I got to read an early version of this, and even when I was extremely ill and in a lot of pain, it was STILL entirely unputdownable! I laughed so muchI got to read an early version of this, and even when I was extremely ill and in a lot of pain, it was STILL entirely unputdownable! I laughed so much, and my heart MELTED for these two wonderful guys, and it was exactly what I needed while miserable. Absolutely perfect.
Will review it properly when I've read the finished version!...more
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the c*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
HIGHLIGHTS ~no vows of chastity for these nuns ~supporting women’s wrongs 100% ~don’t touch someone else’s pearl (not a euphemism!) ~drown all colonisers ~brace yourself for ALL the Emotions ~a love triangle that is actually excellent ~if she lets down her hair, RUN
Saints of Storm and Sorrow grabs you by the throat and does not let you go for an instant.
It’s also a book where, to be honest, I feel like my main task is just to make sure you know about it – because once you do, it sells itself. A bisexual nun who can summon typhoons by letting down her hair is caught between the goddess she’s hiding from and the totally-not-Spaniards who’ve colonised her home? In a setting inspired by the Philippines?? What else could you possibly need to hear to convince you that Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a must-read?!?
I know, I know, sometimes we get super excited for books with amazing pitches that, in the end, are let-downs. But this is not one of those times. Saints of Storm and Sorrow is every bit as incredible as it sounds. There is no wasted potential here. If I may add a little more alliteration – Saints of Storm and Sorrow is simply superb.
Anitun Tabu herself, garbed in light, the dark moon of her face too beautiful to gaze upon, the black river of her hair a halo lashing in unseen winds. She was crowned in lightning, the spear of heaven’s judgement in her right hand.
“You called my name, Daughter?”
Lunurin is biracial, the daughter of a woman of the archipelago and a Codicían priest – but although she’s spent a good chunk of her life playing a Christian (and therefore Codicían) nun, in her heart she’s anything but. Not for lack of trying; Lunurin works hard to be soft and pleasant, both for her lover and the Church that’s given her a (kind of) sanctuary; she has kept her head down for years, playing the dutiful Christian novice. Behind closed doors, though, she has her romance with Catalina, another biracial novice, with Catalina’s younger sister filling an almost daughter-like role to round out their little family. Interestingly, despite Catalina’s Christian faith being far more genuine than Lunurin’s, Catalina seems to have no shame or complicated feelings about being queer, despite the fact that her sexuality, and her love for Lunurin, go completely against the church’s rules. But in all other respects she’s a good Codicían woman – and very clearly wants Lunurin to be one too.
Lunurin isn’t, though. And not just because she’s a stormcaller – chosen by Anitun Tabu, goddess of the sky and weather, ‘blessed’ with immense power only kept under wraps by the same powerful talisman that hides Lunurin from her goddess. Lunurin sees the hypocrisies and abuses of the Church and the Codicíans, and can’t close her eyes to them; whenever she can, she helps the poor and abused escape the Church’s reach, often with the help of Alon. In Western terms, Alon is basically a prince, the heir of the island’s ruler since his older brother was exiled; he’s also, secretly, one of the tide-touched, able to manipulate salt water with the blessing of Aman Sinaya, goddess of the sea. And he’s the only one who might be able to help when Lunurin and Catalina make a horrific discovery in the early chapters of the book – one that will lead all three of them to the breaking point, and tear them, and maybe even their island, apart.
It took everything in Lunurin not to laugh until she wept. What divine calling could there be when a primordial goddess of the heavens, with lightning for blood and storms at her beck and call, curled under Lunurin’s breastbone, whispering, “Daughter, won’t you drown them for me?”
Drawing inspiration from the Philippines, its history, and its mythology, the setting of SoSaS feels new and unique, a gorgeous and entrancing contrast to the generic Medieval-Europe-esque backdrop that is so confusingly popular in Fantasy. The world Buba has created here is beautiful and intricate, one that I fell more and more in love with the more I learned about it. The people’s relationship to the land and sea and sky, the matriarchal politics, the pearls, the hair, the wildly different (from Christianity) approach to religion, the trio of goddesses whose chosen ones are so integral to the Aynilan way of life… It’s all incredible. No detail has been missed or hand-waved or not-thought-through, with the result that it feels real enough to be a place you could visit it in person if you chose. It doesn’t feel invented, which is the highest praise I can give to a land that doesn’t exist.
