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The Singing Hills Cycle #6
A Mouthful of Dust
Hunger makes monsters in this dark new tale in Nghi Vo's Hugo Award-winning Singing Hills Cycle.
Wandering Cleric Chih of Singing Hills and their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant come to the river town of Baolin chasing stories of a legendary famine. Amid tales of dishes served to royalty and desserts made of dust, they discover the secrets of what happens when hunger stalks the land and what the powerful will do to hide their crimes.
Trapped in the mansion of a sinister magistrate, Chih and Almost Brilliant must learn what happened in Baolin when the famine came to call, and they must do so quickly...because the things in the shadows are only growing hungrier.
Wandering Cleric Chih of Singing Hills and their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant come to the river town of Baolin chasing stories of a legendary famine. Amid tales of dishes served to royalty and desserts made of dust, they discover the secrets of what happens when hunger stalks the land and what the powerful will do to hide their crimes.
Trapped in the mansion of a sinister magistrate, Chih and Almost Brilliant must learn what happened in Baolin when the famine came to call, and they must do so quickly...because the things in the shadows are only growing hungrier.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
About the author
Nghi Vo
42 books4,540 followersNghi Vo is the author of the acclaimed novellas The Empress of Salt and Fortune and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain. Born in Illinois, she now lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. She believes in the ritual of lipstick, the power of stories, and the right to change your mind. The Chosen and the Beautiful is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews
January 13, 2026
i hope this series never ends.
even if these days, it doesn't work as well for me.
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
i like some installments in this series more than others, but they always make for a quick and enjoyable read, and this famine and cannibalism entry was a) full of surprises and b) no exception.
bottom line: whatever way i feel about these books, they're done in an afternoon. that's not nothing.
(3.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
even if these days, it doesn't work as well for me.
https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...
i like some installments in this series more than others, but they always make for a quick and enjoyable read, and this famine and cannibalism entry was a) full of surprises and b) no exception.
bottom line: whatever way i feel about these books, they're done in an afternoon. that's not nothing.
(3.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
February 4, 2026
There is absolutely no reason for me not to finish this book sooner except that I was hyperfixed on other things to a point of forgetting picking this one up again!
(p/s: ENHYPEN made a comeback).
Yet again, Nghi Vo returns with another mesmerizing entry in the Singing Hills Cycle, following the ever-curious Cleric Chih and their companion, the neixin Almost Brilliant, as they travel to the town of Boalin to uncover the secrets of a legendary famine. Vo’s prose remains beautifully measured and evocative, rich with striking metaphors and rare, carefully chosen words that make reading this series such a pleasure.
While the series continues to center on the importance of history and storytelling, the later installments feel notably distinct. They are richer in atmosphere, deeper in character, and increasingly eerie, and this sixth novella is no exception. Vo masterfully cultivates a brooding sense of dread and quiet peril that dawdle throughout the story.
In Boalin, the narrative explores harrowing themes of hunger, desperation, and the unnatural extremes people reach to survive. The result is a disturbing and ghastly tale, made even more chilling by its clear echoes of real-world famines. But for all that, the story is about forcing truth into the open at its core. Chih does not judge or condemn; they listen and remember, and by gathering every side of the story, they compel a powerful man to confront his actions. There is no easy justice here—only the steady weight of truth, which in this world becomes a punishment of its own. That reckoning is dry, suffocating, and unavoidable, arriving all at once long after the chance for change has passed.
All things considered, this is a brilliantly creepy and resonant addition to the series. Its connection to the first book is a rewarding thread for longtime readers and witnessing both Vo’s growth as a writer and my own journey from feeling overwhelmed by her work to becoming a devoted fan has been deeply satisfying. I find this book to be full of life and consequence despite its short page count, and it is a compelling reason to hope this haunting series never ends.
Yet again, Nghi Vo returns with another mesmerizing entry in the Singing Hills Cycle, following the ever-curious Cleric Chih and their companion, the neixin Almost Brilliant, as they travel to the town of Boalin to uncover the secrets of a legendary famine. Vo’s prose remains beautifully measured and evocative, rich with striking metaphors and rare, carefully chosen words that make reading this series such a pleasure.
While the series continues to center on the importance of history and storytelling, the later installments feel notably distinct. They are richer in atmosphere, deeper in character, and increasingly eerie, and this sixth novella is no exception. Vo masterfully cultivates a brooding sense of dread and quiet peril that dawdle throughout the story.
In Boalin, the narrative explores harrowing themes of hunger, desperation, and the unnatural extremes people reach to survive. The result is a disturbing and ghastly tale, made even more chilling by its clear echoes of real-world famines. But for all that, the story is about forcing truth into the open at its core. Chih does not judge or condemn; they listen and remember, and by gathering every side of the story, they compel a powerful man to confront his actions. There is no easy justice here—only the steady weight of truth, which in this world becomes a punishment of its own. That reckoning is dry, suffocating, and unavoidable, arriving all at once long after the chance for change has passed.
All things considered, this is a brilliantly creepy and resonant addition to the series. Its connection to the first book is a rewarding thread for longtime readers and witnessing both Vo’s growth as a writer and my own journey from feeling overwhelmed by her work to becoming a devoted fan has been deeply satisfying. I find this book to be full of life and consequence despite its short page count, and it is a compelling reason to hope this haunting series never ends.
January 7, 2026
forever and always enamored with new stories of cleric chi and their adventures. this one was for sure on the darker side, and centers on them and almost brilliant investigating a town that has had a famine in the past… and now maybe a haunting. and all of the darkness that comes with famine is discussed at the forefront. this wasn’t my favorite in the series, but still powerfully harrowing, and still made me crave pork buns insanely. i cannot wait for more installments in this series. (forever, tor, please!)
trigger + content warnings: insects, cannibalism, famine, talk of abuse + violence in past, quarantine mention, loss of child mention, suicide mention, death of animal
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) The Empress of Salt and Fortune ★★★★★
2.) When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain ★★★★★
3.) Into the Riverlands ★★★★
4.) Mammoths at the Gates ★★★★
5.) The Brides of High Hill ★★★★★
trigger + content warnings: insects, cannibalism, famine, talk of abuse + violence in past, quarantine mention, loss of child mention, suicide mention, death of animal
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
1.) The Empress of Salt and Fortune ★★★★★
2.) When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain ★★★★★
3.) Into the Riverlands ★★★★
4.) Mammoths at the Gates ★★★★
5.) The Brides of High Hill ★★★★★
October 27, 2025
Nghi Vo can do no wrong.
