Once upon a time, there was a teenaged girl whose father believed that he could outsmart everyone. Naomi Novik’s charming, heartfelt novella, The Summer War, tells us what happens when the girl’s father’s plans go awry. Celia’s father is a master strategist with a glaring blind spot: he never considered anyone’s feelings, not least of which is that people can’t help who they fall in love with.
Celia’s story really begins when she is a little girl, on the day her world falls apart. Her beloved brother, who has striven to live up to their father’s expectations, decides that he has had enough. His only hope to live the kind of life he wants is to leave. Celia becomes so upset that her beloved brother that she curses him. Unfortunately for Celia, her brother, and her family, Celia’s fit of childish pique is amplified by her hitherto unknown abilities as a sorceress. Everyone is very, very surprised by this.
There is not a wasted word in The Summer War. Novik packs in just enough exposition and scene-setting to show us what the stakes are as the story plunges Celia neck-deep into all kinds of problems. Who will take care of her father’s dukedom after his plans implode? What’s up with the weirdly impatient prince of the realm who insists on marrying Celia, now that she’s revealed to have powerful magic? Is the Summer War that plagued the kingdom for centuries really over? As if this wasn’t enough to keep Celia up at night, she is also constantly challenged with questions about love. Who deserves love? Are some hurts unforgivable? Most of all, can love conquer all?
I had a lovely time reading The Summer War. It’s short; the hardcover edition is only 144 pages. I might’ve wished that the book were longer because I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the surprising complexity of the story, but this book is exactly as long as it needs to be. It’s a beautifully crafted tale that utterly absorbed me for an evening. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.