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Tuyo #10
Hedesa
Into the Starlit Land
Tano knew his people would need to return to the starlit country -- and he knew his friend Raga would be among those who crossed the mountains into that lovely and mysterious land. Where Raga goes, Tano will certainly go as well.
He looks forward to the journey -- mostly. He's almost certain every Ugaro who accompanies the expedition can be trusted, and he's almost certain the Lau who come along won't cause too much trouble. Most of all, Tano knows the gentle people of the starlit land offer no threat at all. Everyone knows the Tarashana are harmless ...
Tano knew his people would need to return to the starlit country -- and he knew his friend Raga would be among those who crossed the mountains into that lovely and mysterious land. Where Raga goes, Tano will certainly go as well.
He looks forward to the journey -- mostly. He's almost certain every Ugaro who accompanies the expedition can be trusted, and he's almost certain the Lau who come along won't cause too much trouble. Most of all, Tano knows the gentle people of the starlit land offer no threat at all. Everyone knows the Tarashana are harmless ...
- GenresFantasy
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2025
16 people are currently reading
28 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 19, 2025
Out of the many wonderful characters in Rachel Neumeier’s “Tuyo” stories, Tano is my favorite. He has had my whole heart from the moment he first appeared in “Tarashana,” and watching him grow, learn, and heal has been pure joy to experience. Neumeier writes in her authors note that “Hedesa” ended up being two books in one; most of the first part of the story, showing the long journey from the borderlands through the winter country to the starlit lands, wasn’t supposed to be there, and only was included because she found it necessary to explore not only Tano’s growth, by the development of other characters like Raga, Gedes, and Tokowa. It’s true that this section of the book is slow, even by “Tuyo” standards,” and not much true action happens outside character growth. But it was narrated from Tano’s perspective, which means I ate it right up and loved every page.
“Hedesa” tells a story that began at the end of “Tasmakat,” when a Tarashana man from the mysterious starlit lands came to the Ugaro and Lau asking for help. The man, Hedesaveriel, joins a combined Ugaro/Lau company to head back north, investigate the unknown problem, and try to solve it to everyone’s satisfaction. But what this story is really about is communication and collaboration between three very different cultures, with three nuanced languages and three ways of interacting socially and with the world at large. And this isn’t really a situation where mere compromise will solve anything; compromise is a start, but the real solution is understanding and acceptance.
The main reason I’m sometimes hesitant to recommend “Tuyo” to people is the Ugaro custom of corporal punishment for children. Ugaro culture is strict and places an extremely high premium on honor, politeness, and proper behavior; its members are expected to behave in accordance with their ages, genders, social roles, and overall societal standing. It’s extremely common for adults to ritually beat children (not extremely young children, but generally tweens and teens) as a method of correcting misbehavior and teaching proper behavior. I know many people for whom any violence against children is a red line they cannot cross, and I can’t begrudge them that. I don’t for a moment think Neumeier is advocating beating children as a teaching method; she’s obviously exploring how a pre-industrial society might function and using something many modern readers find deplorable to make a point about cultural relativism. Is it fair to judge the (fictional) Ugaro by the standards of modern Western cultures? I don’t think so, but if this is a bridge too far for people, I won’t try to change their minds.
Tnao is a great character to explore the morals of corporal punishment within Ugaro culture. Tano suffered horrible physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his biological father, Yaro inTasiyo, and others of the inTasiyo tribe. (It’s also hinted but never confirmed that he experienced sexual abuse as well.) After the inTasiyo are dissolved and Tano is adopted into the inGara, he still experiences beatings, but the way the Ugaro intend them, as a correct and reminder to do better, not pure sadism.