We're back with the wandering Cleric Chih and their stalwart hoopoe companion, Almost Brilliant as they travel the land recording stories. This time the history of a village plagued by famine beckons. Known for its slow roasted pork, but even more for its three year famine of eighteen years past, the village of Baolin still bears the wounds of hunger, starvation, and mass death. Plagued by a famine demon with a hunger never slated, Chih is more curious of the secrets held by the wealthy and powerful of Baolin. Upon their arrival, Chih is taken and sequestered inside the manor of the local magistrate where they learn just now much secrets cost and the lingering proof of complacency and violence. If you know Nghi Vo, you know her novellas are some of the best in short fiction. A Mouthful of Dust is another incredible addition to her The Singing Hills Cycle, following an inquisitive cleric as they wander and record the stories of the land, and find themselves embroiled in danger, feuds, and murder plots more often than not. The fun of this series is the contrast between, where genre blurs but the commitment of our main character never wavers. A Mouthful of Dust contrasts accounts of the working class with those in power all centered around a life altering famine event in Baolin. In some, a famine demon bargains over pork, in others, the demon poisons the land and the people starve. It’s a fantasy story tinged with horror, but the claws dug deep into Baolin do not just belong to a malevolent demon ever hungering, but real human things. Hidden white cats, delicious pork, dark secrets, and cannibalism make up this next section of Singing Hills and all serve its continued calling for storytelling and enduring memory.
Read my review
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We're back with the wandering Cleric Chih and their stalwart hoopoe companion, Almost Brilliant as they travel the land recording stories. This time the history of a village plagued by famine beckons. Known for its slow roasted pork, but even more for its three year famine of eighteen years past, the village of Baolin still bears the wounds of hunger, starvation, and mass death. Plagued by a famine demon with a hunger never slated, Chih is more curious of the secrets held by the wealthy and powerful of Baolin. Upon their arrival, Chih is taken and sequestered inside the manor of the local magistrate where they learn just now much secrets cost and the lingering proof of complacency and violence. If you know Nghi Vo, you know her novellas are some of the best in short fiction. A Mouthful of Dust is another incredible addition to her The Singing Hills Cycle, following an inquisitive cleric as they wander and record the stories of the land, and find themselves embroiled in danger, feuds, and murder plots more often than not. The fun of this series is the contrast between, where genre blurs but the commitment of our main character never wavers. A Mouthful of Dust contrasts accounts of the working class with those in power all centered around a life altering famine event in Baolin. In some, a famine demon bargains over pork, in others, the demon poisons the land and the people starve. It’s a fantasy story tinged with horror, but the claws dug deep into Baolin do not just belong to a malevolent demon ever hungering, but real human things. Hidden white cats, delicious pork, dark secrets, and cannibalism make up this next section of Singing Hills and all serve its continued calling for storytelling and enduring memory.
Read my review
Bookstagram | Blog
September 25, 2025
Yet another hit for one of my favorite series!
Cleric Chih continues their adventures, this time visiting a town that had experienced severe famine and encountering a vengeful ghost along the way. I love how each book is something a bit different and this one has a haunting and a bit of mystery, while also looking at the horrors of famine through a fantasy lens. If you also love the series I think this one will be a hit. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Cleric Chih continues their adventures, this time visiting a town that had experienced severe famine and encountering a vengeful ghost along the way. I love how each book is something a bit different and this one has a haunting and a bit of mystery, while also looking at the horrors of famine through a fantasy lens. If you also love the series I think this one will be a hit. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 15, 2026
“You should be lucky enough to scar. Dead things don’t.”
In this volume of Singing Hills, Chih comes to see Baolin, a town ravaged by a famine demon eighteen years earlier, and discovers odd secrets in the manor. A Mouthful of Dust is again a bit of a horror novella, but is much less out-and-out horrifying and much more introspective than the previous novella. Perhaps one of my favorites of the series in terms of writing quality:
We could not eat sex or music, but of course we tried, and after that, we could not eat the madness either, that sent so many flying from the towers in a crazed hope for freedom. Some say that there were those who turned into birds and flew away, but of course that was nonsense.
I will keep devouring this series.
▶ Series Reviews:
The Empress of Salt and Fortune, #1 - ★★★★★
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, #2 - ★★★★★
Into the Riverlands, #3 - ★★★★☆
Mammoths at the Gates, #4 - ★★★★☆
The Brides of High Hill, #5 - ★★★★☆
A Mouthful of Dust, #6 - ★★★★☆
▶ A few worldbuilding notes for timeline reasons, to return to in future volumes:
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September 27, 2025
4.5 stars - One of my favorites in the series! The famine component is sadly extremely relevant to our world today, and the writing in this one was just exceptional, even for the author's already high bar.
June 13, 2026
I picked up the sixth book in a series I’d never read before and expected to feel at least a little lost. Instead, I was immediately drawn into the world, the characters, and the stories woven throughout it.
The premise is darkly fascinating, centred on a community pushed to unimaginable extremes by hunger, yet the story never feels interested in shock value for its own sake. Nghi Vo takes a morbidly intriguing concept and turns it into something thoughtful, immersive, and surprisingly human. I was just as invested in the stories being told as I was in the characters telling them.
Despite its short length, the world feels rich and lived-in, and I never felt as though I was missing essential context by starting here. This novella did exactly what a later entry in a series should do: it made me want to go back and read the books that came before it.
A beautifully told story that works remarkably well as a standalone and has left me eager to explore the rest of the series.
The premise is darkly fascinating, centred on a community pushed to unimaginable extremes by hunger, yet the story never feels interested in shock value for its own sake. Nghi Vo takes a morbidly intriguing concept and turns it into something thoughtful, immersive, and surprisingly human. I was just as invested in the stories being told as I was in the characters telling them.
