Third in the Greenwing and Dart series. This one finally finishes clearing things up for poor bespelled Jemis Greenwing, and sets Dart up for hopefully some resolution of his own in following books. Usually I get a little annoyed with authors when they bring in entire invented fields of literature for their scholars to criticize, but somehow Goddard makes it work; Jemis is such an enthusiastic scholar, and his investigation of clues and hidden puzzles so enthralling, that you really appreciate being along for the ride. The adventure surrounding the investigation doesn’t hurt either: will Jemis be arrested (again) for a crime he didn’t commit (again)? Will he finally be rid of the curses piling up on him? Will he finally clear his name with the gossiping villagers? Great combination of fantasy nerdiness and occasional derring-do; right up my alley.
Tag: author-victoria goddard
Bee Sting Cake, by Victoria Goddard
Book 2 of Greenwing and Dart; this one delves into Jemis Greenwing’s clouded past and his trauma around it. This is a triumph of unreliable narration; Jemis is so closed off from his emotions that all we have to go by are his detached observations of how his friends are reacting to him. It’s so well done that you’re more concerned about Jemis than about everything else going on around him, which includes dragons, riddles, a haunted wood, an entire cursed village, inheritance shenanigans, and a high stakes county fair. Absolutely loved this one.
Stargazy Pie, by Victoria Goddard
Fifth book by Victoria Goddard this month, no regrets. This is book 1 of Greenwing and Dart, and I am so excited that this pair of dashing young gentlemen get more mysteries to solve. Jemis Greenwing, having slunk back from college with a broken heart, broken dreams, and severe hay fever, just wants to fade quietly into his job; his old friend Dart decides to cheer him up and they inadvertently stumble upon a secret society calling on the old gods with dark magic. I loved the mixture of gossipy small town atmosphere with cults, criminal gangs, and a general shared trauma over recent magical cataclysm, all overlaid with a Regency-level preoccupation with etiquette and social standing. Super charming read.
Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander, by Victoria Goddard
Another companion novella to The Hands of the Emperor, but from the point of view of Cliopher’s great-uncle and occasional spiritual guide. It wouldn’t stand alone well but it provides a nice bit of insight into one of the most opaque characters in the book, and also allows us to see Cliopher from the standpoint of his native culture, instead of seeing him filtered through his own critical gaze.
Petty Treasons, by Victoria Goddard
I could not get enough of Victoria Goddard this month. This is a companion novella to The Hands of the Emperor, but from the Emperor’s view instead of Cliopher’s; the burden of the Emperor’s enforced solitude is hinted at in the first book, but here we get to experience its crushing weight firsthand, and we also get to see Cliopher from the Emperor’s point of view. Perfect for someone in withdrawal from the glory of The Hands of the Emperor. I will say though that the shifting first/second person viewpoints read a bit awkwardly for me; I got why it was done, but I think the Emperor’s isolation could have been hinted at another way.
The Bride of the Blue Wind, by Victoria Goddard
Look, I had to immediately find another Victoria Goddard work, ok? This one is an action-packed novella, told like a fairy tale. In this retelling of the Bluebeard story, three sisters go forth to find their destiny; the first becomes a weaver of magic, the second a fierce warrior, and the third is swept away by a god who takes her as a wife. As the third daughter slowly becomes suspicious of her new husband’s ultimate motives, her sisters unite to ride to her rescue. Great strong female characters obv, and the language was just beautiful.
The Hands of the Emperor, by Victoria Goddard
I loved this book so much. It begins when Cliopher Mdang, secretary to His Radiancy the god-Emperor, wonders if his employer might want to come on vacation with him. It sounds trivial, but that simple gesture ends up affecting the entire system of government that Cliopher and His Radiancy have worked so hard to build. Politics and court drama are hinted at, earthshaking events in history are implied, but mostly this is a 900+ page tome full of either conversation or quiet reflection, which results in absolutely stellar character development and moments of total emotional perfection. Cliopher is a really self-effacing and humble narrator who tries his best, and you just want to alternately hug him, high-five him, or tell him to go take a much-needed nap. The emperor His Radiancy as seen through Cliopher’s eyes is full of such generosity and good humor, but wound so tightly with power and stress and responsibility, that you also want to hug him (but that would be taboo, and that’s also a problem). It reads like a really comforting slow burn of a love story, but if said love was utterly platonic and built on mutual respect and fond worry and decades of working patiently together towards the greater good. Also, Cliopher’s dynamic with his family and friends is just incredible, full of history and the kinds of misunderstandings that can only arise when you don’t wish to hurt the ones you love the most. I would recommend this to everyone, except let’s be real, most people would look at the length and back away. But I thought this book was amazing and you’ll probably see Victoria Goddard’s name frequently here as I chase down literally everything else she’s written.