Wuxia fantasy. Novella. Found family. A devoted nun of the order named in the book’s title, who is (for reasons revealed later) waiting tables in a village cafe, falls in with a gang of bandits, in the context of a country quietly seething in the grip of rebellion and civil war. Really, really good. Despite its brevity, it does just the right things to build the world and to draw you into caring about the characters and the story, and the emotional rhythm is simple but effective. For the young woman at the centre in particular, the efficiently painted whole of her enabled vivid pictures of particular tilts of head, positionings of face, tones of voice, only some of which were described or even suggested. Though it took me by surprise, I was instantly invested in the relational connection revealed in the closing pages of the book – I ship it! And there is a gentle, understated humour to the book that is just delightful. Would recommend.
Originally posted by Scott on Goodreads.