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Tuyo #9
Rihasi
Rihasi Gerogevet of Saraicana has a problem.
She knows just who can help her solve Lord Aras Eren Samaura, the king’s most powerful scepter-holder. But Lord Aras is in Gaur, a long journey from Saraicana, and getting there safely isn’t going to be easy. Especially as a lot of people are determined to make sure she doesn’t get there at all.
Kior Voeret has a secret.
The absolute last person he wants to face is Lord Aras Eren Samaura. But he can’t let a naïve, inexperienced young man get himself killed on the road. That’s all Kior doesn’t have to commit to going all the way to the scepter-holder’s doorstep. He can escort the young man to the border of Gaur, then walk away long before he gets close enough for Lord Aras to notice anything unfortunate.
It’ll be fine.
Really.
She knows just who can help her solve Lord Aras Eren Samaura, the king’s most powerful scepter-holder. But Lord Aras is in Gaur, a long journey from Saraicana, and getting there safely isn’t going to be easy. Especially as a lot of people are determined to make sure she doesn’t get there at all.
Kior Voeret has a secret.
The absolute last person he wants to face is Lord Aras Eren Samaura. But he can’t let a naïve, inexperienced young man get himself killed on the road. That’s all Kior doesn’t have to commit to going all the way to the scepter-holder’s doorstep. He can escort the young man to the border of Gaur, then walk away long before he gets close enough for Lord Aras to notice anything unfortunate.
It’ll be fine.
Really.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2024
22 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Neumeier
56 books576 followersRachel Neumeier started writing fiction to relax when she was a graduate student and needed a hobby unrelated to her research. Prior to selling her first fantasy novel, she had published only a few articles in venues such as The American Journal of Botany. However, finding that her interests did not lie in research, Rachel left academia and began to let her hobbies take over her life instead.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 3, 2024
Wow I got nothing done today but I did read this book start to finish. Just a lovely installment in this world’s story and the first that had very little to do with the central characters of the Ryo and Aras story. Obviously Aras is present and as wise and kind and ruthless as ever, but the central duo is charming and adorable and clever and wonderful. I’ll definitely revisit this one in the future.
August 5, 2025
So good.
TLDR don't start this in the evening if you have to get up early the next day. Suspense novel, so this is the cagiest review ever.
This is book 9 of the Tuyo series. Books 1 3 and 7 follow Ryo (the "Tuyo" of the first book) and Lord Ares.
The other books in the series, Nikoles, Keraunani, Suelen, Tano, Marag, and Rihasi focus on (with the exception of Suelen and Rihasi) people we met in books 1, 3 and 7, who go off and have their own stuff going on. Marag is about Ryo's parents. The non Tuyo stories tend to be shorter. We tend to see those characters turning up in later books.
I saw a draft of this a wee while back, and have just finished the final version. I wanted to let it settle in my brain before I said more about it.
Neumeier has her very own genre here, the righteous adventure fantasy caper novel. Keraunani is another example. A "caper novel" is a subset (the internet tells me) of the crime genre where the characters go on some sort of physical journey doing crime stuff or working up to a big heist. These books are not that. But as I read both, I thought "caper novel"! Righteous caper novel!
Maybe be there is already a name of this subgenre? I thought of something for years as "chick horror" when it turned out it was already named "urban fantasy" so who knows?
Anyway, although both Keraunani and Rihasi are righteous fantasy caper novels, they are very different. The caper element is that they have to go on a journey. Obstacles and adventures ensue, and we get to meet more cool people.
The main reason to read these books (and the Tuyo series generally) are the 1. characters 2. plot. 3 world-building. The entire plots are are massively character driven. In the Keraunani, the dude has a thing he needs to get done. Plot ensues. It all unfurls because the dude is the kind of dude he is.
In Rihasi, she has a thing that needs to get done. The said thing is completely different. How the story unfurls is very much about who she is, which lead to what she is doing and why. The characters are marvellous and I hope they turn up in subsequent books so that we can hang out with them.
Rihasi is a suspense story which kept me up until sunrise. I don't want to say more about what happens in the story because the suspense and "how on earth are they going to get out of this?" was an ongoing thought as I was reading. I was completely surprised by stuff at the end. It was wonderful, because it had been set up, and I'd been completely oblivious.
TLDR don't start this in the evening if you have to get up early the next day. Suspense novel, so this is the cagiest review ever.
This is book 9 of the Tuyo series. Books 1 3 and 7 follow Ryo (the "Tuyo" of the first book) and Lord Ares.
The other books in the series, Nikoles, Keraunani, Suelen, Tano, Marag, and Rihasi focus on (with the exception of Suelen and Rihasi) people we met in books 1, 3 and 7, who go off and have their own stuff going on. Marag is about Ryo's parents. The non Tuyo stories tend to be shorter. We tend to see those characters turning up in later books.