This all comes together in a particular conversation Hedesaveriel has with Tano discussing Tarashana views on corporal punishment. The Tarashana are an exceedingly pacific and nonviolent people, possibly to their own detriment, so they find Ugaro corporal punishment obscene and unforgivable. Hedesaveriel explains this to Tano first in Tano’s native language of taksu: “To physically strike another person, we consider this a wrong action.” Then he translates the same sentence into the Lau language, darau: “To physically abuse another person, Tarashana society frames this as illegal.” Tano is struck by the difference in translation between “physically strike” and “physically abuse,” as well as between “wrong action” and “illegal.” Finally, Hedesaveriel translates the same sentence to lasije, the Tarashana language, which Tano is not yet fluent in. Lasije has an extremely complicated pronoun system, and Tano notes “the ‘we’ he used meant ‘all of us,’ so that was like the darau ‘society.’” The same thought expressed in three languages and with three cultural connotations can send up sounding very different, just as Tano is continually realizing about how the inTasiyo and inGara, though both nominally Ugaro, were very different. This exchange really sums up the core idea of “Hedesa” in a nutshell.
“Hedesa” is a long book and a slow-paced one, and the second half of the story in the starlit lands is particularly tricky. Neumeier does maybe too good a job making Tarashana culture difficult for the Ugaro and Lau to understand. Working with a language few of the characters are fluent in, with a host of cultural connotations they don’t truly understand, the reader can often feel that the Tarashana are as alien as Tano sometimes finds them. I feel like I have a decent understanding of the issues at play and what happens in the story, yet the Tarashana are just so different from anything else I’ve experienced that it’s hard to explain this section of the book. If Tano weren’t the narrator, I would have still enjoyed the story, but likely to a lesser extent.
But even without Tano’s narration, there was so much I enjoyed about “Hedesa.” The new characters of Gedes and Kelleos added a wonderful dimension, as did the continued development of the relationship between Tano and Raga. Some people might be slightly disappointed by the outcome there, but while it didn’t go where I thought it might, it struck me as being very true to both young men. And most of all, I loved seeing more and more of the humble, thoughtful, and kind person Tano is becoming, and how the world—not just the Ugaro, Lauo, and Tarashana, but the gods themselves and even the fundamental forces of nature—are seeing that this young man is truly something special. I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series, and as always, I’m left wanting to give Tano the biggest hug ever.
“Hedesa” tells a story that began at the end of “Tasmakat,” when a Tarashana man from the mysterious starlit lands came to the Ugaro and Lau asking for help. The man, Hedesaveriel, joins a combined Ugaro/Lau company to head back north, investigate the unknown problem, and try to solve it to everyone’s satisfaction. But what this story is really about is communication and collaboration between three very different cultures, with three nuanced languages and three ways of interacting socially and with the world at large. And this isn’t really a situation where mere compromise will solve anything; compromise is a start, but the real solution is understanding and acceptance.
The main reason I’m sometimes hesitant to recommend “Tuyo” to people is the Ugaro custom of corporal punishment for children. Ugaro culture is strict and places an extremely high premium on honor, politeness, and proper behavior; its members are expected to behave in accordance with their ages, genders, social roles, and overall societal standing. It’s extremely common for adults to ritually beat children (not extremely young children, but generally tweens and teens) as a method of correcting misbehavior and teaching proper behavior. I know many people for whom any violence against children is a red line they cannot cross, and I can’t begrudge them that. I don’t for a moment think Neumeier is advocating beating children as a teaching method; she’s obviously exploring how a pre-industrial society might function and using something many modern readers find deplorable to make a point about cultural relativism. Is it fair to judge the (fictional) Ugaro by the standards of modern Western cultures? I don’t think so, but if this is a bridge too far for people, I won’t try to change their minds.
Tnao is a great character to explore the morals of corporal punishment within Ugaro culture. Tano suffered horrible physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his biological father, Yaro inTasiyo, and others of the inTasiyo tribe. (It’s also hinted but never confirmed that he experienced sexual abuse as well.) After the inTasiyo are dissolved and Tano is adopted into the inGara, he still experiences beatings, but the way the Ugaro intend them, as a correct and reminder to do better, not pure sadism.
