Naomi Novik does it again - the only problem is that this is novella, not a novel!

This novella was very reminiscent of Stardust, with two bordering kingdoms. One is magical, the abode of "Summer Lords", while the other is more akin to our world in medieval times. The characters are engaging and well-developed, and I especially enjoyed the narrator/protagonist's journey from a very smart but somewhat spoiled child to a very smart and more empathetic teenager. Novik's prose is as seemingly effortless as usual. Five stars.

Bitter, magic-wielding heroines and folkloric fae from Naomi Novik are back!

Novik's books never miss for me, and a novella that has the style of Uprooted and Spinning Silver, two of my favorite books of all time, was going to be right up my alley. It has all of the good stuff: Novik's witty and magical writing style, a determined heroine, sibling drama, fae and rule-based magic, a little bit of fairytale twisting, and even some political shenanigans.

With its short length, Novik managed to work in plenty of humor and angst all at once before tying things together beautifully with the ending. As well as this did work as a novella, I would love to read a full novel version of this (after all, that's what happened with the short story version of Spinning Silver, way back in the day).

If this is the mark of Novik's return to more folklore-based fantasy, I am so seated.

It's definitely a bold move to write a novella, especially when Naomi Novik is known for her detailed and immersive full-length novels. Personally, I'm realizing that a novella is not my favorite style of book, because even Novik's incredible talent couldn't distract from the fact that it felt too short, too rushed, too incomplete. But let's be real, because she is so talented, I always want more from her.

All that being said: for a novella, it was very compelling, had an interesting and unique concept (once again!) and that fascinating fairytale-esque style of hers where things continually get turned on their heads. Her ability to think up these concepts and set up little dominoes of events that eventually cascade into a full and elaborate outcome is stunning to me.

The language of this novella was very blunt and straightforward. Celia's narrative voice is so matter-of-fact, and I personally liked that. She did not soften the hard realities of the story. But that fit the setting, because the entire plot revolved around this historic 'Summer War'. And war is anything but soft.

Roric was a quiet winner for me, even though he gets the least amount of word count. I can't help but root for an underdog!

Thank you to NetGalley & Del Ray for letting me access this ARC!

Unfortunately, for me it was a miss. For a story about Celia and lifting curses novella spends way too much time, not showing, but telling history of some other secondary character. Felt like this section could be shorter and better edited. The whole prose, sadly, also is quite info dumpy and a lot of “tell, not show” which made it a struggle to read.
On top of that, I just did not find a reason to care about Celia. She was not likable, so I had not enough empathy for her and had no reason to root for her. She only cared for Argent because plot required her to. And, personally, I find it hard to continue to be invested in such cases.
The reason why I give it two stars instead of one is because author obviously can write and had some ideas. While this novella was not for me, I expect people who like fairy tales about imperfect family, love, war, heirs and arranged marriages, can enjoy this novella. Also likely to appeal plot-driven readers, rather than character-driven ones.
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

Naomi Novik is just such a wonderful, smart writer who is a pleasure to read. This one had a good dose of her usual fairytale magic alongside an emotional core that brought it all together. This is a love story about siblinghood and magic, and I enjoyed every second. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy!

Such a compelling story. I gobbled it up in one sitting.
I just love everything Naomi writes, she can create a great narrative that feels like a fairy tale.
I'm giving it a 5* here on NetGalley considering it as a novella, on Goodreads I've added my overall rating which is a 4*, as I feel that if this story was made longer, it would've turned out amazing.

As always, thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the ARC. All opinions are my own

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

The novella was a bit slow to start which is a bit of problem when a book is short. However, the story picked up and it was good! It reads like a fairy tale and the writing is really good. Characters were more or less developed (well Celia and Roric were, Argent not so much). Maybe it should be a little longer though, it would regulate the pacing problem and permit the characters to all be developed. The time in the Summer Lands were really short which is a shame as well. The ending was good though! Overall, I did like it!

This was the first book by Naomi Novik that I read and it made me want to read more.

This is easily going to be one of my favourite books this year, if not THE favourite. I love Novak's books but Spinning Silver and Uprooted are special favourites. This perfectly plotted, whimsical novel contains components of many fairytales but is not a retelling but a unique new tale. I love the fact that Celia, the MC, is unapologetically practical and intelligent. I love the relationships in this book - no one is iredeemable and no one is perfect. Life and relationships and all the different kinds of love are messy and inconveniently packaged - not to mention often unequal. Most of all I applaiud the theme of choice that runs through this story - no matter how difficult the situation, there is always a choice and you are responsible for it. This was utterly perfect and I devoured it in a day.

An enjoyable tale of the fae with flawed but interesting characters and situations. Doesn't really break new ground but some of the twists in familiar territory were nice.

*slaps closed the last page of the book* this bad boy can fit so many tropes in it.
→ an emotionally constipated father? check ✓
→ the golden boy? check ✓
→ everybody's little princess? check ✓
→ some seriously good sibling relationship? check ✓✓✓
→ a conflict that's been dragging on for a hundred years? check ✓
→ a fantastical world on the other side of the wall/bridge/forest? check ✓
→ a girl in the tower? check ✓
→ oh yeah there was a middle child there, too. (i think we just forgot him at home?) check ✓
→ some carefully worded curses? eh... more like: specifically phrased resolutions? check ✓

Anyway I didn't know that I needed the fairytalish fantasy to the urban fantasy of Holly Black's The Darkest Part of the Forest, but apparently I do. And trust me, you do too.

I like the general idea of this story, the way that the conflicts were resolved in the end, that it's a pretty quick read, and that it's a standalone novella. I appreciate the attempt at a whimsical fairytale, if that's what this was.

I'm wavering between 2 stars and 3, because it was 1-2 stars for the first half but ended up being worth the read in the second. The level of enjoyment offered by the last half doesn't justify the quality of writing, especially given that this isn't an indie or debut book but an established author. It feels like an early draft and needs serious polishing before it goes to print, but given that I read an ARC through NetGalley (which I appreciate), it's too close to being published to receive the help it needs.

With the story itself, I didn't have many complaints. The one that stands out to me is that the MC and her family are deplorable people in certain ways, which provides opportunity for redemption arcs, but I still feel icky about them because some of their awful behavior, while being changed throughout the novel, was never actually called out for how terrible it was or apologized for; it was dealt with more matter-of-factly and with less repentance than warranted, in my opinion. I would have liked some acknowledgement of the bad behavior being bad rather than just "let's move forward in a different way". That being said, there were some sweet arcs that I enjoyed.

The first problem I had with the writing was that it's disjointed and clunky at times, both in narrative and dialogue, so it seems like different ideas are being thrown at a wall at once rather than a cohesive story being told by one author. I was left confused several times, either by how a conversation was unfolding when it didn't seem like the characters were actually responding to each other but were having individual monologues related but not responsive to the other, or by the exposition's attempt at explaining a concept or behavior, or by the supposed logic behind conclusions drawn by characters when there isn't a clear reason for the way they understand something.

Then there's some inexplicable idea that sometimes characters can be 100% sure of a statement or situation being a truth or a lie, as if there is something about their world where that's a thing? Or it's a magical reason? I don't know because it's never explained, and it just sits out there without the support it needs to make it plausible. Mentioning the magic, the MC has this great magical power, yet it's mostly just talked about and talked up, while barely being shown. For a book about a sorceress, that's pretty lame.

The type of book this is trying to be throws me off, as it often feels like a middle-grade book with the way it's written, but the themes and one cuss word knock it off that shelf. I guess it's supposed to be YA? Characters calling others stupid for loving, not loving, or having feelings about love was an odd repetitive occurrence that gave a very juvenile feel, discordant with what was going on otherwise. It doesn't agree as a whole who the audience is or whether it's a fairytale or a fantasy book. I love the whimsical aspects, and would have loved for this to fall more in line wholeheartedly with a fairytale instead of wavering. I can't explain in detail what I mean, just that as I was reading, I sometimes wished it would have kept leaning in to the fairytale side but it fell short.

I think there's just one more criticism I have of the writing, which is that at one point, the author goes all out on beginning sentences and paragraphs with "And" or "But". It feels almost like a stylistic choice, an attempt at something, but comes across as weak writing and ignorance of the fact that that's barely acceptable in proper writing and should be used sparingly.

Overall, I am shocked that this novella is being published by a traditional publisher and that it's from an author with so many books under her belt. The quality of writing is nowhere near what they should be producing. The bones of the story are good and interesting, but it would be better off being written by someone else or with more rounds of rewrites and editing.

After spelling out my impressions, I have landed on a rating of 2 stars. Although I found mild pleasure in reading this, which normally makes me give 3 stars, I feel very strongly that this book is too poor in quality to be graded on the same level as other works like it.

3 stars ⭐️

An enchanting, heartfelt and puzzling read that transported me to a new realm for a dose of escapism.

A story about love, revenge, family and the long history between two peoples.

I loved the vivid, whimsical descriptions and the way the author transported you and kept you rooted right to the spot. It was a quick novella read yet it gave me just enough to feel like I read a complete story in a very full world.

I have mixed feelings on the plot, pacing and the specific events that took place. There was quite a bit that felt left out, a lot of the story felt very wordy with big chunks of info-dumping and I’m not fully satisfied with the way everything solved itself in the end. Most of the characters fell a bit flat for me as well though I did enjoy their individual stories and how they complimented each others.

Overall, this was a transportive, magical read that can serve as great eacapism. Simple enough to read in a day but I wouldn’t read it and expect fast pacing or a simple read.

This was a fantastic novella and honestly probably one of the best short stories I have ever read. Even though it was short it had all the elements I love in a novel. You have a strong female character, action, suspense, a hint of romance, and magic.

The story is set in a fantasy world where there are mortals and Summer Land people. The Summer Land people reminded me of the fae. They have long lives, are extremely good looking, and you have to be careful about eating their food. The book starts out with Celia as a child. She is anxiously waiting for her oldest brother to come home but when he does it is only to tell their father off and then leave again. Celia is heartbroken that he doesn't think of her so she inadvertently curses him. She does not know that she is a sorceress yet. As Celia gets older she is determined to break the curse but her upcoming marriage to the prince may interrupt her plans.

The world building is superb. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Celia and Roric. I don't know how this author wrote such a great story in under 150 pages but she did. If you love fantasy, adventure, magic, and really great characters you will love this novella!

Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Summer War was all about love and the lack of love and their resulting consequences. Splendidly told as
an enchanting fairy tale. Short on pages, but so are all of the other classic fairy tales.

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC.

Everything Novik writes is an automatic win from me at this point. Her prose is luscious and full, as beautiful in words as it is in plot and story. The characters are grounded, however fantastical they may be.

I love Naomi Novik's writing style and world building. In this "fairy" tale, she writes about the power of love - familial love, romantic love, and even perceived forbidden love. The characters are well drawn and elicit real empathy to all of the varying plights. Celia regrets an impulsive act that cursed her oldest brother, Roric searches for a feeling of family after having been ignored his entire life, and Argent longs to love and be loved. I only wish the book had been longer - there's so much going on I would have love for it be be fleshed out a bit longer. Looking forward to the next installment!

Naomi Novik’s The Summer War is an atmospheric and emotionally resonant novella that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, family, and heartbreak. At its center is Celia, a young witch who, in a tragic mistake, curses her brother Argent to live without love, forever drawn to fame and glory through endless battle. Desperate to undo her error, Celia struggles to find a way forward.

As the youngest of three siblings, Celia’s perspective contrasts powerfully with that of the overlooked middle child, who lives in the shadow of Argent the most admired. The sibling dynamics are subtly woven, with the middle brother’s yearning for validation. I found myself deeply connected to both Celia and her brother, drawn in by their vulnerabilities.

The world building is exquisite, especially in its depiction of the fraught relationship between the human realm and the enigmatic Summerlings, who carry a grudge born from a past betrayal. Novik's narrative is part fairy tale, part love story, and entirely grounded in themes of family bonds.

Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

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.