I saw a draft of this a wee while back, and have just finished the final version. I wanted to let it settle in my brain before I said more about it.
Neumeier has her very own genre here, the righteous adventure fantasy caper novel. Keraunani is another example. A "caper novel" is a subset (the internet tells me) of the crime genre where the characters go on some sort of physical journey doing crime stuff or working up to a big heist. These books are not that. But as I read both, I thought "caper novel"! Righteous caper novel!
Maybe be there is already a name of this subgenre? I thought of something for years as "chick horror" when it turned out it was already named "urban fantasy" so who knows?
Anyway, although both Keraunani and Rihasi are righteous fantasy caper novels, they are very different. The caper element is that they have to go on a journey. Obstacles and adventures ensue, and we get to meet more cool people.
The main reason to read these books (and the Tuyo series generally) are the 1. characters 2. plot. 3 world-building. The entire plots are are massively character driven. In the Keraunani, the dude has a thing he needs to get done. Plot ensues. It all unfurls because the dude is the kind of dude he is.
In Rihasi, she has a thing that needs to get done. The said thing is completely different. How the story unfurls is very much about who she is, which lead to what she is doing and why. The characters are marvellous and I hope they turn up in subsequent books so that we can hang out with them.
Rihasi is a suspense story which kept me up until sunrise. I don't want to say more about what happens in the story because the suspense and "how on earth are they going to get out of this?" was an ongoing thought as I was reading. I was completely surprised by stuff at the end. It was wonderful, because it had been set up, and I'd been completely oblivious.
July 10, 2024
Another almost standalone story in the world of Aras and Ryo. Neumeier is a master at writing comforting violent tales, but these books are also more than that.
August 29, 2024
This was a solid two stars, barely, as i got into this tale. I'm thinking... It has nothing to do with prior Tuyo tales. Our heroine and hero go from one cat and mouse game to another. Danger, escape. Danger, escape. I decided to stick it out. Suddenly, the light shines. The game is ended. Now begins the rest of the story.
And yes it has nothing to do with the prior Tuyo writings. I was right with that aspect. The ending will blow you away. Perhaps even dame Agatha Christie might be salivating.
And yes it has nothing to do with the prior Tuyo writings. I was right with that aspect. The ending will blow you away. Perhaps even dame Agatha Christie might be salivating.
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July 3, 2024Almost un-put-downable
June 9, 2024
This one was different in some very interesting ways! It is the most fully removed from the main series. The main characters are strangers completely disconnected from anyone we know, and it is fun getting to know them from scratch. Some familiar faces don’t show up until nearly the end, and it is very exciting when they do! (When a certain unidentified woman shows up, i cheered in excitement when my guess was correct)
We also get an inside look at Lau society, which we got a bit of in Keraunani, but this is much more in depth. It is very interesting to see the little pockets of society and how they function.
The twist at the end I didn’t predict at all, it was a brilliant surprise. It makes a lot of sense in retrospect, picking up some interesting seeds that were planted in earlier books.
I’d also very nice to see how society is developing in the aftermath of some of the earlier events of the series.
We also get an inside look at Lau society, which we got a bit of in Keraunani, but this is much more in depth. It is very interesting to see the little pockets of society and how they function.
The twist at the end I didn’t predict at all, it was a brilliant surprise. It makes a lot of sense in retrospect, picking up some interesting seeds that were planted in earlier books.
I’d also very nice to see how society is developing in the aftermath of some of the earlier events of the series.
July 19, 2024
Could not put this down once I picked it up! Stayed up until 8am to finish it and I regret NOTHING. Amazing main characters, both hyper-competent in their respective areas (although Rihasi herself isn't just hyper-competent but an outright genius) and I ADORE men being unthreatened by a woman's brilliance and, in fact, falling in love with it. Definitely one of my favourite romantic dynamics, and it's done so incredibly well here.
I never have any idea where Neumeier plans on taking this series next, but I will, as always, be here for it!
I never have any idea where Neumeier plans on taking this series next, but I will, as always, be here for it!
July 24, 2024
Once again, Rachel Neumeier knocks it out of the park. There was so much to love about this book: a hyper-competent heroine, a truly decent hero who admires her greatly, a look at a side of Lau culture that’s been touched on but not deeply examined, a jaunt into the winter country to check in with the Ugaro, some great showcase scenes (stab, stab, stab!), and an ending that ties everything up perfectly.
One of the things I really love about the “Tuyo” series is how Neumeier veers away from the Strong Independent Female trope, or at least the interpretation of that trope which requires a woman to fight with a sword and basically be indistinguishable from a male character in order to be Strong. Her books actually have many strong independent female characters, but they exercise their power in different ways and work within the confines of their cultural expectations. In Ugaro society, we’ve seen characters like Darra and Marag serve as respected singers and wisewomen rather than warriors or poets. Lau society, and this is very much a book about Lau society, is somewhat more restrictive in the roles women are allowed to play, which is where Rihasi the character comes in. She is the daughter of a powerful but deeply corrupt Lau family, one involved in all manner of unsavory business but particularly prostitution and sexual slavery. Rihasi is forced from childhood to be deeply involved in this business thanks to her incredible mind: she is highly organized and possesses a near-superhuman memory, and her father treats her essentially as a walking business ledger. She survives by putting on a blank face and pretending not to care, but she actually takes years to meticulously plan out a way to bring her family to justice--and when she finally acts, her wrath, carried out financially rather than violently, is swift and terrible.
But being an absurdly good planner doesn’t really prepare you for the reality of living in the world, especially when a key part of your plan requires you to get to Lord Aras as quickly as possible when a country’s entire criminal underbelly and mercenary class is out to get you. Enter Kior, the bodyguard Rihasi—initially disguised as a man—hires to protect her on her journey. Kior is not nearly as mentally competent as Rihasi (not a dig at him, almost no one is her equal in that regard) but he has street smarts to her book smarts. That’s not meant to imply that Rihasi is naïve, because she’s not, but she’s not terribly adept at judging people at a glance—it’s a skill she hasn’t had to cultivate but one which is vital to her success. Kior quickly becomes a staunch ally, correctly guessing her true gender and becoming her champion without once being overbearing. They have a wonderful slow-burn romance which reminded me very much of Esau and Keraunani’s story from a previous book.
This book offers a much closer look at what being a Lau woman is like through a number of new perspectives. We’ve already seen that Lau women will sometimes dress as men to pass through certain areas or conduct business deals, which they are typically barred from. We also see more of both legal and illegal prostitution, the women’s courts, and a mixed-gender troop of playactors (very Shakespearean in how only men can play women on stage, but sometimes a woman plays a man who plays a woman). For the first time in a “Tuyo” book, a woman does in fact pick up a sword, but it goes exactly as how you’d expect a first-time-sword-wielder to fare. If not for some excellent and kind of hilarious advice from Kior, the novel would have ended abruptly and on a very dark note. (I don’t know if the Lau ever have family mottos, but Rihasi and Kior’s should be “Stab, Stab, Stab.”)
Neither Rihasi’s full story nor Kior’s—he’s got his own history and secrets—come to light until the very end of the novel, when Aras arrives to help sort everything out in his typical fashion. It was great to see one of the main characters from the mainline “Tuyo” books; I suppose he could be seen as a bit of a deus ex machina, but I almost thought of him as more like Aslan from some of the less-central Narnia stories like “The Horse and His Boy” or “The Silver Chair,” how he shows up at just the right moment but doesn’t drive the plot forward as much. And trust Aras to find the perfect solution to all problems, even if in the epilogue there are still potentially some lingering concerns (but even then, nothing a competent bodyguard—or a team of competent bodyguards—can’t fix). “Rihasi” was a delight, and I hope to see both her and Kior in future books.
One of the things I really love about the “Tuyo” series is how Neumeier veers away from the Strong Independent Female trope, or at least the interpretation of that trope which requires a woman to fight with a sword and basically be indistinguishable from a male character in order to be Strong. Her books actually have many strong independent female characters, but they exercise their power in different ways and work within the confines of their cultural expectations. In Ugaro society, we’ve seen characters like Darra and Marag serve as respected singers and wisewomen rather than warriors or poets. Lau society, and this is very much a book about Lau society, is somewhat more restrictive in the roles women are allowed to play, which is where Rihasi the character comes in. She is the daughter of a powerful but deeply corrupt Lau family, one involved in all manner of unsavory business but particularly prostitution and sexual slavery. Rihasi is forced from childhood to be deeply involved in this business thanks to her incredible mind: she is highly organized and possesses a near-superhuman memory, and her father treats her essentially as a walking business ledger. She survives by putting on a blank face and pretending not to care, but she actually takes years to meticulously plan out a way to bring her family to justice--and when she finally acts, her wrath, carried out financially rather than violently, is swift and terrible.
But being an absurdly good planner doesn’t really prepare you for the reality of living in the world, especially when a key part of your plan requires you to get to Lord Aras as quickly as possible when a country’s entire criminal underbelly and mercenary class is out to get you. Enter Kior, the bodyguard Rihasi—initially disguised as a man—hires to protect her on her journey. Kior is not nearly as mentally competent as Rihasi (not a dig at him, almost no one is her equal in that regard) but he has street smarts to her book smarts. That’s not meant to imply that Rihasi is naïve, because she’s not, but she’s not terribly adept at judging people at a glance—it’s a skill she hasn’t had to cultivate but one which is vital to her success. Kior quickly becomes a staunch ally, correctly guessing her true gender and becoming her champion without once being overbearing. They have a wonderful slow-burn romance which reminded me very much of Esau and Keraunani’s story from a previous book.
This book offers a much closer look at what being a Lau woman is like through a number of new perspectives. We’ve already seen that Lau women will sometimes dress as men to pass through certain areas or conduct business deals, which they are typically barred from. We also see more of both legal and illegal prostitution, the women’s courts, and a mixed-gender troop of playactors (very Shakespearean in how only men can play women on stage, but sometimes a woman plays a man who plays a woman). For the first time in a “Tuyo” book, a woman does in fact pick up a sword, but it goes exactly as how you’d expect a first-time-sword-wielder to fare. If not for some excellent and kind of hilarious advice from Kior, the novel would have ended abruptly and on a very dark note. (I don’t know if the Lau ever have family mottos, but Rihasi and Kior’s should be “Stab, Stab, Stab.”)
Neither Rihasi’s full story nor Kior’s—he’s got his own history and secrets—come to light until the very end of the novel, when Aras arrives to help sort everything out in his typical fashion. It was great to see one of the main characters from the mainline “Tuyo” books; I suppose he could be seen as a bit of a deus ex machina, but I almost thought of him as more like Aslan from some of the less-central Narnia stories like “The Horse and His Boy” or “The Silver Chair,” how he shows up at just the right moment but doesn’t drive the plot forward as much. And trust Aras to find the perfect solution to all problems, even if in the epilogue there are still potentially some lingering concerns (but even then, nothing a competent bodyguard—or a team of competent bodyguards—can’t fix). “Rihasi” was a delight, and I hope to see both her and Kior in future books.
June 6, 2024
I wouldn’t recommend jumping into the series here, but this is one of my favorite installments yet. Rihasi is one of the most compelling protagonists so far, and one of the first times we have gotten a female character initiating and driving the action (with singleminded determination). Kior's secret is pretty obvious to the reader who has been following the series (yes, the terrible past he doesn't want Aras to discover is exactly what you think it is), and he's not nearly as interesting a character as Rihasi. The pacing also drags a bit due to far to much time spent on minutiae of hiring guards, and there are a few small plot holes here and there. But Rihasi is such a cool character that it really doesn't matter.
Although the premise may at first seem like a replay of Keraunani —a woman and a man have to flee pursuit and have various adventures and adopt varius disguises as they do— it’s not! Neumeier does a good job not repeating types of incidents and road dangers, and Rihasi and Kior generally operate within a different slice of society than we’ve seen so far. Particularly fun are the troupe of actors and the light throughline of popular melodrama plots in the second half that they bring, and it's also nice to see a bit more of Sekaran and Illiethani, the latter of whom I think we have only heard mentioned in previous books. There's quite a bit of good travel scenery, including several exciting cities–I appreciated that each city Rihasi and Kior visited had its own character, layout, and famous monuments or famous cultural thing associated with it, not to mention differences in climate and topography.
The final tribunal scene (with the full reveals) is nicely long, and actually involves quite a lot of character work. In contrast to, e.g., the Aras-and-Ryo books, this isn’t simply justification of the plot-action to authority figures, but the final stage of Rihasi’s journey as she comes into her own role as an active agent an agent of justice who doesn’t simply hold information but judges it, has opinions about it, and takes action on the basis of it. It was very satisfying to see her unfold a problem whose magnitude and depth (and undetectedness until now) boggle Aras and Sekaran, and explain exactly how she has attempted to deal with it and challenges their assumptions. It's also neat for this to weave into ongoing debates between Aras, Sekaran, and the King over legal reform, and to see that Aras and Sekaran have different and sometimes clashing priorities in that debate.
Thematically, this is also a really neat novel for Neumeier to write. We've had so many stories where sorcery is the primary source of evil and danger, and also, through Aras, the primary shield against that evil. But now we get reminded that there are plenty of reasons for and methods of evil action that have nothing to do with sorcery and that sorcerous powers can't necessarily uncover. Sharp accounting and eidetic memory, on the other hand...
Finally, I’ll note that among the areas of Lau society that this novel deepens, there’s also a welcome attention to gender and the different ways that individuals might conceive of movement between genders, given the very rigid categories of Lau masculinity and femininity. Rihasi dresses and acts as a man for much of the book for immediate strategic reasons—but we also meet a character who seems to identify as a woman but who lives as a man in order to work as an actor (playing women’s parts) a profession from which women are socially barred, but is known to the other members of her troupe as a woman, and a character who was AMAB but who presents as a woman and who exclusively is given she/her pronouns both by all characters and in the narration. All of these “non-normative” ways of doing gender are presented matter-of-factly, and add a lot of interest to the world! I hope we continue to see more along these lines!