This all comes together in a particular conversation Hedesaveriel has with Tano discussing Tarashana views on corporal punishment. The Tarashana are an exceedingly pacific and nonviolent people, possibly to their own detriment, so they find Ugaro corporal punishment obscene and unforgivable. Hedesaveriel explains this to Tano first in Tano’s native language of taksu: “To physically strike another person, we consider this a wrong action.” Then he translates the same sentence into the Lau language, darau: “To physically abuse another person, Tarashana society frames this as illegal.” Tano is struck by the difference in translation between “physically strike” and “physically abuse,” as well as between “wrong action” and “illegal.” Finally, Hedesaveriel translates the same sentence to lasije, the Tarashana language, which Tano is not yet fluent in. Lasije has an extremely complicated pronoun system, and Tano notes “the ‘we’ he used meant ‘all of us,’ so that was like the darau ‘society.’” The same thought expressed in three languages and with three cultural connotations can send up sounding very different, just as Tano is continually realizing about how the inTasiyo and inGara, though both nominally Ugaro, were very different. This exchange really sums up the core idea of “Hedesa” in a nutshell.
“Hedesa” is a long book and a slow-paced one, and the second half of the story in the starlit lands is particularly tricky. Neumeier does maybe too good a job making Tarashana culture difficult for the Ugaro and Lau to understand. Working with a language few of the characters are fluent in, with a host of cultural connotations they don’t truly understand, the reader can often feel that the Tarashana are as alien as Tano sometimes finds them. I feel like I have a decent understanding of the issues at play and what happens in the story, yet the Tarashana are just so different from anything else I’ve experienced that it’s hard to explain this section of the book. If Tano weren’t the narrator, I would have still enjoyed the story, but likely to a lesser extent.
But even without Tano’s narration, there was so much I enjoyed about “Hedesa.” The new characters of Gedes and Kelleos added a wonderful dimension, as did the continued development of the relationship between Tano and Raga. Some people might be slightly disappointed by the outcome there, but while it didn’t go where I thought it might, it struck me as being very true to both young men. And most of all, I loved seeing more and more of the humble, thoughtful, and kind person Tano is becoming, and how the world—not just the Ugaro, Lauo, and Tarashana, but the gods themselves and even the fundamental forces of nature—are seeing that this young man is truly something special. I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series, and as always, I’m left wanting to give Tano the biggest hug ever.
August 5, 2025
Glorious - as ever: richly rewarding
Waiting for a new book in the TUYO series feels like waiting for the start of the summer holidays used to feel when I was at school: a chance to let go of the humdrum world and dive into many layers of Beaty, complexity and magic. Hedesa is the glorious, multi-coloured, multi-layered weaving of people and place that sets this series apart from almost every other epic fantasy. Tano’s evolution, his gradual recovery from his past, and the help he receives from those around him, boundary in the container of culture, is a genuinely moving lesson in depth psychology. The starlit lands are as different from the winter and summer countries as each is from the other and Tarashana society is pleasingly complex. The final confrontation is breath-holding,y good. My only regret is having to wait to find out what happens next.
Waiting for a new book in the TUYO series feels like waiting for the start of the summer holidays used to feel when I was at school: a chance to let go of the humdrum world and dive into many layers of Beaty, complexity and magic. Hedesa is the glorious, multi-coloured, multi-layered weaving of people and place that sets this series apart from almost every other epic fantasy. Tano’s evolution, his gradual recovery from his past, and the help he receives from those around him, boundary in the container of culture, is a genuinely moving lesson in depth psychology. The starlit lands are as different from the winter and summer countries as each is from the other and Tarashana society is pleasingly complex. The final confrontation is breath-holding,y good. My only regret is having to wait to find out what happens next.
August 14, 2025
FINALLY SOME NOT-EVIL QUEER REP IN A NEUMEIER BOOK! I am grateful.
