Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances picks up on Thuan and Asmodeus from Aliette de Bodard’s Dominion of the Fallen world once more, and once more they’re in the world of Thuan’s birth rather than safe (well, relatively safe) in Asmodeus’ particular domain. As ever, they love each other very much, but Asmodeus is a stabby creature of revenge, while Thuan believes himself saner and more just… though it does become clear that Asmodeus is capable of love, self-sacrifice and reaching for justice, while Thuan is more hide-bound than he’d like to admit.

It’s not quite “together, they fight crime”, but it’s not far off either. While babysitting, they quickly stumble upon a mystery and a ghost, and following that to where it leads promptly exposes all the stress-fractures in their relationship, and all the flaws of both of them.

For fans of the characters, it’s lovely; it’s being billed as a one-shot, which I wouldn’t say is entirely true. I think it works on its own, probably, but there’s more to it when you can see it against the backdrop of the Dominion of the Fallen books, and the last of Asmodeus and Thuan’s relationship. That said, you don’t need to have read them recently (I haven’t), because it gives a lot of cues about their background to help make things clear.

It was a fun read, for sure, and I’ll pick up anything else that happens to come out about Asmodeus and Thuan.

Of Charms, Ghosts, and Grievances by Aliette De Bodard-A follow-up to Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murder, finds Thuan and Asmodeus, creatures of immense power and violence, as caretakers for their young relatives, which sounds like an awkward situation, but not to worry there is murder, a mystery, and, of course, a ghost. The language is warm and sublime as usual with Aliette De Bodard's beautiful poetic prose. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I'm fond of de Bodard's writing style. Though I bounced off the first book in this universe, The House of Shattered Wings, it did not stop me from enjoying this novella. De Bodard is an anthropologist by training, and I think it leads her to bring a thoughtful and wide-ranging approach to her world-building. It feels both more comprehensive then the average fantasy and less exhausting than the average Sanderson. Undoubtedly, it's one of the reasons I keep coming back to her writing, but the other aspect that draws me in are her diverse and interesting characters.

'Thuan,' Asmodeus said. His voice was quiet, matter of fact. It was that, more than anything else, hwich made Thuan look up with his heart in his throat--the very idea that something was serious enough that his husband wouldn't have any sarcasm for it.

'What?'

'You have one extra child among your charges.'

Both this and the prior novella, Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders, center upon a gay couple that comes from fairly extreme backgrounds--not quite Romeo and Juliet, but something near. Thuan is a dragon prince, and Asmodeus a fallen angel, although, again, don't let that sideline you (I have something of a prejudice against heavenly hosts). In both novellas, the couple is residing with Thuan's family for both social and policial reasons, and court politics are a component of both books. Though the prior novella became bogged down in court details, this focuses more on the murder and the characters involved, so I felt greater tolerance for it.

I liked it. I think de Bodard gives just enough background into the history of the leads and their respective societies that I was curious, but not overwhelmed, and dives into the action relatively quickly. And despite being told the was Asmodeus was a bit of a bastard, it was rather sweet to see the level of care and concern he took for the ghost. Even more fascinating was how de Bodard took it to another level with the couple's relationship. Oh yes; and a decent mystery, if a bit super-villian for my taste. But still good.

I had no doubt this was going to be a 5* as I love Aliette de Bodard's storytelling and those set in the world of Dominion of the Fallen have a special place in my heart.
I read Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders without any clue about world building and characters. Loved it and bought/read the rest of the series.
I had high expectations for this novella and I'm happy because I thoroughly enjoyed and loved the story.
I loved how the author dealt with some serious issues like what is that makes a person and other that I won't spoil but the main plot never took the back seat or dragged.
I think this one of the traits that make me thing that Aliette de Bodard is a master storyteller. She excels at writing sci-fi and fantasy stories but i think that she could be an excellent mystery writer too.
Even if there's a complex world building it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
All this blah blah because i loved the story and I think it must be strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such a charming story! I love the romance in the midst of magical murder and babysitting shenanigans! What could be more fun? I love how surprisingly deep the emotional conversations went. Nothing like a demon and a dragon cuddled up and discussing their vulnerabilities.

I’m annoyed at myself at still not having got round to reading the Dominion of the Fallen series, but instead started with this series of novellas. I’m told that you can read them as stand alone, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first, Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders but to be honest I did feel I lost a lot in this short novella from missing out on all the background.

We once again follow Dragon Prince, Thuan, and his Fallen Angel husband, Asmodeus. Theirs is clearly a deep bond and loving marriage, but we are told here that it had… violent… beginnings, and frankly it seems like Asmodeus was not supposed to hang around as a ‘foreigner’. The setting is Thuan’s homeland, beneath the Seine in a sort of magical ‘bubble’, and a world deeply inspired by highly traditional Vietnamese culture. Court and family intrigue is sort of one and the same, and ranks are very clearly defined.

This comes across in random comments and very definitely makes me want to have already read the original series! Sounds like a lot has gone on! It also made me feel a little disconnected here, feeling that I’d missed so much background. Thuan and Asmodeus’ relationship is not completely smooth sailing, and I did at times feel it was a little too in peril to make this a wholly comfortable read. Presumably with more backstory it’d not feel quite so jarring.

But still, this is mostly a comforting kind of a read, full of love even if it’s not always easy. The mostly-happy couple start the novella babysitting, and it’s really nice to see non-bratty kids that are so clearly cared for and caring, and while they aren’t the focus here they do add a lot. And then there’s the ghost child…!

I won’t give too many spoilers, but the mix of (non-Western) mythologies and magics is fantastic, especially loved the deadly paper charms. Oh, and one character’s constant supply of tea – perhaps kept up her sleeves?! Brilliant 🙂

I’d love to recommend this to everyone, but the one caveat is that I do think it’d read better after the main series. A flaw in myself I hope to rectify soon!

I really enjoyed this! I haven't read the previous novella or the series of novels that proceed this, but I don't feel like it took too much effort to understand the universe and the relationships within it. I think I missed some of the nuance on the magic and the specifics of dragon and fallen abilities, but the strength of this novel was the characters and their relationships. The murder mystery was a nice framing device to really see how two headstrong characters (and their families and friends) could interact, love, fight, make the hard choices, and grow, And while there was a bit of "just talk to each other!" syndrome, some of the point of the book was to get the characters to figure out how to do that. Really enjoyed this book and going to go back and read the rest of this series.

One of my favorite books from 2020 was Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders and I didn’t know until a week ago that it was going to become a series with a second book coming out this month. Y’all! My favorite dragon prince and his murder husband are back to solve another murder mystery! I loved Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances even more than the first book and it will definitely be on my favorites list of 2022.

This novella was everything! It starts off with Thuan (the soft bookish dragon husband) and Asmodeus (the stabby overprotective fallen angel husband with lots of knives) babysitting while visiting Thuan’s family. They soon find a ghost and uncover a murder that leads them into all sorts of troubles ranging from being attacked while babysitting to an ex-lover making an appearance. It’s mixed together with a hefty dash of emotional struggle, knives, and romance. I don’t think that these two will ever get to have a normal vacation ever.

Aliette de Bodard has built such an intriguing gothic fantasy world that instantly sucks me in. Her writing is beautiful and I adored the Vietnamese mythology mixed with the lore on fallen angels. The plot was intriguing and was a good mix of action, romance, and comedy. The babysitting scenes alone had me grinning like a loon. My heart didn’t know it needed the scenes with Asmodeus and Thuan being uncles to Camille and Ai Nhi but it did. It's now a huge pile of goo because of all the stabbiness and cuteness!

My favorite part though was the romance. Thuan and Asmodeus have come a long way since the first book but their marriage isn’t without its struggles and issues. The fight between them kept me on the edge of my seat and made me more than a little snippity to my family when my reading was interrupted. I just had to know if everything would work out and they would be fine.

Full disclaimer, I still haven’t read the original trilogy this series is a spin-off of despite having plans to do so in 2020. We all know how that year went. In this novella, we got a look at the start of Thuan and Asmodeus’s relationship and I’m dying to know more! The Dominion of the Fallen series is one I will definitely be continuing and finishing this year!

This series is so masterfully written and I can’t recommend it enough! It’s also a perfect Pride read with both bisexual and gay rep. I’m going to cross my fingers and hope with everything I have that we get even more novellas about my favorite murder husbands! I really can’t get enough of them or this world.

I loved the previous novella about Thuan and Asmodeus, so when I got the chance to read an early copy of this I jumped at it. This met and exceeded all my expectations. I absolutely ADORED it.

I haven't gotten a chance to read the initial trilogy about Thuan and Asmodeus, though I immediately bought them after reading the first novella. I must remedy that soon. I can't wait to explore the beginning of their relationship because everything about their dynamic here is brilliant.

We have Asmodeus, a very stabby fallen angel with a protective streak a mile wide and at least as much sarcasm and hidden knives. Then we have Thuan, a Vietnamese water dragon who loves books and believes in talking before stabbing (in most instances) but has a tendency to be attracted to stabby people.

Whilst visiting Thuan's family and babysitting a horde of children, they uncover a murder and things get... interesting.

The pacing was excellent (and fast), the writing was gorgeous, the plot kept me guessing, and the emotional struggle between Asmodeus and Thuan was one I might have expected in a longer book. The story and emotional struggle was satisfactorily resolved within the novella but leaves enough that there could be future novellas. And I desperately hope there will be because I am not ready to leave these fascinating characters.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Aliette de Bodard, and JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc. for providing an e-arc for review.

Before reading this short novella, I first read of Dragons, Feast and Murder and The Dominion of the Fallen trilogy in a week and a half or so. I was very much prepared for this world. While I know this novella is being advertized as a standalone novella, I can't help but feel that it is the best to have read those before diving into this.

And I say this because this novella delves a little deeper into the relationship between Thuan and Asmodeus. A lot of their relationship is settled in the trilogy where this novella is a companion too. But there is still a lot of things they don't talk about a lot. They've been tossed into this and that situation. And talking things out was never part of the repertoire for them. But in this book they have to. I think to really appreciate that and to appreciate how much that means for a character like Asmodeus you need to have read the previous installments. And how our duo each deals with things so very differently. Perhaps so very different from what is expected from them. A lot would pick Thuan as the caring one but in this instance it goes a little differently. I like how the author set that up.

Outside of that it is interesting to once again return to the dragon world and to see the two that the two young ones have grown up so much. The plot in itself wasn't quite as interesting as the dressing up was. I loved reading it for the characters that I have grown to love.

Aliette’s novellas that focus on Thuan and Asmodeus are like settling in with a weighted blanket and a cup of tea, with a side of supernatural whodunits, dealing with kids written by an author you can tell has kids of her own, hungry ghosts, dudes and obsessive decades long grudges, couples actually communicating about their fights even as one of them continues drawing knives out of unexpected places that the other missed. I love that de Bodard has gotten to expand out these two in these novellas, and getting to see how they actually handle fights as a couple is one of those very telling things, even as they’re getting attacked by malicious charms and trying to protect kids (both living and post-living). Pick this up; it’s the best kind of treat.

4.5 stars

Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances is a delightful cosy and heartfelt novella continuing to follow the adventures of Thuan and Asmodeus on the holiday in the dragon court. They stumble upon another murder with a body at an abandoned shrine and a ghostly witness who need their help. Hunted by cursed charms, unable to get help from the court and the tension having a ghost ward puts on their relationship the stakes are higher than ever and it is a great novella from start to finish!

I enjoyed book 1 but I LOVED this one. We get and emotional and touching insight into an established relationship and a conflict which arises from opposing principles and lack of communication. Thuan and Asmodeus are definitely an interesting and iconic power couple but they are very different people and I think this book beautifully highlights what an argument looks like when you have deep care and affection for the other person. I really love their relationship and the development it went through in this book (and I haven't even read the original trilogy but I'm definitely going to now!!). The "I love you and see all of you" (paraphrased) I'm still not over it T____T

I also really enjoyed the plot elements of this book (anything with ghosts I am a sucker for) and the cosy mystery vibes this novella series has going on. I also loved seeing Asmodeus and Thuan being uncles and the children characters were all so adorable and well-fleshed out side characters (which is surprisingly rare for child characters).

Aliette de Bodard's writing is gorgeous and she creates such an amazing atmosphere and alt-historical court setting. I can't wait to get through all her backlist!

I would highly recommend this novella series if you are looking for a gorgeously written cosy mystery with murder husbands (one certified stabby and the other certified cinnamon roll - the best combo honestly). <3

Even though this is a novella it read like a beautiful epic with lush world-building and strong characters who shared realistic and interesting relationship dynamics. The mystery around the Anemone Immortal was bolstered by these characters and their love and concern for each other (all wrapped up in sarcasm and sharp, witty banter). This novella left me wanting to seek out the main series to see more of everyone and to dive deeper into this world.

Thank you to Underland Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances by Aliette de Bodard is an absolutely amazing fantasy novella that will satisfy all fans of the author. I am so happy to be able to review this novella! The story reolves around dragon prince Thuan and his fallen angel husband Asmodeus. When they discover a crime has been committed, it's up to them to figure out what happened. This is definitely not what they expected to do on their vacation!

Here is a hilarious excerpt from the first page of the novella:

"Thuan's cousin had asked him to mind the children--an offer Thuan had said yes to, because the next person on his cousin's list had been Thuan's husband Asmodeus, and the words "Asmodeus" and "babysitting" in the same sentence were properly blood-curling. Anything involving Asmodeus and patience and gentleness and diplomacy, in fact. It wasn't that he didn't understand children: it was just that his idea of age-appropriate included lectures on stab-wounds and detailed explanations on how to terrorize other children to do one's bidding. Thuan was absolutely sure none of his aunties would approve. Worse, they would pointedly remind him at every single family occasion that he was the eldest in the couple and should provide his husband with a good example.
Thuan cleaned a lot of Asmodeus's messes, and he didn't need extras."

Overall, Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances is a wonderful blend of fantasy and mystery, just like some of the author's other books. I must begin with the fact that Aliette de Bodard is one of my favorite authors. I have read many of her books, including the Obsidian and Blood series, mysteries set in an Ancient Aztec society with magic. One highlight of this book is how it blends multiple genres like fantasy, romance, comedy, and mystery. The author's books are some of the most original that I have ever read. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

At first I was scared of reading this one having not read the previous book in the spin-off series but after seeing a couple reviews I was convinced to give it a try. I won't lie, I think it would be much help to read the first one in the series before as it gives a better introduction to our mcs and worldbuliding that may be necessary to understand some things in this book. However, I didn't feel lost at any point in the story because of that and I really enjoyed the mcs relationship and the murder mystery. The writing was so beautiful and easy to follow at the same time and I think the descriptions of the world and the characters' personalities/feelings were great.

This author writes really well. These are short stories, this is the second one about these two men, but they drop you right into the action and it’s never unclear as to what the world is like or the motivation of the characters. The two lead characters are sympathetic and likable. I’ve read a scattering of other things by this author but I think this story would stand alone well.

Full Disclosure: I haven't read the Dominion of the Fallen series, just the previous Dragons and Blades story about Asmodeus and Thuan. What I enjoy about these two characters is that most of the time they are unapologetically themselves and they appreciate that about one another, even when it's not exactly useful in the circumstance they find themselves in. This installment of their story made them face things in their relationship yet resolved alongside the murder mystery aspect, which Aliette de Bodard is so good at. It was marketed as "perfect for fans of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's Heaven Official's Blessing, KJ Charles, and Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves." and having read all those authors and works mentioned, I completely agree. I'm intrigued to read more from this author and this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

<i>*I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*</i>

This is the second in a series of spinoff novellas from Aliette de Bodard's Dominion of the Fallen HOWEVER this can totally be read as a standalone. I have not yet read any of the "previous" books and didn't feel lost at all. Yes, there are a few small world building things that I'm sure would have made more sense with knowledge of the previous books, but it didn't bother me. The author does a great job of setting the scene and calling back to what I assume are previous events enough that I was able to remain invested and unconfused the whole time.

And wow was I invested. I won't say much because it is a novella, but there are serial murders and a ghost child and two men who love each other but have a hard time communicating their feelings and I loved it so much. I am completely obsessed with Asmodeus and Thuan and immediately moved the previous books up higher on my TBR.

Aliette de Bodard’s Dragons and Blades series is a stand alone spin-off from her Dominion of the Fallen series. I didn’t feel like I was lacking information, but I am now intrigued enough that I want to read it. At some point during the first series, a marriage is arranged between Thuan, a lower level prince in the Imperial Family, and Asmodeus, a murder happy fallen angel. The marriage may not have initially been welcome by either party (they planned to kill each other), they have settled into an affectionate if wary partnership.

In Of Charms, Ghosts, and Grievances, Thuan and Asmodeus are on another visit to the underwater city, this time with two children in their care. Naturally, there are dead bodies, but this time the ghost of a child is at the center of the action and threatens to destroy the fragile understanding between the husbands.

The cultural and personality differences between Thuan a dragon shifter, and Asmodeus, a fallen angel, are a central dynamic, but now the tension between them is an obstacle and not just a sexy edge of danger. To be fair, everything Asmodeus does carries a sexy edge of danger. They do recognize that they are stronger working together, even when they aren’t sure the relationship will survive. Even when they aren’t sure Asmodeus will survive.

In a very few pages Aliette de Bodard builds a gorgeous and intriguing world. Her novellas show us just enough for it to feel lived in and layered. And I love that we find out Thuan has a type.

If Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders was about doing the hard work to set things right, Of Charms, Ghosts, and Grievances is about the power of seeing. Both novellas are wonderful and well worth your time.

I received an arc for Of Charms, Ghosts, and Grievances from NetGalley. My opinions are freely and honestly given.

Married couple Thuan and Asmodeus find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery when they encounter a ghost child while on babysitting duty. They differ on how to handle the situation, which leads to some cracks forming in their relationship. With the help of some friends, will Thuan and Asmodeus be able to solve the mystery and save their relationship?

I enjoyed this story, but I take a small objection to the idea of it being a standalone novella. While the arc of the story is contained within this novella, there is a lot of worldbuilding and characterization that I assume occurred within the original trilogy that left me struggling to keep up. There are shifters? Dragons with antlers? Fish people? All of it left me a little lost while trying to keep up with the story. There was also what felt like a relatively large volume of characters for the length of the novella that I assume you meet in the previous stories. Since I have not read them, I got a lot of the names mixed up while reading and kept forgetting who people were. I think if I had read the trilogy these characters come from I would have been much less confused.

All of this being said, I thought the storyline was intriguing and the writing style was beautiful. This novella definitely made me want to read the original trilogy and check out de Bodard's other work. However, the confusion I had throughout the novella dampened my enjoyment a bit. If you have read the original stories and enjoyed them, I am sure you will like this as well! Just be aware to new readers that it may be a bit difficult to follow if this is your first foray into this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and JABberwockey Literary Agency for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.