The Singing Hills Cycle, Part Three
by Nghi Vo
Reviewed by Galen Strickland
Posted April 2, 2026
7. A Long and Speaking Silence
8. ?
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There have been six other novellas in this series, three each reviewed on two separate pages. Click the link on the author's name above to see links to those and other reviews. When she posted on Bluesky the day A Long and Speaking Silence was released, I asked how many others we could expect. She replied that she was writing another at that time, so at least one more after Silence, but I'm hoping that will not be the last. A good reason to create a third page for the series, all of which I can recommend, and the same goes for her other books. Another reason for a new page is this is a new beginning, a prequel to everything that came before. It is so early in Cleric Chih's career of chronicling stories that they occasionally forget they are a cleric, thinking of themselves as still a novice. But because they are a cleric they already have their companion, the hoopoe/neixin, Almost Brilliant.
"Someday you're going to be far from home, whether that distance is counted in miles or years. When you are, be kind to yourself, okay?" That is not from the story, but the first part of the author's acknowledgments at the end. Even though this is about a fabled land that may have never existed, it is still relevant to many people today. Unfortunately, too relevant.
The story begins in media res. Chih is working as a server in a restaurant in Luntien, in the kingdom of Feiyu. We later learn that is because their purse had been stolen either while still on the boat, or just after disembarking at the dock. They had messaged the Singing Hills Abbey, but it would be several days if not longer before their stipend reaches them. They need that to continue with their assignment (their first?), which would end in the Feiyu capital city of Bexia. The work in the restaurant is hard, long hours in a hot and stifling environment, even harder when a festival brings more customers. At least they have a pallet on which to sleep at the restaurant. They are anxious to begin collecting stories, a few of which they hear from the restaurant owner and their children, as well as cooks and other servers, although several are similar to ones they had already heard. Then a band of refugees come to Luthien from Muyi, which had suffered great floods. Chih upsets some of them by continually calling them Verdant Islanders. Almost Brilliant has to correct some of Chih's statements or questions. The most important thing for any Singing Hills cleric is to listen, write down what is said, but most especially not guess or anticipate what people will say, or beg for more information than they are willing to give. The title of this story relates to that.
The plight of the refugees reminds Chih of their own family's struggles, although they didn't learn the full story until later. They had fled from floods sixteen years previously, when Chih was only two. Their parents had four other children, and thought it best to leave Chih with traveling clerics, then continue on to reunite with other family in Zhou. Chih is sure most of what they know was related later by their cleric mentors. I may be wrong, but can't recall any previous mention of their parents or other family. A lot of the refugees are granted shelter and food at the Temple of the Lady of a Thousand Hands. Chih visits with them when not working, compiling names of those there, but also of family missing. They assure them they will report everything when they reach Bexia, which might help in reuniting the families. This is where the title comes in. When someone speaks they do not always reveal everything. Some things may be withheld due to trauma, or feelings of guilt or shame. A successful cleric should listen, but then think about the silence in between words, although they should not try to guess what those words might be. If they are patient enough, and can convince those talking they are compassionate, willing to help, the silences might end.
I don't know where or when the next story will be set. Perhaps another of Chih's early adventures, or it might jump to their "current" life. We learn that the clerics of Singing Hills had been refugees themselves in the past, fleeing the Emperor of Nails and Storms, who wanted to destroy all the Singing Hills archives. They were able to return to the abbey after he died, when the Emperor of Pine and Steel welcomed them back. Those events were probably before Chih, but due to the archives they can continue to learn about the long history of the peoples, villages, towns, and empires that have come and gone. Almost Brilliant also has the stories remembered and repeated by her ancestors, all of whom had eidetic memories. Wherever Chih travels I will follow. Whatever stories they write in their books I will want to read. It will likely be next year for that, but Nghi has another novel due in October. I want to read everything she writes.
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