every other emotion you can name at the intersection of those paths. But that is also where this book hits differently. There’s still plenty of breaking in this book, some truly heartbreaking moments and conversations, that are devasting because they feel so real, so human, that they come alive.
But, where Glass Rhapsody is different is that after the shattering there is a mending. There is healing. It’s not quick. There’s no miracle. It’s more like seeds taking root in fire-scorched earth, and slowly coaxing life back into the devastation, making that same devastation part of it. The broken pieces don’t disappear, the scars are still there, and not everyone can heal in the same way or to the same extent, sometimes the mending is finding a way to breathe in the now even with what the future might hold. This is a story of love and family, loss and healing, and acceptance. There is one moment in particular between Arlen and Cassandra that was particularly poignant and is something that I would love to see more of in books.
The characters have always been the heart of these stories, and in Glass Rhapsody we got to see them all come together, past and present, living and dead. The role of ghosts and burnout in this book was a surprise, but it added so much, and some of those chapters are my favourites. It’s an interesting look at grief from both sides of the divide, and it added so much to the story – plus gave me more time with some of my favourite characters. Arlen and Cassandra are the shining diamonds here, broken in different ways, side by side and yet divided, and it was fantastic to see how their relationship had grown, how it was changing and I think at this point it would be impossible for me to choose a favourite between them. However, no matter how bright they shone, the rest of the cast continued to hold on to my heart, it was great to see more of Saul and Ned who had been my favourites from the novella. Elroy and Pearl both added interesting viewpoints and dimensions to the story, and in many ways, the impact of Elroy’s return felt a little like a boulder dropped into a still lake, sending ripples in all directions, as its impact on so many things through his interactions with Cassandra and Arlen and his burnout, and there are so many raw moments where he is involved. I also loved Lori – she was a perfect counterpart to Arlen.
I also have to talk about Grace who we met in Oh, That Shotgun Sky but who really comes into her own in Glass Rhapsody. She had seen the worst of the world, experienced it, and from a young age – and yet she has not just survived, she is living in the world and fighting for it, even beneath the weight of her experiences and there was not a moment where I wasn’t invested in her story and in the journey to protect Fletcher and the other women living there. Then there is her son. Quite often there are discussions about mothers in fantasy – or should that be the lack of mothers? One of the most beautiful relationships in Glass Rhapsody is that between Grace and her son Teddy. There are so many potent relationships in this series, ones shaped by grief and death, and second chances, and everything in between and each is beautiful in their own way. However, there was something about Grace and Teddy that shone even brighter. Perhaps, it was the sheer simplicity of that love – not that their lives were easy, or uncomplicated and I have to say I love how Teddy was written, and his way of communicating – but because it was such unquestioning love.
‘This is love. It drives me to my knees. I finally understand the divine.’
I honestly loved every moment spent in this world and with these characters, and there’s a bittersweet feeling at the Songs of Sefate coming to an end. I don’t want to say farewell to these characters, and yet at the same time the ending of Glass Rhapsody was so satisfying, especially with the themes of healing and mending and moving forward, and in particular, Cassandra’s ending was everything I could have wished for. However, there are more stories to come from this world, and I’m looking forward to learning more about Union City (and already bracing my poor, aching heart).
I can’t recommend this book and series highly enough, and Glass Rhapsody is out in less than two weeks (30th June) and is currently available for pre-order, and you’ve still got time to read the rest of the Songs of Sefate before then! I’ve got my copy ordered and waiting (im)patiently to grab a physical copy too, as I want to see those stunning covers next to one another.
But, firstly….clears throat.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I LOVE THIS SERIES!
While this remains very much character (and heartbreaking emotions) driven, Glass Rhapsody continues to build on the world and to nurture the seeds of change sown at the end of Of Honey and Wildfires and in Oh, That Shotgun Sky. Shine Territory is in flux, and here there were so many of the aspects of the Wild West that I love having grown up watching far too many Westerns (I had one channel that worked, so it was Stargate and then a western every Sunday) – with attacks on the frontier, the attempt to expand the railway regardless of what was in its path and oh so many little details, that built on this world that I already loved and gave an underlying feeling that history was being made between these pages.
