The Summer War

By: Naomi Novik

Narrated by: Ella Lynch

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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.

A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

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 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, 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.

Slow start but lovely book in the end.

The narrator was too childish sounding to me - like she was trying to be five instead of a tween.

However once you get past that it was a good story. Second half was by far the best.

If you enjoyed Spinning Silver…

…then you’ll love this glimpse into yet another mystical realm that exists with the turn of the seasons, and provides a light-hearted but heartfelt story of family, love, and the magic of words.

A Wonderful Fairy Tale with a Heroine Worth Rooting For

I listened to this on an overcast fall day bundled up in sweaters with my mug of tea. It was perfect! Like comfort food in an audiobook. Naomi Novik never fails to deliver with this deeply resonant story about sibling love and how we can accidentally wound the ones who mean the most to us.

The narrator was just perfect for the role. I felt every emotional high and low and wanted to burst out clapping at the end.

Is there a sixth star I can give it?!

Beautiful and too short

Fantastic story, lovely performance - I just wish I could have lived in this world a little longer

This book is everything a fairy tale should be.

I have nothing but praise for this book. I audibly sighed when I finished it.