Despite its short length, the world feels rich and lived-in, and I never felt as though I was missing essential context by starting here. This novella did exactly what a later entry in a series should do: it made me want to go back and read the books that came before it.
A beautifully told story that works remarkably well as a standalone and has left me eager to explore the rest of the series.
Want to Read
April 29, 2025If there's more Singing Hills I will read it.
Never thought hearing about 3 more unnamed novels would make me this happy but here we are
Edit: it has a name now?!?! I’m sat, I’m locked in, I’m ready to give up my non-existing firstborn for this.
Edit 2: LOOK AT THAT COVER AAAAAHHHH also... expected 7th October?? Just around my birthday??? Thank you Nghi Vo thank you Tor thank you heavens
Never thought hearing about 3 more unnamed novels would make me this happy but here we are
Edit: it has a name now?!?! I’m sat, I’m locked in, I’m ready to give up my non-existing firstborn for this.
Edit 2: LOOK AT THAT COVER AAAAAHHHH also... expected 7th October?? Just around my birthday??? Thank you Nghi Vo thank you Tor thank you heavens
June 25, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 4 stars ✮˚.⋆
wow okay, this is probably the most intense novella in the series so far, it has some really harrowing themes so definitely check the trigger warnings. i appreciate Vo not shying away from any of these themes though and giving them her full attention, pretty sure i didn't even catch the meaning of everything in here but there's lots of layers. i enjoy when authors use cannibalism as a literary device to have a message, and this was no exception- i just think there's a lot you can do with cannibalism as it's so horrifying and a devolution of someone's humanity almost. this was shorter than i wanted though, i really wish it had been longer so we could've gotten even more context.
↬ trigger warnings: cannibalism, child death, suicide, animal death and cruelty, body horror
wow okay, this is probably the most intense novella in the series so far, it has some really harrowing themes so definitely check the trigger warnings. i appreciate Vo not shying away from any of these themes though and giving them her full attention, pretty sure i didn't even catch the meaning of everything in here but there's lots of layers. i enjoy when authors use cannibalism as a literary device to have a message, and this was no exception- i just think there's a lot you can do with cannibalism as it's so horrifying and a devolution of someone's humanity almost. this was shorter than i wanted though, i really wish it had been longer so we could've gotten even more context.
↬ trigger warnings: cannibalism, child death, suicide, animal death and cruelty, body horror
November 26, 2025
One more of this series of fantasy novellas, and I still like it, but it is kind of losing steam and, going with the ship analogy, detouring towards horror a bit.
Like others in the series, Cleric Chih, wandering cleric of an abbey of historians looking to preserve knowledge goes around collecting personal stories, eating and enjoying (non vegetarian so not quite approved) food and encountering supernatural entities. The first novella The Empress of Salt and Fortune won the Hugo award, I loved it and it was incredibly epic for its short length. Following novellas did interesting meta things with storytelling frames, and the fourth novella Mammoths at the Gates was another I loved wholeheartedly, finally a personal look at Chih, their bird companion and their families and friends at the abbey. I have not loved the two novellas since then, including this 6th novella one. These last two novellas and some of her recent short story seem a lot more horror-themed than her previous book - I am not a horror reader, so maybe there is that as a disclaimer of a bias of mine, and as a tip for horror lovers.
The universe is decidedly uncozy with some catastrophic famines in the background and vengeful ghosts. There is a kind of a point to what rich and poor can provide as "food" for demons (guess who provides the most effective kind!) but in all, it felt a bit perfunctory. I will probably still read more of the series, but they are definitely becoming less interesting. In my modest opinion and all that.
Nghi Vo's writing has always been splashy, with interesting similes, and rare words and very measured. I mostly love her writing and have before and reread sentences and paragraphs just to enjoy it. Maybe I am a crank or my tastes changing, or the books are changing, but here sometimes it was too much, it made me roll my eyes, and that had not happened before with me and her writing.
Like others in the series, Cleric Chih, wandering cleric of an abbey of historians looking to preserve knowledge goes around collecting personal stories, eating and enjoying (non vegetarian so not quite approved) food and encountering supernatural entities. The first novella The Empress of Salt and Fortune won the Hugo award, I loved it and it was incredibly epic for its short length. Following novellas did interesting meta things with storytelling frames, and the fourth novella Mammoths at the Gates was another I loved wholeheartedly, finally a personal look at Chih, their bird companion and their families and friends at the abbey. I have not loved the two novellas since then, including this 6th novella one. These last two novellas and some of her recent short story seem a lot more horror-themed than her previous book - I am not a horror reader, so maybe there is that as a disclaimer of a bias of mine, and as a tip for horror lovers.
The universe is decidedly uncozy with some catastrophic famines in the background and vengeful ghosts. There is a kind of a point to what rich and poor can provide as "food" for demons (guess who provides the most effective kind!) but in all, it felt a bit perfunctory. I will probably still read more of the series, but they are definitely becoming less interesting. In my modest opinion and all that.
Nghi Vo's writing has always been splashy, with interesting similes, and rare words and very measured. I mostly love her writing and have before and reread sentences and paragraphs just to enjoy it. Maybe I am a crank or my tastes changing, or the books are changing, but here sometimes it was too much, it made me roll my eyes, and that had not happened before with me and her writing.
January 27, 2026
This is the 6th volume about the cleric Chih who wanders the land with their hoopoe companion, Almost Brilliant (yes, that's the bird's name), and collects stories.
My, this one would have been fit for Halloween, I tell you! Bwahahahahahaha.
Chih and Almost Brilliant arrive at Baolin, a part of the land that was particularly ravaged by a terrible famine not too long ago. In fact, the events around the famine are still so fresh that the ghosts of that dark time are haunting the place still.
Two stories are of particular interest in that regard: that of a family known for some amazing cooking skills, and that of the magistrate and his household. Of course, they are connected, but I honestly didn't see THAT connection coming. *cackles evilly*
I loved this examination of human nature when the worst happens and anything is possible. I've always been fascinated by real-life accounts of so this hit a sweet spot. The atmosphere invoked was really cool therefore. A bit of foreboding, chills sent down one's spine, an ick-factor: it was all here.
And this one had a clear reference to the very first book, which happened some 20 years ago (in-story). I thought that was rather nice.
Cool addition to the series though I do wonder by now how many more there will be before we're running out of "steam" (these aren't too fast-paced, there barely is any action, so it is a dangerous edge).
My, this one would have been fit for Halloween, I tell you! Bwahahahahahaha.
Chih and Almost Brilliant arrive at Baolin, a part of the land that was particularly ravaged by a terrible famine not too long ago. In fact, the events around the famine are still so fresh that the ghosts of that dark time are haunting the place still.
Two stories are of particular interest in that regard: that of a family known for some amazing cooking skills, and that of the magistrate and his household. Of course, they are connected, but I honestly didn't see THAT connection coming. *cackles evilly*
I loved this examination of human nature when the worst happens and anything is possible. I've always been fascinated by real-life accounts of so this hit a sweet spot. The atmosphere invoked was really cool therefore. A bit of foreboding, chills sent down one's spine, an ick-factor: it was all here.
And this one had a clear reference to the very first book, which happened some 20 years ago (in-story). I thought that was rather nice.
Cool addition to the series though I do wonder by now how many more there will be before we're running out of "steam" (these aren't too fast-paced, there barely is any action, so it is a dangerous edge).
June 2, 2025
3.75 rounded up⭐️
The latest book in the Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo is one of the darkest of the bunch, but also one of the most impactful.
Book Stats:
📖: 96 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: TorDotCom
Format: Singular POV
Series: Book 6/6 in The Singing Hills Cycle
Themes:
🐈: Devastation of Famine
🐈: How hunger affects people
🐈: Can't run from the past
Representation:
💨: Non Binary MC
💨: Asian legends and myths
Tropes:
💗: Animal Companion
💗: Oral Storytelling
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant have traveled to Baolin along the river searching for more stories to record. What they find is stories of betrayal, famine, and devastation. Uncovering a decades-old sinister plot where the powerful don't meet consequences for their actions. Unfortunately, for those people in power, memories have teeth, and they are still hungry.
General Thoughts:
While short and lacking much character development and world building, this is probably one of my favorite installments of this series of novellas as far as the tale that I've read thus far. I wasn't expecting this story to be as dark as it was. But it absolutely gave a sinister and desolate picture as I read. The descriptions of famine and the length people will go to to survive were absolutely harrowing, even though they were very simply dictated. You could feel the desperation of some of these people, jumping off of the page.
Cleric Chih remains ever faithful in their duties to record oral storytelling throughout the providences. I always appreciate the cleric for their aptitude, and I always will love Almost Brilliant as a fuzzy and feathery side companion, who is sometimes just a little too smart and snarky for their own good. This particular novella was very short, so I don't feel like there was a lot of room for character development within the novel. But I do feel like we got a little bit out of the cleric anyways.
The town they were in seem to be very interesting, especially with the background that is welcome through the story. But I do wish we had gotten some sort of world building to learn about the town in general.
The real captivating aspect of this super short story for me was the oral storytelling done by the characters within the novel. I felt like the stories themselves were extremely detailed and interesting, and absolutely captured my attention. They were dark and atmospheric and absolutely harrowing at times. Which set up for the big climatic reveal at the end of the novel of course. So while I do feel like the book was lacking in a few areas the oral storytelling really made the book shine anyways.
Overall, I really liked the novel despite wishing it was longer and contained a little bit more character development and world building.
Disclaimer: I received this gifted ARC through NetGalley and the publisher TorDotCom. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The latest book in the Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo is one of the darkest of the bunch, but also one of the most impactful.
Book Stats:
📖: 96 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: TorDotCom
Format: Singular POV
Series: Book 6/6 in The Singing Hills Cycle
Themes:
🐈: Devastation of Famine
🐈: How hunger affects people
🐈: Can't run from the past
Representation:
💨: Non Binary MC
💨: Asian legends and myths
Tropes:
💗: Animal Companion
💗: Oral Storytelling
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant have traveled to Baolin along the river searching for more stories to record. What they find is stories of betrayal, famine, and devastation. Uncovering a decades-old sinister plot where the powerful don't meet consequences for their actions. Unfortunately, for those people in power, memories have teeth, and they are still hungry.
General Thoughts:
While short and lacking much character development and world building, this is probably one of my favorite installments of this series of novellas as far as the tale that I've read thus far. I wasn't expecting this story to be as dark as it was. But it absolutely gave a sinister and desolate picture as I read. The descriptions of famine and the length people will go to to survive were absolutely harrowing, even though they were very simply dictated. You could feel the desperation of some of these people, jumping off of the page.
Cleric Chih remains ever faithful in their duties to record oral storytelling throughout the providences. I always appreciate the cleric for their aptitude, and I always will love Almost Brilliant as a fuzzy and feathery side companion, who is sometimes just a little too smart and snarky for their own good. This particular novella was very short, so I don't feel like there was a lot of room for character development within the novel. But I do feel like we got a little bit out of the cleric anyways.
The town they were in seem to be very interesting, especially with the background that is welcome through the story. But I do wish we had gotten some sort of world building to learn about the town in general.
The real captivating aspect of this super short story for me was the oral storytelling done by the characters within the novel. I felt like the stories themselves were extremely detailed and interesting, and absolutely captured my attention. They were dark and atmospheric and absolutely harrowing at times. Which set up for the big climatic reveal at the end of the novel of course. So while I do feel like the book was lacking in a few areas the oral storytelling really made the book shine anyways.
Overall, I really liked the novel despite wishing it was longer and contained a little bit more character development and world building.
Disclaimer: I received this gifted ARC through NetGalley and the publisher TorDotCom. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 10, 2025
The Singing Hills Cycle is one of my favourite series of all time. It combines the most epic of fantasies with an almost dreamlike quality, without leaning too much into the whimsical or absurdist. It strikes the perfect balance between characters, plot, world-building, magic, and so much heart that you can’t help but FEEL every journey and emotion in these stories.
A Mouthful of Dust is darker than most of the others (although The Brides of High Hill definitely leaned into horror elements), but there is something so visceral in this story. It’s about survival. Food. What people will give up to keep going. What people will take to live another day. And the consequences, long-reaching and immediate, that entwines everything.
I utterly loved it, despite the content being almost disturbing at times.
I wish I could write half as well as Vo!
Another absolutely fantastic entry into the series, and this one will sit with me for a long while.
A Mouthful of Dust is darker than most of the others (although The Brides of High Hill definitely leaned into horror elements), but there is something so visceral in this story. It’s about survival. Food. What people will give up to keep going. What people will take to live another day. And the consequences, long-reaching and immediate, that entwines everything.
I utterly loved it, despite the content being almost disturbing at times.
I wish I could write half as well as Vo!
Another absolutely fantastic entry into the series, and this one will sit with me for a long while.
May 23, 2026
���Chih found themself thinking wistfully of the pork at Li Shui’s restaurant, where food might be a story, an inheritance, or a trick, but of course it would be delicious.”
A Mouthful of Dust is the sixth standalone novella in the series, and in it, we follow the cleric Chih and their hoopoe companion in search of stories about a legendary famine in the village of Baolin. But when they arrive there, not everyone is willing to talk, and the village magistrate seems intent on controlling the narrative.
Reading about famine is always difficult, but in this present moment, when we’re all witnessing a country using it as a weapon of genocide, it’s even more so. And in this installment, Nghi Vo explores the lengths humans are willing to go when hunger overrides everything else.
I started the story loving it, but I grew less enthusiastic as the mystery unfolded. Still, like all the novellas in this series, I enjoyed it, although this one is probably the one I liked the least so far.
“We were not lucky because we never heard the beating of the famine demon’s wings, but instead because we only heard them softly ( . . . ) The wealthy never starve as much as the poor do, no matter how hard things get.”
ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Previous installments:
1. The Empress of Salt and Fortune ★★★★
2. When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain ★★★
3. Into the Riverlands ★★★
4. Mammoths at the Gates ★★★
5. The Brides of High Hill ★★★
November 30, 2025
Six novellas into The Singing Hills Cycle, so what can I say that I haven't said already before? A Mouthful of Dust is another lyrical, fable-like adventure full of equal parts whimsy and horror, and this time we go real dark, real quick, and I was so here for it.
I had the best time being back with Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant, whose journey has lead them to the famine-plagued village of Baolin that still bears the wounds of hunger, starvation, and mass death. As they collect the stories of the past, they are faced with some ugly truths of the present. Expect a hungry demon, dark secrets of the wealthy, a wayward white cat, and a taste of cannibalism to top it all off.
This was my first time actually reading one of these novellas instead of listening to Cindy Kay's brilliant narration, and I am happy to say that Nghi Vo's exceptional storytelling shines regardless of format. I devoured this in a single sitting, and while I liked the start a bit better than the ending, I am still left utterly satisfied and deeply in awe. I will never get enough of these novellas, they just hit the spot every time.
I had the best time being back with Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant, whose journey has lead them to the famine-plagued village of Baolin that still bears the wounds of hunger, starvation, and mass death. As they collect the stories of the past, they are faced with some ugly truths of the present. Expect a hungry demon, dark secrets of the wealthy, a wayward white cat, and a taste of cannibalism to top it all off.
This was my first time actually reading one of these novellas instead of listening to Cindy Kay's brilliant narration, and I am happy to say that Nghi Vo's exceptional storytelling shines regardless of format. I devoured this in a single sitting, and while I liked the start a bit better than the ending, I am still left utterly satisfied and deeply in awe. I will never get enough of these novellas, they just hit the spot every time.
October 23, 2025
Short and sweet and probably one of the best entries in the series so far.
October 7, 2025
I definitely preferred this one to book one. Yes, I did jump from book one to six. I wanted to test out if these truly could be read as standalones.
You can totally read them out of order and still understand everything. I am sure I missed character growth and moments in the earlier instalments I skipped over, but I didn’t really notice it within this story.
I appreciated the prose more in this one. Again, nothing incredible, but there were a few instances where I knew Nghi Vo had done research and deliberated how to use her short word count.
I had to have a glass of water after this as my mouth felt filled with dust.
Similar to book one, however, I did not feel attachment to the characters and felt the overall ‘moral’ lacked nuance. Maybe I just have the wrong expectations from this series.
Audiobook gifted by publisher.
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You can totally read them out of order and still understand everything. I am sure I missed character growth and moments in the earlier instalments I skipped over, but I didn’t really notice it within this story.
I appreciated the prose more in this one. Again, nothing incredible, but there were a few instances where I knew Nghi Vo had done research and deliberated how to use her short word count.
I had to have a glass of water after this as my mouth felt filled with dust.
Similar to book one, however, I did not feel attachment to the characters and felt the overall ‘moral’ lacked nuance. Maybe I just have the wrong expectations from this series.
Audiobook gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
October 10, 2025
Vo leans even further into horror with this 6th entry in the Singing Hills Cycle and I literally cannot get enough. ...Which is actually a pretty thematic feeling for this story where Cleric Chih goes to Baolin, to sample its famous pork dish and also capture stories about its infamous twenty-years-ago famine.
In this novella, Chih collects stories of the famine from two angles, first from Li Shui, maker of the famed pork dish and a commoner. But the bulk of the story takes place in the magistrate's house, and he really does not want these stories told. Due to their wealth, the magistrate's family was somewhat-but-not-really insulated from the worst of the famine. Luckily for Chih, the magistrate's wife is ready to speak. And there may be another way secrets get revealed... In this one Chih finds themselves more directly implicated in the present-day story than they anticipated.
Given that the topic is famine and it's a horror, you can probably guess where this story is going. So. You better have a strong stomach, is all I'm saying. I don't know how Vo did it, but I was appetized and also disgusted while reading this. And slightly scared! Let's just say I'm glad I was reading this book and not watching the visuals, because this has loads of creepy horror movie potential.
Every novella in this series has been an absolute gem, and this one continues the streak. Normally I get antsy if there's no connecting plot thread between books in a series (even Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series has this, and I find it absolutely vital to my enjoyment of those books), but I feel like I could keep consuming* Singing Hills Cycle novellas in perpetuity.
*Apologies for all the references to eating in this review, it just happened?
In this novella, Chih collects stories of the famine from two angles, first from Li Shui, maker of the famed pork dish and a commoner. But the bulk of the story takes place in the magistrate's house, and he really does not want these stories told. Due to their wealth, the magistrate's family was somewhat-but-not-really insulated from the worst of the famine. Luckily for Chih, the magistrate's wife is ready to speak. And there may be another way secrets get revealed... In this one Chih finds themselves more directly implicated in the present-day story than they anticipated.
Given that the topic is famine and it's a horror, you can probably guess where this story is going. So. You better have a strong stomach, is all I'm saying. I don't know how Vo did it, but I was appetized and also disgusted while reading this. And slightly scared! Let's just say I'm glad I was reading this book and not watching the visuals, because this has loads of creepy horror movie potential.
Every novella in this series has been an absolute gem, and this one continues the streak. Normally I get antsy if there's no connecting plot thread between books in a series (even Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series has this, and I find it absolutely vital to my enjoyment of those books), but I feel like I could keep consuming* Singing Hills Cycle novellas in perpetuity.
*Apologies for all the references to eating in this review, it just happened?
October 12, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was the 6th installment of a series I really enjoy!
Although I didn't necessarily love this one as much as some others, I appreciated it for what it was. I also think that I could have loved it more if it wasn't for my reading slump...
This was the 6th installment of a series I really enjoy!
Although I didn't necessarily love this one as much as some others, I appreciated it for what it was. I also think that I could have loved it more if it wasn't for my reading slump...
May 25, 2026
4.5 stars
October 17, 2025
Starving after reading this book
October 11, 2025
A haunting tale of memory, guilt, and survival, told in Nghi Vo’s recognizable lyrical voice.
Content warning: This novella deals with famine, starvation, violence, death, and body horror.
I requested an ARC of A Mouthful of Dust because I have enjoyed each of the previous five novellas in Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle, and I find Vo’s poetic, fable-like storytelling consistently captivating. Even in short form, she successfully weaves together delicate stories within the story that build into something larger, while casually dropping pieces of resonant wisdom that stay with you.
In this novella, Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant arrive in the river town of Baolin to collect stories about a legendary famine. They soon discover that the magistrate and his household are unhappy with inquiries into their infamous past, and Chih must carefully piece together what really happened.
The tone here is haunting and uneasy from the start, and that feeling only grows despite the lovely prose. The novella explores how people remember, often divergently, and how memory can obscure or reshape truth, as well as what people will do to survive and how they later live with the guilt of those choices. It also examines how corruption and power create unequal burdens and opportunities during crises; famine is not experienced equally, and the moral compromises of survival are at a central focus here.
Vo’s writing remains as tightly crafted and poetic as in previous entries, though this one might be a bit darker and heavier. The pacing is one of this story’s strengths: Chih keeps collecting stories with steady momentum, and the narrative unfolds at a measured, purposeful pace that keeps the mystery assembling as we read. I think that for the first time in the cycle, both Chih and Almost Brilliant feel truly disturbed and frightened, which adds a tangible emotional weight, although Almost Brilliant has a smaller role here than in some earlier novellas.
At this point, Mammoths at the Gates may still be my favorite in the cycle, but A Mouthful of Dust stands beside it in quality and choice of topics covered. The philosophical undercurrent and Vo’s language make it rewarding, and the sound design in the audiobook enhances the mood nicely.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy dark, fairytale-inspired folklore, lyrical prose, and stories rich in moral complexity. While the novella nods to earlier books in the cycle, it reads well on its own, so returning readers will likely gain additional resonance from the connection with the two main recurring characters.
Overall, this is a strong addition to the Singing Hills Cycle. Its philosophical core and the weight of its atmosphere are its greatest strengths, while I can't find any major flaws. For me, this was a strong and deeply enjoyable four-star read.
Many thanks to Tantor Media / Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#AMouthfulofDust #NetGalley #NghiVo #CindyKay #TantorMedia #TantorAudio
Content warning: This novella deals with famine, starvation, violence, death, and body horror.
I requested an ARC of A Mouthful of Dust because I have enjoyed each of the previous five novellas in Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle, and I find Vo’s poetic, fable-like storytelling consistently captivating. Even in short form, she successfully weaves together delicate stories within the story that build into something larger, while casually dropping pieces of resonant wisdom that stay with you.
In this novella, Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant arrive in the river town of Baolin to collect stories about a legendary famine. They soon discover that the magistrate and his household are unhappy with inquiries into their infamous past, and Chih must carefully piece together what really happened.
The tone here is haunting and uneasy from the start, and that feeling only grows despite the lovely prose. The novella explores how people remember, often divergently, and how memory can obscure or reshape truth, as well as what people will do to survive and how they later live with the guilt of those choices. It also examines how corruption and power create unequal burdens and opportunities during crises; famine is not experienced equally, and the moral compromises of survival are at a central focus here.
Vo’s writing remains as tightly crafted and poetic as in previous entries, though this one might be a bit darker and heavier. The pacing is one of this story’s strengths: Chih keeps collecting stories with steady momentum, and the narrative unfolds at a measured, purposeful pace that keeps the mystery assembling as we read. I think that for the first time in the cycle, both Chih and Almost Brilliant feel truly disturbed and frightened, which adds a tangible emotional weight, although Almost Brilliant has a smaller role here than in some earlier novellas.
At this point, Mammoths at the Gates may still be my favorite in the cycle, but A Mouthful of Dust stands beside it in quality and choice of topics covered. The philosophical undercurrent and Vo’s language make it rewarding, and the sound design in the audiobook enhances the mood nicely.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy dark, fairytale-inspired folklore, lyrical prose, and stories rich in moral complexity. While the novella nods to earlier books in the cycle, it reads well on its own, so returning readers will likely gain additional resonance from the connection with the two main recurring characters.
Overall, this is a strong addition to the Singing Hills Cycle. Its philosophical core and the weight of its atmosphere are its greatest strengths, while I can't find any major flaws. For me, this was a strong and deeply enjoyable four-star read.
Many thanks to Tantor Media / Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#AMouthfulofDust #NetGalley #NghiVo #CindyKay #TantorMedia #TantorAudio
January 14, 2026
I won't pretend to have understood everything in this tale... and it's once again a little shorter than I would have liked. But still, it's Nghi Vo. Her novellas feel like home, no matter how eerie.
Also, one advantage of the story's page count is that I might actually re-read this one day and get even more out of it.
Also, one advantage of the story's page count is that I might actually re-read this one day and get even more out of it.
June 19, 2026
I hadn’t actually realized there was a new Singing Hills story released last year until I was looking through what my local library had of Vo’s backlog. Picked up because I’ve more-or-less enjoyed all the previous novellas in the series, and it’s not like this was a big time commitment (calling it a novella feels overly grandiose, this is a short story that outran its word-count by a bit). Modest length (and a few odd choices on how to spend it) aside, this was a wonderfully eerie little read, and easily one of my favourite instalments in the series so far.
As always, the story follows Cleric Chih, itinerant historian and chronicler of the Singing Hills Monastery, and their eidetic and avian companion Almost Brilliant as they travel vaguely sketched medieval-fantasy-China in pursuit of hidden truths and interesting fables. On this occasion, the two of them arrive in Baolin, a town famous for its legendarily delicious braised pork and also the cataclysmic famine which almost destroyed it some decades past. On arrival, Chih finds themselves the involuntary guest of the local magistrate and so almost accidentally begins investigating the awful secrets from the famine that he is so desperate to keep safely forgotten.
The Singing Hills series has ended up being a bit of a protean thing – I would guess because Vo seems committed to writing one a year and lets whatever happens to be inspiring her at the time guide what each new entry should be. Empress of Salt and Fortune was and probably will forever remain the best of them, being far more ambitious and carefully executed on basically every level (very possibly because it wasn’t written under the same constraints as all the sequels). The quality and subject matter of the five subsequent books have varied widely, but The Brides of High Hill and now Mouthful of Dust have both taken the series towards something close to outright horror – or, if not horror, then at least the sort of spooky and spine-tingling stories told around a campfire or huddled together after dark. I really couldn’t be happier about this – it fits well with the framing device, Vo writes it well, and as a matter of taste I just prefer it to the larger-than-life high fantasy soap opera of some of the previous entries.
As a matter of focus and aesthetics, I also just find a world where travelling monks are esteemed and respected because angry ghosts and murderous trickster spirits are very real dangers and everyone lives in fear of their home attracting a great demon of famine or plague far more compelling than one defined by feuding bands of supernaturally empowered martial artists. Not that there’s any necessary contradiction about the series including both (though the world certainly seems more haunted and enchanted now than in previous books), but just as a matter of what gets emphasized and focused on.
Famine is a really underused concept in western horror (and adjacent dark fantasy and similar), probably in part because the vast majority of both creators and presumed audience are generations removed from any direct exposure to it. Vo really captures the grinding, drawn-out, almost mundane horror of it and the increasingly strange (sometimes absurd, sometimes horrific, sometimes both) ways people attempt to adapt to it and cope as the shortages drag on and on and on. The plot justification for how it’s presented is somewhat blunt, but learning the trauma it inflicted upon the whole community mostly through incidental stories and little tangents was for me more effective than dwelling upon the spectacle of starved and devoured bodies would have been, for basically the same reason a good horror story shows off a clear view of its monster as little as it can possibly get away with.
I do have a few somewhat significant complaints with the story, general impression aside. For one, the thematic connection with the famous Baolin pork and with the importance of cuisine in general and communal eating of whatever kind in particular to culture and community is clear enough with a little thought, but in this I think the book could have stood to be either longer or shorter. As is, the subplot with the restaurant feels like an overgrown tangent without any really neat conclusion or elegant interweaving with the main plot. The climax of the ghost story/mystery being Chih realizing what’s happening and just running in the opposite direction as fast as they can until the screaming stops is funny, but the whole resolution does feel blunt and rushed. And I do miss the affection for Rashomon-style unreliable and contradictory narrators that the series seems to have basically now abandoned.
Still, this was something like a 45 minute read. For the time invested and the word-count available to work with, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
As always, the story follows Cleric Chih, itinerant historian and chronicler of the Singing Hills Monastery, and their eidetic and avian companion Almost Brilliant as they travel vaguely sketched medieval-fantasy-China in pursuit of hidden truths and interesting fables. On this occasion, the two of them arrive in Baolin, a town famous for its legendarily delicious braised pork and also the cataclysmic famine which almost destroyed it some decades past. On arrival, Chih finds themselves the involuntary guest of the local magistrate and so almost accidentally begins investigating the awful secrets from the famine that he is so desperate to keep safely forgotten.
The Singing Hills series has ended up being a bit of a protean thing – I would guess because Vo seems committed to writing one a year and lets whatever happens to be inspiring her at the time guide what each new entry should be. Empress of Salt and Fortune was and probably will forever remain the best of them, being far more ambitious and carefully executed on basically every level (very possibly because it wasn’t written under the same constraints as all the sequels). The quality and subject matter of the five subsequent books have varied widely, but The Brides of High Hill and now Mouthful of Dust have both taken the series towards something close to outright horror – or, if not horror, then at least the sort of spooky and spine-tingling stories told around a campfire or huddled together after dark. I really couldn’t be happier about this – it fits well with the framing device, Vo writes it well, and as a matter of taste I just prefer it to the larger-than-life high fantasy soap opera of some of the previous entries.
As a matter of focus and aesthetics, I also just find a world where travelling monks are esteemed and respected because angry ghosts and murderous trickster spirits are very real dangers and everyone lives in fear of their home attracting a great demon of famine or plague far more compelling than one defined by feuding bands of supernaturally empowered martial artists. Not that there’s any necessary contradiction about the series including both (though the world certainly seems more haunted and enchanted now than in previous books), but just as a matter of what gets emphasized and focused on.