One of the things that I love about Sarah’s writing in general, and about this series overall has always been the emotion, and how it’s written in such a way that you’re not just reading it, but feeling it deep in your soul. That was very much present in this book. Glass Rhapsody brings together the storylines and characters from both the previous books, and there is a world of grief and hurt, and every other emotion you can name at the intersection of those paths. But that is also where this book hits differently. There’s still plenty of breaking in this book, some truly heartbreaking moments and conversations, that are devasting because they feel so real, so human, that they come alive.
But, where Glass Rhapsody is different is that after the shattering there is a mending. There is healing. It’s not quick. There’s no miracle. It’s more like seeds taking root in fire-scorched earth, and slowly coaxing life back into the devastation, making that same devastation part of it. The broken pieces don’t disappear, the scars are still there, and not everyone can heal in the same way or to the same extent, sometimes the mending is finding a way to breathe in the now even with what the future might hold. This is a story of love and family, loss and healing, and acceptance. There is one moment in particular between Arlen and Cassandra that was particularly poignant and is something that I would love to see more of in books.
The characters have always been the heart of these stories, and in Glass Rhapsody we got to see them all come together, past and present, living and dead. The role of ghosts and burnout in this book was a surprise, but it added so much, and some of those chapters are my favourites. It’s an interesting look at grief from both sides of the divide, and it added so much to the story – plus gave me more time with some of my favourite characters. Arlen and Cassandra are the shining diamonds here, broken in different ways, side by side and yet divided, and it was fantastic to see how their relationship had grown, how it was changing and I think at this point it would be impossible for me to choose a favourite between them. However, no matter how bright they shone, the rest of the cast continued to hold on to my heart, it was great to see more of Saul and Ned who had been my favourites from the novella. Elroy and Pearl both added interesting viewpoints and dimensions to the story, and in many ways, the impact of Elroy’s return felt a little like a boulder dropped into a still lake, sending ripples in all directions, as its impact on so many things through his interactions with Cassandra and Arlen and his burnout, and there are so many raw moments where he is involved. I also loved Lori – she was a perfect counterpart to Arlen.
I also have to talk about Grace who we met in Oh, That Shotgun Sky but who really comes into her own in Glass Rhapsody. She had seen the worst of the world, experienced it, and from a young age – and yet she has not just survived, she is living in the world and fighting for it, even beneath the weight of her experiences and there was not a moment where I wasn’t invested in her story and in the journey to protect Fletcher and the other women living there. Then there is her son. Quite often there are discussions about mothers in fantasy – or should that be the lack of mothers? One of the most beautiful relationships in Glass Rhapsody is that between Grace and her son Teddy. There are so many potent relationships in this series, ones shaped by grief and death, and second chances, and everything in between and each is beautiful in their own way. However, there was something about Grace and Teddy that shone even brighter. Perhaps, it was the sheer simplicity of that love – not that their lives were easy, or uncomplicated and I have to say I love how Teddy was written, and his way of communicating – but because it was such unquestioning love.
‘This is love. It drives me to my knees. I finally understand the divine.’
I honestly loved every moment spent in this world and with these characters, and there’s a bittersweet feeling at the Songs of Sefate coming to an end. I don’t want to say farewell to these characters, and yet at the same time the ending of Glass Rhapsody was so satisfying, especially with the themes of healing and mending and moving forward, and in particular, Cassandra’s ending was everything I could have wished for. However, there are more stories to come from this world, and I’m looking forward to learning more about Union City (and already bracing my poor, aching heart).
I can’t recommend this book and series highly enough, and Glass Rhapsody is out in less than two weeks (30th June) and is currently available for pre-order, and you’ve still got time to read the rest of the Songs of Sefate before then! I’ve got my copy ordered and waiting (im)patiently to grab a physical copy too, as I want to see those stunning covers next to one another.
