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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.
The Singing Hills Cycle has been shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award, the Locus Award, and the Ignyte Award, and has won the Crawford Award and the Hugo Award.
The novellas are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order.
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.
The Singing Hills Cycle has been shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award, the Locus Award, and the Ignyte Award, and has won the Crawford Award and the Hugo Award.
The novellas are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 7, 2025
55 people are currently reading
3307 people want to read
About the author
Nghi Vo
41 books4,435 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 513 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)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
October 14, 2025
“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 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 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.
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Tiktok
October 17, 2025
Starving after reading this book
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...
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
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.
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.
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
December 8, 2025
Chih goes into danger
A Mouthful of Dust is the sixth novella in Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle. The premise of the series is that Chih, a cleric of the Singing Hills Monastery, wanders about the country, collecting stories to be taken back to Singing Hills and archived there. Typically Chih is not themselves in a lot of danger, because, even though the stories may involve violence and political strife, Chih is merely collecting them, often long after they take place, and not personally participating in them.
This presumption of safe neutrality doesn't always hold. In fact, in the first five novellas there are at least two (When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain and The Brides of High Hill) in which Chih found themselves in personal danger. Now, with A Mouthful of Dust that number rises to three, so half of the six novellas to date. This is, I think, not unrealistic. Truth is seldom neutral or safe. Any newly revealed truth is likely to be to the advantage of some and disadvantage of others. When it is not in the best interest of people in power that the truth become known, a person who threatens to reveal it is likely to be in danger.
A Mouthful of Dust, however, is the first novella in which Chih sets out knowingly on a mission known in advance to be dangerous. In fact, before they left Singing Hills they were told
A through-line of the Singing Hills Cycle (and, indeed, of Vo's work in general) is an interest in the craft of story-telling. This story is told to Chih through the mouths of hostile and guarded sources. It is squeezed out of the story-tellers by indirection. I enjoyed it, although I am not sure I entirely understood it.
Blog review.
A Mouthful of Dust is the sixth novella in Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle. The premise of the series is that Chih, a cleric of the Singing Hills Monastery, wanders about the country, collecting stories to be taken back to Singing Hills and archived there. Typically Chih is not themselves in a lot of danger, because, even though the stories may involve violence and political strife, Chih is merely collecting them, often long after they take place, and not personally participating in them.
This presumption of safe neutrality doesn't always hold. In fact, in the first five novellas there are at least two (When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain and The Brides of High Hill) in which Chih found themselves in personal danger. Now, with A Mouthful of Dust that number rises to three, so half of the six novellas to date. This is, I think, not unrealistic. Truth is seldom neutral or safe. Any newly revealed truth is likely to be to the advantage of some and disadvantage of others. When it is not in the best interest of people in power that the truth become known, a person who threatens to reveal it is likely to be in danger.
A Mouthful of Dust, however, is the first novella in which Chih sets out knowingly on a mission known in advance to be dangerous. In fact, before they left Singing Hills they were told
Chih’s only job became to stay alive until a representative arrived.So Chih sets out to the town of Baolin. Eighteen years ago a famine demon alighted in Baolin. The ensuing terrible famine lasted three years. Chih has read the accounts of many famines in the archives of Singing Hills. They know that people are not their best selves during a famine, and that many crimes are committed in order to survive. In fact, no one wants to talk openly about the famine. Chih is invited to stay with the local magistrate. It's an offer that can't be refused. Chih is put up in a room that is to all intents a prison cell, and a guard is set on them. They are, however, allowed to interview people of the residence.
“Yes, even at the cost of your work,” Cleric Thien had said. “Remember that your mind and your body are records as well, unique and irreplaceable. You can always write more, and you will if you just remember that.”
A through-line of the Singing Hills Cycle (and, indeed, of Vo's work in general) is an interest in the craft of story-telling. This story is told to Chih through the mouths of hostile and guarded sources. It is squeezed out of the story-tellers by indirection. I enjoyed it, although I am not sure I entirely understood it.
Blog review.
August 13, 2025
don't get why these are still being written. I got nothing out of this one.
November 30, 2025
Not my favorite out of the series, but still interesting. Famine as topic of choice feels particularly poignant.
December 7, 2025
4.5 stars.
this was so freaking good.
this was so freaking good.
January 4, 2026
First impressions: I want to caveat that my lukewarm response could be because it's a rough start to the year after an exhausting few holiday weeks. That aside, this is one of the weaker volumes in the series for me. I've enjoyed the way Chih explores different styles of stories, from history to tall tales to local folklore, but the loose horror angle here and the previous volume isn't clicking for me the way some earlier volumes (especially the first one) did. I wanted a deeper exploration of hunger that didn't stall out on cannibalism, which comes up quite early on and stays in the spotlight.
I also normally savor the prose in this series, but this time it didn't have that same sparkle: there was just less of that feeling of distinct and perfect turns of phrase (though I loved "She tasted like smoke and fat and salt. She tasted like getting to live a little longer, and so she was delicious.").
If you've been enjoying the rest of the series, you'll probably like this one too. If you're still chasing the high of book one and haven't found it, this isn't a turning point for the series. I do plan to keep reading them, but I hope the next one is of a different mood and style.
I also normally savor the prose in this series, but this time it didn't have that same sparkle: there was just less of that feeling of distinct and perfect turns of phrase (though I loved "She tasted like smoke and fat and salt. She tasted like getting to live a little longer, and so she was delicious.").
If you've been enjoying the rest of the series, you'll probably like this one too. If you're still chasing the high of book one and haven't found it, this isn't a turning point for the series. I do plan to keep reading them, but I hope the next one is of a different mood and style.
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January 4, 2026
Definitely my favorite installment in the series so far! I'm always morbidly fascinated by stories that deal with themes of hunger and the lengths humans will go to appease it, so A Mouthful of Dust captured my attention right away.
Nghi Vo was, once again, excellent at exploring the worldbuilding here and Chih's care with making sure stories are told and preserved, even when they weren't exactly truthful. The eerie and heavy atmosphere did cast a dark shadow throughout the novella, but in a way that matched the plot perfectly. I did guess at the twists, but that in no way took from my enjoyment of it.
I particularly looooved the last few chapters as the pieces came together and characters had to accept the truth of what really happened. I did miss Almost Brilliant, however, even if I understood the choice to have Chih face some of these things alone. Can't wait for the next adventure!
Nghi Vo was, once again, excellent at exploring the worldbuilding here and Chih's care with making sure stories are told and preserved, even when they weren't exactly truthful. The eerie and heavy atmosphere did cast a dark shadow throughout the novella, but in a way that matched the plot perfectly. I did guess at the twists, but that in no way took from my enjoyment of it.
I particularly looooved the last few chapters as the pieces came together and characters had to accept the truth of what really happened. I did miss Almost Brilliant, however, even if I understood the choice to have Chih face some of these things alone. Can't wait for the next adventure!
October 10, 2025
Famine. It’s a scourge that is on our minds a lot lately.
It’s on Nghi Vo’s mind too. Actually, she says in the acknowledgments that she had the story in mind in 2020 but her agent resisted. Last year, the agent said it was time.
This is probably the most doleful of the Singing Hills books, as Cleric Chih collects stories of a past famine in a village. The local magistrate seems cagey and wants to control who Chih can talk to. Despite the famine being in the past, apparently there are secrets still hidden, and a reckoning to come.
There are some harsh descriptions of famine in this book. This is probably the closest thing to a horror novel that Vo has written. Unfortunately, it feels all too real.
It’s still wonderful to receive a new Singing Hills novella. But the world has shifted now, and it is a somber story.
It’s on Nghi Vo’s mind too. Actually, she says in the acknowledgments that she had the story in mind in 2020 but her agent resisted. Last year, the agent said it was time.
This is probably the most doleful of the Singing Hills books, as Cleric Chih collects stories of a past famine in a village. The local magistrate seems cagey and wants to control who Chih can talk to. Despite the famine being in the past, apparently there are secrets still hidden, and a reckoning to come.
There are some harsh descriptions of famine in this book. This is probably the closest thing to a horror novel that Vo has written. Unfortunately, it feels all too real.
It’s still wonderful to receive a new Singing Hills novella. But the world has shifted now, and it is a somber story.
November 15, 2025
Chi and Almost Brilliant visit a town that is legendary for a horrible famine and for its famous pork dish. Chi wants to collects their stories for the Singing Hills monastery. They end up trapped at the magistrate’s house. The magistrate, his family and the town hide a horrible secret that slowly comes to light. At the core the story is about what people are willing to do to survive. But that isn‘t all there is to it.
I liked this, but struggled to connect at first. It might be due to my fist time listening to Chi in audio. The audio was well done, but some stories deserve a deeper immersion. This is probably one of them.
Another beautifully done cover that is a great representation of the story.
🐖🐖🐖🐖
Still a very worthwhile series, I will continue. The next one is planned for May 2026: A Long and Speaking Silence
I liked this, but struggled to connect at first. It might be due to my fist time listening to Chi in audio. The audio was well done, but some stories deserve a deeper immersion. This is probably one of them.
Another beautifully done cover that is a great representation of the story.
🐖🐖🐖🐖
Still a very worthwhile series, I will continue. The next one is planned for May 2026: A Long and Speaking Silence
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