I’ve loved most everything that I’ve read by Naomi Novik so when I was given opportunity to read this novella, I jumped on it!
Thanks to the author, as well as Del Rey via NetGalley for the review copy.
Celia discovered her talent for magic on the day her beloved oldest brother Argent left home. Furious at him for abandoning her in a war-torn land, she lashed out, not realizing her childish, angry words would suddenly become imbued with the power of prophecy, dooming him to a life without love.
While Argent wanders the world, forced to seek only fame and glory instead of the love and belonging he truly desires, Celia attempts to undo the curse she placed on him. Yet even as she grows from a girl to a woman, she cannot find the solution—until she learns the truth about the centuries-old war between her own people and the summerlings, the immortal beings who hold a relentless grudge against their mortal neighbors.
Now, with the aid of her unwanted middle brother, Celia may be able to both undo her eldest brother’s curse and heal the lands so long torn apart by the Summer War.
The Summer War is the story of Celia, who is a sorceress just coming into her powers as a young woman, and in doing so accidentally curses her oldest brother Argent to a life without love. He wanders the world as she grows into a woman, and eventually finds herself entangled with the summerlings, and learning just what the Summer War was all about. Celia and her often forgotten middle brother try their best to save their land, and Argent, from the summerlings.
This was a lovely little novella that I read all in one sitting. It read a bit like a fairy tale, somewhat like Uprooted or Spinning Silver did, both of which I enjoyed very much. I only wish that it had been a bit longer, but I still enjoyed my time with this story. I had 4/5 stars of fun with this story. I will definitely read more of Naomi Novik’s work when I have the opportunity!
superstardrifter 
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