June 22, 2021
Sarah Chorn has a real gift for powerful storytelling. Poignant, powerful, and utterly relatable on so many levels.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
September 20, 2021
I’m often at a loss when it comes to figuring out what I want to say in a review. This is especially true when a book and/or an author just utterly and completely wows me with story, and language, and craft. We’ve all been there right? Our minds firing off all these little snippets to use but you can’t string them together into anything coherent when the time comes to post a review. That’s been my experience with anything and everything I’ve read from Sarah Chorn. Her latest novel, Glass Rhapsody is no exception to this phenomenon. As with the rest of the Songs of Sefate series, Glass Rhapsody gutted me….it continued to work away at a wound opened with Of Honey and Wildfires, but, it healed as well. It worked at that wound, cleaned it up, and let me recover. This series is an emotional experience as much as it is a story, one that carries you through the pain to redemption and recovery on the other side.
Highlights
Prose and Metaphor
Character Development
Representation
Mental Health
Healing and Redemption
My Thoughts
If you don’t know anything about this series check out my previous reviews for Of Honey And Wildfires, and Oh That Shotgun Sky. It’s a western of sorts, set in a world similar to ours but with a magic system tied to Shine, a substance like oil in our Western U.S. But Shine does so much more than act as a fuel source. I won’t burden you with an overview of the previous books, but you can get a sense for them from my reviews and the blurbs in each one.
Glass Rhapsody, like the other books in the series, is written with what I can only describe as atmospheric lyrical and poetic prose and metaphor. This is a hallmark of Chorn’s writing. The prose and use of metaphor immediately establish a framework in which the story is told. It’s these elements as much or more than the plot and events of the novels that create the “feels” one gets when reading. Chorn’s writing loses none of the strength and power from the previous two books. I’m simply awed by what she can do.
I believe the best Western’s are those that focus on character, where the action and the setting become backdrops for the important work of the journey. That may be true in all good books, but Western’s stand out to me in this way. Here Chorn closes out the Songs of Sefate by building upon the character development of the previous two books and really breaking them down to their lowest point in order to build them back up. Without doing so the end game of the story, the healing and redemption of the characters (not the plot outcome) would never be believable.
Something else about this series and this book in particular is the representation it offers. It includes gay and trans characters, characters dealing with mental health issues, and in this installment, a character on the spectrum. In a time when we still have books that ignore these character elements, it is refreshing to find them here. Their experiences and struggles are real and they reinforce the diversity in our own world that is too often overlooked in our fiction.
I mentioned mental health already but I want to give it a little more focus, because so much of the character development and narrative outcome is tied up with it. For the entire series we’ve seen characters struggling with mental health. In Glass Rhapsody the issues some characters are facing threaten to become full blown crisis. It is something they each have to work through and provides significant tension and turmoil for the characters themselves and those around them. Like in real life it’s how they handle these crisis for better or for worse that determine the outcome of the narrative.
Ultimately Glass Rhapsody is a story about healing and redemption. The series begins with pain and loss, and just keeps working through those themes. And while each book ends on a somewhat positive note, the next illustrates how that is often an illusion, a temporary high that quickly sends the characters (and the reader) into a new spiral worse than before. That’s because recovery and redemption don’t truly happen until you can peel back all the layers and get at the raw ugly center of the problem. But once you do, well then you can begin to move on. It may not be what you thought would happen, things may not be perfect, but you end up on the other side facing the dawn. That’s what Glass Rhapsody does for The Songs of Sefate. And wow…what an emotional journey it was.
I really hope you’ll give this series a try. It isn’t full of action, or sword and sorcery. It isn’t high/epic fantasy or grimdark. And you may need to prepare yourself for the journey it will take you on because it WILL gut you and leave you raw at times. But it will be worth it. Let’s face it, sometimes as a reader we need that whether we realize it or not, in order to grow ourselves.
I received an ARC of this book from the author.
Highlights
Prose and Metaphor
Character Development
Representation
Mental Health
Healing and Redemption
My Thoughts
If you don’t know anything about this series check out my previous reviews for Of Honey And Wildfires, and Oh That Shotgun Sky. It’s a western of sorts, set in a world similar to ours but with a magic system tied to Shine, a substance like oil in our Western U.S. But Shine does so much more than act as a fuel source. I won’t burden you with an overview of the previous books, but you can get a sense for them from my reviews and the blurbs in each one.
