Politics, love, and the different kinds of chains used by colonizers in this tale of a princess who, with the help of a fire elemental, learns a different way to play the game of Court Politics. Far too short.

I am thoroughly impressed with how much worldbuilding, action, and romance de Bodard is able to fit in a short novella of 112 pages. The pacing never felt off, and it was simply a quick and intriguing read. The main character, Thanh, has a lot to prove when her mother moves her to a new role of diplomat after she has been held hostage of another kingdom for many years. The role ends up being more complicated when an old lover from that kingdom is the one she needs to negotiate with. Thanh is a very believable character in how she handles the situation and learns and grows from it. It is so hard to write about the novella without any spoilers, so I merely suggest picking this up if the synopsis or blurb sounds interesting to you.

Definitely one of those scenarios where I want to tell a book that "it's not you, it's me". I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this novella or what, but I found it hard to stick with, despite it being a novella. However, Aliette de Bodard's work is often elegant and charming, and I think many other readers will find solace among its pages.

This latest novella by Aliette de Bodard is a moving, engaging tale of politics, love, divided loyalties, and betrayal. It has many of the hallmarks of a great de Bodard story, and I enjoyed it.

The novella is quite brief, so I’ll keep my review short to avoid spoilers. It follows Thanh, a princess who has been given the role of diplomat in new negotiations with Ephteria. As a child, Thanh was sent to Ephteria as a hostage, and formed a bond with Eldris — the confident, capable and attractive delegate from Ephteria. Reunited after so long apart, Thanh’s feelings resurface, creating concerns about conflicts of interest and divided loyalties. In a short time, Thanh will be forced to confront her different loyalties, and make choices between love, patriotism, and family.

It also revives Thanh’s memories and fears about a devastating event in Ephteria. She’s still struggling with the flames: what causes them? How and can she control them? Are they tied to her emotions? If so, does she run the risk of hurting those around her? Over the course of the novella, we learn the truth about this strange power Thanh appears to have. We also see how relationships can shift and change with time, and how they can be manipulated to serve different agendas.

Fireheart Tiger is a well-crafted and well-written novella. De Bodard has penned a briskly-paced, but by no means rushed, story. The author’s writing is evocative, and yet also sparsely described (no info-dumps or florid descriptions here). I enjoyed getting to know Thanh, and seeing her come to terms with the realities of her situation, and overcome a few obstacles to achieving her official duties and wrestling with her personal desires. The other characters are similarly well-drawn, however we don’t spend much time with anyone else (except for one other, but… spoilers).

If you are already a fan of de Bodard’s writing, I have no doubt that you will enjoy Fireheart Tiger. If you are new to the author’s work, then this novella could serve as a very good introduction. So, a win-win for any reader. I would be interested in reading more stories in this setting, too, so crossing fingers for that in the future. Recommended.

Stop what you're doing and put this book on your radar. FIREHEART TIGER is a spectacular take on love triangles, political intrigue, and standing up for oneself. The richly described world rings with gorgeous prose and bivid imagery. I was breathless on the edge of my seat! You've got to read this.

This novella was short and sweet. However, the world-building was not fully explained and the characters were very typical and not given much depth. Still, I recommend this for fans that like Asian-inspired fantasy.