Christopher Buehlman

Daughters' War

This may be the Grimdark book that ends me. Remember me well, friends. 

Catherine

I begrudge no one their superstitions—we climb out of despair by whatever rungs we have at hand.

Reading 'The Edge Chronicles' as a kid gave me a deep love for the niche subgenre of goblins-are-really-weird fantasy and this is probably my favorite book in that realm, ever. Plus, lesbian-who cuts-her-tits-off-to-tattoo-a-summonable, seven-foot-tall-killing-machine-of-a-raven-and-is-married-to-the-god-of-death goes just so fucking hard and I am so glad that, of all the Blacktongue Thief main cast, it was Galva who we were given a novel from the perspective of.

I think, of the three novels by him that I've read, this is his best with regards to pacing, but the ending still feels a little bit off - primarily, due to how the book is narrated as an in universe prequel, transitioning to the point in time where the first book starts just kind of takes the winds out of the sails of it, even if it felt like it was inevitable and structurally necessary. The last major battle of the war that we see directly, and Galva's last interaction with Migaed (the last major story moments/"the end" of the novel proper, barring what I mentioned here) were both excellent, though. It was just the falling action felt awkward, to be clear.

Way less of a collection of stories losing tied into a novel than Between Two Fires, and with more clear and sensible story beats than Blacktongue, which was somewhat chaotic in a way that was intentional by the author but I didn't feel worked fully. 

Really love how richly cultures, languages, and the intersections of different ones are painted for us: Galva's way of speaking and writing, how these do and don't mirror those of her family members; how subtleties like class and allegiance are being maintained in the third of a multi-generational series of meatgrinder wars and why they are maintained i.e what societal role they play and the benefit they bring, even when they have their own costs. I think other readers might find some of it tedious and repetitive at times, slowing down the first half of the book to a degree, but it's this kind of stuff that really compels verisimilitude from me. 

All around very good. Excited to see more, because having read Between Two Fires, Blacktongue Thief, and now this, it's very clear Beuhlman is improving very rapidly as an author and finding his stride. Hope we stick to this world, but I will almost definitely read whatever he releases next. 

Caelan

Reading 'The Edge Chronicles' as a kid gave me a deep love for the niche subgenre of goblins-are-really-weird fantasy and this is probably my favorite book in that realm, ever. Plus, lesbian-who cuts-her-tits-off-to-tattoo-a-summonable, seven-foot-tall-killing-machine-of-a-raven-and-is-married-to-the-god-of-death goes just so fucking hard and I am so glad that, of all the Blacktongue Thief main cast, it was Galva who we were given a novel from the perspective of.

I think, of the three novels by him that I've read, this is his best with regards to pacing, but the ending still feels a little bit off - primarily, due to how the book is narrated as an in universe prequel, transitioning to the point in time where the first book starts just kind of takes the winds out of the sails of it, even if it felt like it was inevitable and structurally necessary. The last major battle of the war that we see directly, and Galva's last interaction with Migaed (the last major story moments/"the end" of the novel proper, barring what I mentioned here) were both excellent, though. It was just the falling action felt awkward, to be clear.

Way less of a collection of stories losing tied into a novel than Between Two Fires, and with more clear and sensible story beats than Blacktongue, which was somewhat chaotic in a way that was intentional by the author but I didn't feel worked fully. 

Really love how richly cultures, languages, and the intersections of different ones are painted for us: Galva's way of speaking and writing, how these do and don't mirror those of her family members; how subtleties like class and allegiance are being maintained in the third of a multi-generational series of meatgrinder wars and why they are maintained i.e what societal role they play and the benefit they bring, even when they have their own costs. I think other readers might find some of it tedious and repetitive at times, slowing down the first half of the book to a degree, but it's this kind of stuff that really compels verisimilitude from me. 

All around very good. Excited to see more, because having read Between Two Fires, Blacktongue Thief, and now this, it's very clear Beuhlman is improving very rapidly as an author and finding his stride. Hope we stick to this world, but I will almost definitely read whatever he releases next. 



Daughters' War

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