Although the premise may at first seem like a replay of Keraunani —a woman and a man have to flee pursuit and have various adventures and adopt varius disguises as they do— it’s not! Neumeier does a good job not repeating types of incidents and road dangers, and Rihasi and Kior generally operate within a different slice of society than we’ve seen so far. Particularly fun are the troupe of actors and the light throughline of popular melodrama plots in the second half that they bring, and it's also nice to see a bit more of Sekaran and Illiethani, the latter of whom I think we have only heard mentioned in previous books. There's quite a bit of good travel scenery, including several exciting cities–I appreciated that each city Rihasi and Kior visited had its own character, layout, and famous monuments or famous cultural thing associated with it, not to mention differences in climate and topography.
The final tribunal scene (with the full reveals) is nicely long, and actually involves quite a lot of character work. In contrast to, e.g., the Aras-and-Ryo books, this isn’t simply justification of the plot-action to authority figures, but the final stage of Rihasi’s journey as she comes into her own role as an active agent an agent of justice who doesn’t simply hold information but judges it, has opinions about it, and takes action on the basis of it. It was very satisfying to see her unfold a problem whose magnitude and depth (and undetectedness until now) boggle Aras and Sekaran, and explain exactly how she has attempted to deal with it and challenges their assumptions. It's also neat for this to weave into ongoing debates between Aras, Sekaran, and the King over legal reform, and to see that Aras and Sekaran have different and sometimes clashing priorities in that debate.
Thematically, this is also a really neat novel for Neumeier to write. We've had so many stories where sorcery is the primary source of evil and danger, and also, through Aras, the primary shield against that evil. But now we get reminded that there are plenty of reasons for and methods of evil action that have nothing to do with sorcery and that sorcerous powers can't necessarily uncover. Sharp accounting and eidetic memory, on the other hand...
Finally, I’ll note that among the areas of Lau society that this novel deepens, there’s also a welcome attention to gender and the different ways that individuals might conceive of movement between genders, given the very rigid categories of Lau masculinity and femininity. Rihasi dresses and acts as a man for much of the book for immediate strategic reasons—but we also meet a character who seems to identify as a woman but who lives as a man in order to work as an actor (playing women’s parts) a profession from which women are socially barred, but is known to the other members of her troupe as a woman, and a character who was AMAB but who presents as a woman and who exclusively is given she/her pronouns both by all characters and in the narration. All of these “non-normative” ways of doing gender are presented matter-of-factly, and add a lot of interest to the world! I hope we continue to see more along these lines!
August 13, 2024
I'm sure no one is surprised when I say that I read this book in one sitting, adore it, and am even now restraining myself from jumping up and down with glee.
"Is this girl ever going to read anything that's not a Tuyo book?" you ask.
Well, yes, probably, because there's only one more currently published Tuyo book. But if there were an infinite number, I have to confess that I might struggle to force myself to ever read any other series.
Anyway, this book is an entry in the "soldier and a woman evading pursuit and causing shenanigans as they travel across the country" subgenre of this series, but it's much more serious in tone than Esau and Keraunani's book. This is partially because the stakes are higher, and partially because Kior and Rihasi, the two POV characters, are more serious people than Esau.
Rihasi is fleeing pursuit and assassination at every turn as she struggles doggedly toward her goal - to reach Lord Aras and lay her petition before him. Kior just took her on as a job, but before long finds himself an inextricable part of her mission, even though it may cost him his own long-held secrets.
The whole thing is great. There's an atmosphere of intrigue as we gradually learn more about both Rihasi and Kior's pasts, and ratcheting up suspense as they race against the clock to reach Lord Aras. There's only one hearing of a capital crime in this book, which is fewer than usual, but it was a pretty good one. I wouldn't have complained about seeing more drama up close, or about seeing Kior's reunion with his family, but to be fair Kior and Rihasi had been through a LOT by that time, so it's probably reasonable to pass lightly over the epilogue matters.
I loved getting to see Aras post-Tasmakat, since there's a LOT we don't yet know. However, many questions remain, most urgently: what is the state of Aras' sorcery now? Did the madness just start over at square one, ready to be triggered again if he uses coercion? I noticed that he did NOT mind-control ANY of the people in the hall of judgment even when it might have been convenient to do so. Or now that he's been judged by the Sun and counseled by whoever that guy was, is the madness no longer a concern?
I will not be fully at ease until I know these things, but I acknowledge that Aras is just a side character in this story. Regardless, it was good to see him back where he belongs, and at harmony with the prince. It was nice to see the prince a little more up close, and meet his daughter!
Overall, an excellent experience characteristic of this whole series. No notes.
"Is this girl ever going to read anything that's not a Tuyo book?" you ask.
Well, yes, probably, because there's only one more currently published Tuyo book. But if there were an infinite number, I have to confess that I might struggle to force myself to ever read any other series.
Anyway, this book is an entry in the "soldier and a woman evading pursuit and causing shenanigans as they travel across the country" subgenre of this series, but it's much more serious in tone than Esau and Keraunani's book. This is partially because the stakes are higher, and partially because Kior and Rihasi, the two POV characters, are more serious people than Esau.
Rihasi is fleeing pursuit and assassination at every turn as she struggles doggedly toward her goal - to reach Lord Aras and lay her petition before him. Kior just took her on as a job, but before long finds himself an inextricable part of her mission, even though it may cost him his own long-held secrets.
The whole thing is great. There's an atmosphere of intrigue as we gradually learn more about both Rihasi and Kior's pasts, and ratcheting up suspense as they race against the clock to reach Lord Aras. There's only one hearing of a capital crime in this book, which is fewer than usual, but it was a pretty good one. I wouldn't have complained about seeing more drama up close, or about seeing Kior's reunion with his family, but to be fair Kior and Rihasi had been through a LOT by that time, so it's probably reasonable to pass lightly over the epilogue matters.
I loved getting to see Aras post-Tasmakat, since there's a LOT we don't yet know. However, many questions remain, most urgently: what is the state of Aras' sorcery now? Did the madness just start over at square one, ready to be triggered again if he uses coercion? I noticed that he did NOT mind-control ANY of the people in the hall of judgment even when it might have been convenient to do so. Or now that he's been judged by the Sun and counseled by whoever that guy was, is the madness no longer a concern?
I will not be fully at ease until I know these things, but I acknowledge that Aras is just a side character in this story. Regardless, it was good to see him back where he belongs, and at harmony with the prince. It was nice to see the prince a little more up close, and meet his daughter!
Overall, an excellent experience characteristic of this whole series. No notes.
July 31, 2024
#9 in the Tuyo series. For those needing to know, the books in this series are smut-free. They are character driven stories and concentrate on relationships, honor, culture, family and justice.
This narrative is told via two alternating viewpoints, that of Rihasi and Kior. These two have been keeping some seriously hefty secrets. Rihasi is on a mission while running from her vicious family, and utilizes the good old Mulan tactic. She hires Kior- a mercenary- to help her reach Lord Aras, the latter still working in the Borderlands.
Rihasi is a great character! I haven't come across a female character like her before. She has a talent for memory, planning and implementation. She's intelligent, reserved and absolutely relentless. Or "implacable" as Kior says. He is honorable with a questionable history, loyal, competent, and respects both Rihani and her goal. I enjoyed their interactions immensely.
The supporting cast was also very good. I particularly liked the acting troupe that Rihani and Kior hid among. Their different personalities and conversations were a lot of fun. There are also some cameos from a couple of favorites from the series before now. I won't say which characters so that I don't ruin any surprises!
I have yet to read one of this author's books and leave disappointed. I don't know how she writes these books so quickly and consistently puts out good stories. If or when there's another in the series I'll certainly read it.
This narrative is told via two alternating viewpoints, that of Rihasi and Kior. These two have been keeping some seriously hefty secrets. Rihasi is on a mission while running from her vicious family, and utilizes the good old Mulan tactic. She hires Kior- a mercenary- to help her reach Lord Aras, the latter still working in the Borderlands.
Rihasi is a great character! I haven't come across a female character like her before. She has a talent for memory, planning and implementation. She's intelligent, reserved and absolutely relentless. Or "implacable" as Kior says. He is honorable with a questionable history, loyal, competent, and respects both Rihani and her goal. I enjoyed their interactions immensely.
The supporting cast was also very good. I particularly liked the acting troupe that Rihani and Kior hid among. Their different personalities and conversations were a lot of fun. There are also some cameos from a couple of favorites from the series before now. I won't say which characters so that I don't ruin any surprises!
I have yet to read one of this author's books and leave disappointed. I don't know how she writes these books so quickly and consistently puts out good stories. If or when there's another in the series I'll certainly read it.
February 10, 2025
What a great adventure! This story is a must-read for anyone who's enjoyed other books in the Tuyo series. Unlike with some of the other side stories that could stand on their own, I would definitely recommend reading the main series before this one, since certain events in Tasmakat relate directly to what happens in Rihasi and will help the story make more sense.
As with all the other books, the characters are unique and so well-developed I felt I was getting to know real people. Ditto with the settings—they are so vibrantly portrayed that the author could easily be describing real places. And the rich and vivid culture—there are aspects of it I don't like, but that's because the world's people and government systems are flawed (as they realistically should be), not because the author didn't carefully think the culture through and put it together in a fascinating and internally logical way.
I really enjoyed seeing how the different pieces of the story came together, the elements of mystery were solved, and the problems got worked out. No spoilers, but there were some interesting surprises along the way, especially near the end, and some satisfying resolutions to various loose ends.k
I started reading Marag immediately (less than a minute) after finishing Rihasi. So far I'm loving it just as much!
As with all the other books, the characters are unique and so well-developed I felt I was getting to know real people. Ditto with the settings—they are so vibrantly portrayed that the author could easily be describing real places. And the rich and vivid culture—there are aspects of it I don't like, but that's because the world's people and government systems are flawed (as they realistically should be), not because the author didn't carefully think the culture through and put it together in a fascinating and internally logical way.