Glass Rhapsody, like the other books in the series, is written with what I can only describe as atmospheric lyrical and poetic prose and metaphor. This is a hallmark of Chorn’s writing. The prose and use of metaphor immediately establish a framework in which the story is told. It’s these elements as much or more than the plot and events of the novels that create the “feels” one gets when reading. Chorn’s writing loses none of the strength and power from the previous two books. I’m simply awed by what she can do.
I believe the best Western’s are those that focus on character, where the action and the setting become backdrops for the important work of the journey. That may be true in all good books, but Western’s stand out to me in this way. Here Chorn closes out the Songs of Sefate by building upon the character development of the previous two books and really breaking them down to their lowest point in order to build them back up. Without doing so the end game of the story, the healing and redemption of the characters (not the plot outcome) would never be believable.
Something else about this series and this book in particular is the representation it offers. It includes gay and trans characters, characters dealing with mental health issues, and in this installment, a character on the spectrum. In a time when we still have books that ignore these character elements, it is refreshing to find them here. Their experiences and struggles are real and they reinforce the diversity in our own world that is too often overlooked in our fiction.
I mentioned mental health already but I want to give it a little more focus, because so much of the character development and narrative outcome is tied up with it. For the entire series we’ve seen characters struggling with mental health. In Glass Rhapsody the issues some characters are facing threaten to become full blown crisis. It is something they each have to work through and provides significant tension and turmoil for the characters themselves and those around them. Like in real life it’s how they handle these crisis for better or for worse that determine the outcome of the narrative.
Ultimately Glass Rhapsody is a story about healing and redemption. The series begins with pain and loss, and just keeps working through those themes. And while each book ends on a somewhat positive note, the next illustrates how that is often an illusion, a temporary high that quickly sends the characters (and the reader) into a new spiral worse than before. That’s because recovery and redemption don’t truly happen until you can peel back all the layers and get at the raw ugly center of the problem. But once you do, well then you can begin to move on. It may not be what you thought would happen, things may not be perfect, but you end up on the other side facing the dawn. That’s what Glass Rhapsody does for The Songs of Sefate. And wow…what an emotional journey it was.
I really hope you’ll give this series a try. It isn’t full of action, or sword and sorcery. It isn’t high/epic fantasy or grimdark. And you may need to prepare yourself for the journey it will take you on because it WILL gut you and leave you raw at times. But it will be worth it. Let’s face it, sometimes as a reader we need that whether we realize it or not, in order to grow ourselves.
I received an ARC of this book from the author.
September 5, 2021
I always find challenging reviewing later books in a series that new readers aren’t likely to jump into. Some series are really separate adventures or stories, that may have nods to previous installments but a new reader can more or less pick any book in that series to begin with. The Songs of Sefate series is decidedly not a series one can start anywhere but the beginning.
I guess the main thing to focus on writing such a review is answering the question, if you liked the previous installments, will you like this one? To this reviewer, decidedly the answer is yes. If you are familiar with Shine Territory and its inhabitants, then I think this will be a journey you will enjoy.
Without spoilers, I think the book is pulled in two directions. One direction, the book is aftermath of previous events in the series, of how the living are still coming to terms with the tragic death of loved ones (or are they, looking at you Cassandra), and how those not dead are going to be held to account for their crimes (looking at you Elroy, “The man who changed everything”). The other direction, the inhabitants of Shine Territory, with the collapse of the Boundary, are entering the wider world (that wider world being the Union, which would like nothing more than to become the new Shine Company).
More than any fantasy series I have ever read…no, make that more than any series of any genre I have read, in this book especially the book tackles the subjects of redemption and of grief. The latter especially could be a tough read at times, sometimes because of the raw emotions but also because I will admit a few times I kind of wanted to move on a little (if the book has any weakness to me at all, it is sometimes in a few places the grief and heartache, while understandable, could be a tad overwrought). “Be kind to yourself Cassandra, I don’t think anyone understands the kind of loss you have suffered,” is an apt quote, because sometimes I wondered if could ever feel anything as deeply as she did. Maybe that is just me. I often get uncomfortable with deep emotions of any kind.
