Thank you NetGalley for the readers' copy.
I’ve said it multiple times, if Nghi Vo writes it, I’m going to read it.
I truly hope this series never ends (please!)
As always I’m immediately drawn in and HEAVILY invested from the opening pages. Vo’s writing feels like a balm and so melodic it’s not hard to be invested.
This is my kind of poetry.
4★ I’ll never stop recommending this series.

Nghi Vo is an auto-read author for me and it is large part to this series of novellas. Each story is expertly crafted and tells incredibly human stories of love, friendship, and finding home. The Brides of High Hill is just as perfect as the novellas that came before it. As always, Cleric Chih records their stories with grace and care, but this story is different now that Chih is living it themself.

Perfect for a few quiet hours and a refreshing story, this series should be on everyone’s list.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Tor for letting me read this early.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Nghi Vo’s latest installment in *The Singing Hills Cycle*, *The Bride of High Hill*, serves as an intriguing addition to a series already rich with depth and storytelling. While it is steeped in familiar themes and motifs, this novella takes a decidedly different turn from its predecessors, leaning into a blend of mystery and gothic horror. As the fifth entry in the series, it expands on the intricate world Vo has crafted, yet it ventures into new territory, both narratively and tonally.

The premise centers on Cleric Chih, a character who has become a linchpin for the series, as they accompany a young bride to her prospective husband's home for negotiations. The setting—an old estate beset by secrets—creates a palpable tension from the start. Vo adeptly captures the atmosphere of unease with a gothic lens, crafting an environment filled with unsettling occurrences: from the haunted son of the lord to the cryptic behaviors of the estate's staff. The narrative structure, while diverging from the previous story-within-a-story format, gives Chih a more active role, allowing readers to experience the mystery unfold through their eyes.

The novella excels in its thematic exploration of deception and the complexities of character, which often run deeper than surface-level impressions. Vo’s portrayal of characters is nuanced; the young bride, portrayed as innocent and docile, hints at the layers of darkness that may lie beneath her façade. This complexity is further echoed in the supporting characters, who add depth to the story, enhancing the sense of intrigue and moral ambiguity.

Despite the novella's strengths, it does encounter some pacing issues, particularly towards the end. The plot occasionally feels rushed, suggesting a struggle to balance its ambitious themes within a limited page count. Vo’s storytelling skills shine brightest in the beginning, where she establishes a captivating mystery and atmospheric tension; however, as the plot races toward its conclusion, some of the subtleties may feel overwhelmed by the need to resolve multiple threads.

One of the standout elements of *The Brides of High Hill* is its dark humor. Vo weaves in moments of levity amidst the tension, which balances the darker themes of the narrative. The commentary on societal expectations, particularly regarding marriage and familial obligations, is cleverly layered throughout, lending the story a contemporary relevance that resonates beyond its fantasy setting.

The presence of fox girls—a trend that the reviewer gleefully notes is “in right now”—adds another layer of allure to the story. Vo’s unique blend of Asian-inspired fantasy elements with darker themes and mystery creates a rich tapestry that captivates readers. The inclusion of surreal motifs, such as taxidermy and talking birds, adds a whimsical yet eerie quality to the story, enhancing its overall intrigue.

Ultimately, *The Brides of High Hill* may not quite reach the emotional heights of earlier entries like *The Empress of Salt and Fortune* or *Mammoths at the Gates*, but it remains a compelling read, filled with unexpected twists and rich storytelling. Vo’s ability to imbue her characters with moral complexity makes for a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of good and evil, love and betrayal.

In conclusion, Nghi Vo continues to solidify her place as a masterful storyteller within the fantasy genre. While this particular installment may grapple with pacing issues and an expanded cast of characters that occasionally feel overwhelming, the richness of its themes, alongside Vo’s trademark lyrical prose, keeps readers engaged from start to finish. For fans of gothic mystery and fantasy, this novella offers an enticing glimpse into a world where stories shape reality, and the monsters we fear may be closer than we think. As Vo’s characters navigate their dark, tangled paths, readers are left eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this enchanting series.

I will start this review by saying that I absolutely ADORE this entire series and will always read new installments! Nothing could stop me.

BUT...I thought this was the weakest book of the series by far.

