Enjoyed this novella by Katherine Addison. I enjoyed the characters, and the plot/story. Will definitely read more by Katherine Addison. #TheOrbofCairado #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this overall and thought it worked as a fantasy element to the book. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and worked in this world. Katherine Addison wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

Thank you so much for the ARC for this, as I adore this series.

This was another excellent addition to a wonderful series! Another adventure in a fascinating universe I thought Monette was taking a break from in order to focus on other projects for a bit after "The Tomb of Dragons" was completed (though it's not out yet), and the surprise of it was absolutely wonderful! I read the ebook, not the illustrated limited edition sold by Subterranean Press, so I have no review for the illustrations. But the novella itself was wonderful as so much of Monette's writing is. Given yesterday was one of the worst elections of my life, reading a story about how someone was ostracized and able to claw his way back, in a complicated way, was cathartic, and a good distraction from the world being terrible and about to get worse.

The new characters are fascinating, and Ulcetha in some ways feels like a mix of Thara and Maia as protagonists, with his own flavor that's very enjoyable. The way he navigates Cairado and the new life he made after his fall from grace is enjoyable, and the way Monette demonstrates how much he is a scholar interested in studying and talking about different scholarship really breathes life into him. The story explores different aspects of things teased in other series entries, such as the doings of mazei, the university systems, the long complex history of emperors, other royalty, and uprisings, Witnesses, and even to a degree just how food culture and travel works. Monette built such an intricate world and it's fun to see more of it explored. The story also brings up intersectionality - how even marginalized persons from different social climes face different issues - in a really good way.

The detective aspect of the story reminds me of a mix of Monette's Kyle Murchison Booth stories, "Angel of The Crows", and, again, Thara, as Monette excels at mysteries and investigation writing. It was fun to get another one. The tragedy and drama of the whole situation is also really wonderfully written, and enjoyable to explore. My only criticism is that she does have a quirk of her writing that's on display in the conclusion, and I kind of wish she stopped writing that, but I can see why she did it for narrative drama, and it ties things up well enough. Mostly I'm just glad "The Cobbler's Boy" exists, and Felix ends "Corambis" leaving open the door to something with Murtagh, because it shows she doesn't do the quirk ALL that time. Booth and Thara also have open futures.

Generally, though, it was an excellent novella, definitely a good read for anyone who loves the series. It's also a nice lead-up to "The Tomb of Dragons", which I hope to read soon!

An engaging little story to add to The Chronicles of Osreth world. I recommend this for fans.

In this novella, Addison shows both the depth and scope of her worldbuilding. Readers learn not just about the titular Orb, but about ages and cities beyond it. It is even presented in textbook-ey way as expected with a historical scholar as a main character.

Several themes such as doing the right thing versus doing the easy or safe thing and how easily morals can slip to the wayside in the face of adversary are introduced. While I would not classify this as a grim story, it isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

The main cast of characters are all realistically flawed. Ulcetha strikes me as having elements of both Maia and Thara in him. I do have a complaint in that I believe there should have been more tangible on page grief over the death of Mara. It is firmly established that Mara is the only person Ulcetha has in this world and he hardly thinks of him as the story progresses. Ultimately, he's a character that I would read more about and who I want to see lead a better, more fulfilling life.

This arc did not have the artworks included so I cannot comment on them.