The book also tackles issues of addiction:
“Oh this ache. This relentless need. This clawing drive. His entire life was centered around shine now, had been for five years. What he wouldn’t give to feel the chains of this particular slavery release him.”
The only other book I have read that even came close to dealing with drug addiction issues this extensively, this successfully, was the absolutely excellent Low Town series by Daniel Polansky, a fantasy noir series in which the main character, the Warden, is both a drug dealer and a drug addict (he is other things too, but he is very much those two things).
It was well written. I loved the quick flashes of very descriptive prose, well-written and innovative descriptions of things such as sunsets. It could be an emotionally draining book too and I will admit I don’t generally seek out books that suck me in emotionally. Though the setting was the West, at least physically, culturally and emotionally it felt more Appalachian, whether with the company towns or the to me nods toward the opioid epidemic, that was quite interesting. We also get new characters, notably Grace, a former prostitute, which brings up issues of sex trafficking, one of the great strengths of the series (and again, a subject I have not encountered in anything else I have read at least as far as fiction).
I guess the main thing to focus on writing such a review is answering the question, if you liked the previous installments, will you like this one? To this reviewer, decidedly the answer is yes. If you are familiar with Shine Territory and its inhabitants, then I think this will be a journey you will enjoy.
Without spoilers, I think the book is pulled in two directions. One direction, the book is aftermath of previous events in the series, of how the living are still coming to terms with the tragic death of loved ones (or are they, looking at you Cassandra), and how those not dead are going to be held to account for their crimes (looking at you Elroy, “The man who changed everything”). The other direction, the inhabitants of Shine Territory, with the collapse of the Boundary, are entering the wider world (that wider world being the Union, which would like nothing more than to become the new Shine Company).
More than any fantasy series I have ever read…no, make that more than any series of any genre I have read, in this book especially the book tackles the subjects of redemption and of grief. The latter especially could be a tough read at times, sometimes because of the raw emotions but also because I will admit a few times I kind of wanted to move on a little (if the book has any weakness to me at all, it is sometimes in a few places the grief and heartache, while understandable, could be a tad overwrought). “Be kind to yourself Cassandra, I don’t think anyone understands the kind of loss you have suffered,” is an apt quote, because sometimes I wondered if could ever feel anything as deeply as she did. Maybe that is just me. I often get uncomfortable with deep emotions of any kind.
The book also tackles issues of addiction:
“Oh this ache. This relentless need. This clawing drive. His entire life was centered around shine now, had been for five years. What he wouldn’t give to feel the chains of this particular slavery release him.”
The only other book I have read that even came close to dealing with drug addiction issues this extensively, this successfully, was the absolutely excellent Low Town series by Daniel Polansky, a fantasy noir series in which the main character, the Warden, is both a drug dealer and a drug addict (he is other things too, but he is very much those two things).
It was well written. I loved the quick flashes of very descriptive prose, well-written and innovative descriptions of things such as sunsets. It could be an emotionally draining book too and I will admit I don’t generally seek out books that suck me in emotionally. Though the setting was the West, at least physically, culturally and emotionally it felt more Appalachian, whether with the company towns or the to me nods toward the opioid epidemic, that was quite interesting. We also get new characters, notably Grace, a former prostitute, which brings up issues of sex trafficking, one of the great strengths of the series (and again, a subject I have not encountered in anything else I have read at least as far as fiction).
December 15, 2022
A beautiful story of grief and hope
Sarah Chorn writes a beautiful, jagged story of broken people in a world on edge searching for healing. I've never seen someone describe feelings in such an evocative way. Her use of metaphor is masterful, her characters show the reader the deepest part of their souls.
Sarah Chorn writes a beautiful, jagged story of broken people in a world on edge searching for healing. I've never seen someone describe feelings in such an evocative way. Her use of metaphor is masterful, her characters show the reader the deepest part of their souls.
August 24, 2022
You can read my 10/10 review here:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read this review.
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read this review.
