Paperback, 112 pages
Published March 1, 2022 by Tordotcom.
Sarah Tolmie has woven an origin myth for the Icelandic Horse, which I think you might need an interest in horses to fully enjoy.
I went into this not sure of what to expect but found a lovely quick read bursting to the seams with mythos, legends, and history. We join an Icelandic trader who ultimately discovers more then he would like about spirits and with a singular mission to bring his new found horses to his homeland. Without knowing the specific history of these events I still none the less feel like care was taken to preserve the significance of the included cultures and their tales.
This could easily be an afternoon or otherwise quick read for someone traveling or just wants to change things up from their normal read.
I loved this so so so much. It is a quiet, beautiful story about a man who comes to lead a quiet, beautiful life. And it has magic horses, so you know, I dig it. I just finished it and I want to reread it, and I don't even necessarily know why. It's just... good.
I want to steep in it a little bit longer, even though I don't really want the story to be longer. It's the perfect size, I'm just not ready to leave yet.
"This mare's story proves that one can be famous without a name, a valuable lesson."
I don't normally pick up novellas unless they're a part of a series I'm reading, but the cover for this one and the blurb on NetGalley were to interesting to pass up. This short story follows Icelandic trader Eyvind as he accompanies another trader on a three year trading journey to trade with the qan's tribe. There, he performs a great task for the qan and is given wealth (in horses) and prestige.
The story has a weird ebb and flow to it that took me a bit to get into. What really compelled me forward was the mythological feel to the story, like I was reading an actual retelling of a myth. The writing style was fantastic, I thought, and I know some people found Eyvind flat or distant, but I thought he was …
"This mare's story proves that one can be famous without a name, a valuable lesson."
I don't normally pick up novellas unless they're a part of a series I'm reading, but the cover for this one and the blurb on NetGalley were to interesting to pass up. This short story follows Icelandic trader Eyvind as he accompanies another trader on a three year trading journey to trade with the qan's tribe. There, he performs a great task for the qan and is given wealth (in horses) and prestige.
The story has a weird ebb and flow to it that took me a bit to get into. What really compelled me forward was the mythological feel to the story, like I was reading an actual retelling of a myth. The writing style was fantastic, I thought, and I know some people found Eyvind flat or distant, but I thought he was pragmatic and had a dry sense of humor. The horses, despite being the key part the novella hinges on, don't actually feature in the story until the last half or so, and I was a little disappointed at them not being more of a feature.
I'm still giving this novella 4 stars, if only because I liked the short journey we went on, and for a really unique and intriguing writing style.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
