The Bride of the Blue Wind

Let me tell you a story

This novella is a fairy tale, a fairly tale that is written as though it has been told for hundreds of years and as though it was written yesterday. It is also a Bluebeard retelling. A re-imagining. Goddard did it so well and so beautifully.

So, once upon a time there were three sisters: Arzu, Pali and Sardeet. (You remember Pali, surely? You’ve seen her in many of Goddard’s stories.) They are all talented, all awesome. Sardeet is kidnapped by a Wind Lord to be his bride.

”…who smiled at her with an expression that was not human.”

Arzu and Pali will set out and travel through peril to right an injustice. There will be anger, there will be fear, there will be beauty, there will be love.

A very odd story - partly because it's written in mythic language, at least in part, and partly because it's very hard to perceive the characters through their roles (see: mythic language). But I definitely want to read the next.

Once there were three sisters: the first went off to earn her fortunate making carpets, the second became a fighter, and the youngest was stolen away by the wind to be his wife. She is allowed to ask him anything, but must spend a day in silence for each question. When she becomes unhappy, her two older sisters come to rescue her.

Another delightful story from Victoria Goddard, who really impresses me with her ability to write different story lengths and tones that fit what she's trying to do. This one reads like a fairy tale, and what an inventive tale it is. I was carried along by how it all unfolded and enjoyed the writing. It's not my favorite of hers - I prefer to get to know the characters a little more, and as in most fairy tales show more they're sort of kept at arm's length - but she does what she sets out to do well. show less

Really wonderful short story in the 9 Worlds universe, a prequel to the Red Company. What I loved was the fairy tale aspect — flawlessly mythic, but keeping the traditions of testing in order to achieve impossible goals. Loved that while it calls on familiar tales (Bluebeard, genies, hill of glass), this is a wholly original story.

This is sort of the origin story of two of the members of The Red Company that is mentioned in The Hands of the Emperor/The Return of Fitzroy Angursell. Goddard is a chameleon: none of her books I've read have the same tone. There are disparate series and stories that all take place in the same world, and together make one glorious mosaic. This is the first story of the three Sisters Avramapul. It's told in a very fairy tale manner and is loosely based on Bluebeard. Recommended, but it's definitely an odd story with some storytelling quirks that aren't for everybody.

Except for the ridiculousness of publishing these wee slivers of books, the stories within are, as ever, wonderfully satisfying. Filling in the details. . . in the case of book a) about Conju, the Last Emperor's valet (Groom of the Chamber, officially)--his beginnings in that office and his growing love for the Emperor and his friendship with Cliopher, all very satisfying, and b) a rather horrific story about the youngest of the three sisters (Sardeet) Avramapul, two of whom (maybe all three?) end up in the Red Company.

Novella length. Sisters go to find/rescue their sister who has become the bride of something like a spirit or minor God. Retelling of Bluebeard in a desert fantasy setting. Very atmospheric and loved the flavor.