Ooh, this was lovely: short and sweet and impactful. I was worried I didn't love Novik's writing outside of Scholomance (after being thoroughly underwhelmed by Buried Deep and Other Stories), but this was wonderful.

It's amazing how much world-building and heart Novik fit into just over 100 pages, and we see character growth from pretty much everyone. It's honestly shocking how much is crammed into this novella without it feeling rushed at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey!

This is a wonderful and heartfelt novella by Naomi Novik about an endless war and the political machinations that keep the war machine going. Even though it’s set in medieval times, it’s very relevant to our current moment. The writing style is lovely and very fairytale-esque, and the ending wrapped up everything in a really satisfying way.

Naomi Novik is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw she was publishing this short novella, I couldn’t resist picking it up!

As expected for a novella, it’s a brief read. Still, in its short length, it manages to deliver a wonderfully fairytale-esque story, filled with Novik’s signature wittiness, clever riddles, enchanting atmosphere, and quirky characters.

At its heart is Celia, a heroine who grows up under her famous father — a warrior turned Duke, celebrated across the land for his extraordinary feats in bringing peace to the kingdom. As the tale unfolds, we see Celia mature, and her relationships with her family, which take center stage here, deepen and evolve. Witnessing Celia grow from having her child’s perspective into her maturing into a thoughtful young woman, learning the complexities of her world, was well-told and interesting to follow.

Much of the story’s focus was really set on familial love, particularly the dynamics between her and her siblings. Anyone that’s looking for a more romance-driven story is definitely not going to find this here, as that aspect of the story is there, but not the most substantial.

But if you’ve enjoyed Spinning Silver, Uprooted, Buried Deep and Other Stories, or any of Novik’s other works, I think you’ll find this just as enchanting.

This is a fantastical, beautifully atmospheric tale that’s short but still an absolute delight to read — a perfect, self-contained story for when you want a quick but satisfying escape!


Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Novik feels like one of the last authors who really understands FOLKLORE. She's writing modern day fairy tales and I eat them up. I think the best thing she's ever written was Spinning Silver, so it's funny that I also love when she keeps it short and sweet. The thing is, I think she's at her strongest when she doesn't feel like she has to over-explain the lore. Feeling the knowledge gaps give the reader a great sense of unease, because it's usually what the protagonist feels. This was a perfect example of that. You spend the entire time not sure how this story will end, not sure what the summerlings will do next. Loved it!

Loved this.
I wasn't sure about it at first, so I encourage anyone who has doubts to keep going. I was worried I wouldn't like Celia, but I ended up liking her very much indeed. I loved how the relationships developed and how the characters changed, grew, and realized they could be wrong.

As wonderful a fantasy tale as Uprooted or Spinning Silver. Novik once again proves why her work is a must read the moment it is available.

A gorgeous little novella that felt like a fairy tale. Beautiful, lush writing that hearkens back to Uprooted (which I really loved) and just the most stunning atmosphere. I adored the descriptions of the summerlings and their lands, like YES give me fae with a new twist pleaseee

The family dynamic between Celia, her father and her brothers was so, so interesting and a joy to read. Her dad gives major Tywin Lannister vibes, but I feel like he lowkey cares and isn’t as much of a psychopath as we might first believe. And Celia and her brothers … oh my god SO FUCKING CUTE. I love a good sibling relationship, especially one built on growth and love, and Celia had plenty of this with Roric (my fav) and Argent.

The story was very fairytale-esque and dreamy, following Celia discover her penchant for sorcery before it goes off the rails. I loved how the story wove together and how every character had a moment to shine in this story.

I would’ve liked to see more action from Celia, but I think she was so strong and likeable so I’ll be able to forgive it. Argent and Roric have my heart!!

Definitely needed this one to be longer and I’m really hoping Naomi Novik will return to this world in a longer project because it was just so stunning!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC <3

A novella fairy tale that shows the darker side of revenge and endless war. Celia is the sole daughter of the kingdom's most successful general. Her father managed to defeat the summerlings (fae) and end the Summer War, but the treaty negotiated by the old king isn't quite as it seems. And so Celia and her brothers find themselves on a journey where the must deal with the summerlings and the long shadow of vengeance. 3.5-4 stars overall,

This book captured all the elements of a classic fairy tale, balancing whimsical enchantment with the darker, more punishing nature of the fae. It was a quick read, but its atmosphere and storytelling left a lasting impression.

To say that I devoured this story would be an understatement. Naomi Novik is a rare author who never does the same thing twice, and yet manages to do everything masterfully and this little novella is no different! While I could have read about 400 more pages in this world, I think the way that this little story was paced was brilliant; at times it felt like time was slipping through my fingers, which I think provides interesting juxtaposition between the immortal summerlings and the mortal humans. I love this story so much and it will be sticking with me for a long time. I can't wait to purchase a finished copy this fall!

The Summer War is a fun, whimsical fairy tale. It is also *very* short, which I wish I had realized going into it—the danger of ebooks I suppose.

Celia is the daughter of the kingdom’s most successful general, who ended the endless Summer War with the faerie realm which had been raging each summer for generations. She has two older brothers, Argent the beloved eldest, up-and-coming young knight and her favorite person in the world, and Roric, who is also there.