September 3, 2022
Although the middle book, Oh, That Shotgun Sky, was released as a novella, Glass Rhapsody is really the third book of a trilogy that began with Of Honey and Wildfires. It's a continuation of both stories - which pleased me greatly, as I feared we might not see those brave women of Fletcher again - and, if not a true conclusion, a transitional piece that sets the stage for a shift from Shine Territory to Union City.
For most of the read, I was prepared to call this a story of consequences and, as such, it's full of sorrow, breaking, loss, addiction, and regret. Like all of Sarah Chorn's books, it's as emotionally heavy as it is narratively beautiful, and it is quite literally haunted by the ghosts of the past. Ultimately, however, it also proves to be a story of healing, of letting go of that past, and opening one's self to the promise of a new future . . . and the risk of fresh sorrows to come.
Family is once again a key theme here, and that's where Chorn offers us the bulk of the saga's emotional resolutions. Arlen and Cassandra get moments together as siblings, but they also get their moments - both alone and together - as children of Christopher Hobson. They're the heart of the story, but it's the family connections of Elroy/Pearl and Grace/Teddy that gets those hearts beating again. Romance is a key theme again as well, and while it's even more tentative and melancholy than in the first two stories, with relationships held back as much by fear of rejection as feeling unworthy of another's love, it is also responsible for healing those hearts. We are not done with Cassandra and Ianthe, which means we're not done with the tears, and we've barely scratched the surface of Arlen and Elroy, which means we've got a lot of fear and regret to wade into. Bringing it all together is a relationship I don't want to give away, but one which binds family and romance into something sweet and hopeful . . . and very much appreciated.
The only place where I felt Glass Rhapsody faltered, just a bit, was in the plot-driven climax. I understand (and appreciate) where Chorn is taking the story next, but the ending felt more like an avoidance of conflict than a proper resolution to it. I was anticipating something powerful, something to rival the fireworks that closed out Of Honey and Wildfires, but it's a quiet resolution, and one that largely happens off the page, leaving us (fittingly, perhaps) with consequences rather than events. That's a small quibble over the last 5% of the book, though, and certainly does not take away from the emotional climaxes that lead into it.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...
For most of the read, I was prepared to call this a story of consequences and, as such, it's full of sorrow, breaking, loss, addiction, and regret. Like all of Sarah Chorn's books, it's as emotionally heavy as it is narratively beautiful, and it is quite literally haunted by the ghosts of the past. Ultimately, however, it also proves to be a story of healing, of letting go of that past, and opening one's self to the promise of a new future . . . and the risk of fresh sorrows to come.
Family is once again a key theme here, and that's where Chorn offers us the bulk of the saga's emotional resolutions. Arlen and Cassandra get moments together as siblings, but they also get their moments - both alone and together - as children of Christopher Hobson. They're the heart of the story, but it's the family connections of Elroy/Pearl and Grace/Teddy that gets those hearts beating again. Romance is a key theme again as well, and while it's even more tentative and melancholy than in the first two stories, with relationships held back as much by fear of rejection as feeling unworthy of another's love, it is also responsible for healing those hearts. We are not done with Cassandra and Ianthe, which means we're not done with the tears, and we've barely scratched the surface of Arlen and Elroy, which means we've got a lot of fear and regret to wade into. Bringing it all together is a relationship I don't want to give away, but one which binds family and romance into something sweet and hopeful . . . and very much appreciated.
The only place where I felt Glass Rhapsody faltered, just a bit, was in the plot-driven climax. I understand (and appreciate) where Chorn is taking the story next, but the ending felt more like an avoidance of conflict than a proper resolution to it. I was anticipating something powerful, something to rival the fireworks that closed out Of Honey and Wildfires, but it's a quiet resolution, and one that largely happens off the page, leaving us (fittingly, perhaps) with consequences rather than events. That's a small quibble over the last 5% of the book, though, and certainly does not take away from the emotional climaxes that lead into it.
https://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/...