I was confused by the storytelling style of this one. So much so that the "twist" fell flat because I didn't totally understand what was even happening. I also though my favorite Cleric Chih was kind of one-dimensional in this story? They just didn't have the pep and joyfulness that I expect from them.

I think especially because this came after Mammoths at the Gates (my favorite installment in this series) I just expected more!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of “The Brides of High Hill” by Nghi Vo. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really love the Singing Hill Cycle series and look forward to getting to read one each year. I feel like I should try to go back and reread them all at some point.

My favorite part of this book was finding out where Almost Brilliant was. I missed her in the book! I feel like I picked up on what was happening in the larger story pretty quickly so it wasn’t a big surprise when it came to the reveal about what was actually happening. This story didn’t really stick in my mind the way a lot of the others have but I still enjoyed reading it. I’ll happily pick up the books in this series whenever they release.

4/5 stars

4.5 stars

One of my favourites in the series, The Brides of High Hill was a joy to read. There's a mystery and a real sense of danger and I was hooked. I've seen a lot of complaints about the length and yeah, I would've loved more, but I'm very happy with what was here. The twists and surprises here would've been impressive in an epic novel, the fact that Vo pulled it off in a tiny novella, I can only bow down to her skill.

The Singing Hills series has been a delightful surprise, with each installment offering a unique and engaging story. While the previous few books felt a bit repetitive, The Brides of High Hill has revitalized the series.

This installment introduces a gothic atmosphere and skillfully utilizes dream-like pacing. Nghi Vo also cleverly references a previous story, creating a connected universe without compromising the standalone nature of each book. The limited narration provides a new perspective, adding depth and intrigue.

If you're a fan of the series, The Brides of High Hill is a must-read. It's a refreshing addition that showcases Vo's storytelling talents and promises a bright future for the series.

I didn't realize this book was a part of a series when I received the arc copy. However, having read it, I am very excited to go back and delve into the other stories this series has to offer.

This particular novella leans towards mystery and horror, which I really enjoyed. Based on mythology and bringing an almost gothic horror vibe? Yes please. Overall, a really good read and I'm excited to see what else this author has to offer.

This one felt a little more obvious in where the plot was going, but as always I enjoyed the blend of social commentary and character development in such a small package.

At the start of The Brides of High Hill, the fifth book in Nghi Vo’s wonderful Singing Hills Cycle of novellas, Cleric Chih is in the process of accompanying a family to the titular estate, where the daughter will be married to the lord of the manor. Chih quickly discovers that not all is as it seems: the Lord has a history of short-lived marriages with tragic ends and a strangely ill son from one of those previous marriages; the Bride-to-Be’s family has secrets of their own; and why can’t Chih remember how they parted ways with Almost Brilliant, the neixin who usually accompanies them, and came to be traveling with the family?

Vo packs a lot into each Singing Hills novella, and The Brides of High Hill is no exception. What at first seems like a simple tweak to the legend of Bluebeard morphs into an Asian-inflected gothic suspense novel with a possibly haunted estate and then morphs again into a rumination on colonialism and on revenge as an unending cycle.

Chih of course finds themself at the center of all of this, not only as chronicler but also as the person who must try to find a solution that satisfies all the parties involved. This is not the first time we’ve seen Chih operate without Almost Brilliant at their side – but is the first time we’ve seen Chih unsure of where Almost Brilliant is. And that makes a difference in Chih’s confidence in their ability to recall details about Lord Gao’s family and the bride-to-be’s. It’s a side of Chih I feel like we haven’t seen before and continues the character growth we’ve seen in the preceding four novellas.

Vo does a wonderful job setting the mood of High Hills with details about the architecture, the smells, and the distinct differences noticeable between daylight hours and the nighttime. I understood Chih’s sense of disorientation, shared their discomfort at not being able to put their finger on exactly what was creating the sense of wrongness, felt like I was there in the misty, uncomfortable dark.

I can’t speak too much on the aspects of the book that touch on the ravages of colonialism and cycles of revenge (and how we break them), or on the parts that involve gaslighting, without spoiling major plot points that are best left discovered as they unfold. I can say that when I realized what was going on, I found Vo’s handling of the gaslighting in particular to be expertly done, with great care and understanding of the victim’s questioning of how to trust their feelings in the future. Likewise with the “how do we break violent cycles” issue.