Everything else about this was great too. Tano in particular has completely stolen my heart!
Everything else about this was great too. Tano in particular has completely stolen my heart!
August 7, 2025
If you know this series, this book ten is basically the story of Tano coming of age.
The Ugaro and Lau form a joint expedition into the deep north to the Starlight Land and ultimately to visit the dreaded Saa'arii to see if the Saa'arii are indeed a threat to the Ugaro of the Winter lands and the Lau of the Summer lands.
Neumeier introduces new Lau, one of which is nobility who has to learn the "respectful" ways of the Ugaro. This noble character is arrogant and obnoxious. He is also a much needed linguist.
In my opinion, the author puts way too much emphasis on being "respectful" with the Ugaro and wastes a lot of words in this endeavor. Neumeier also wastes many sentences on Tano's past. If you've read these books you already know this history.
So based on these bothersome points of mine, I give this story three stars. However, Neumeier spent a large amount of time developing a language for the people of the Starlight Lands, the Tarashana. She also developed their heritage. All good to know. For that large work, I give this book four stars.
The Ugaro and Lau form a joint expedition into the deep north to the Starlight Land and ultimately to visit the dreaded Saa'arii to see if the Saa'arii are indeed a threat to the Ugaro of the Winter lands and the Lau of the Summer lands.
Neumeier introduces new Lau, one of which is nobility who has to learn the "respectful" ways of the Ugaro. This noble character is arrogant and obnoxious. He is also a much needed linguist.
In my opinion, the author puts way too much emphasis on being "respectful" with the Ugaro and wastes a lot of words in this endeavor. Neumeier also wastes many sentences on Tano's past. If you've read these books you already know this history.
So based on these bothersome points of mine, I give this story three stars. However, Neumeier spent a large amount of time developing a language for the people of the Starlight Lands, the Tarashana. She also developed their heritage. All good to know. For that large work, I give this book four stars.
September 29, 2025
A PURE DELIGHT AS ALWAYS.
This book, the latest installment in the Tuyo series (my beloved), follows Tano and Raga as they set out to journey from the Winter Country to the Starlit Lands. They're part of an expedition that consists of mostly Ugaro, with a dual mission: 1) take the Tarashana man home, 2) learn about the Tarashana people and the looming threat of their enemies. There are also some token Lau - the required soldiers, and Gedes (Soretes' grandson) and Kelleos (Gedes' non-royal half brother).
The first part of this book is just the journey, AS IS TUYO TRADITION, and the bumpy process of navigating the social and cultural dynamics of the group. The main issues are:
1) Tano's coming of age. This is one of the first times he's on his own in a group of other Ugaro men that he doesn't know or trust. He struggles against being thrown back into the fearful and defensive mindset that helped him survive his childhood and, instead of hiding on the margins, step forward and take the place of a young warrior. Him and Raga's dynamic is fun as usual. Tano has been an absolutely fantastic character from day one, and that hasn't changed. I LOVED seeing him grow.
2) Gedes, unfortunately, is a spoiled royal brat. This does not go over well with the Ugaro, who don't understand being royal or a brat and who love corporal punishment. Tano and Raga are frantically trying to get Gedes to stop being rude and annoying before some other Ugaro decides to teach him a lesson and a full-on fight breaks out between Ugaro and Lau. Gedes and Kelleos have a backstory, and while they weren't my favorite characters, I did come to appreciate them more than I expected.
The second part of the book is when they arrive to the Starlit Lands and find that something is rotten in Denmark. I have never really cared for the Tarashana people, and I still don't care for them much. This part was interesting enough, with enough danger and intrigue to keep me reading, but did not necessarily grip me by the throat.
It ends at the conclusion of the immediate Starlit Lands crisis, but with Tano and the gang still far from home and with part of their mission still uncompleted. With some kind of hinted drama and danger also going on back in the Winter Country, I'm sure there will be more to come and I'm excited to continue the story.
This book, the latest installment in the Tuyo series (my beloved), follows Tano and Raga as they set out to journey from the Winter Country to the Starlit Lands. They're part of an expedition that consists of mostly Ugaro, with a dual mission: 1) take the Tarashana man home, 2) learn about the Tarashana people and the looming threat of their enemies. There are also some token Lau - the required soldiers, and Gedes (Soretes' grandson) and Kelleos (Gedes' non-royal half brother).
The first part of this book is just the journey, AS IS TUYO TRADITION, and the bumpy process of navigating the social and cultural dynamics of the group. The main issues are:
1) Tano's coming of age. This is one of the first times he's on his own in a group of other Ugaro men that he doesn't know or trust. He struggles against being thrown back into the fearful and defensive mindset that helped him survive his childhood and, instead of hiding on the margins, step forward and take the place of a young warrior. Him and Raga's dynamic is fun as usual. Tano has been an absolutely fantastic character from day one, and that hasn't changed. I LOVED seeing him grow.
2) Gedes, unfortunately, is a spoiled royal brat. This does not go over well with the Ugaro, who don't understand being royal or a brat and who love corporal punishment. Tano and Raga are frantically trying to get Gedes to stop being rude and annoying before some other Ugaro decides to teach him a lesson and a full-on fight breaks out between Ugaro and Lau. Gedes and Kelleos have a backstory, and while they weren't my favorite characters, I did come to appreciate them more than I expected.
The second part of the book is when they arrive to the Starlit Lands and find that something is rotten in Denmark. I have never really cared for the Tarashana people, and I still don't care for them much. This part was interesting enough, with enough danger and intrigue to keep me reading, but did not necessarily grip me by the throat.
It ends at the conclusion of the immediate Starlit Lands crisis, but with Tano and the gang still far from home and with part of their mission still uncompleted. With some kind of hinted drama and danger also going on back in the Winter Country, I'm sure there will be more to come and I'm excited to continue the story.
July 8, 2025
Every time I go back to the world of Tuyo, I am reminded of how cleverly the contrasts between the cultures explored also illuminate their parallels. I have had the thought in reading previous books that while the society of the Ugaro seems brutal to the Lau, who consider themselves more "civilized" than the "violent barbarian ugaro" that the Lau's control over their people and their enaction of brutal penalties, social and otherwise, is itself a form of violence.
Here we come to the Tarashana, and they abhor violence. But their society, their means of coming to a persuasive consensus, forced consensus, is insidious and horrifying...and definitely a form of violence, violence against that of the sovereignty of the self.
This is another "road trip" book; it allows us to get to know the characters fairly well, and as a character study, I really appreciated it. The insights to Raga meeting someone he couldn't steamroll with friendliness, the fierceness of Parra, the love and care of the warriors, Gedes and taking on the Ugaro gestures...I appreciate that Tano wasn't healed of his emotional wounds quickly or easily.
The worst thing about it is waiting on the next episode! I am a little frustrated they haven't yet even gotten to the sunless sea, but it is realistic given the scope of the size of the world.
Here we come to the Tarashana, and they abhor violence. But their society, their means of coming to a persuasive consensus, forced consensus, is insidious and horrifying...and definitely a form of violence, violence against that of the sovereignty of the self.
This is another "road trip" book; it allows us to get to know the characters fairly well, and as a character study, I really appreciated it. The insights to Raga meeting someone he couldn't steamroll with friendliness, the fierceness of Parra, the love and care of the warriors, Gedes and taking on the Ugaro gestures...I appreciate that Tano wasn't healed of his emotional wounds quickly or easily.
