This review is based on an eARC (Advance Reading Copy) provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Summer War will be released on September 16, 2025.

I haven’t read much of Naomi Novik, but I’ve liked what I’ve read, and given that I’m always looking to try novellas from outside the Tor ecosystem and that I had a pretty good idea this one would fit my Bingo theme, I decided to give The Summer War a try. 

The Summer War is a fairy tale, both in topic and in style—though unless I’ve missed hints of retelling, it’s an original fairy tale. The lead is the daughter of a clever military mind who has gone from rags to riches on the strength of his success in the annual wars against the neighboring Fae. But her brother flees the country at the height of his own military acclaim, just as the lead is coming into her own new and poorly understood powers of sorcery. So she says goodbye with a curse and spends the rest of the narrative looking for a way to undo it, all while trying to fulfill her duties to her father’s house in the absence of his favored son. 

The fairy tale elements are all there. The war with the Fae—resting on a long-remembered injustice—the precocious sorceress who makes a tragic mistake before truly understanding her capabilities, the peerless knight unable to find rest and belonging, bits of prophecy sprinkled here and there. It’s the sort of story where you have to accept that the key players will all be exceptional and just roll with it, and while the lead’s burning desire to make amends with her brother is certainly a compelling motivation, it’s not the sort of story that’s going to dig especially deep into the mind of the heroine. 

That’s not necessarily my usual style, but it is an intentional style, and it’s generally well-executed. There are a few plot beats that are pretty easy to predict, but there are others that offer genuine surprise and keep the whole thing from feeling perfunctory. And though it’s not a story that leads with the themes, it does have something to say about acceptance of people who don’t fit the stereotypical mold and of breaking cycles of violence. Neither are necessarily new, but they’re well-executed, and the latter isn’t exactly the sort of theme you’ve already read ten times this year. 

For someone who really enjoys the fairy tale voice and style, I can imagine this being a real favorite. For me, preferring a tighter character focus, it’s still a plenty enjoyable read. I’d probably need a little more depth to hit my own favorites list, but sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and have fun with something. If you’re looking for a short novella offering an hour’s entertainment, this could easily fit the bill. 

Recommended if you like: original fairy tales.

Can I use it for Bingo? It’s hard mode for Impossible Places and High Fashion. It’s also Published in 2025.

Overall rating: 15 of Tar Vol’s 20. Four stars on Goodreads.