The Brides of High Hill (The Singing Hills Cycle, 5)

I love Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle. Even though this one is marked as the 5th in the series, it is actually a standalone novella and much darker than the previous books in the series. This time we find protagonist Cleric Chih escorting a young woman and her family to an estate, Doi Cao, where the young woman's betrothed awaits her. She has never met her fiance, but she has been promised to him. When they arrive at Doi Cao, they are greeted with extravagant banquets, but there is something sinister lurking beneath the facade. What Cleric Chih eventually learns is that monsters are where you least expect them.

This was a deliciously chilling story. I love Cleric Chih and look forward to the next in this series!

The story beckons, nay entices you to follow Cleric Chih’s journey to Doi Cao. A chance meeting on the road has Chih accompanying the merchant family Pham to the walled estate of Doi Cao for their daughter Pham Nhung’s wedding to Lord Gho. Chih (they) innocently investigate Nhung’s new home and uncover some places left to rot. “They” become concerned for Nhung. Even more so when Chih discovers that Nhung is not the first bride here. What happened to the previous wives of Lord Gho? They meet the Lord Gho’s son Zhuhai. Nhung declares him beautiful. Zhuhai is a troubled young lord who appears ill, possibly cursed Chih decides. “The first time they had met him, he had been full of scorn, and the second time, he had been furious. This time, he moved with a faltering step, his arms hanging woodenly down by his sides and his head jerked up towards the sky as if there was a string running from his chin to the rooftops.” Something is wrong. Chih is concerned for Nhung, yet can’t determine what troubles them. When they find out, they’re already in danger. Survival will be hanging by a thread, or a teapot. A fabulously told, gothic type fantasy! What is reality? What is false? The story flowed beautifully. I loved it!

A TOR ARC via NetGalley. Many thanks to the author and publisher. Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change (Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Review first posted at Girl Who Reads. All opinions are my own.

Cleric Chih accompanies a young bride to the crumbling estate where she is to be the latest wife for Lord Guo. The bridal party is elaborately welcomed, but the servants are frightened and the lord's mad son implies that something is haunting the halls. Chih begins to investigate what happened to Lord Guo's previous wives and the history of Do Cao itself. But not all monsters are in the shadows after all.

The Singing Hills Cycle has been shortlisted for or won multiple awards for science fiction and fantasy writing, and with good reason. These novellas follow Cleric Chih on their travels and may be read in any order. (previous novellas reviewed at Girl Who Reads include The Tiger Came Down The Mountain and Into The Riverlands.) In accompanying Nhung to her future home at Do Cao, Cleric Chih is without their usual companion Almost Brilliant, the memory spirit in the shape of a bird. Nhung at first is almost childlike, and her parents often repeat how she'll be well off married to her new husband. The adult sleepwalking son and rooms with rot are present, with a curse in place. Chih does their best to collect story fragments, as they usually do, and everything in the household has a double meaning.

As with other novellas in this series, it's the collection of stories that leads Chih into and out of trouble. The clues are a little more hidden, and no one is really what they seem. It all comes together quickly, with danger present where others wouldn't have expected it. Not all stories are benign, and sometimes the conquerors don't look closer at what they expect to rule over.

Series Info/Source: This is the 5th book in the Singing Hills Cycle. I borrowed this on ebook from the library.

Thoughts: I always really enjoy the books in this series. They really dive into good classic fantasy storytelling.

Chih finds herself on the road accompanying a young bride to an aging estate where the bride is supposed to marry the older ruler there. They are greeted with fancy displays and parties. However, there is something more sinister lurking under the surface of this aging estate.

I always enjoy following Chih as they collect stories. This was a particularly interesting one because the story starts to twist and turn on its head the further in you get.

This is beautifully written and fun to read. I am always amazed at how much world-building, character-building, and just pure story are put into these novellas. This remains one of my favorite series. I think that is because it is a story about stories that is highly entertaining, creative, and easy to read.