The worst thing about it is waiting on the next episode! I am a little frustrated they haven't yet even gotten to the sunless sea, but it is realistic given the scope of the size of the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2025
This book combines two of my favorite aspects of the Tuyo series: Tano, and seeing Ugaro and Lau interact and adapt to their differing customs and perspectives. As usual, the new characters are interesting enough to warrant their own POV in future stories, and the world-building continues to expand in enticing ways. Hedesa continues the story of the starlit lands while setting up a multi-book arc for Tano as well as other characters--I'm impatient for more after reading, but that's nothing new. Anyone who has enjoyed the previous Tuyo books will want to read this!
August 2, 2025
Tano, after finding the leader of his new clan, the inGara, who has accepted him as a young warrior of honor who uses his cleverness well, is sent with a band from 3 of the Ugaro tribes and 7 Lau from the Summerlands to the starlit lands to help the Tarashana and learn of the enemies. The two parts of the story are divided cleanly between Tano learning more of himself and his place in the inGara and the Lau and Ugaro learning more about the Tarashana. The second part is much more plotted and full of incident.
August 6, 2025
Always engaging
Complex and intriguing as ever with the Tuyo series. I had been reading fluff for the summer, so I had to re engage my brain to absorb the banquet that is this world. As usual, I find myself going back to read the whole series again and dip into others of her books because the writing is so involving. Guess the fluff will have to wait.
Complex and intriguing as ever with the Tuyo series. I had been reading fluff for the summer, so I had to re engage my brain to absorb the banquet that is this world. As usual, I find myself going back to read the whole series again and dip into others of her books because the writing is so involving. Guess the fluff will have to wait.
August 4, 2025
By book ten readers should have a good idea what they're going to get. This is the next Tano novel, and it's mostly a long road trip. A group of Ugaro, plus some Lau, go to the starlit lands to see if they can figure out what's going on with the recently-invading bad guys. In addition to Lau-Ugaro culture clash, we now have our characters trying to figure out how Tarashana culture works (very different from both the others). Oh, and their main Tarashana friend/guide/plot-instigator, Hedesa, appears to be keeping secrets.
Tano does get some character growth in this novel, but IMO it's more plot-focused and less character-driven than the other Tuyo novels. I also found that the set-up for next book's romance (I presume) didn't quite land for me.
Tano does get some character growth in this novel, but IMO it's more plot-focused and less character-driven than the other Tuyo novels. I also found that the set-up for next book's romance (I presume) didn't quite land for me.
August 3, 2025
Hedesa
Perhaps all I need say as a review is that I obtained Hedesa from the author’s Patreon site in July. As of the beginning of August, I have read it three times. Certain sections, I have read a time or two more than that. Yes, it is that good and that interesting! In each reread, I find greater depth.
The book is titled Hedesa, which is a name of a star in the starlit country and also part of the name of Hedesaveriel Kiolekarian seha-Toratarion. This is the Tarashana man we meet briefly in ‘Tarashana’ and see again at the end of ‘Tasmakat’.
But the POV is that of Tano inGara. Some of the scenes with Tano are incredibly moving, particularly a scene early in the book with Sinowa.
But I don’t want to give anything at all away. About half the book involves a party including Ugaro, Lau and Hedesaveriel journeying from the river bordering the winter and summer countries all the way to the starlit country. The second half recounts part of the journey through the starlit country.
Along the way, there is considerable character growth and insights, particularly, but not only, of Tano. (Raga too, but others as well.)
There is exploration of what language reveals about a people and their society, beliefs and culture as the travelers try to learn lasije, the Tarashana language.
The complexity and differences between Tarashana, Ugaro, and Lau surface as they travel together. (Let me just add how much I enjoyed the Lau’s shock that the Tarashana considered them also to be a violent people, no less than the Ugaro.)
As with the other peoples we meet in ‘Tuyo World,’ the Tarashana themselves are revealed as flawed, while also, of course having many positive attributes.
The travelers face some surprising dangers in the starlit lands. As gentle, pleasant, and benign as the Tarashana and the star-lit country seem at first glance, both at times are difficult, dangerous, confounding and/or complex.
