Tribute

Sagacious #1

by Sherwood Smith

Bu is twelve and near-sighted, an unwanted daughter sent to a music audition. If she fails, she’s on her own. Elderly Granny Zim, who knows that soon she must retire as head of the music academy, is fascinated by YinYin, a student who might not be human. YinYin and Bu become friends.

Life is settling down when warships show up on the horizon. It’s the imperials, here to demand tribute. They take Bu, YinYin, and Granny Zim to a new, uncertain life in the troubled empire, where their only skill is their music.

But Granny Zim knows that music is a knife without a hilt.

Tribute , first in a series set in the world of The Phoenix Feather series, takes the reader on an adventure from the human world to the realm of the transcendent, via friendship, love, and questions about power, responsibility, and what it means to be human.

Genres: Fantasy

595 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2023

About the author

I am a writer,( Patreon here) but I'm on Goodreads to talk about books, as I've been a passionate reader as long as I've been a writer--since early childhood.

I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.

Reviews

[Sherwood Smith]

This story is set in the archipelago world with two moons that I set the Phoenix Feather quartet in. That was my pandemic project, written while I spent four months flat on my back recovering from a very bad shot reaction. It was such fun that when this new idea popped into my head, set in that same world, I went with it.

Most of it is about music, and the power of music, both real and supernatural. It also has other tropes that I get a kick out of, such as secret identities, and sailing, and culture clash, and some romance, too, but mostly it's about different types of friendship. And family. Definitely about family.

And it has an old woman at the center. And her music.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight! A story teller's story teller. Not unlike early minstrels. Who but a story teller can spread the word of things that are and things that were.

This story is set in an ancient oriental setting. Where this world exists, who knows, but the reader will recognize traditional oriental customs. The main theme of this story is music. Music in the hands of "Talents." Especially gifted young people we might call prodigies. Weaved around the music are the players. The imperials. The islanders. The north-folk. And there are demons. The story teller explains the friendships, the hardships, the conflicts and the music that joins all.

Enjoy this magical tale. And don't forget to tip the story teller. At least buy him a mug of wine.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my biggest issues with fantasy books is that I always want to know more. The nitty-gritty world building and history that is mentioned in passing is always what catches my attention. Particularly in series, where we spend all our time, I want to be fully immersed in the world. Sherwood Smith's Sartorias-deles series is my favorite because the reader gets immersed in centuries of the planet's culture. Actions and people from early books are still felt in later ages.

So when she started the Phoenix Feather series, I was interested to see how she would create a new world. Tribute takes place some dynasties before the action in the Phoenix Feather series, surrounding the beginning origins of a legend. Bu is a poor, short-sighted music novice, who follows her music master from their small island to the seat of imperial power. Most of the focus of our main characters is on survival in difficult circumstances and the best way to interact with the world.

[Quenby · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started gently with an old storyteller in an inn while rain keeps everyone trapped. The setting is pseudo Chinese and contains demons and magic. The story centers around the Granny Zim, an old and very accomplished musician, and her two students. One student is a poor peasant girl with dreadful eyesight. The other student is a music loving demon who works at maintaining a human appearance. They are all abducted from their music school by Imperial naval forces as tribute for the Emperor.

Once they arrive at the Imperial city, the pace and politics really amp up. They are caught up in the succession fight between the Emperor’s sons and their respective plotting mothers. This is an incredibly strong adventure story. Wow! I could not put it down and plan to read the earlier set of related books. Great characters who face dreadful choices and challenges. Strongly recommended!!

[Kaymarion Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

add music to the adventure. explore its power in another engaging story. her women are, of course, superb. looking eagerly toward the continuation.

[Beth Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for book club and really enjoyed it, especially in seeing the resonances described in Spring Summer Asteroid Bird, which I recently finished reading.

[T.A. Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel and interesting.

[Norine Luker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story well told

Kindle has brought us so many great storytellers. I deeply admire the imagination and persistence that brings us so many great stories. However, losing traditional editing has unfortunately given us great stories with rough edges. Tribute is a glorious exception. A very lowly girl, half blind is sent off to a chance at a musician's apprenticeship. She is swept up in a tribute to Imperial forces. Her talent and decency puts her in a position to influence the outcome of war. That really doesn't give a good sense of the breadth of this. Really the best comparison I can think of is King killer Chronicles. Also the true hero, though there are princes and princesses galore is a very wise woman, Granny Zim, everything about her is a glorious surprise.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book for the worldbuilding, the nerdtastic musical details, the gorgeous visual scenery, the warm and inviting but also sly and funny narrative approach, and the rich cast of engaging characters who have a broad set of lived experiences, in a way that feels natural and legit, not tacked on. So excited it's the beginning of a series.

CN: I am unreliable when I wait too long after reading to write these... there is definitely some real violence and trauma, including the trauma of being a kid who feels (and is treated by adults as) unwanted. also, colonial kidnapping and enslavement.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This happens before the events of the Phoenix Feather series and is the origin story of Sagacious Blade. I enjoyed the characters and the story, though it was shorter than the Phoenix Feather series so it wasn't quite as deep or complex in my opinion. But I did enjoy the cultural differences, an elderly heroine, and several characters with disabilities. There were also some benevolent and not-so-benevolent demons, which added another interesting layer to the story. Looking forward to the next two in this series, Sage Empress I & II.

[Steven desJardins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for book club and greatly enjoyed it. There are cataclysmic shifts in the story, where a character's position in the world and consequent understanding of possibilities for their future, changes abruptly, and as a result the reader finds themself thinking about the political nature of social custom and the proper relationship of ruler to ruled (or, at least, this reader did). Light, readable fantasy with deeper meaning available when you reach for it is exactly my jam, and this is a good example of the genre.

[Francesca Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this story of a crotchety old music master, a humble, nearsighted girl who turns out to have a genius for music, a demon who's also drawn to music, an irresponsible imperial prince, and a dumb-as-a-brick palace guard who's more than he seems. I **LOVE** Sherwood's Chinese-inflected fantasies.

[Shaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half stars

I loved the depiction of music and the joy in playing it in this book so much I had to alternate between reading and playing guitar. The reading experience is an utter joy. The world is rich and fascinating, there's a varied and relatable cast, the adventure has its exciting moments but also its quiet ones, and the fantastical elements add an extra layer.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

At any part of this story, I would have been happy to have that part go on forever. This has a school story, political story, travel story, adventure story, and more! And honestly, I should have seen the twist at the end coming, and it delighted me.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contains: fighting and human enslavement. I loved the Phoenix Feather series so I was super excited that there is another book set in the same world (this is a complete stand alone as it occurs a hundreds of years before that series). I love reading about Bu’s, YinYin and Granny Zim.

[Grace T · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts off slow. very slow. but something keeps drawing you in and then before you realize it you are very invested in reading even more descriptions of music and music homework and then you get a little captivity and sneaking around. as a treat. satisfying read :)

[Rita Polley Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome as always

Everything else falls to.the side as you are trapped in a fabulous tale that never seems to end until it does -too soon! I am departly waiting for more.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding. You will be taken away. It definitely doesn't read like SF to me. Definitely more fantasy.

[Tanya Witman · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely and magical

Just a deeply enjoyable sinking in to a rich and constantly captivating story. Great characters. Unpredictable plots. Everyone gets to be a hero along the way.

[Bill O'Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two empires face off in the context of a generational music talent and a royal family.

[Peter Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

At turns intimate and lovely, then dramatic and exciting, I enjoyed the relatable characters and the plot twists they navigated.