I really enjoyed seeing how the different pieces of the story came together, the elements of mystery were solved, and the problems got worked out. No spoilers, but there were some interesting surprises along the way, especially near the end, and some satisfying resolutions to various loose ends.k
I started reading Marag immediately (less than a minute) after finishing Rihasi. So far I'm loving it just as much!
July 27, 2024
Rihasi is the 9th installment in Rachel Neumeier’s superb Tuyo World series. However, the novel does not center around any of the major characters we have met in previous volumes. There will be a few spoilers if you read it out of order, such as an indication of what happens to a couple of the major characters in the preceding volumes. But yes, you could choose to read this book to sample the world first if for some reason you cannot begin with Tuyo. Rihasi would still be understandable and enjoyable. Yet I do recommend reading the primary story arc first because the books are wonderful, but also because you learn so much about this world and how it operates in those books.
Rihasi is a young high born Lau woman. It is evident from the first pages that she is wealthy, evidently privileged, but it is also clear immediately that there is something very wrong. More wrong than being a woman in a society where women live repressed and highly constrained lives. Women are constrained by law as much as tradition. Yet Rihasi needs urgently to flee, and flee more or less the length of her country.
Rihasi has an eidetic memory and an encyclopedic knowledge of practical economics, politics, accounting, and the details of numerous influential families. And she has a plan to get where she needs to go for the help she needs. But it has a flaw, and she nearly makes a fatal mistake. She would have, except for an encounter with a young man named Kior, who can help her, but absolutely does not want to go where she must go, because he has a secret. And from there, the story takes place as they travel, usually in great danger, across the summer country.
One thing I liked very much about this book, beyond that it features an intelligent, organized, resourceful and brave main character, is the insight we gain into the ways women find to carry out their lives despite all the legal obstacles put into their path. Women, for an example of one obstacle, are forbidden to handle coin and make purchases themselves. I also like the hints we see that change might be coming, glacial progress but progress nonetheless seems finally possible.
Rihasi is a young high born Lau woman. It is evident from the first pages that she is wealthy, evidently privileged, but it is also clear immediately that there is something very wrong. More wrong than being a woman in a society where women live repressed and highly constrained lives. Women are constrained by law as much as tradition. Yet Rihasi needs urgently to flee, and flee more or less the length of her country.
Rihasi has an eidetic memory and an encyclopedic knowledge of practical economics, politics, accounting, and the details of numerous influential families. And she has a plan to get where she needs to go for the help she needs. But it has a flaw, and she nearly makes a fatal mistake. She would have, except for an encounter with a young man named Kior, who can help her, but absolutely does not want to go where she must go, because he has a secret. And from there, the story takes place as they travel, usually in great danger, across the summer country.
One thing I liked very much about this book, beyond that it features an intelligent, organized, resourceful and brave main character, is the insight we gain into the ways women find to carry out their lives despite all the legal obstacles put into their path. Women, for an example of one obstacle, are forbidden to handle coin and make purchases themselves. I also like the hints we see that change might be coming, glacial progress but progress nonetheless seems finally possible.
December 27, 2024
It’s very weird to be at the end of this series, at least in terms of what currently exists. I also have a hard time explaining why I appreciate it so much - it feels to me like it combines the best of old school fantasy with significant modern sensibilities. So much of it reminds me of the fantasy stories I loved as a teenager - honor and quests and saving the world - but so much of these stories are also just suffused with the sense that fantasy is a key medium through which we talk about the world as is and discuss the world as ought. These books are, literally, sword and sorcery while also conversations about morality.
This one was great, both the arc of the story overall and the roadtrip escape and also how Aras, despite being no where near main character action, manages to be absolutely hilarious. Now HE would be fun to introduce to Miles.
This one was great, both the arc of the story overall and the roadtrip escape and also how Aras, despite being no where near main character action, manages to be absolutely hilarious. Now HE would be fun to introduce to Miles.
March 1, 2025
You know when you finish a book and have a little sigh as you close it because although the book was absolutely perfect and ended so well, you don't want to leave it yet? That's how I felt about this book.
I just read 4 books in a row set in this world. And usually that's when you start to see flaws and repetitions in the writing. But I only saw the writing, plotting and world building get stronger. And I so adored the 2 main characters here, especially Rihasi. This is a treasure of a book. It appears stand alone but I think you will enjoy it even more if you read some other books earlier.
I just read 4 books in a row set in this world. And usually that's when you start to see flaws and repetitions in the writing. But I only saw the writing, plotting and world building get stronger. And I so adored the 2 main characters here, especially Rihasi. This is a treasure of a book. It appears stand alone but I think you will enjoy it even more if you read some other books earlier.