Famine is a really underused concept in western horror (and adjacent dark fantasy and similar), probably in part because the vast majority of both creators and presumed audience are generations removed from any direct exposure to it. Vo really captures the grinding, drawn-out, almost mundane horror of it and the increasingly strange (sometimes absurd, sometimes horrific, sometimes both) ways people attempt to adapt to it and cope as the shortages drag on and on and on. The plot justification for how it’s presented is somewhat blunt, but learning the trauma it inflicted upon the whole community mostly through incidental stories and little tangents was for me more effective than dwelling upon the spectacle of starved and devoured bodies would have been, for basically the same reason a good horror story shows off a clear view of its monster as little as it can possibly get away with.
I do have a few somewhat significant complaints with the story, general impression aside. For one, the thematic connection with the famous Baolin pork and with the importance of cuisine in general and communal eating of whatever kind in particular to culture and community is clear enough with a little thought, but in this I think the book could have stood to be either longer or shorter. As is, the subplot with the restaurant feels like an overgrown tangent without any really neat conclusion or elegant interweaving with the main plot. The climax of the ghost story/mystery being Chih realizing what’s happening and just running in the opposite direction as fast as they can until the screaming stops is funny, but the whole resolution does feel blunt and rushed. And I do miss the affection for Rashomon-style unreliable and contradictory narrators that the series seems to have basically now abandoned.
Still, this was something like a 45 minute read. For the time invested and the word-count available to work with, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
November 28, 2025
Love it. The whole series is amazing. Some of these books are a bit better than others and I think this is one of the better ones. The vibes are relatively bleak, but in a way that really works well for the story. I will definitely keep reading these as long as they are written. The worldbuilding is wonderful and a perfect mix between mystical fantasy and grounded historical reality.
This novella is very brief so I don’t have a lot more to say; I highly recommend.
The audiobook is also a delight. This narrator always delivers. Just good things all around.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
This novella is very brief so I don’t have a lot more to say; I highly recommend.
The audiobook is also a delight. This narrator always delivers. Just good things all around.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
December 31, 2025
4.5 stars
Beautifully written and a gorgeous story! I love how many of the characters tell their own separate stories and how they're all interwoven together. One of my favorite novellas in this series!
Beautifully written and a gorgeous story! I love how many of the characters tell their own separate stories and how they're all interwoven together. One of my favorite novellas in this series!
October 1, 2025
3.75 -
This might be my favourite instalment next to the Empress of Salt and Fortune in the Singing Hills cycle. Nghi Vo is brilliant and a master story teller.
These novellas read like bed time stories / fables, and the way Nghi Vo is able to craft a story within a story within a story is exceptional. A major theme in all these novellas is the importance and power of oral story telling, memory, and truth.
This particular instalment was somewhat dark, and not only in subject matter but in atmosphere as well. It dives into the stories and history of famines.
Where I usually don't find an issue with Nghi Vo's writing, there were a couple segments in this book that I felt could have been edited (this obviously may be resolved in the published version).
Disclaimer: I received this as an ARC on Netgalley but obviously all my opinions are my own.
This might be my favourite instalment next to the Empress of Salt and Fortune in the Singing Hills cycle. Nghi Vo is brilliant and a master story teller.
These novellas read like bed time stories / fables, and the way Nghi Vo is able to craft a story within a story within a story is exceptional. A major theme in all these novellas is the importance and power of oral story telling, memory, and truth.
This particular instalment was somewhat dark, and not only in subject matter but in atmosphere as well. It dives into the stories and history of famines.
Where I usually don't find an issue with Nghi Vo's writing, there were a couple segments in this book that I felt could have been edited (this obviously may be resolved in the published version).
Disclaimer: I received this as an ARC on Netgalley but obviously all my opinions are my own.
April 2, 2026
I'm still a newbie to Vo's work, but I'm already quite enthusiastic. The first of her titles I read was Don't Sleep with the Dead, which reunites the ghost of Jay Gatsby with Nick Carraway. A Mouthful of Dust is part of her Singing Hills Cycle of novellas featuring Cleric Chih and their hoopoe (a type of bird) companion Almost Brilliant. The Clerics affiliated with the Singing Hills monastery are dedicated to recording significant events from as many perspectives as possible.
In this case, the event is a years-long famine experienced by the village of Baolin. In A Mouthful of Dust famine isn't simply a matter of climate and crops—famines are instigated by nearly unappeasable demons who nonetheless must be appeased to end the disaster. Not surprisingly, although all the inhabitants of the village suffered through the famine, the poorest experienced the greatest suffering.
This is a dark story that ends with an uneasy resolution well-suited to the novella's characters, but that leaves questions remaining.
A Mouthful of Dust has left me eager to read the rest of the series. It stood well on its own—Vo is highly effective at providing non-disruptive contextual information—but I want the opportunity to see it as part of a more expanded vision. The fact that the series is comprised of novellas, makes that undertaking seem manageable. I have five volumes yet to read, but their brevity means that I don't have to dedicate excessive amounts of time to any of them.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
In this case, the event is a years-long famine experienced by the village of Baolin. In A Mouthful of Dust famine isn't simply a matter of climate and crops—famines are instigated by nearly unappeasable demons who nonetheless must be appeased to end the disaster. Not surprisingly, although all the inhabitants of the village suffered through the famine, the poorest experienced the greatest suffering.
This is a dark story that ends with an uneasy resolution well-suited to the novella's characters, but that leaves questions remaining.
A Mouthful of Dust has left me eager to read the rest of the series. It stood well on its own—Vo is highly effective at providing non-disruptive contextual information—but I want the opportunity to see it as part of a more expanded vision. The fact that the series is comprised of novellas, makes that undertaking seem manageable. I have five volumes yet to read, but their brevity means that I don't have to dedicate excessive amounts of time to any of them.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
May 20, 2025
Thanks to Edelweiss for the drc! Nghi Vo continues to write for Me Specifically. i love this book about famine demons and cannibalism and sacrifice and storytelling <3 this is probably my second favorite of these novellas (first place to When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, ofc). lowkey didn't realize i didn't read The Brides of High Hill, whoops, gotta go back and read that now
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