For example, let’s talk about mutyas. In the (unnamed) archipelago that Lunurin lives in – clearly a fantasy version of the archipelago that is the Philippines in our world – cultures vary somewhat from island to island (we know that there are hundreds of languages spoken in the archipelago, and in the prologue, we hear of an island ruled by rajs who have tossed out the Codicíans entirely; Lunurin’s island of origin Calilan had a Datu, who was some kind of ruler; and Aynila, which is the setting of SoSaS, has the Lakan who rules the entire island alone, as best I can make out) but mutyas are one of the many things that tie everyone together. A mutya is a piece of jewellery – usually some kind of hair comb for women with magic, but for others it can take just about any form – set with the pearl the person found when they underwent their naming dive. If a person finds a special kind of pearl, it marks them as goddess-chosen – a stormcaller like Lunurin, tide-touched like Alon, or a firetender, depending on the pearl and the goddess. This is a relatively simple piece of worldbuilding, I guess, but for one thing, it’s a beautiful concept, and for a second, it’s woven throughout the entire book. Lunurin’s mutya is one of the things that helps her control (read: suppress) her magic, so it’s something she nearly always has on her person; it’s a sacred, highly personal object that every Aynilan character we come into contact with has and wears, usually openly; by the time we see someone fondle another person’s mutya uninvited, I didn’t need Buba to spell out for me how shocking and violating that was, because she’d already made sure I’d absorbed exactly how important a mutya is. Every concept Buba invents or introduces us to is like that; easy to understand and remember, shown naturally rather than info-dumped on us, and never forgotten or not-followed-through on.
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
HIGHLIGHTS ~no vows of chastity for these nuns ~supporting women’s wrongs 100% ~don’t touch someone else’s pearl (not a euphemism!) ~drown all colonisers ~brace yourself for ALL the Emotions ~a love triangle that is actually excellent ~if she lets down her hair, RUN
Saints of Storm and Sorrow grabs you by the throat and does not let you go for an instant.
It’s also a book where, to be honest, I feel like my main task is just to make sure you know about it – because once you do, it sells itself. A bisexual nun who can summon typhoons by letting down her hair is caught between the goddess she’s hiding from and the totally-not-Spaniards who’ve colonised her home? In a setting inspired by the Philippines?? What else could you possibly need to hear to convince you that Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a must-read?!?
I know, I know, sometimes we get super excited for books with amazing pitches that, in the end, are let-downs. But this is not one of those times. Saints of Storm and Sorrow is every bit as incredible as it sounds. There is no wasted potential here. If I may add a little more alliteration – Saints of Storm and Sorrow is simply superb.
Anitun Tabu herself, garbed in light, the dark moon of her face too beautiful to gaze upon, the black river of her hair a halo lashing in unseen winds. She was crowned in lightning, the spear of heaven’s judgement in her right hand.
“You called my name, Daughter?”
Lunurin is biracial, the daughter of a woman of the archipelago and a Codicían priest – but although she’s spent a good chunk of her life playing a Christian (and therefore Codicían) nun, in her heart she’s anything but. Not for lack of trying; Lunurin works hard to be soft and pleasant, both for her lover and the Church that’s given her a (kind of) sanctuary; she has kept her head down for years, playing the dutiful Christian novice. Behind closed doors, though, she has her romance with Catalina, another biracial novice, with Catalina’s younger sister filling an almost daughter-like role to round out their little family. Interestingly, despite Catalina’s Christian faith being far more genuine than Lunurin’s, Catalina seems to have no shame or complicated feelings about being queer, despite the fact that her sexuality, and her love for Lunurin, go completely against the church’s rules. But in all other respects she’s a good Codicían woman – and very clearly wants Lunurin to be one too.
Lunurin isn’t, though. And not just because she’s a stormcaller – chosen by Anitun Tabu, goddess of the sky and weather, ‘blessed’ with immense power only kept under wraps by the same powerful talisman that hides Lunurin from her goddess. Lunurin sees the hypocrisies and abuses of the Church and the Codicíans, and can’t close her eyes to them; whenever she can, she helps the poor and abused escape the Church’s reach, often with the help of Alon. In Western terms, Alon is basically a prince, the heir of the island’s ruler since his older brother was exiled; he’s also, secretly, one of the tide-touched, able to manipulate salt water with the blessing of Aman Sinaya, goddess of the sea. And he’s the only one who might be able to help when Lunurin and Catalina make a horrific discovery in the early chapters of the book – one that will lead all three of them to the breaking point, and tear them, and maybe even their island, apart.
It took everything in Lunurin not to laugh until she wept. What divine calling could there be when a primordial goddess of the heavens, with lightning for blood and storms at her beck and call, curled under Lunurin’s breastbone, whispering, “Daughter, won’t you drown them for me?”