July 3, 2024
Spectacular
If I could give it 10 stars, I would, it's that good. At nine books in, you'd think the world building would stagnate but we continue to get fresh details, a plot dense with machinations, fascinating characters, possibly one of the most surprising and satisfying duels ever set to the page, and a quietly passionate romance that just resonated. With all that, of course I finished the book in one sleepless night and immediately started it again.
Please, more Rihasi adventures in the future! I'm desperate to see how she (and her people) work with Aras.
If I could give it 10 stars, I would, it's that good. At nine books in, you'd think the world building would stagnate but we continue to get fresh details, a plot dense with machinations, fascinating characters, possibly one of the most surprising and satisfying duels ever set to the page, and a quietly passionate romance that just resonated. With all that, of course I finished the book in one sleepless night and immediately started it again.
Please, more Rihasi adventures in the future! I'm desperate to see how she (and her people) work with Aras.
July 6, 2024
I wish
That this book had 500 more pages. I don’t want to be done with reading in this world. Which is about the highest compliment I can say about an author’s work. I very much look forward to more books from this author, as they all exceed expectations as far as world building, characters you know deeply and root for, just the right about of details, and the voice of the characters just slides easily into your thoughts.
That this book had 500 more pages. I don’t want to be done with reading in this world. Which is about the highest compliment I can say about an author’s work. I very much look forward to more books from this author, as they all exceed expectations as far as world building, characters you know deeply and root for, just the right about of details, and the voice of the characters just slides easily into your thoughts.
Read
July 12, 2024Against the background of what we’ve seen in the Tuyo series, we follow a couple of new characters on an adventure of their own. This is a pleasant and quick read. There are no surprises in how the characters make decisions and behave, or how matters ultimately end up. This isn’t a criticism, but it makes the book a comfortable/comforting read rather than a gripping one, so to say. And that’s absolutely fine!
July 5, 2024
Amazing!
Another fabulous story from Rachel Neumeier. As always, her characters are compelling and wonderful. Her story is enthralling and I was up half the night reading and ignored my chores for an entire day. I love the Tuyo universe and can’t wait to read all these books again. If you love to enter a story that takes you to another universe then you must read this story.
Another fabulous story from Rachel Neumeier. As always, her characters are compelling and wonderful. Her story is enthralling and I was up half the night reading and ignored my chores for an entire day. I love the Tuyo universe and can’t wait to read all these books again. If you love to enter a story that takes you to another universe then you must read this story.
August 20, 2025
For a strongly paternal society, the lands of the Sun certainly produce strong-willed women. Rihasi has much in common with Keraunani, including their penchant for taking decisive action even when common sense would scream "NO!" This was a wonderful read, and I expect to read it over and over and over.
December 30, 2025
This is a non-Ryo-storyline novel in the Tuyo series, and I loved it. Rihashi is escaping her family and a great catastrophe she has set in motion, disguised as a man. Kior, who is hiding from something in his own past, is going to help her do it. Exciting, romantic, awash with political machinations - it's a tremendous installment in this series.
July 4, 2024
I liked Rihasi and Kior right from the start and was strongly pulled into the story. Some nice surprises at the end.
Fave scene: the duel was FREAKING AWESOME
Quibble: this did feel a little longer than it needed to be in places.
Fave scene: the duel was FREAKING AWESOME
Quibble: this did feel a little longer than it needed to be in places.
March 12, 2025
This book was excellent. The characters are revealed over time, the storyline has momentum and complexity, and the world building was clear and unobtrusive.
I love a story with a strong female lead who is competent, determined, smart and wise. A pleasure to read!
I love a story with a strong female lead who is competent, determined, smart and wise. A pleasure to read!
July 4, 2024
This maybe my favorite of the series
The Tuyo series is her best in my opinion or at least my favorite. I love these characters and her world building is outstanding.
The Tuyo series is her best in my opinion or at least my favorite. I love these characters and her world building is outstanding.
July 5, 2024
another Neumeier masterpiece
Brilliantly composed; utterly engaging. The world of Tuyo must continue. it must, as must the exploits of the most surprising Sorcerer conceivable.
Brilliantly composed; utterly engaging. The world of Tuyo must continue. it must, as must the exploits of the most surprising Sorcerer conceivable.
July 9, 2024
10/10
Unputdownable. Unfortunately no Rio, but Aras at his finest. LOVE this power couple-hope we will see them again soon. Will re-read.
Unputdownable. Unfortunately no Rio, but Aras at his finest. LOVE this power couple-hope we will see them again soon. Will re-read.
July 15, 2024
This is my favourite book so far outwith the main trilogy, I hope we get more from these two. I wouldn't start with this book but this entire series is excellent - recommend reading them all.
October 4, 2024
amazing.
loved loved loved this.
yes, read the other books first.
loved loved loved this.
yes, read the other books first.
December 15, 2024
4.5 stars.
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