There will be two or perhaps three books that follow Hedesa. There are matters mentioned in Hedesa that clearly require a book or two or three to detail. That is, other important matters involving other important characters are taking place elsewhere while Tano, Raga and the others are making this journey to and through the star-lit lands.
I am looking forward to them all!
Perhaps all I need say as a review is that I obtained Hedesa from the author’s Patreon site in July. As of the beginning of August, I have read it three times. Certain sections, I have read a time or two more than that. Yes, it is that good and that interesting! In each reread, I find greater depth.
The book is titled Hedesa, which is a name of a star in the starlit country and also part of the name of Hedesaveriel Kiolekarian seha-Toratarion. This is the Tarashana man we meet briefly in ‘Tarashana’ and see again at the end of ‘Tasmakat’.
But the POV is that of Tano inGara. Some of the scenes with Tano are incredibly moving, particularly a scene early in the book with Sinowa.
But I don’t want to give anything at all away. About half the book involves a party including Ugaro, Lau and Hedesaveriel journeying from the river bordering the winter and summer countries all the way to the starlit country. The second half recounts part of the journey through the starlit country.
Along the way, there is considerable character growth and insights, particularly, but not only, of Tano. (Raga too, but others as well.)
There is exploration of what language reveals about a people and their society, beliefs and culture as the travelers try to learn lasije, the Tarashana language.
The complexity and differences between Tarashana, Ugaro, and Lau surface as they travel together. (Let me just add how much I enjoyed the Lau’s shock that the Tarashana considered them also to be a violent people, no less than the Ugaro.)
As with the other peoples we meet in ‘Tuyo World,’ the Tarashana themselves are revealed as flawed, while also, of course having many positive attributes.
The travelers face some surprising dangers in the starlit lands. As gentle, pleasant, and benign as the Tarashana and the star-lit country seem at first glance, both at times are difficult, dangerous, confounding and/or complex.
There will be two or perhaps three books that follow Hedesa. There are matters mentioned in Hedesa that clearly require a book or two or three to detail. That is, other important matters involving other important characters are taking place elsewhere while Tano, Raga and the others are making this journey to and through the star-lit lands.
I am looking forward to them all!
November 2, 2025
This series continues to be fascinating in its worldbuilding and also deeply lovely in its characters.
Also this is a book that is fundamentally about three things:
1 - healing from trauma takes forever but it is possible and maybe even a chance to grow
2 - Fascism is terrifying and the idea of a society without dissent is BAD
3 - Cultural translation is extremely difficult even when you understand all the words.
Basically, it's a very Tuyo book and I'm glad we're getting more of Tano.
I also appreciate that Neumeier approaches the "what if this real world thing but fantasy by making both the cause and the solution fantastic in a way that highlights the point but doesn't leave me thinking "it's extremely disappointing that magic is the only way to overthrow unjust systems".
December 1, 2025
It's difficult to give a proper review of this one without spoilers, but aside from simply telling an interesting and engaging story in a fascinating world, it showcases several areas in which Neumeier is - if not in a class of her own entirely - at the very top tier. One of these is conscious theory of mind exercised by people living within fictional social frameworks; another is frameworks, again different from our own, for recovery from abuse and other harm and for associated personal growth.
I've lived a good few years at this point and learned what I could on the way, and I treasure any book from which I can take new tools to become better at being human. This is one of those.
I've lived a good few years at this point and learned what I could on the way, and I treasure any book from which I can take new tools to become better at being human. This is one of those.
August 9, 2025
Another excellent entry in the Tuyo series, starting a new trilogy(?) with a fresh POV and a new(ish) cast of characters.
The worldbuilding and the characters are amazingly realistic and intricate, as in the other books in the series. For those who are new to the Tuyo world, despite being the 10th in the series, this can actually be a good point to start or read as a standalone novel before exploring the rest of the world.
Excellent read, super recommended!