Drawing inspiration from the Philippines, its history, and its mythology, the setting of SoSaS feels new and unique, a gorgeous and entrancing contrast to the generic Medieval-Europe-esque backdrop that is so confusingly popular in Fantasy. The world Buba has created here is beautiful and intricate, one that I fell more and more in love with the more I learned about it. The people’s relationship to the land and sea and sky, the matriarchal politics, the pearls, the hair, the wildly different (from Christianity) approach to religion, the trio of goddesses whose chosen ones are so integral to the Aynilan way of life… It’s all incredible. No detail has been missed or hand-waved or not-thought-through, with the result that it feels real enough to be a place you could visit it in person if you chose. It doesn’t feel invented, which is the highest praise I can give to a land that doesn’t exist.
For example, let’s talk about mutyas. In the (unnamed) archipelago that Lunurin lives in – clearly a fantasy version of the archipelago that is the Philippines in our world – cultures vary somewhat from island to island (we know that there are hundreds of languages spoken in the archipelago, and in the prologue, we hear of an island ruled by rajs who have tossed out the Codicíans entirely; Lunurin’s island of origin Calilan had a Datu, who was some kind of ruler; and Aynila, which is the setting of SoSaS, has the Lakan who rules the entire island alone, as best I can make out) but mutyas are one of the many things that tie everyone together. A mutya is a piece of jewellery – usually some kind of hair comb for women with magic, but for others it can take just about any form – set with the pearl the person found when they underwent their naming dive. If a person finds a special kind of pearl, it marks them as goddess-chosen – a stormcaller like Lunurin, tide-touched like Alon, or a firetender, depending on the pearl and the goddess. This is a relatively simple piece of worldbuilding, I guess, but for one thing, it’s a beautiful concept, and for a second, it’s woven throughout the entire book. Lunurin’s mutya is one of the things that helps her control (read: suppress) her magic, so it’s something she nearly always has on her person; it’s a sacred, highly personal object that every Aynilan character we come into contact with has and wears, usually openly; by the time we see someone fondle another person’s mutya uninvited, I didn’t need Buba to spell out for me how shocking and violating that was, because she’d already made sure I’d absorbed exactly how important a mutya is. Every concept Buba invents or introduces us to is like that; easy to understand and remember, shown naturally rather than info-dumped on us, and never forgotten or not-followed-through on.
Could not put this down once I picked it up! Stayed up until 8am to finish it and I regret NOTHING. Amazing main characters, both hyper-competent in tCould not put this down once I picked it up! Stayed up until 8am to finish it and I regret NOTHING. Amazing main characters, both hyper-competent in their respective areas (although Rihasi herself isn't just hyper-competent but an outright genius) and I ADORE men being unthreatened by a woman's brilliance and, in fact, falling in love with it. Definitely one of my favourite romantic dynamics, and it's done so incredibly well here.
I never have any idea where Neumeier plans on taking this series next, but I will, as always, be here for it!...more
*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my revi*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
HIGHLIGHTS ~roads of running water…in the sky! ~very mysterious sentencing guidelines ~remember to wash your fingers
I don’t think it would be completely inaccurate to call Talio’s Codex something of a procedural drama set in a (low-magic) fantasy setting; we’re following the titular Talio as he rejoins the legal sphere after a decade away (and a serious disgrace). There is a case, then some more cases, and the forming of a small law firm; Talio and his business partner are also invited to join a committee that makes recommendations for potential new laws. But it seemed to me that the vast majority of the page-time went to Talio’s developing or renewed relationships, which is why I’d call it more drama than procedural. I found that disappointing, but it’s not an objectively good or bad thing, just a matter of personal taste. Other readers will probably be grateful not to be completely drowned in legal minutiae!
Alas, that’s kind of what I was here for – I wanted meticulous, detailed worldbuilding, and I very much wanted to see what another world’s legal system might look like. But the worldbuilding (with a few exceptions) is simplistic almost to the point of insult, and the only difference between the Western justice system and Talio’s is that Talio’s is too new – and too pre-Industrial – to have all the laws we do. (See the sub-plot wherein this society is only just starting to see the need for copyright and patents.)
Let’s start with the world: a queen – who seems to be the latest in a line of queens – rules over four cities. Each city is known for a different attribute; people from this city are more compassionate, from this city colder and more closed-off, etc. They are linked by the skyways, magical rivers in the sky along which special ships can sail (more or less). In fact, this society has a lot of water around, because they worship a water goddess who requires ritual handwashing when entering and leaving most buildings or private residences. There used to be mages, but what exactly the mages were or did is unclear; at some point, they all went mad or bad or something and were locked out of society by a magical barrier. This period of history was overseen by someone called, I kid you not, the Sleepy Queen.