This does say that it can be read as a stand alone, which is true. However, I think you will get a lot more out of the story if you have read the previous novellas.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really enjoyed this installment of the Singing Hills Cycle. This was a highly entertaining addition to the series, I loved some of the twists and turns in the story. I am eager to read the next book in the series and eager to see what Nghi Vo comes up with next!

These Singing Hills novellas feel ancient and traditional while also new and trailblazing. These standalone tales have all been very enjoyable for me.

The style of storytelling is unique. Exploring feminist themes through the dialogue of another time. Rituals and traditions paint a picture of a different world but all too similar to ours and familiar when we take a closer look. Wealth, influence, and power revered above all.

The things we fear, and the things we should fear aren’t always the same. Happiness isn’t always certain and guaranteed. Duty and honor are constantly pulling us away from what we want. Things are valued and appreciated are drastically different from class to class.

I hope more people give these tales a chance and discover the beauty of the writing.

The Brides of High Hill leaves you questioning reality and what is really going on; while that's not abnormal for The Singing Hills Cycle this book leans that direction a little harder.

Our monk is traveling with a prospective bride to the manor where she will be wedded, and together they discover several unsettling events and questions, which will have an unexpected outcome.

Nghi Vo has created another wonderful story to collect in The Brides of High Hill.

I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment!

As soon as I saw this cover on NetGalley, I instantly recognized the unmistakable style as one of the books in The Singing Hills Cycle series by Nghi Vo.

I wasn't sure how far along the series was, but I decided to take a peek at the book description and was pleasantly surprised to find that while it is indeed part of the series, it's considered a standalone! I also saw this story featured "an extremely murderous teapot" - and, well, I just had to know what THAT was about. Y'all, I clicked that request button so fast!

As evidenced by my star rating, I had a good time reading this novella and will absolutely be prioritizing the previously published books in the series. Do I agree that this is a standalone?

Sort of.

It is a complete story, but the beginning was a bit rough as the character of Cleric Chih was written as though the reader will already know who they are. It felt a bit disjointed and choppy at first, but that did smooth out as I continued. I learned who Chih was through the observations and interactions they had with the other characters in this novella and so it worked out for me in the end.

I was quickly drawn into the fairytale-like quality of the writing style - it began as whimsical and exciting, then shifted into dark and foreboding with an unpredictable outcome by its end. I thought I had it all figured out because I was lulled by the fairytale feel of the beginning. Boy, was I in for a shock. (I'm sitting here laughing at myself as I write this, just remembering my reaction at the end..)

If you have read and loved books by authors such as T. Kingfisher, Leigh Bardugo and Seanan McGuire, then I believe you would also enjoy Nghi Vo.

I do believe that current readers of The Singing Hills Cycle series will benefit the most as far as overall reading experience. For readers who have been curious about the series, this novella would be a great "taste test" as it can be easily consumed in an afternoon. (Then you can join me in reading the first 4 books in the series! Ha!)

I could read these Singing Hills Cycle novellas forever. I love experiencing their world with Cleric Chih. This time however, things got a little to disorienting and scary for me, but the whole story was well done though parts of it seemed to need connecting that didn't. It is well executed though, and we readers are deceived as Cleric Chih is. I don't know if others felt this, but this one sees to beg for some sort of continuation, at some point. So, while not my favorite, I wouldn't have missed it.

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo is the fifth book in literary fantasy novella series The Singing Hills Cycle. You can technically read them all as stand-alones if you want, but I'd still recommend reading them in order.

And listen to the audiobook versions! These books are ABOUT stories and it's lovely to feel like you're part of the oral storytelling.

This one in particular leans a little into gothic horror. I really like that genre, and I had fun with this one!

You ever read a book and then spend the whole time wondering what it was you were reading? All the vibes from this one really sounded amazing and I was thrilled to get some gothic fantasy horror, however, I have no idea what I even read. I spent the whole time waiting for things to be explained, but I swear by the time I got what I think was the big reveal it would just make me more and more confused. However, the writing style was fantastic and really great at creating the gothic ambience and I would be interested in reading more by this author.