February 28, 2022
For more reviews, go to www.Wolfmantula.com
📖/🔇 Kindle, no audio
Sarah Chorn slays again with her prose skills in this emotional story of loss, addiction and regret, but also of healing and redemption. The story focuses a lot on the characters and the flaws they are trying to overcome as Shine Territory has to deal with a new issue that is The Union. Sarah does a great job telling us the stories of each of these characters and their inner thoughts as things happen. The characters are deep and fleshed out, dealing with loss and showing the heartache and emotion they face. Being haunted by their past and going through burnout from substance abuse withdrawal, and also dealing with the trauma of a past life left behind.
“I’ll be waiting for you, right in that spot where the sun rises, where light kisses away all that dark. I’ll be right there, forever, but you need to live.”
While I loved book 1, and was slightly underwhelmed with book 2, I came away a bit underwhelmed again with the third book…
I thought some of this story could’ve been in Oh, That Shotgun Sky instead of in here, and that the plot of Shine Territory dealing with The Union could have been given more time on the pages. It was so character driven that there were a lot of actions that happened off of the page that I felt was a big missed opportunity to delve into the ramifications of what The Union was doing to the people of Shine Territory. Another part of this same issue was the ending, it just felt so anticlimactic because something pretty big happened off the pages instead of us experiencing it from the POV.
“Hope, it turned out, was a heady kind
of wine.”
Something that I didn’t really point out before in my reviews, and doesn’t have any inflection on my grade, is the romance part of this series. While there’s nothing wrong with romance in fantasy, I’m just not a big fan of it and the romance was given even more attention this time around. So if you are a fan of it, you’re in luck!
📖/🔇 Kindle, no audio
Sarah Chorn slays again with her prose skills in this emotional story of loss, addiction and regret, but also of healing and redemption. The story focuses a lot on the characters and the flaws they are trying to overcome as Shine Territory has to deal with a new issue that is The Union. Sarah does a great job telling us the stories of each of these characters and their inner thoughts as things happen. The characters are deep and fleshed out, dealing with loss and showing the heartache and emotion they face. Being haunted by their past and going through burnout from substance abuse withdrawal, and also dealing with the trauma of a past life left behind.
“I’ll be waiting for you, right in that spot where the sun rises, where light kisses away all that dark. I’ll be right there, forever, but you need to live.”
While I loved book 1, and was slightly underwhelmed with book 2, I came away a bit underwhelmed again with the third book…
I thought some of this story could’ve been in Oh, That Shotgun Sky instead of in here, and that the plot of Shine Territory dealing with The Union could have been given more time on the pages. It was so character driven that there were a lot of actions that happened off of the page that I felt was a big missed opportunity to delve into the ramifications of what The Union was doing to the people of Shine Territory. Another part of this same issue was the ending, it just felt so anticlimactic because something pretty big happened off the pages instead of us experiencing it from the POV.
“Hope, it turned out, was a heady kind
of wine.”
Something that I didn’t really point out before in my reviews, and doesn’t have any inflection on my grade, is the romance part of this series. While there’s nothing wrong with romance in fantasy, I’m just not a big fan of it and the romance was given even more attention this time around. So if you are a fan of it, you’re in luck!
March 6, 2022
I've been sat on this review for a while because I honestly couldn't figure out how to express my love for this book and Sarah's writing in any comprehensive way.
I'd highly suggest reading 'Oh, That Shotgun Sky' before diving into this one. While it is a novella that you *technically* don't need to read before Glass Rhapsody it gives you an insight into the backgrounds and origins of some of the characters we meet, and love, in this book.
Sarah's writing is stunning, it's beautiful and poetic and she manages to convey such painful, heart-wrenching moments with such tenderness and emotion. I don't think I've ever come across a writer who can do quite what she does with words. The emotion she can convey with her writing is unmatched and I'm never quite sure if I'm mourning or floating when I read her works. My heart is always both so full and so empty.
It's hard to review the second book in a series without spoiling anything so forgive my vagueness. Glass Rhapsody is the story of after, after the story usually ends, of the normal people picking up the pieces, of the people who must learn to survive their new normal, even if it is what they were fighting for. This isn't a crazy plot heavy book, instead it's the learning to live again, dealing with the events that came before. Our characters forge their new path and learn to live with their pasts.
Glass Rhapsody is stunning and beautiful and I will never be able to explain why it made me feel that way. Instead take my advice and read Sarah's books, you will experience emotions you never thought a book could make you feel.