This epithet is never explained.
Enter the Incarnites; a fringe religion that instead worships a fire god. Their very existence makes most people uneasy at best, not least because Incarnites cover their entire bodies with orange robes, meaning you can never see an Incarnite, or tell them apart. Incarnites aren’t quite persecuted, but they’re definitely oppressed and discriminated against in every way, every chance non-Incarnites get.
This discrimination is one of the biggest themes/focuses of the book, but I still don’t know what Incarnites actually believe, except that they can’t be romantically or sexually involved with non-Incarnites. I have no idea what the central tenets of their faith are, and I really don’t know how they practice, either, aside from wearing the robes. Vespers is involved, but what that term means in this setting is not explained; does that mean sessions of group prayer? No clue.
So worldbuilding wise, this didn’t please me.
How about characters? Talio…did not appeal to me in the beginning, and I liked him less and less as the book went on. I got so tired of him obsessing over the looks of every vaguely pretty man he saw, and I found it unbelievable how he only started asking questions about the system he lived in NOW, not ten years ago when he was ruined because he…lost a book. Specifically, his copy of the laws and punishments of the legal system he worked in. (This is also never really explained: even Talio questions WHY losing the book was such a big deal, eventually, and we never get an answer. Why does it matter? Okay, there’s a Big Secret in the books, kiiiiind of. But nobody knows that, so why does everyone shun him for risking its exposure? Insert shrug here.) He’s not a terrible person, and he even undergoes some growth, but absolutely nothing about him held my interest. That, combined with my not liking him as a person – he can’t wrap his head around nonbinary people, and he tricks Pazli into sleeping with him – didn’t make for a great reading experience.
‘The man of his dreams’, aka Pazli, was interesting but annoying. He was so prickly, and while yes, sometimes Talio really was being insulting without realising it…most of the time Pazli was snapping at genuine good-faith efforts to connect. We get it, you hate everyone who’s not an Incarnite! Enough already! Like Talio, he learns and evolves some over the course of the book, and honestly, it probably would have been a more interesting book if it had been written from HIS perspective – what with the tug-of-war he was going through between his religion and his desire for Talio, and his trying to make a space for himself within the legal system – the first Incarnite to ever do so.
The Big Conspiracy was a letdown, particularly in how it was handled handled – (view spoiler)[I would have been happier if the ‘experiment’ didn’t have a clear ‘winner’ and don’t really love what Cohen was implying re harsher punishments to broken laws being the answer (hide spoiler)] – it was all so obvious, and then THE MOST DRAMATIC climax ever, and I just could not.
Writing like this certainly didn’t help;
As he pulled out, it was as if he were taking Talio’s guts with him.
…If, after anal sex, it feels like your guts are being ripped out, that’s – not a good thing??? That sounds agonising, but in context it’s not meant to be, so – what???
Talio felt the end of the judicial season approaching like the spring thaw; they were running out of time.
The end of the judicial season is something Talio is dreading, but the spring thaw is generally considered something to look forward to, so what am I supposed to take away from this?
And please do not even get me STARTED on how all the magistrates and so on ‘rap their fingers’ on their tables and desks – not their knuckles, not gavels, their FINGERS. Which I can only assume means they’re…tapping their fingertips on the table??? With feeling??? But even so, using your fingers instead of your knuckles is going to make almost no sound, certainly not enough to quiet an excited courtroom. This was not a one-off; that phrase, rap/rapped/rapping their fingers, was used CONSTANTLY. It made no sense, I don’t know what Cohen was thinking, and I can’t believe none of the beta-readers brought it up. ???
All in all, this was a chore to read. Potentially interesting for anyone who likes stories about oppressed minorities in fantasy settings, I guess? But a fantastical legal thriller this is not, and I wasn’t impressed with what it is....more
EXCUSE ME?! NEW MARGARET KILLJOY NOVEL?! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
After reading: 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm honestly not sure if this is meant to be Adult or YA, EXCUSE ME?! NEW MARGARET KILLJOY NOVEL?! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
After reading: 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm honestly not sure if this is meant to be Adult or YA, but it was very readable with lots of cool themes. Rtc! ...more
This was PURE JOY and I hope we get many more books of Droplet and her adventures!
~superficially simple worldbuilding that is actually excellent and iThis was PURE JOY and I hope we get many more books of Droplet and her adventures!
~superficially simple worldbuilding that is actually excellent and interesting ~lost count of how many times I laughed out loud ~possibly my favourite depiction of shapeshifters EVER ~surprisingly awesome nuns ~this author made me fall in love with a character named Cheesebreath, I think that deserves its own award...more
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