The Mimicking of Known Successes

I've thoroughly enjoyed Older's previous work, but the prose in this outing is a step above. Over and over again I found myself pausing, pleased, over particularly apt turns of phrase -- lines like "Mossa, appearing unmoved by her sartorial panache", feel natural in her characters' voices and are thoroughly enjoyable. The world is suggested rather than sketched (which makes sense for a novella) but is intriguing and exciting, the plot + stakes work, and the romance is engaging. Good stuff, strong recommendation!

I've thoroughly enjoyed Older's previous work, but the prose in this outing is a step above. Over and over again I found myself pausing, pleased, over particularly apt turns of phrase -- lines like "Mossa, appearing unmoved by her sartorial panache", feel natural in her characters' voices and are thoroughly enjoyable. The world is suggested rather than sketched (which makes sense for a novella) but is intriguing and exciting, the plot + stakes work, and the romance is engaging. Good stuff, strong recommendation!