Fireheart Tiger

Thanh had been a hostage most of her life - despite being born a princess (well, actually because of it), she does not get to grow up with her family but ends up in the capital of Ephteria, the most powerful country in the region. When we meet her in this story she is already back home, trying to find a place in the court of her mother (and mostly failing). Until a delegation show up from Ephteria - led by their own princess - which also happens to be Thanh's ex-lover.

In a lot of ways, this is a romance novella - you have the two young lovers, you have the people blocking their way and there is a big secret in the past that is about to change everyone's life. But there is also a fire elemental and there is a world which we barely get a show more glimpse of - enough to make it fascinating but not enough to drown the story into irrelevant details. But under the romance story, there is the story of a young woman finding her voice and making choices - despite the advice of everyone around her. The fact that somewhere in there she also finds what her heart really wants is a bonus.

The world is based on old Vietnam (maybe with some additions from other countries from the region) and is refreshingly different from the almost usual medieval settings of similar worlds. But that is expected when you see the name of Aliette de Bodard - almost everything I had read by her had been set in a world based on an Asian country. And the style is her own - lyrical and enticing. show less

When I first saw the announcement of this novella, I didn’t even need to know the premise before adding it to my tbr. And when I saw that stunning cover, my excitement only doubled. I had so much confidence that the author would wow me in just a few pages, and I’m so happy to report that I was right.

I find the novella format very fascinating - the less number of pages should realistically not give us enough time to feel invested in the characters or the stakes, but what I’ve realized through reading quite a bit of short fiction in 2020 is that the authors who frequently write in this format are masters at their craft, skillfully able to make us emotionally engaged in the story right from the get go. And that’s exactly what show more happened here.

Thanh is a very sympathetic character and I instantly liked her, started worrying for her and just wanted her to be safe. I can’t go into details about the other characters without revealing spoilers but every one of them was fully realized, and it was fascinating to me that I was able to glean most of their motivations despite everything being so subtle. The world building is also seamlessly integrated without any infodumps, giving us the right amount of information so that we can follow along with the political intrigue and the diplomatic negotiations. The pacing is perfect, never feeling rushed but also fast enough that’s it’s easy to forget everything else while reading it. And I just can’t say enough about the prose - it was absolutely beautiful and poetic and so very full of feeling.

But the most surprising part of the book was how delicately the author handled some of the themes. The primary one is a critique of colonialism, showing us how arrogant the imperial powers are about their inherent righteousness, calling the others “savages” and subtly threatening to occupy them. We also see how this arrogance manifests in personal relationships, a sense of entitlement that makes them feel that they have the right to love and can’t be denied, manipulating and gaslighting to get their way. The author never tells us any of this though, she makes us feel and understand all of it just through normal seeming character interactions, and I thought it was brilliantly executed.

In the end, all I can say is that if you love short fiction, you can’t miss this. If you love Asian sapphic fantasy stories like I do, then this is absolutely perfect for you. And I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a flawless blend of cutthroat politics, diplomatic maneuvering and a pining romance, set in a lush and beautiful fantasy world. show less

A richly layered world with complicated characters framed by beautiful writing. I loved how compact it is, but feels wide enough for Bodard to maybe come back to this universe, and, at the same time, complete and satisfying as a standalone story. Wonderful!

This is a current finalist for the Nebula Award in the novella category.

Aliette de Bodard is a fantastic writer, and this is a beautifully done tale about politics, romance, and magic, set within a world inspired by pre-colonial Vietnam. Princess Thanh is desperate to earn the approval of her cold mother by proving herself as a diplomat--but her efforts are complicated by the way things mysteriously catch fire around her and by the arrival of first-love Princess Eldris, who threatens to dominate Thanh's heart and her country.

The dynamics are interesting and I enjoyed the complications caused by the spontaneous fire problem. I won't spoil the revelations there, but that subplot is incredibly good. I was frustrated by Thanh's immaturity show more for much of the story, though. There's a definite vibe of teenager-learning-about-relationships-the-hard-way, and that kind of thing bugged me even when I was a teenager. If that trope also bothers you, please, keep on reading--Thanh grows a lot in the course of events! The ending satisfied me all-around. show less

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

A complex narrative and strong characters are a big draw for me as a reader. I didn’t think this story had characters I could connect with at first (I was wrong), but the complexity is there from the moment story begins. The novella is about ties made in danger, love, and by blood as well as bonds of loyalty, history, and ancestors.

Initially, I didn’t like the main character Thanh, Binh Hải princess and lead diplomat, for several reasons, her choices being the biggest one. Every time I thought she would regain my faith, she failed. But that’s not the whole story, nor will you hear it from me. I’ll say only she turned out to have more to her than I saw, nor were the circumstances show more around her actions straightforward.

Eldris, a princess from the dominant country and Thanh’s former lover, is more straightforward in desire at least. She wants Thanh back and joined this diplomatic mission to negotiate trade concessions for that purpose. Thanh desperately wants Eldris’ love, but the complications it brings on every level make her fear losing control of the fire that sometimes creeps from her dreams to reality.

Speaking of characters, I loved how secondary characters formed a critical part of the cast rather than acting as wallpaper. Thanh’s relationship with her mother, the respect due along with a lifetime of dismissal as the spare, inadequate princess, for example, is a factor in almost every decision Thanh makes. Her growth process occurs in opposition to her mother’s will. And yet, the queen doesn’t stand unchanged by events, a simple wall for Thanh to bounce off, but has the opportunity to grow as well.

Nor were the characters the only strength in this story. The description helped bring each scene to life in a way I appreciate. It neither felt overdone nor sat on the side without relevance to the events unfolding before us. I had some difficulty with the choice of a third person present tense narration. It startled me several times, but I adjusted.

The story is set in a world reminiscent of Vietnam split into countries with long histories and large vulnerabilities Eldris’ country seeks to exploit. The fire that burned down Eldris’ palace when Thanh was a diplomatic hostage there provides an element of magic because it has reappeared around Thanh since returning home, first in nightmares and then in unexplainable flames. Diplomacy is also a big part of the story, with Thanh as the tool of her mother’s will. She’s sent away, brought back, and commanded to use what she learned and connections she made to strengthen their negotiating position.

Both the sense of what stretches behind this moment and Thanh’s unhappy position torn between the woman she loves and the mother she must respect bring a depth to this tale. These elements are interwoven so the romance impacts the diplomacy in multiple ways, while the threat of discovery weighs down both magic and relationships.

With all this in the works, is there any question why the story pulled me in and kept me reading through to the end? I had doubts about motivations from the start, some of which proved warranted, and even when not, the story kept me guessing. I often hoped for one outcome but was unsurprised by another. There are many mysteries playing out, some of which add to the depth, while others are critical and therefore resolved by the end.

The story becomes a game of manipulation. Of characters, but of the reader as well. I wasn’t always sure who to support. Every character did some wrong in my eyes, though a few more than others, making committing to anyone difficult. Each moment is a negotiation, whether part of the overt diplomacy or not. This is not a simple, “good vs. evil” type story, and as such, it speaks to the complexity of real life. Every decision has consequences, and the right choices are not always clear. Only this tale wraps that truth in a beautiful robe with magic, passion, and power as the fine embroidery.

P.S. I received this Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review. show less

When I started reading this, I expected something... different, something more and initially, I found myself utterly disliking all the characters from Thanh, to Eldris, Pharanea, Mother-Empress and so forth. I couldn't say why I disliked them as I didn't know why...I just did - and I first noticed it during the introductory war negotiations that I found myself somewhat irritated with this book.

And then, about halfway, it dawned on me when I looked at the lay of the world presented in this book and it struck a chord - A Matriarchal world were Matriarchy ruled as opposed to Patriarchy. And why would I hate that? It is beautiful, like a herd of elephants with the powerful Matriarch ahead and leading them along a path to the watering hole. show more

Picture this:

⦁ There are Princesses leading war negotiations (which seem to be failing.)
⦁ There are Princesses off fighting battles with neighboring regions.
⦁ There are even Woman-Generals blackmailing princesses to sway negotiations to the favor of
another Matriarchal Kingdom.
⦁ In this world; becoming QUEEN is the power that the young character craves - and there is no
mention of Kings and Emperors. And Yet, a very steadfast rule of humanity regardless of
gender - power corrupts, and this world is not without the same predatory pillars of
power-hungry opportunists; women who have way more agency than others in this world.
⦁ The weak and feeble nations might be ruled by kings but there aren't enough pages in this
book to be definitive about this possibility.

So, turns out I, subconsciously rejected this idea of all powerful Matriarchal Kingdoms, not just the structure but that the conquering kingdoms and encroaching invaders were for all intents and purposes, a bunch of women - you know; girl power and all that.

For shame! Suffice it to say after that realization and being aware of it on an acute level, I started seeing the story and the characters the way I would if it were me as Mother-Empress or even just the Fire Elemental Giang in a world where women ruled.

An interesting read. show less

Beautifully written, fabulous characterisation, detailed world building. Lots of things I love, but it is also tense epic fantasy politics, and really it doesn't matter the quality of anything, I just don't love the sub-genre. So, lots of great scenes, and the plot holds together fabulously, but there were moments where I wasn't sure I was going to finish the book in one sitting.

As well as the politics, there are darker aspects of a family relationship (our protagonist, Princess Thanh, has a difficult relationship with their mother, the Empress), manipulating 'romantic' relationships, and what is possibly best described as hostage negotiation.

content warnings: fire (building destroyed); early stages of an abusive relationship