The worldbuilding and the characters are amazingly realistic and intricate, as in the other books in the series. For those who are new to the Tuyo world, despite being the 10th in the series, this can actually be a good point to start or read as a standalone novel before exploring the rest of the world.
Excellent read, super recommended!
August 17, 2025
4.5*
at least twice while reading I stopped to take forty breaths to consider the words I had just read. once was twice forty. I never do that. the way the book played with/explained/investigated language and translation and ideas based on words and different cultures and value and all of that all together was fascinating for the first 3/4 of the book, then i wasn't as excited.
as always i love these books i love this series so much and now i need to wait again.
at least twice while reading I stopped to take forty breaths to consider the words I had just read. once was twice forty. I never do that. the way the book played with/explained/investigated language and translation and ideas based on words and different cultures and value and all of that all together was fascinating for the first 3/4 of the book, then i wasn't as excited.
as always i love these books i love this series so much and now i need to wait again.
August 20, 2025
My take on this novel? Tano is growing into a warrior worth respecting and admiring. It also looks like the author has Tano falling into the same types of troubles which led Ryo to become a scepter-holder. I wonder if that is something which may in Tano's future. In the meantime, it is fun and fascinating to see how decisively he acts when he must. I need to keep an eye on him - his future antics are sure to be worth enjoying.
August 5, 2025
Thoughtful and intricate world-building (including languages) as we see much more of the starlit lands. Tano remains a good hero with interesting flaws. I loved how in the early chapters I was so focused on conflict one that the sudden escalation of the much more personal conflict two blind-sided me along with Tano.
Fave scene: the wasps. if you read it, you will know.
Fave scene: the wasps. if you read it, you will know.
August 8, 2025
The people of the starlit country have confusing words and customs and I truly tried to follow it all but I couldn’t quite. And the POV couldn’t follow all of it either so I doubt the reader is expected to, but I started to skim some of the other language and got a little frustrated with it. Overall, though, great book and I really liked the progression from Tano’s perspective.
October 16, 2025
Loved this instalment in Neumeier's Tuyo series. The books have moved on from the initial main narrator, to their benefit, and I really enjoyed Tano and Raga being the focus of this story. The Lau and Ugaro coming together to encounter an unfamiliar third people (the Tarashana) is a great storyline - can't wait for the next book.
August 17, 2025
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. I could have done with somewhat less linguistics.
September 14, 2025
3.5 for the inconsistent read and I don’t mean just the first and second half of the book. The good parts were really good but they were broken up by info dumps.
August 10, 2025
This is Tano’s book, and a lot of the story is his coming of age story. I love how it slowly comes out that basically all of the other Ugaro have plans to help him grow and see what a good and valuable person he is. He is surprised again and again by their kindness, and he tries so hard to overcome his memories and live up to the trust that is shown to him.
The plot is about traveling through the winter lands to the starlit lands to find out more about the danger beyond. Nothing in the starlit lands is what they expected, and there is some fairly high stakes danger - an interesting contrast given that they had very little trouble crossing the winter lands. Everyone through the whole series acts like the Ugaro are so dangerous, but we see over and over again that they are very honest and straightforward people.
I didn’t entirely like any of the non-Ugaro characters, although most of them redeemed themselves one way or another by the end. This isn’t a cliffhanger, but the journey is not finished. I look forward to finding out what happens next!
The plot is about traveling through the winter lands to the starlit lands to find out more about the danger beyond. Nothing in the starlit lands is what they expected, and there is some fairly high stakes danger - an interesting contrast given that they had very little trouble crossing the winter lands. Everyone through the whole series acts like the Ugaro are so dangerous, but we see over and over again that they are very honest and straightforward people.
I didn’t entirely like any of the non-Ugaro characters, although most of them redeemed themselves one way or another by the end. This isn’t a cliffhanger, but the journey is not finished. I look forward to finding out what happens next!
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