I'd highly suggest reading 'Oh, That Shotgun Sky' before diving into this one. While it is a novella that you *technically* don't need to read before Glass Rhapsody it gives you an insight into the backgrounds and origins of some of the characters we meet, and love, in this book.
Sarah's writing is stunning, it's beautiful and poetic and she manages to convey such painful, heart-wrenching moments with such tenderness and emotion. I don't think I've ever come across a writer who can do quite what she does with words. The emotion she can convey with her writing is unmatched and I'm never quite sure if I'm mourning or floating when I read her works. My heart is always both so full and so empty.
It's hard to review the second book in a series without spoiling anything so forgive my vagueness. Glass Rhapsody is the story of after, after the story usually ends, of the normal people picking up the pieces, of the people who must learn to survive their new normal, even if it is what they were fighting for. This isn't a crazy plot heavy book, instead it's the learning to live again, dealing with the events that came before. Our characters forge their new path and learn to live with their pasts.
Glass Rhapsody is stunning and beautiful and I will never be able to explain why it made me feel that way. Instead take my advice and read Sarah's books, you will experience emotions you never thought a book could make you feel.
August 2, 2022
Glass Rhapsody is the final installment in the Songs of Sefate series, and it brings this lovely story to a satisfying conclusion. This volume focuses more closely on Arlen, who wasn't my favorite character in book 1 (though it's so cool to see a trans protagonist in fantasy, and the representation is great!). Nonetheless, Chorn's beautiful writing kept me completely engaged in the story. Her style has been described by some other reviewers as "purple," but personally I like the poetic, descriptive prose she uses a great deal. Some of the lines were incredibly gorgeous.
And the ending, which I don't want to spoil because everyone should make sure to read this, is completely satisfying. Though this final volume goes to some darker places, it was so nice to see it end on a note of redemption. Maybe a weird comp, but it kind of reminded me of one of my favorite plays, Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, with the transcendent power of forgiveness and the hope for healing in the future.
I will be returning to these books again and again.
And the ending, which I don't want to spoil because everyone should make sure to read this, is completely satisfying. Though this final volume goes to some darker places, it was so nice to see it end on a note of redemption. Maybe a weird comp, but it kind of reminded me of one of my favorite plays, Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, with the transcendent power of forgiveness and the hope for healing in the future.
I will be returning to these books again and again.
June 21, 2022
One of my favourite things about reading any of Sarah’s books is how she can, with a few words, break you completely. Those words are gloriously delivered, each like a stab of a needle as she sews her scenes into the very fabric of your being.
Coming back to Shine Territory is heart wrenching, seeing the aftermath of the first books, but even at its bleakest there’s a thread of hope that leaves you shouting at the characters to see it as well. To hold on just a little longer.
I love this book, this world, and those who inhabit it.
Coming back to Shine Territory is heart wrenching, seeing the aftermath of the first books, but even at its bleakest there’s a thread of hope that leaves you shouting at the characters to see it as well. To hold on just a little longer.
I love this book, this world, and those who inhabit it.
March 10, 2023
Utterly Amazing
If you're looking for deep character studies, people who feel and act in real ways, look no further than Sarah. I'm literally torn apart by what these characters go through and just how raw and realistic the exploration of grief and forging on through adversity was. There is a story there that meanders along as our characters do everything they can to survive. I loved this slow exploration of Shine Territory and was extremely satisfied with the story conclusion.
If you're looking for deep character studies, people who feel and act in real ways, look no further than Sarah. I'm literally torn apart by what these characters go through and just how raw and realistic the exploration of grief and forging on through adversity was. There is a story there that meanders along as our characters do everything they can to survive. I loved this slow exploration of Shine Territory and was extremely satisfied with the story conclusion.
September 2, 2024
I need a thousand books in this series. I need political drama in the fledgling country, new shine speakeasies and drug smuggling, more gunslinging, more ghosts, more queer romance, more more more. I haven't shed enough tears yet.
May 5, 2023
Amazing!! Loved the way characters found themselves and how everything wrapped up so nicely!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews