Great book. All the mystery surrounding archives in general is portrayed so well, along with all the culture, tradition, and history that surround the whole whole order dedicated to preservation. The niexen ( I hope I spelled that right) are my favorite and I really like Nghi Vo's writing a lot.

"The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest.

Because Cleric Thien was once the patriarch of Coh clan of Northern Bell Pass - and now their granddaughters have arrived on the backs of royal mammoths, demanding their grandfather's body for burial. Chih must somehow balance honoring their mentor's chosen life while keeping the sisters from the north from storming the gates and destroying the history the clerics have worked so hard to preserve.

But as Chih and their neixin Almost Brilliant navigate the looming crisis, Myriad Virtues, Cleric Thien's own beloved hoopoe companion, grieves her loss as only a being with perfect memory can, and her sorrow may be more powerful than anyone could anticipate..."

If you've been dying for the next Nghi Vo book, you are in luck today!

Chih is a cleric who travels the world collecting stories with a startlingly intelligent bird for a companion. At the beginning of this novella, Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey--but the abbey is strangely empty, and there are, as you might have guessed, war-mammoths at the gates.

All of Vo's books about Chih are built around the ways the same story can be told. They're always fascinating on an intellectual level, but some stories will inevitably lie closer to the heart than others. This one lies close to mine.

Returning to a place you used to call home and finding both you and it has changed is a theme that has obvious autobiographical resonance for me. But I'm also interested in the facets of this specific story, which involves memories of a person who was a beloved leader to the clerics and an honored grandfather to a pair of warriors, and the way Vo refuses to let the messages resolve into anything as simple as "This person was good" or "This person was bad" (OK, maybe there's some autobiographically resonant grief there, too). I also enjoyed learning more about those long-remembering birds, the neixin, who have been a matter-of-fact background element in many of the Chih stories, but now come to the fore.

Though many of the novellas in this series could be read in whatever order you joyfully stumbled upon them, this one does assume some existing curiosity about Chih and their world, so it might not be the right place to start. It's definitely one to look forward to, though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

I've never been much of a Doctor Who fan but I've been around the internet long enough to see how many people have taken Matt Smith's Doctor's "We are all stories in the end, just make it a good one eh?" to heart. The idea of who we are when we're gone is at the centre of Vo's latest instalment in The Singing Hills Cycle.

For the first time in the series so far, we follow Cleric Chih as they return to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in years. Upon arrival they learn that their beloved mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and their granddaughters are waiting outside on the backs of mammoths, demanding their grandfather's body be buried with the rest of their family despite Thien's chosen life as a cleric. What ensues is a tale of balance, grief and change as Chih, their childhood friend Ru, Thien's granddaughters and Thien's neixin, Myriad Virtues, tell different stories to pay tribute to Thien's life.

I always fall in love with the ways in which Vo is able to explore a different theme in each of these novellas without making it obvious when you're reading that she's doing just that. Mammoths at the Gates isn't only a story about who Thien was, both before and after they became a cleric, but a story about reckoning with who they are, who they have been and who they might have been. Chih and Ru learn things about Thien's past they find difficult to reconcile with the person they knew, but Chih is also forced to confront how things at Singing Hills Abbey will change even when they aren't there to see them happening.

This is particularly true of their relationship with Ru, who hasn't been able to travel in the same way Chih has but is also no longer the troublemaker Chih knew when they were children together, dreaming of seeing mammoths in the flesh. I'd love to see more of Ru in future instalments of this series, as well as the new addition to Almost Brilliant's family.

I say this almost every time I talk about this series, but if you're a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender - in particular, the many episodes where Aang and co. were travelling and met new people, such as "The Great Divide" - you'll love these books. Plot-wise they're very different, but they have that same vibe.

And if you haven't started this series yet, you're missing a real gem!

Mammoths at the Gate builds off the series to date by bringing the story closer to home for Cleric Chih, and that definitely allows for some new exploration of memory and grief. The central figure of Cleric Thien, and the question of how to remember them, is very compelling, and I honestly would have been happier with the storytelling segments that form the climax being more substantial and central. As with all these novellas, it goes by so quickly, in a way that doesn't work quite as well as instalment one (I can't help but feel the deeper the worldbuilding goes in this series, the more constrained the books are by their length), but these books are always a thoughtful look into storytelling that rewards consideration.

Mammoths at the Gates follow Chih as they return home to Singing Hills to find that a dear friend has passed away. This was beautifully written and is now my favorite book in this series. It is a beautiful look into grief and memories. I absolutely love the Cleric Chih, and Almost Brilliant and I am so glad that we got to meet more of the characters in this story. Nghi Vo's writing is spectacular and she is able to pack so much into the novellas. I look forward to continuing this series.

This is a translated version of the original review written in spanish and posted on Goodreads:

Scoring: 3 Stars

Before I start this review, I want to thank TOR for sending me an advanced copy of this novel. I appreciate your trust and support!

I want to start this review by commenting that I had no idea that this book was part of a series of short stories, so it is likely that my reading experience is biased by not having read the three previous installments. Now, before starting this reading, I discovered that this is the fourth installment of the "The Singing Hills" series, and after a quick research online, I found that it was not necessary to read the previous installments to understand this book. The first thing I will tell you is that, after reading it without having any idea about its predecessors, I have a feeling that you should read the previous installments before starting “Mammoths at the gates”.

Mammoths at the gates is a short story that I honestly didn't quite understand. I attribute this to what I mentioned in the previous paragraph. I really was very lost with everything that was happening. The author talked about clerics, mentors, patriarchs, mammoths, and birds, but I didn't understand how they were all related. It was noticeable that the narration already assumed a certain understanding on the part of the reader about the world in which this story takes place.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Nghi Vo's writing. This is the first time I have read the author and I liked how she describes landscapes and introduces characters with an enveloping and calm narrative. I felt that this book transported me to the singing hills and that I could see first-hand everything that was happening.

The story also touches on the feelings of mourning and sorrow, which are transmitted to the reader in a masterful way. Also, the cover is simply a work of art. This is a common element in the books of the series "The Singing Hills" and one of the key deciding factors that made me request the advanced copy of this book. Wonderful illustrations!

Although this book did not receive a very high score, it is clear that I will read the first three installments of this series. I want to re-read this fourth book, since I feel that there are many things that I missed, thus affecting my experience. You know I'll be documenting my journey through the Singing Hills from start to finish!

I think this is tied with When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain as my favorite entry into this series. I loved seeing Chih back at home and seeing some of their background of where they came from and seeing them interact with people they grew up with. This novella also does a really good job addressing grief as a theme. And I liked seeing more of the neixins beyond just Almost Brilliant

In the fourth volume of the Singing Hills Cycle, Nghi Vo takes us to the Cleric Chih’s home, the Singing Hills Abbey. Chih returns to the Abbey only to discover that their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died. What’s more, Cleric Thien’s biological descendants are threatening the remaining clerics if they don’t provide the body for a burial. Tensions arise from both outside and within the Abbey as those who are left behind grapple with their grief. Once again, Vo utilizes her skills in framing a story within a story, this time in the form of a funeral service for the deceased cleric. The novella tenderly displays how we may honor someone's life by telling stories. To tell stories is to keep the memory alive and the love present. Needless to say, I was moved to tears.

How could I stop myself from reading this lovely novella..?? I know there’s still time for the release but I just needed a bit of familiarity and being back in the world of Singing Hills was a joy and I’m so glad I got the arc of this book.

Our favorite cleric Chih is back at Singing Hills too and it was so nice to finally see their home through their eyes, even though it’s dampened by the grief of losing their mentor and the threat of mammoths at their gates. Almost Brilliant also finally makes an appearance, now already a mother and even more authoritative than I remember. But what this lovely novella is ultimately about grief and loss - how losing someone important maybe inevitable but how we grieve them can be different, each person’s grief can manifest in myriad unexpected ways but nothing is wrong with that, and it’s the bonds we have built and shared that help us through the tough times.

This is a short and maybe bittersweet but also hopeful tale about losing, grieving and moving on, finding our ways through change, and cherishing the friendships and relationships we have built over the years - all told through the form of stories. It’s a perfect addition to this amazing series, carrying forward its theme of how stories keep memories alive, and paving the way for our main characters’ future adventures. I can only hope that the author will let us be a part of these future journeys too.

This may not have been my favorite in the series, I really liked the setting for this one. Seeing a place so familiar for our protagonist but having to deal with issues that are a bit more complicated than some of the past adventures. I really liked having Almost Brilliant back and the baby was a good surprise.

Series Info/Source: This is the fourth book in The Singing Hills Cycle. I got a copy of this on ebook through NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: This book was just as wonderful as all of the previous Singing Hills Cycle books. I love that we got to journey to Chih's home of Singing Hills Abbey in this volume. This was a fascinating and heartfelt read with a lot of humor and some wonderful stories within the main story.

This book finds Chih returning to their home abbey only to find that their mentor, Cleric Thien has died. As Chih works through their anguish they end up working with Almost Brilliant to help Myraid Virtues (Cleric Thien's hoopoe) navigate her grief. Things are complicated by the gates literally being stormed by mammoths as the Coh clan demands Thien's body for burial.

