I've loved every book in this series! This book is a beautifully woven tale of grief, loyalty, and the bonds that transcend life. The world-building is rich and imaginative, from royal mammoths to memory-keeping companions, and Chih’s journey is both heartfelt and compelling. Fans of character-driven fantasy and emotionally resonant stories will find themselves completely absorbed.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These continue be the perfect atmospheric palate cleansers with luscious writing and strong characters. I really enjoy the philosophies and deep thoughts that these evoke and appreciate the exploration of grief and the processes that grief can take. For me this is one of the strongest instalments and the moments of returning home to something different than when you left was something I was feeling in the moment. The writing style continues to blow me away with its lyrical nature and finding Chih’s style.

Cleric Chih returns back to Singing Hills abbey to discover the head of their order has passed away. They navigate grief, change, and outsiders with Mammoths. All in this series are quietly searing, contemplative novellas set in a world reminiscent of Imperial China.

Nghi Vo's Mammoths at the Gates is newest book in the Singing Hills Cycle series following Chih on her latest adventure but now Chih is back home after three years of travelling. This heartfelt novella will take you into the deep connection between Chih and Thien as Nghi Vo uncovers more lore about the birds and what happens after a death of a cleric. It is a heartwarming story which delves in grief and sadness wrapped in Vo's lyrical prose. I'm excited to see Chih will go next.

I'd like to start this review by deeply thanking NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (publisher) for granting me access to an ARC of these books in exchange of an honest review.

*All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I gave these books 4.25 stars.

These are adults sci-fi fantasy books, numbers3 and 4 in the Singing Hills Cycle series, and are retellings of Viet mythology from traditional folklore.

For the first 3 books of the series, Chih, a monk, is travelling through the lands with her funny avian companion, Almost Brilliant. They go through many perils and meet other creatures that would either help or try to destroy them and that come from Eastern mythology.

The fourth one represents a change because Chih and Almost Brilliant are going back to the monastery, because of the illness and death of her mentor.

Trigger/content warnings for "Into the Riverlands": death, violence, murder, injury, injury detail, body horror, blood, war, gore, suicide, grief, abandonment, rape, cursing, animal death, sexism, death of parent, chronic illness, physical abuse, kidnapping, sexual assault, mysogyny, trafficking, cannibalism, infidelity, child death, panic attacks/disorders.

Trigger/content warnings for "Mammoths at the Gates": grief, death, domestic abuse, deadnaming, alcohol, death of parent, self-harm, physical abuse, animal cruelty, violence, abandonment, violence, animal death, injury, injury detail, physical abuse, blood, terminal illness, transphobia, religious bigotry, classism, body horror, bullying, chronic illness, cursing, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, excrement, dementia, war, alcoholism, ableism, medical content, murder, outing.

These books are full of metaphors and told ingenously with hillarious notes that keep you interested and wanting to know more. The stories are not about the action, as is regularly the case in Eastern mythology, although they have a great plot, but about the reflections that can be extracted from them.

They also show how everything in life is as simple as it is complex and how there's never just one side to the story, but they end up being as many stories as sides to it.

These books are plot driven, but the atmosphere was spot on and characters were really funny, which increased the enjoyment when reading.

I surely recommend this series.

Another one of Nghi Vo's beautifully written novellas, MAMMOTHS AT THE GATES returns us to the Singing Hills where we find a battle about to break out.

The Singing Hills Cycle are such interesting stories around an abbey of Clerics that record history and memorialize things, attempting non-biased history. In this installment, Chih has arrived to see that two Royal Mammoths are at the gates of their home and their mentor has died recently. As the two groups disagree on how the deceased should be treated, the importance of memory and grieving both take center stage. All of these stories take me away from my everyday and give me such enjoyment as I read them.

What a gem this novella is! It’s a bouquet of reading delights with very cool premise, memorable characters—both human, avian, and elephantine—gorgeous use of language and dramatic tension.

Chih, a wandering cleric, returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey only to find…mammoths at the gate. It seems that after the death of their beloved mentor and head of the abbey, the mentor’s relatives want to bring the body to their ancestral home, a move that appalls the other clerics, as well as the “nexien,” magical talking hoopoe birds that preserve history. I loved the names of the birds, such as Almost Brilliant and Myriad Virtues. The author’s words painted a cloistered world so believable and vivid, it was hard to keep in mind this is fantasy.

I definitely want a nexien of my own! Can I name her Serene Chaos?

Highly recommended, and since it’s part of a series, there’s even more to savor.

While Mammoths at the Gates wasn’t my favorite in the Singing Hills Cycle, it’s still a poignant and beautifully written entry that deepens our understanding of Cleric Chih, their world, and their relationships.

At last, we get to visit the Singing Hills Abbey! It was a joy to finally see this place we’ve heard so much about—and to reunite with Almost Brilliant (and meet her adorable offspring!). The story has so much heart, and the emotional core—grief, purpose, memory—is as rich as ever.

This installment shifts away from the story-within-a-story structure and focuses more directly on Chih’s personal experience. It’s quieter, more introspective, and definitely more melancholic than the previous novellas. The narrative centers on grief, legacy, and the tension between chosen and inherited families.

That said, the anthology-like storytelling didn’t quite land for me. I tend to prefer the broader, layered tales this series is known for. This one felt a bit shallower in parts, like it wanted to do so much and just didn’t have enough space to get there. Still, Vo's prose remains exquisite, and even when it doesn't fully click (for me), this world is always a pleasure to return to.

If you’ve been following the series, this installment is still absolutely worth reading—especially for the emotional growth it brings to Chih and the deeper look at the Abbey’s legacy. Just come prepared for a softer, more somber kind of tale.

this single-handedly brought me out of a reading slump. and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

mammoths at the gates, being a recent instalment in the singing hills series, is an introspective experience. it's a touching exploration of loss and grief, and how it can change—both metaphorically and literally—us.

nghi vo never misses, and i eagerly anticipate the upcoming journeys of our beloved cleric.

*Mammoths at the Gates* by Nghi Vo is a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking novella that blends historical fiction with speculative elements. Set in an alternate version of the 19th century, the story explores themes of power, identity, and the collision of the natural and the supernatural. Vo’s lyrical prose and intricate world-building create a haunting, immersive atmosphere, while the complex characters navigate personal and societal upheaval. The novella’s short length doesn't sacrifice depth, and its quiet moments of reflection make it a poignant read. Fans of literary fiction with a touch of the fantastical will find *Mammoths at the Gates* a compelling experience.

Nghi Vo is an auto-read author for me and it is large part to this series of novellas. Each story is expertly crafted and tells incredibly human stories of love, friendship, and home. The Mammoths at the Gate is no different.

Perfect for a few quiet hours and a refreshing story, this series should be on everyone’s list.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Tor for letting me read this early.

This series of books is definitely worth the read. I always recommend it to customers who are looking for a different, and short, fantasy read.

Nghi Vo's *Mammoth*, the fourth entry in the Singing Hills Archives series, masterfully blends subtlety with profound emotional resonance, exploring themes of change, homecoming, and the nuanced tapestry of memory and grief. The novella unfolds as a contemplative journey rather than a traditional narrative filled with overt action. As Chih returns to the Singing Hills Abbey after four years of travel and storytelling, the reader is invited to reflect on the complexities of returning home—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

From the outset, Vo captures the essence of change with evocative prose, skillfully contrasting the familiarity of Chih's past with the new realities they encounter. The juxtaposition of the comforting yet unchanging Abbey with the presence of war mammoths, powerful symbols of both threat and transformation, emphasizes the novella’s central tension. Chih's reflections on their past relationships, coupled with the inevitability of growth and adaptation, illustrate the often-painful process of coming to terms with how much we—and those we love—can change. The poignant assertion, “If you love someone, you must let them change,” resonates deeply, encapsulating the novella’s core message about acceptance and the necessity of letting go.

Vo’s writing is beautifully restrained, avoiding the conventional story-within-a-story structure prevalent in earlier novellas, which allows for a more focused exploration of Chih's character. The lyrical quality of the prose invites readers to fill in the gaps, rendering the experience immersive. The simplicity of the narrative's structure may initially seem a limitation, yet it ultimately serves to heighten the emotional weight of Chih’s journey. As they grapple with memories and the evolving landscape of their relationships, the exploration of grief and the passage of time takes on a tender poignancy.

Despite its brevity—just 118 pages—*Mammoth at the gates* grapples with substantial themes, although not without some pitfalls. The initial array of plot elements can feel overwhelming, as the story flits between various potential narratives: the imminent threat of the mammoths, Chih's homecoming, and deeper explorations of their background and community. This ambitious scope can leave certain elements feeling underdeveloped, creating an uneven experience. However, this does not detract significantly from the overall impact; rather, it invites reflection on the limits of narrative and the beauty found in what remains unsaid.

The novella is rich with imagery and humor, balancing moments of levity—like the absurdity of smoke bombs made from horse dung and spicy peppers—with the weighty themes of loss and change. The humor, particularly embodied in new characters like Chiep, provides a refreshing counterpoint to the more serious reflections on mortality and identity.

Ultimately, *Mammoths at the gates* serves as a profound meditation on the nature of stories—both those we carry within us and those we collect throughout our lives. Vo's exploration of memory, love, and the passage of time is both heartbreaking and hopeful. While the novella may leave some threads untied, it undeniably enriches the tapestry of the Cleric Chih series, inviting readers to embrace the beauty of storytelling and the importance of connection in an ever-changing world. In *Mammoths at the gates*, Nghi Vo has crafted a quietly powerful work that resonates long after the final page is turned.

Like the other instalments in this series, Mammoths at the Gates is much too short. Vo writes with so much care when telling these stories, I want to spend as much time as possible inside this world. I think the length of the story this time may have worked against everything Vo was trying to accomplish. There were a lot of big ideas and loose ends to bring together and with a limited amount of time I was left feeling like the resolutions were a little shallow. It doesn't take away from Vo's beautiful storytelling, though.

Another wonderful addition to Vo’s Singing Hills series. Vo’s ability to fully flesh out the world and character in such a short book awes me every time.

This series keeps getting better and better! While this installment leans less on the cozy side due to its subject matter, it still retains a very sweet essence. One thing to note is that this book may not pack as much of a punch if you haven't read the previous entries in the series.

I wasn't expecting the level of drama and sadness but it is a great addition to the series as a whole.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the other books in the series!

A poignant story about the grieving process that details the importance of holding the memories of those we've lost in our hearts.

Cleric Chih is coming home to the Singing Hills, but they are not met with the warm welcome they expected. Many of the clerics have gone, the beloved Cleric Thien has died and there are two giant mammoths at the gates with riders who claim that Cleric Thien was their grandfather and want to take his body back to be buried in Northern Bell Pass.

Full of tranquil settings, magical bird spirits, and loveable nonbinary clerics, Mammoths at the Gates is a poignant story about the grieving process that details the importance of holding the memories of those we've lost in our hearts.

4.5 stars

I’ve always been amazed at good novellas. Yes, they have more time than a poem or flash fiction or a short story, but they still have roughly half the length of a novel (most of the time, it seems), and they’re still able to fit in plenty of character depth and growth, as well as intriguing stories and magic systems and plots. It’s amazing and impressive. Being able to pack that much of a punch in only a 100-200 pages is amazing.

Plus, I love novellas for palette cleansers when reading a bunch of huge fantasy books, or just as a way to boost myself up at the beginning of a readathon because I can read them fairly quickly and then I feel accomplished in a short amount of time. It’s the same reason I start my readathons with a few volumes of manga.

Anyway, The Singing Hills Cycle follows Cleric Chih and their talking fantastical bird companion Almost Brilliant, and this particular installment feels like the most emotional of the bunch so far. It was also nice to get to follow Chih back to the abbey where they were trained and get some of those memories, while also confronting fellow clerics who stayed behind while Chih went out into the world.

We get to see this woven tapestry of blood family and chosen family, and the way life paths diverge and reconnect, as well as exploring the nature of grief, while looking at how a person can change over their lifetime and how that can affect those around them and those they leave behind.

For some reason I still don’t own any of the novellas in this series, and I think I need to correct that oversight, because I have been swept away by each of these stories, and I really should have them on my shelves. I also need to explore Nghi Vo’s other works, because I definitely do like her writing style and her plots and characterizations.

I love the Singing Hills series so much. Mammoths at the Gates was another great addition to the series. I love Vo’s writing and the adventures of our favorite cleric!