I think I say this in every review of a Singing Hills Cycle installment, but these books truly can be read in any order; you do not have to know anything about what transpired in books one through four to enjoy The Brides of High Hill. I highly recommend picking it up – or picking up the first book in the series, Empress of Salt and Fortune, and savoring each novella in turn.

I received an electronic advance reading copy of 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. I did receive the e-ARC well before publication date but never posted the review. The Brides of High Hill is available now wherever books are sold.

I know y'all are tired of me just giving every book in this series 5 stars but I simply cannot help myself! Ever since seeing a glimpse of it in Siren Queen, I've been saying that Nghi Vo's writing style is perfect for gothic horror, and while I have already gotten to see it in full force in What the Dead Know, I was so thrilled to see it here in my favourite series. I said this in the last book as well but I also just love that as the series goes on, Chih has become more of a main character, rather than just the eyes through which we experience the story. I don't believe I've seen an announcement saying additional entries in the series have been acquired beyond this one, but I'm holding out hope that this is not the last one.

This was my first Nghi Vo book and I wonder if I should have read others first in order to have a sense of their style and the world they generally create.

This wasn’t a most pleasurable read. The entitled bride, the fixated parents, the oddities that surrounded the house and situation - which instead of creating a sense of curiosity just felt more boresome than intriguingly bothersome.

The Lord’s son is perhaps the only character I felt invested in. This was not my cup of tea.

The Brides of High Hill was another win in the Singing Hills cycle from Nghi Vo. I love the ability to fit so much character study in just a few pages.

I love all of the Singing Hills Cycle novellas. This one was particularly dark. I liked the sense of unreality permeating the story prior to the reveal.

This is the 5th in a historical fantasy series that began with The Empress of Salt and Fortune.

Cleric Chih travels the empire of Ahn collecting stories, usually traveling with rufous-striped talking bird Almost Brilliant.

This time, Chih accompanies adorable young bride Pham Nhung and her parents to her wedding at the grim estate of the much older Lord Guo.

They are welcomed lavishly, but something is not right - nothing is what it seems!

Content Warnings: Mild gore

Note: This novella is the 5th in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone work.

I have never read any of The Singing Hills Cycle books, but after reading this one, I will definitely go back and read the rest. Vo combines mythology, social commentary, and mystery in the perfect, spooky package. The Cleric Chih (they/them) serves as the vehicle to exploring the mystery, the social customs around bridal rites, and the power of stories.

I've really enjoyed the Singing Hills Cycle in general, Nghi Vo has a distinct voice and a way of weaving a narrative that is really captivating. The Brides of High Hill is unique in the series so far because it starts off with a bit of an unreliable beginning as the story has already begun, and the reader joins in when Cleric Chi wakes up in the back of a cart with a bride & her parents, Almost Brilliant isn't around, and the cleric doesn't remember quite how she got there. The reader is along for the story as, this time, it unfolds around the cleric as she tries to uncover the reality of the situation and her new friends.

This book was more mysterious and perhaps felt a little more sinister than others in the series. There has always been some inherent danger in Chi's travels, sometimes more implicit than others, but the mystery of not knowing exactly what we were dealing with was a new angle and gave this tale a more dangerous and urgent undertone.

As I have come to expect from Vo, the narrative was well-crafted and the atmosphere around the story was tangible, I would highly recommend the entire Singing Hills Cycle to anyone who is a lover of good storytelling and seeing things from legends & folklore come to life.

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo is the fifth book in literary fantasy novella series The Singing Hills Cycle. You can technically read them all as stand-alones if you want, but I'd still recommend reading them in order.

And listen to the audiobook versions! These books are ABOUT stories and it's lovely to feel like you're part of the oral storytelling.

This one in particular leans a little into gothic horror. I really like that genre, and I had fun with this one!

4.5 stars! Through my interest in other books published by Tor.com I've become a fan of Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle and this new book, The Brides of High Hill, is no exception. Vo has a talent for capturing the vibe of a place and a story immediately and drawing you in, and it's all helped by the likeability of Vo's main narrator, the cleric.

This was a quick read, but a very enjoyable one. The characters were believable and the plot quite spooky, and I can't wait to read more of Nghi Vo's novellas like this.