I continue to love this series' focus on the importance of stories and the legacy stories leave for the rest of humanity. Chih finds some healing in going through Cleric Thien writings and helping to decide which stories will be kept in the archives and which will be kept eternally in the hoopoe's minds. The hoopoes' unique ability to remember things forever across generations is fascinating and is really explored a lot in this book. This book also looks at how different the impact a person has is to different people; Cleric Thien obviously had a huge impact on the Abbey but he also had a huge impact on the Coh clan, but in a different way.

It was a lot of fun to hear about Chih and the trouble they got into growing up at the Abbey. This gave Chih even more history and depth for the reader and getting to know some of Chih's friends at Singing Hills Abbey was a lot of fun too. There are heavy themes of change in this book as well. With Almost Brilliant having her brood and the abbey leadership moving on, everyone is dealing with both the grief and hope that change can bring.

As with all of these books, this was amazingly well written and the story was very thoughtfully woven. This is entertaining while being thought-provoking. I am always in awe at how much I enjoy these books and how much I think about them afterwards.

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing continuation of the Singing Hills Cycle. I believe (and hope) there is one more book planned for this series and I eagerly await it. I would recommend this series to everyone, but especially to those who enjoy stories about the importance of stories.

I absolutely loved this story! Probably my favorite of the series so far. I loved getting to see Chih in their element and be formally introduced to life at Singing Hills, and I loved the emphasis this book put on stories of friendship. It was heartwarming and lovely and felt like a hug in book form!

A story about who we are and who we can be, coming home and making a place your home and grief, so much grief. It's a really captivating story, much like the previous in the series. Chih is the Chih we have come to know and love from the previous books. We see a new side of them - who they are when they are at home among people who know and love them.
I want to talk a bit about what this story does with the topic of grief - it's outstanding! Very emotional, going from full stupor and depression to a miraculous transformation and rebirth. There is no glossing over over the hurt and pain but ultimately there is hope and this is what matters the most.

I have nothing new to say about the writing - Nghi Vo is a master of words and her storytelling is pure magic.

CW: death, grief, violence

Meh. I read an ARC for the previous one in this series, and I basically have the same opinions. If I had to say, I think the previous book was slightly better

I really loved this! Mammoths at the Gates feels a little different tonally from previous novellas in the series, but in a good way. We pick up with Cleric Chih as they are returning to the Singing Hills to learn that their mentor Cleric Thien has died and Thien's granddaughters wait outside the gates with war mammoths, demanding to be given Thien's body. I really loved how the setting led to getting more background information about the structure of the abbey, the hierarchy of the clerics, and possible history for their longstanding companionship with neixin. Chih also reunites with their friend Ru, who is both similar and different to how they remember, and Thien's neixin is processing grief in a way that others in the abbey struggle to understand. The embedded storytelling comes a little later in this book, when characters gather for a talking ceremony to share stories about Thien's life. This was just such a lovely novella and a beautiful consideration of grief, change + transformation, how well you can know someone, the ways we are composed of stories, remembering things as they are and not how you wish they were, etc etc. I completely adore this series and more people should be reading it! I already cannot wait for the next story with Cleric Chih.

A beautiful addition to this wonderful series. I love Chih and seeing them finally return home and be reunited with old friends and family to say goodbye to someone close to them was so bittersweet. I will read Singing Hills books as long as they continue to be published.

This is a wonderful insight into the Singing Hills and the characters that we've heard about in previous instalments. I can't wait to see where this series goes in future

I was a huge fan of empress of salt and fortune and I think this might be my favorite since! Really beautifully written and it was so nice to finally get a clear picture of what life at singing hills abbey is like. I think it would be difficult to read this particular entry out of order, however, as it relies on the reader already having a bit of familiarity with the world.

Another stellar installment in the Singing Hills series! Nghi Vo has done it again with style and heart. This excellent little collection of novellas can be read in any order, though I enthusiastically recommend starting with the first book, because it’s simply stunning in its craft.

MAMMOTHS AT THE GATE picks back up the story of Chih, wandering cleric of the Singing Hills monastery and career historian, as they travel back home to Singing Hills. This centering on Chih and their own story was an unusual and wonderfully-done shift from the previous books in the series, which felt both natural and welcome.

The thing I like most about this series is how each installment is really about something greater than its plot. MAMMOTHS AT THE GATES deals with a number of those themes: what it means to come home, the impacts of grief on a person, and how to reconcile the good and bad things that any person has done in their life. This is definitely a book I found myself thinking about well after I had read its final page.

All in all, a really wonderful read — and if you haven’t started this series, I can’t recommend it enthusiastically enough. thanks so much to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC!