This was a quick, fast paced novella. I enjoyed the way the dysfunctional family came together to save one member.

Naomi Novik definitely has a talent for writing lyrical prose that enrich a mythical world while immersing you deeply in the hero's journey. From the very first page, I was consumed by the beautiful world-building and folkloric themes splayed throughout the chapters. The main character stood tall on her own yet kept growing into herself as the story progressed. I could not help, but to keep rooting for her every step of the way. This story is one that I savored for days on end since I did not want it to end. I can't say much else without spoiling the story, but I would still highly recommend this read if you are a long-standing or new fantasy book lover looking for your next favorite read of the year!

I think it's a craft to be able to tell a rich and beautiful story succinctly, even more so if we're talking about a tale in the Fantasy genre. Usually, these worlds are so vast, it's tough to condense it all to its core and not feel like you've left out all the important lore - but Naomi Novik managed it almost perfectly!

I felt immediately immersed in the tale, which was both heartbreaking and absurd at times. It had politics, it had magic, it had intrigue and romance and friendship and family - what more could one ask for?
While there were some parts that felt a bit info-dump-y, I was too eager to find out what happened next to really care. There was definitely potential to expand on the characters and the world more, but I didn't feel like I was lacking anything by the end. I just enjoyed seeing people deeply care for each other!

Fazit: 4.5 stars!

If you've got a sibling or two, then you undoubtedly have known the pure anger that can flare up during a small moment of hurt. What if that anger inflames a curse upon your favourite brother and changes the projection of the world as you know it?

Once again Naomi weaves a delightful array of words into the wonderful world of Celia and her family. Amongst the usual teenage angst comes a complex world of fae and the balance of magic and promises, queer love and family drama.

🗺️ The world building is very basic. Which does not distract from the storyline.

🌶️ There is no spice in this book.

📚 This book is for you if you enjoy a lighter fantasy that isn't overly complex and is a complete story.

✈️ An easy read that's good for those train travel days.

Overall a very enjoyable book that can easily be put down, picked up again and devoured in a day. This is a novella, so if you like me are a huge fan of Naomi's larger works like the Scholomance series just take note!

Thank you to the author, Naomi Novik and Del Ray Random House Worlds for the ARC. an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this arc.

4 stars.

this was a very lovely little novella, and if it had been longer, i wouldn't have minded. that's not to say i didn't like the shortness of this; it was to the point without much filler, and i liked that. sometimes, it's nice not to have to dive into an 8-book series. i just would have loved to see more of this world, and that's a good thing.

this was my first naomi novik book (even though i've had uprooted sitting on my shelves for years), and it was certainly not the last one!

When it comes to dark tales and family ties, few can match Naomi Novik. I rarely read novellas (unless the title says T. Kingfisher), but when I saw the cover and realized that Ms. Novik was returning to the eerie world of faeries, I couldn't help but be drawn in. Spinning Silver is still one of my favorite books about faeries and sibling relationships, but The Summer War came very close. Yes, I would have liked to see more of Celia and Roric's adventures in their attempt to save their brother, and I wouldn't have refused to see the story through Argent's eyes, but I understand that the essence of this tale is precisely that it is a fairy tale. And fairy tales don't have to be 400 pages long. And Naomi Novik has a real talent as a storyteller. Her characters are alive and understandable, and the story touches the soul and heart. I'm not going to lie - I put the book down a few times because I could barely hold back the tears, and I hate crying! This story touched me deeply, and I know it will stay with me for a long time.

A short story with a fun fairytale premise. A large amount of the story felt like an info dump which took me out of it a bit.

This novella was perfect. I read it in one sitting just completely drawn into the world Novik spun. The world building was effortless and was all necessary and not overbearing. She knew just how to weight the world and the characters so it felt ethereal but also had weighted meaning. I cried at the end because I was so invested in the emotions Novik was eliciting. It was perfect. Highly recommend it.

The Summer War was charming. It used a traditional feeling fairytale framework to work through topics like familial rejection, grief, and ultimately healing. I loved the ingenuity of many of the characters throughout the story as they wrestled with a curse and short-sighted oaths. Many of the stories regarding Celia's father, as well as her solutions to situations she found herself in, were clever in the way of old fairytales and the loopholes left by hasty magic.
This was a quick, classic feeling tale, that I devoured in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunnity to read and review The Summer War.

this was fine i just think it needed to be a bit longer because everything happened so fast but i enjoy this author and i can’t wait to see more from her.

This is a lovely little novella that has all the charm and lyrical prose of a classic fairytale, I just wish it did a little more with the core ideas. Celia is a sweet protagonist and I love the idea of her as sorceress inheriting all this power and status from a long-dead ancestor, but then she literally never gets to use her magic. Argent seems like he could be a compelling exploration of the war between love and duty and family expectations for queer people, but that thread doesn’t really get explored. Roric is sweet and there could be great commentary around being the “spare” or invisible child and how that affects someone, but it’s just never happens. Overall I enjoyed this read but I really think it could have been more powerful as a longer work that actually did something with the concepts it touches on.

This novella was lovely to read. It hit some important themes that aren’t done as frequently anymore while still being done in a fairytale setting. Wonderful to read.

