I really enjoy the Singing Hills Cycle, but this one I hard a hard time getting in to. For a good part of it, I thought I had forgotten something important or completely missed something from the previous entry, and even when I caught on to what was happening, I was still a little lost. I think my biggest issue was the length and the pacing, for a story like this, I feel like it needed to be a little bit longer for the kind of narrative gambit Vo is using to really play out. I think the setting and the plot are not fleshed out enough, though the actual bones of the story are really compelling and interesting. I did like that Chih felt like more of an active participant this time, they were a force the story was acting upon, instead of functioning like someone watching the story unfold. Had this story had a bit more pages to work with, I think it would've been fantastic.

Despite not enjoying The Empress of Salt and Fortune a few years ago, the description of this—gothic mystery with a murderous teapot!!!!—made me want to try the author again.

Even though this series is pitched as standalones that can be read in any order, I felt like I was missing too much context for Cleric Chih’s back story and character. I personally wouldn’t recommend this without reading the previous entries.

It took me until 70% to feel invested in the story, which is where the story went from zero to 100. It was haunting and chaotic in a way I didn’t see coming at all.

I did not notice this novella was part of a series, but it reads as a standalone. Only made me curious to read the other existing four previous novellas. I loved the main characters and how the author makes so much of their personality in such a short story. They are all very different and with strong traits and goals.

A cleric meets a family on the road that is taking their daughter to a lord to be his bride, but soon he discovers dark secrets and that he is surrounded by perils.

It reads as a legend and it remains in our minds with the same tone. Great rhythm and the plot twists make the end tense and exciting with a hint of magic.

I enjoyed it so much read in one sitting. Looking forward now to reading more works from the author. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the e-arc.

Nghi Vo’s latest Singing Hills novella starts off by setting you up with some expectations, right from the blurb, and skillfully leans on that to guide you through the novella to the crisis point. It feels darker to me than the previous novellas in this series, with a real sense of unease throughout — not that the others have no sense of looming consequences, but I was more frightened for Cleric Chih than I usually would be. Chih has been drawn into something they may not be able to get out of, where they’re not so much an observer anymore, or just interested in how things turn out, but a part of the tale and critically affected by whatever will happen. Which is not the first time, I suppose, but this just felt more immediate.

I think Vo does an amazing job at teasing things out, with some little hints along the way to help you catch on so that once it all becomes clear, it’s really clear. It’s difficult to say much about this story without spoiling that journey, so I won’t say any more on that.

I did find that once certain things started happening, it all unravelled really quickly and I almost stumbled. I guess that’d be my only critique, but the story caught me when I stumbled and rearranged the world so everything made sense, so maybe that moment is really just part of the experience.

I…did not see the twist coming at ALL. When you start the novella, everything seems fine, although the lord is much older than his intended bride. Gradually, as Cleric Chih and bride-to-be explore the grounds, you come to realize that something is off about the entire estate. Like unto the old library they stumble upon, something is rotten and decaying, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is.

The last quarter of the book will have you reeling. It’s jaw-dropping, truly.

I was also happy to see that there are four previous novellas by the author, and an additional two to be published after this one. Yay for new reading material!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I love pretty much everything that Tor publishes, and this is no exception!

A fantastic addition to the Singing Hills Cycle - this installment brought more horror than I've seen in them before, which I greatly enjoyed. The importance of stories and who tells them; what happens when stories are lost, and how the keepers of tales are essential.

Thank you NetGalley, Nghi Vo and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC.

I loved it! Out of all the books in this series, this is now my favorite. I adore Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant, and watching their friendship grow with each story. I do recommend reading the first book in this series just because it sets the stage for the rest.

The Brides of High Hill captured my attention from the start. It has intrigue, drama, mystery and a plot twist! I read it so fast and wished for more. Nghi Vo has created a world I love to visit, hate to leave, and get excited for every new adventure Cleric Chih takes me on.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I say this with every new installment of the Singing Hills Cycle, but this is my favorite one yet. Nghi Vo continues to exceed my already very high expectations for this series. This novella had a lot of twists and turns for Cleric Chih to deal with, and I hung on every word. Definitely a bit darker than the other novellas in this series, and I loved it.

while I love all of books in the singing hills cycle I must say that this one is my favorite. it far exceeded my expectations and my expectations were set very high for this book.

this installment had more action mystery than the others and I really enjoyed that. the characters we meet are fun and mysterious and you cant help but like them. in this book we are traveling to a village with a family in order for their daughter to get married to the lord. we get to follow chih and her new found friendship with nyhung as they travel and in the days before the marriage. during these couple of days we have secret adventures and chih is busy trying to figure out what the lords son meant when he gave her an ominous warning. the book has a great twist ending that I never saw coming and wow…I just can’t wait to continue being a part of the singing hills world

💌 ARC FROM NETGALLEY

This novella took a turn that I did not expect -- while most of the installments in the Singing Hills Cycle have been fantastical and sweeping despite their compact size, this one ramps up the pacing and comes at you with surprisingly strong elements of horror.

Of all the novellas in this series, I think this one should have been longer. I felt like the pacing in the back quarter of the book picked up speed almost too quickly, which made the oddly calm vibes of the ending seem out of place.

Other than that, I have no critiques. I too would fall for the wiles of a fox masquerading as a pretty girl if she gave me a comb and told me to braid her hair for her.

4.5 out of 5.

This was such a great read. I read it in one sitting and really enjoyed it. I went into the novella not knowing much about it other than the series is quite popular on booktube.

It written kind of like a fairytale but then it gets a bit dark and you know something horrible is going to happen. This is the first book of Nghi Vo's and I am really excited to pick up the rest of their books. Imagine going through your life with the name Almost Brilliant ?! Highly recommend

Everyone’s favorite traveling cleric is back, partaking in a journey most gothic, with an unexpected twist, a transformative teapot, and hidden secrets tucked in the corners of a once powerful fortress. The Singing Hills Cycle remains an entirely immersive series no matter what adventure Vo is delivering, but in no way is it ever predictable. With each passing addition, I am left lingering on the talent of Nghi Vo’s worlds and words. Oh, do I want to live within them forever. This might be my favorite one yet!