A Heart Between Teeth: A Tor.Com Original

Mkalis Cycle #2.5

by Kerstin Hall

A new novelette set in the realms of Kerstin Hall's acclaimed The Mkalis Cycle series. The 813th realm of Mkalis has fallen to a cruel and mercurial god, but Tahmais, its would-be successor, finds an unlikely ally in her quest to reclaim it at any cost....

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novella

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2023

About the author

KERSTIN HALL is the author of Asunder, The Border Keeper, Second Spear, and Star Eater. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

Reviews

[dathomira · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can't square how the author who wrote star eater, which read like early 2000s ya fantasy, and who wrote this--a vibrant, cruel, effortless fantasy--are the same person. i know from the authors newsletter that the former was edited under duress, so that might have something to do with it. either way, in 2024 i'm going to read the borderkeeper and the second spear, and look forward to her next novel, asunder, in the hopes that it proves me wrong. ie that hall is not yet mastered the form of the novel, but that other circumstances conspired against her to make her debut lackluster.

[Darren K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal and beautiful. A Heart Between Teeth is part of the Mkalis Cycle, but works well as a standalone. Indeed, I read this book before the others (though immediately after bought them due to how much I enjoyed this story). The world is one unique in modern fantasy, and the small cast of characters are all instantly memorable. It delivers exactly as much story as it needs, without any more or less.

[Heloise Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this all the stars. ✨
Even shorter than her Border novella, the tight arc is where she excels.

[Venneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ended up reading this in one long sitting, which is one of my favorite things to do. Was fun to get more of the world before I dive into the second book, and more of the surreality and cruelness.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just me eagerly devouring every little scrap of Mkalis lore that Kerstin Hall throws our way. I adore the gruesome and brutal, but also beautiful atmosphere of this world. The story made me tear up a little. It also comes with all sorts of warning for grisly violence and torture.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Always like to visit this world, and this was an interesting little novella. I wish this had been fleshed out into a longer book, as it felt like there was more that could have been explored with the story.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tahmais breathed out. No trembling. No tears. She inhaled again, forced her lungs to work. The god had already taken everything, but he would not have the satisfaction of watching her fall apart. She was still alive. That was significant. She was alive, which came with responsibilities, whether she wanted them or not. She needed to learn what might still be salvaged.

She opened her eyes.

I haven't read anything else from the Mkalis Cycle, but this intrigued me. Multiple realms ruled by different demons, very fae in their approach to cruelty and dealing with their denizens; when you are immortal and locked in a constant power struggle with your contemporaries, petty delights come from torture and conquest.

Still, Tahmais and Lfae had me rooting for them even in this short space of story, and I found it was a very quick and compelling read. I might have to give this series a try in long form!

Free to read from Tor here: https://www.tor.com/2023/11/15/a-hear...

[Beth N · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Heart Between Teeth is my first experience of Hall's work and it is apparent that familiarity with the earlier books in the Mkalis Cycle would give a valuable headstart in understanding the worldbuilding of this short story. That said, Hall clearly knows where and when to feed in the necessary exposition that allows new readers to make sense of it.

The setting is thrillingly unique, while elements of fairy tale magic feel familiarly grounding. Readers of a squeamish disposition be warned that it also follows the fairy tale tradition of getting disturbingly gory in places.

Hall packs a lot of plot into thirty-nine short pages. The pacing is just right and the climax when it comes hits with the impact of a full-length novel.

I did feel that the direction of the story was a little predictable and some of the character relationships were not to my usual tastes, but this has me intrigued enough to look out for the earlier books in the series.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely short, brutal addition the Mkalis universe. HOWEVER, this is listed as Mkalis Cycle 2.5 which is wrong - it's set before the first in the series, the brilliant The Border Keeper. There aren't any spoilers here but you will meet characters here who are also in that book and since this is set before it, it's a little confusing.

Be that as it may, this is a great intro to Hall's writing - in just 39 pages she creates characters you love, one you loath and tells a story that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The prose is lyrical but never overstuffed or twee. Highly recommended.

[Kara Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this side story ;---;

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal and painful and so, so good. I love the Mkalis books and I so badly want more of them.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's just say this story is enough for me to hunt up the rest of the Mkalis Cycle. Very good.

[Meredith Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brutal and absolutely beautiful. I cried.

[Wen-yi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

kerstin is a worldbuilder and heartbreaker and i loove this blood-drenched story

[Topher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great backstory to the nonbinary character in the other two books in the series! Short but rich.

[Nella · Rating 5 out of 5]

THATS IT??! GIVE ME MORE MF

[umainthewild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of Tor's original fiction and wow?? I am hella happy to know this is technically part of a series because now I get to read more if this universe.

absolutely brilliant

[Tim McCanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This is a marvelously moving story in the Mkalis universe. It’s short and fast and brought tears to my eyes.

Kerstin Hall knows how to tell a story…

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out I don’t like short stories but I love novellas

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/a-heart-betwee...

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 813th realm has fallen, but Tahmais, its would-be saviour, finds an unlikely ally.

A strange story, which encourages some thought as readers experience a multiverse of gods and magic.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this short story! Might inspire me to pick up the rest of the series once I'm done with trying to hit 100 books this year haha

[Helyna Clove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broke my heart, five stars. Such a great standalone story, I'm obsessed. Lfae <3