A gorgeous novella full of kings, fairies, smart princesses. I wanted more and yet the short nature gave the story a sparse, haunting feel. Celia is a young princess with two brothers. She is mostly ignored until she displays powers of sorcery and then becomes ensnared in the battle between fae and the king.

This heartwarming fairytale is made up of complex pieces with lush scenarios populated by fae, witches, kings, and queens, but its message is simple: having someone to love who loved you back is everything. It could be a mother or a father and their child, or siblings, or a romantic interest, or even one’s fellow countrymen. The point was, caring and being cared for - *mattering* to someone - made life worth living.

Celia was 12 when her favorite brother Argent left home, and furious over being abandoned, she cursed him to live a life without love. She didn’t know that the very same day, her powers as a sorceress came into full fruition, and that her childish outburst would become prophecy; her beloved brother was cursed to live an empty life devoid of love for the rest of his days.

She determined to find Argent who was somewhere in the Fae Summer Lands, and reverse the prophecy if she could, but there was a catch: her father had promised her in marriage to Crown Prince Gorthan, so her time on her own was limited. She had tried to get the marriage date delayed, but when she was 15, the King wrote that it was time; Prince Gorthan was 29, and needed offspring. But something was off about his pressure. By the time her family figured out what was really going on, it was too late, and now Celia, her brother Roric, and her father needed all their wits and guile to undo the damage, or none of them would be saved.

Naomi Novik is such a creative fantasy writer - each book or series she writes is radically new and different than the rest, and yet there are common elements: generational hatreds that need to be dealt with and overcome if possible; “standard” systems of magic that may have folkloric elements; and the enduring magic of love.

Although only a novella, Novik managed to create memorable characters whose *human-ness* shines through in spite of not all of the characters being strictly defined as such.

All in all, a lovely story.

This reads like a fairy tale. It's a very short story about three siblings and two kingdoms. It has a bit of a Holly Black feeling to it.
It's a good novella, probably my favorite from Naomi Novik.

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Naomi Novik’s The Summer War swept me into a world of magic, family, and ancient grudges, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. This novella has the depth and richness of a full-length novel, but still manages to feel like a bite-sized epic. It reminded me a little of an "ACOTAR lite"—with its magical lore, emotional stakes, and fae-like Summerlings—while still standing on its own with Novik’s distinct storytelling style.

One of the highlights for me was the story of Celia’s father. The way he cleverly outwits the Summerlings in various battles was completely enthralling—I could’ve read an entire novel just about him. Those parts really anchored the worldbuilding for me and gave the narrative a weight that made the curse and its consequences feel even more dire.

Celia’s emotional arc is touching—starting with her accidentally cursing her brother in a moment of childish rage, and growing into a woman determined to undo what she’s done. The bond between siblings, especially with the unwanted middle brother stepping up, was refreshing and heartfelt. I appreciated how the story flowed smoothly from moment to moment, keeping me engaged the whole way through.

That said, I do think this novella has room to grow. There’s so much promise in the world Novik created here—I’d happily read an expanded version with more time to explore the politics, the history of the war, and the emotional consequences of magic used in anger. Novik is clearly working with something special, and I hope she revisits this world in the future.

All in all, The Summer War is a beautifully written, emotionally satisfying story with strong ACOTAR vibes, clever worldbuilding, and a poignant exploration of sibling love, regret, and redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey and would absolutely read more set in this world.

A perfect novella for those who are looking for a quick but meaningful and emotional read!
Every character has a place and they fit perfectly.

I love Naomi Novik. There, I said it.

This is such a perfect little novella for those who want a good fairy tale. It has a cast of characters who are at once familiar but also who have a great twist. It deals with the Fae in a more traditional way, and honestly, she probably could have written a whole trilogy about this world, but I rather enjoy that she didn't. I didn't quite read it in one sitting, but close enough, and although it had some emotional parts, and tragic parts, it reminded me of how it felt to read fantasy as a kid. Novik managed to capture the wonder of childhood fantasy stories, but brought it into an adult medium, with adult themes, and it still had me kicking my legs at the end of it.

No character is wasted in this story, and they are all deftly drawn. There is a sense of history that some epic fantasy series don't manage. The world felt at once like an old friend, and also like a new acquaintance.

If you're looking for a quick, digestable fantasy that nevertheless remains with you long after you're done... this is the one. I only wish I could read it for the first time again!

I knew this was going to be good when I saw the authors name, but this was great! It’s hard for me to enjoy a novella and I will admit I didn’t realize it was one when I requested it, but wow this may have changed my mind. I loved the plot and storytelling. I will say I didn’t necessarily love any characters but with less than 100 pages I don’t fault the author for that.

The Summer War was such a beautifully, well written novella. I read it in one night and could have happily read so much more, but the story was perfect as is!

Celia was 12 years old when she discovered her powers of sorcerery via a curse. The novella follows her resulting journey, as it intertwines with her brothers, the fate of her kingdom and the summerlings who had a long standing vendetta against the mortals. The prose draws you into the fantastical world and makes you feel like you are floating through a dream.