When something happens with Ardent that makes Celia furiously angry, she unwittingly puts a terrible curse on him. She must then work together with Roric, if she can convince him to help, to save Ardent from his fate.

This short little tale reads delightfully like a fairytale of old, with a light and airy writing style and larger-than-life characters. It also has faeries who are actually fey, and not just the pointy eared humans with magic they have so often become

There is a lot about love fit into this tiny book, about how it can hurt us and heal us, and how we can choose it even when it didn’t happen as expected. Naomi Novik knows how to explore emotions and I appreciate her writing so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, that was just a great little fairy tale novella. Somehow Novik manages to both stick to fairy tale tropes AND turn them on their heads in this short novella (Goodreads claims this is 150 pages, but the ebook ARC I received was 75). I am maybe being a bit generous; it's probably more of a 4.5. However, it's really hard to take readers on an emotional journey in 75 pages, so I think rounding up is justified. I have loved or liked just about everything I've read by Novik, so to be fair, I was expecting to like this, but it was lovely to have my expectations confirmed.

This reads like a long-form fairy tale, as a sister accidentally curses her brother and then desperately searches for a way to undo it. There's a lot more than just that going on here, an almost impressive amount of world building in such a short space, but that's the gist. In the process, she also develops a strong bond with her previously overlooked other brother as well, possibly my favorite part of the story. To say much more would spoil the fun, though I will say, if you've read Novik's other works, this felt closest to Spinning Silver in overall tone.

Definitely worth reading if you like fantasy, fairy tales, or Novik's work in general!

What was this?? After finishing this, I really just don’t know what the point of this book was.
I’ve never really been a fan of Naomi Novik, more just like I haven’t been inclined to read her books. So I thought I might start with this, but no. Reading this was cringe. It was vanilla. I felt like I was missing something in the plot/worldbuilding, which was weird because it was just a lot of exposition dumps, with a non-existent plot. Plus, it tried to be whimsical and the writing very flowery, but I just don’t know what, it was just so bland.
1.5

I had a great time reading "The Summer War"! Novik’s writing is as rich and lyrical as ever, evoking a timeless, almost fairytale quality that completely pulled me in. Her storytelling feels both classic and fresh, and the world-building is so effortlessly woven in that I felt grounded in the setting right away without needing pages of exposition.

If anything, I wish the book had been a little longer, but not due to any lack of development, but because I wanted more. The ending, while satisfying, felt a bit rushed, and I would have loved more time to sit with the resolution. Still, it’s a testament to Novik’s skill that I was left wanting more in the best way.

Thank you to Naomi Novik, Del Rey, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Naomi Novik is an incredibly talented author, and she proves it once again with this novella. The Summer War tells the story of a young girl named Celia who, quite accidentally, curses her brother never to love anyone again. It all takes place in the shadow of a war between humans and the realm of immortal beings called Summerlings – who in many ways remind me of the fae.
The entire narrative is concise and reads like a fairy tale – brief but enchanting. It’s well known that writing a good novella is no easy feat, and Novik handles it beautifully here. She delivers a compelling and genuinely interesting story, complete with some surprising twists that kept me engaged throughout. She even manages to pose a series of thought-provoking questions that remain relevant today. The characters are intriguing and diverse, with the story revolving primarily around the dynamics between Celia and her two brothers. At no point did the plot feel dull or drawn out. However, because the story is so captivating, I couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of longing for more – this tale could easily have been expanded into a full-length novel. Developing the structure further and deepening the individual character arcs would have added incredible richness to the story.
I realize it’s unfair to judge a work by what it isn’t rather than what it is, and The Summer War is undoubtedly a very good novella. Yet I keep thinking about how excellent it could have been as a full novel. Still, Novik’s talent shines brightly here, and I highly recommend this story to anyone who appreciates fantasy with heart and depth.

A short but beautiful little read. I haven’t read anything by the author before, but since reading this I have purchased several of her previous works. An enchanting tale of love, told in such a poignant and wonderful way.

An enchanting modern fairytale that illuminates love’s truest form—not merely found, but chosen. Loved this little book!

I loved it. A short read. This book tells a fairy tale with heroes and wit. It is a story of the love between brothers and sisters. For fans of Spinning Silver and Uprooted.

An impossible to put down fantasy that is far, far, far, too short! I want so much more of this story and anything else,by Naomi Novik! Five stars are not enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Naomi Novik distills a century of conflict into a compact, emotionally rich novella. Twelve-year-old Celia accidentally curses her eldest brother after he flees into the realm of the immortal Summerlings—Fae in everything but name—and must unravel the magic she unleashed. Alongside her middle brother, she navigates royal schemes, ancient grudges, and the fragile peace her father won at a terrible cost.

Novik’s prose is lyrical without excess, giving just enough history and wonder to anchor the stakes. Celia’s growth—from guilt and confusion to courage and compassion—rings true, and the sibling bonds at the story’s core are deeply affecting. While a few twists feel familiar, I was fully absorbed by its blend of folklore, family drama, and the question of whether love can outlast vengeance.

Short, satisfying, and quietly powerful, The Summer War is a gem for anyone who treasures folklore-tinged fantasy with heart.
4.5/5 stars.