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Not my favourite in the Singing Hills Cycle fantasy series, but I still thought it was beautiful and smart, with eloquently crafted characters and world-building, a big feat for a novella. I love how much these books are about story itself as much as they are full of tall tales themselves. Chih, the nonbinary cleric / historian / storykeeper, is a subdued delight as usual, especially in their relationship with the parrot who remembers everything.

It is still a lovely novella with a great voice. I love the world of the story but after a couple of books in the series I am ready to give up.

I enjoy this series but my favorite part might be the cover art.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

This is the story I liked the least, Lol! I know it's such a short read but it was hard to keep myself engaged. I did like the first two characters that we meet in this journey but that was the most exciting part for me. We do hear about the stories that get remembered and why they do/don't (types of woman). Maybe I'll give it a second change later, idk

Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle books are the literary equivalent of a nice cup of tea on a rainy day: warm, comforting and uplifting. This book, although shorter than the others, was no different. It's always a pleasure reading these.

"Almost Brilliant, her breakfast forgotten or simply foregone in favor of her favorite stories, told them about the fighters and fools and freaks of the riverlands, who may have lived in truth but certainly lived in fiction". In "Into the riverlands", by Nghi Vo.
An alliteration of "F"s...

Poorly-lit Casey + more Nghi Vo. Like THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE, INTO THE RIVERLANDS transformed from a good book to a great one the second time through. I love what it has to say about the stories behind the stories.

Another excellent, poignant Singing Hills installment— I really love how each story comments on the nature of storytelling, all while telling incredible stories ❤️

Picture of my son staring into the riverlands, although not the ones in the novella (thank goodness)

Another one in the Singing Hills series—and I‘m definitely hooked now! I kept waiting for the “main story” that Chih would be recording or telling here, only to discover that this one diverges from that pattern. Instead, it reveals lots of little stories along the journey, interconnecting and returning in unexpected ways. I loved the characters here—so much was packed into this little novella. #SeriesLove2023

Beautifully written, this nominee for the 2023 Hugo Best Novella award is a historical fantasy story in an Asian setting, the third in the Singing Hills Cycle. With a great cast of characters, this story is made up of a sequence of smaller stories and explores the idea of storytelling.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#RushAthon @DieAReader @Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES

Here‘s my #weekendTBR for #Rushathon.

I don‘t think I‘ve ever had 6 books going at once before. Some I‘m only a few chapters in, others close to 1/3 of the way done, none are close to finished. 😅

The Salt Grows Heavy, and Gigi, Listening are the only two I‘m not in the middle of, but I still hope to get to asap!

Oh! I forgot to add They Both Die at the End to this, since my copy has to be returned in 3days!

Vo does it again!! I finished this one and I just immediately wanted to re-read it. A fun adventure, with stories within stories that tie together in fascinating ways. Its such a complex tasty little treat. Like one of those fancy patisserie desserts in book form.

5/5

This was adorable. A bit violent but still adorable.

5/5

This is such a good series. I loved how this volume contained multiple related stories. I love the way the lore expands across each novels to build a rich and vibrant world.

Book 3, same cleric Chih, but now in the riverlands. They are looking for stories of the near immortal assassins from the region & the beautiful women among them. When in a tavern a truly horrendous looking woman asks Chih why only the beautiful assassins get their stories told? There‘s plenty of ugly people that did more impressive things. Moral: who gets their story told and why and do they want it told? (Selling point: surprise power throuple)

I appreciate that Nghi Vo switched it up again for the next entry in this series. Instead of one story set up and told throughout, it feels more like acts in a play, with hints of another story underneath - the bit of mystery left at the end, the respect for what stories people do and do not choose to share really resonated. And can I just say: power throuple goals! 🥰

Mac Khanh + Lao Bingyi = 🏆 Sweetest Old Couple

😂 My love for Chih continues.

This is a series? I should read the rest, cause this was a lot of fun. It felt like journey into the west or a king fu movie (if the normal people told the stories) or the Canterbury tales (if there were more martial artists).

This #novella is meant to be read twice. A fun #wuxia #fantasy story on the first pass, a rumination on the nature of both humans and stories on the second, this was easily my most awaited release of the year, and I‘m not disappointed.

It‘s amazing how much you can pack into 100 pages—if you pile the layers high enough.

4.5/5

#smallbooks #onedayread #lgbtq

Received to review.

I didn't love this one quite as much as the second in the series, but there was definitely a lot to enjoy. Mostly Almost Brilliant, of course.

I liked the fact that Chih didn't get all the answers they wanted, and that there were questions left about the stories... that's how it goes, sometimes!

I love The Singing Hills cycle by Nghi Vo. Each novella is so short and yet so mythic, intricate, and immersive. In this third in the series, which can be read in any order, the wandering cleric Chih enters the Riverlands, a place haunted by legendary martial artists. I enjoyed the journey and Chih‘s new companions—but I did end the book a little unclear about something! I had a little trouble concentrating this time so might just be me!