The Brides of High Hill

In Hugo Award winner Vo’s evocative fifth Singing Hills Cycle novella (after Mammoths at the Gates), opulence and ancestry unravel to reveal dark secrets. Cleric Chih returns, this time without their partner in crime, memory spirit Almost Brilliant, to accompany the fallen Pham family as they visit the mysterious estate of Doi Cao, where the Phams seek a union between their daughter Nhung and her wealthy older suitor, Lord Guo. The estate is filled with vacant buildings guarded by protective relics, and the servants refuse to engage with the guests any more than necessary. Unease surrounds the visitors as they explore the spiraling grounds and learn more about the fates of Lord Guo’s past wives. Even as Cleric Chih and the Phams are treated to extravagant banquets, they grapple with the ominous atmosphere and unsettling warnings from Lord Guo’s afflicted son. In her signature lyrical style, Vo creates a haunted house where nothing is as it appears, unraveling magical threads at a spellbinding pace. This eerie and intricate entry keeps the series going strong. (May)