I originally read these novellas partially because I just genuinely enjoy novellas, but also because the cover art was truly spectacular, and these stories fully lived up to their covers. Neon Yang crafted a detailed and intense world that slowly unraveled as the stories went on in a fascinating way. The mythology was complex, the characters were remarkably human, and the writing was a treat to read.
Novellas are always a bit of a double-edged sword for me. In this case, I loved the characters and the society that had been created, but slack was always a bit disjointed for me and I wish we'd gotten to see more of what was happening in-between. The way Yang discussed gender was super fascinating and really unlike any other story I'd read before, fantasy or otherwise, and I thought that added a lot to the overall immersion. Akeha really grew on me as the story went on, and his relationships with the other characters (particularly Yongcheow and Mokoya) felt real and complex. I ended up loving this much more than I had anticipated and am ready to dive into the other Tensorate novellas.
Favorite Quote: As long as there was love, there would be hope. It was enough.
I (surprisingly) didn’t like Mokoya as a narrator as much as I’d liked Akeha, but this was still a lovely novella. Grief was explored in a very multi-faceted and genuine way which definitely added to the complexity. I loved that Mokoya began to accept herself, and she and Rider had a sweet relationship. The monsters were cool and though I do find it odd that this was billed as a companion novel since reading them in the opposite order would greatly detract from both stories, it was still a fun sequel.
Favorite Quote: Violence is the fault of the one enacting it. Always.
This is easily my favorite Tensorate installment as of yet. I adored the hybrid of the epistolary style with the mystery and investigation and thought it made for a really compelling narrative. This one also added a ton of depth to the crimes of the Protectorate and the complicity of people involved. Sariman’s voice thoroughly hooked me, and the juxtaposition of her personal journey with the overall nefarious plot was what really made the story feel so urgent. Non-traditional storytelling can be a bit of a hit or a miss for me, but in this case, Yang totally knocked it out of the park.
Favorite Quote: Cruel as the fates may be, they cannot match the cruelty of humans.
This story in it of itself wasn't my favorite, but I loved all the ways it tied itself back to the other books and really made this world make sense. The story Lady Han told almost made me sympathize with the Protector (spoiler) particularly the loss of her child, and how that loss effectively stayed with her all the way up until she attempted to sacrifice herself for Akeha (end spoiler) and really just added a dimension to the story. Lady Han's story itself was an exciting tale and the "drunken monologue" (Yang's words, not my own), while maybe atypical, really encapsulated the emotions of the story. I definitely would not be opposed if Yang ever decided to continue with this series, but as it is now, this is a solid end point.
Favorite Quote: Maybe I’ll start from the beginning. My beginning. After all, I’m the one telling the story, am I not?
While the novellas are each about different characters, different circumstances, and different times, they managed to connect in truly marvelous ways from story to story. The discussions on gender throughout these novellas was something I’ve never seen on paper and it was so refreshing to read about, and I’m beyond thankful that Neon Yang had this opportunity to discuss their experiences in this way. I definitely liked some of these more than others, but the series as a whole was well-crafted, extraordinarily innovative, and just really fun to read. The series was weird, with the latter stories being especially so, but definitely worth giving it a shot (especially since there’s a 4-in-1 collection available).
Books in Series: The Black Tides of Heaven; The Red Threads of Fortune; The Descent of Monsters; The Ascent to Godhood
