The Summer War: Review, characters, trigger warnings, synopsis
Welcome to my The Summer War book review, where we’re diving into Naomi Novik’s latest sharp little slice of whimsical-dark fantasy.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when fairytale magic collides with political scheming, sibling curses, and the futility of war, this novella has you covered. In this post, I’ll walk you through a quick synopsis, list The Summer War characters (and why I got unexpectedly emotional over more than one of them), and touch on potential trigger warnings so you know what to expect going in.
Whether you’re here for vibes, family drama, or scathing social commentary disguised as fairytale, The Summer War delivers it all in under 200 pages.
Happy reading friends, hope you enjoy it too!
The Summer War synopsis.
In this poignant, heartfelt novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Spinning Silver and the Scholomance Trilogy, a young witch who has inadvertently cursed her brother to live a life without love must find a way to undo her spell.
Celia discovered her talent for magic on the day her beloved oldest brother Argent left home. Furious at him for abandoning her in a war-torn land, she lashed out, not realizing her childish, angry words would suddenly become imbued with the power of prophecy, dooming him to a life without love.
While Argent wanders the world, forced to seek only fame and glory instead of the love and belonging he truly desires, Celia attempts to undo the curse she placed on him. Yet even as she grows from a girl to a woman, she cannot find the solution—until she learns the truth about the centuries-old war between her own people and the summerlings, the immortal beings who hold a relentless grudge against their mortal neighbors.
Now, with the aid of her unwanted middle brother, Celia may be able to both undo her eldest brother's curse and heal the lands so long torn apart by the Summer War.
Get The Summer War here.
The Summer Wars characters.
The Summer War characters.
The Summer War is told in third-person from the perspective of its female protagonist, Celia. When Celia was 12, she accidentally cursed her brother to a life lived without finding love. Oops.
Characters.
Celia
Sir Argent, Knight of the Woven Blade (Celia’s brother)
Roric (Celia’s brother)
Veris the Fox (Celia’s father)
Summer Prince Elithyon
Alimathisa
Dowager Marchioness of Travinia
Unter
Crown Prince Gorthan
King Morthimer
Mentioned characters (off-page).
King Sherdan the betrayer
Princess Eislaing
Witch-Queen Selina
Lady Cecily
Lady Farria
Mistress Perilla
Grand Duke Preine
Minata (song spinner)
Review: The Summer War by Naomi Novik.
View my review and follow me on GoodReads here.
Ever accidentally cursed your sibling and doomed them to a life without love, that time when you were 12 years old and got your first period? No? Well then, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re already doing better than Celia, surprise sorceress and inadvertent destroyer of her brother Argent’s romantic prospects.
As someone who ate up both Spinning Silver and the Scholomance trilogy (A Deadly Education, et al.), I wasn’t surprised that The Summer War hit my sweet spot. It reminded me of a combination of both worlds in some ways, with the fairytale-like whimsy of Spinning Silver complete with seasonal weather that shapes the world, and a fae-like character reminiscent of the King of the Staryk. But at the same time, it carries the subtle, scathing political bite of the Scholomance trilogy.
That’s what I love about Novik. She’s versatile, adaptable and can switch up or blend narrative styles like a literary chameleon, but she also sneaks in critiques of capitalism, privilege and oppression. Whether it’s tied up with a neat little bow in a dark academia series or folkloric fantasy standalone tale, it never feels preachy. So if you’re reading Novik just for fun, vibes and escapism, you’ll find it.
But pay closer attention, and you’ll see she’s also making a statement about the fragile egos of leaders who need war to cling to their “thrones”, the lies and propaganda that keep the powerful in power, as well as the futility and senselessness of war itself. If you keep informed of current events around the world, you'll understand why these subtle underlying themes hit so hard and tore my heart out.
Additionally, what genuinely surprised me was that in under 200 pages, I was up in all my feelings for the characters. For FMC Celia, but even more so for Roric, the middle brother destined to be everyone’s spare part instead of his own person, for Argent, the cursed eldest, and even for Veris, the dad. My heart ached, broke and also healed. It was quite the journey.
Finally, for me, the novella length was satisfying and I didn’t feel like I needed or wanted more. By the end, I was emotionally wrecked and fulfilled all at once and the story left me all squishy. That said… I wouldn’t be bummed if Novik ever wrote a standalone set in the same world with the same characters.
Buddy reading this with my sis Ivana made it even better because we were so emotionally in sync over everything. She had some incisive thoughts, so be sure to check out her review.
If you appreciate any of Novik’s past works, then I’m gonna say there is a very very good chance you’ll love this too and in that case you should read this.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the ARC.
View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.
The Summer War FAQs.
SPOILER ALERT:
⚠️ Some answers may spoil Silvercloak by L.K. Steven if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution. ⚠️
Here are the answers to all your common FAQs.
Is The Summer War part of a series?
No, The Summer War appears to be a standalone novella, as far as I’m aware.
What are the content and trigger warnings?
Violence
War
Confinement
Classism
Death
Suicidal thoughts
Suicide (mentioned/off-page)
Is there spice in The Summer War?
No, there is no spice in The Summer War.
Enjoyed reading The Summer War by Naomi Novik? You may also enjoy reading:
A Deadly Education | The Last Graduate | The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
One Dark Window | Two Twisted Crowns | The Knight & the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
