In the Village Where Brightwine Flows

The Song of the Shattered Sands #2.1

by Bradley P. Beaulieu

Street urchins have been turning up missing in the great desert city of Sharakhai. Few care until the son of one of the city’s richest patrons goes missing as well.

The apothecary named Dardzada wants nothing to do with it, but his shrewd mind and skills as an apothecary make him indispensable to his cruel half-brother Layth, the captain of the guard tasked with solving the mystery.

When Layth insists he look deeper into the kidnappings, Dardzada is drawn into a struggle much larger than he ever anticipated, and he soon realizes it will take all his wits to save the victims and himself.

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Fiction, Ebooks, Short Stories, Mystery, Magic

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2017

About the author

Bradley P. Beaulieu began writing his first fantasy novel in college, but life eventually intervened. As time went on, though, Brad realized that his love of writing and telling tales wasn't going to just slink quietly into the night. The drive to write came back full force in the early 2000s, at which point Brad dedicated himself to the craft, writing and learning under the guidance of writers like Nancy Kress, Joe Haldeman, Tim Powers, Holly Black, and many more.

Brad and his novels have garnered many accolades including two Hotties—the Debut of the Year and Best New Voice—on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo and more:

* Top Ten Book and Debut of the Year for 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Best New Voice of 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
* 2011 Gemmell Morningstar Award Nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Ranting Dragon's Best of 2011
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Mad Hatter's Best of 2011
* Top Five Book for 2012 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Straits of Galahesh
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on Staffer's Book Review
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on The Ranting Dragon
* 2013 Most Anticipated for The Flames of Shadam Khoreh on The Ranting Dragon

Brad continues to work on his next projects, including an Arabian Nights epic fantasy and a Norse-inspired middle grade series. He also runs the highly successful science fiction & fantasy podcast, Speculate, which can be found at speculatesf.com.

Novels

THE LAYS OF ANUSKAYA
* The Winds of Khalakovo
* The Straits of Galahesh
* The Flames of Shadam Khoreh

Short Story Collections
* Lest Our Passage Be Forgotten & Other Stories

Novellas
* Strata (with Stephen Gaskell)

Contact Information
Website: www.quillings.com
Twitter: @bbeaulieu
Facebook: facebook.com/bradley.p.beaulieu

Reviews

[The Chapter Conundrum (Stacey) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is basically a murder mystery story set in Sharakhai with Dardzada as the reluctant, grouchy detective and I definitely recommend! If that sounds like something you want to read (and you've already read the first couple books in the series) I would definitely recommend picking this one up! It is set between the events of the flashback chapters and current chapters of book 1 but makes more sense to read after book 3 or at least after book 2.

It was not only entertaining to read the story in this novella but it's been really interesting to see how all the series entries (including novellas) have been portraying a certain thing. The Moonless Host Suffice it to say there's a juxtaposition in how certain books and POVs see this and it's definitely adding to the grey morality and intrigue of the series as a whole for me as well as slowly changing my perspective as I get more and more context!

The way this novella ends has me wondering if we will get a new plot thread (and possibly POV) in book 4 which I'm excited about!

I also really enjoyed exploring Dardzada's character a bit more! He definitely falls into a character archetype that I enjoy reading about!

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novella we get to learn more about Dardzada. The details about the character are excellent and insightful and the story flows together nicely. If you like the shattered sands universe or are curious this is a god story to read.

[Meagan]

DNF at 27%

I just did not care. Maybe I will pick this up again because I do really love this series

[Valeriya Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice little novel with a quick pace that gave more insight into Dardzada. I liked this character in the first two books of the Shattered Sands saga.

[Lianne Pheno · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://delivreenlivres.blogspot.com/...

Une petite novella qui nous en apprend plus sur le personnage de Dardzada. Rien d'exceptionnel mais elle se laisse lire.

Dardzada est un apothicaire que l'on a souvent rencontré dans la série principale, mais peu savent que son demi frère est capitaine dans la garde.

Celui ci vient le trouver et l'oblige à regarder de plus prêt dans une série de disparitions d'enfants. Jusqu'ici il s'agissait d'enfants dont personne ne soucie, jusqu'au jour ou c'est le fils vagabond d'une riche personnalité qui est victime à son tour.
Mais à mesure que Dardzada fouille dans les faits il se rend vite compte que l'affaire est plus complexe qu'il n'y parait et qu'il va devoir agir si il veut sauver sa propre peau et celle des enfants ...

J'ai bien aimé cette novella parce qu'elle reprend des personnages et des éléments de la série principale.
Le rythme est bien maîtrisé. Du fait du format sans doute, vu qu'on ne peux pas trop prendre son temps en 100 pages comparé à 600.

Bien entendu on ne serait pas à Sharakhai sans retrouver l'ambiance de la ville, pleine de corruption, de gangs, de magie plus ou moins cachée et dont certains abusent.
Le cocktail est bien réussi ici, tout les éléments sont présents, avec des retournements de situations et un beau mystère.

J'aime bien aussi le fait que malgré que l'affaire soit terminée à la fin, il reste pourtant pas mal d'ouvertures pour le futur, sur la responsabilités de certains ou pas.

Au final j'ai passé un bon moment, et c'est le principal. Ce n'est pas le genre d'histoire dont je me souviendrais dans des années mais pour un petit texte annexe, on n'en demande pas tant de toute façon.

15.5/20

[Max Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a decent amount of insight into Dardzada and the city of Sharakhai, expanding the Song of Shattered Sands universe.
Note: this novella is not a patch on the main story involving Ceda and her compatriots/enemies which I strongly suggest to everyone I know to dive into and anybody else who knows how to read (which hopefully means everyone). Honestly the series is fantastic and I've fallen in love withe the characters and setting.

I felt this book was an enjoyable read for avid followers of Beaulieu' series. But, and that's a big but, a nagging sense that the quality of story telling and wordmanship from Beaulieu was lacking as I flowed through the book. The overall pacing desired more and the arching story seems patched together, as if the book was rushed from inception to print.

Despite these hangups, I did enjoy the read and its a pleasant novella to get through in a few short sittings and helped broaden and strengthen my immersion into the fantastic world being created with Ceda and Co.

[Joey Stettnisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best short story I've ever read, really not kidding here.

[Patrick St-Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

You probably remember that I gave Bradley P. Beaulieu's The Lays of Anuskaya series glowing reviews, going as far as to claim that it was one of the most interesting fantasy series I had read in the last decade or so. It was dark, ambitious, complex, and populated with a great cast of characters that leap off the pages. Even for jaded readers looking for a quality read, that book sequence was different from everything else on the market and definitely worth checking out.

I was looking forward to whatever the author would publish next, but you likely also recall that I never could get into Twelve Kings in Sharakhai. I felt that it featured none of the depth, the great worldbuilding, or the superior characterization. Everything was too black or white for my taste, and the protagonists featured none of the complexity and moral ambiguity that made characters like Nikandr Khalakovo, Atiana Vostroma, Nasim, Soroush, Rehada, and Styophan Andrashayev such unforgettable people. This was especially true of Çeda, who was too badass for her own good, and I found it impossible to care for or root for her.

And yet, although it wasn't perfect, I enjoyed Beaulieu's Middle Eastern setting. I wasn't in any hurry to give subsequent novel-length installments in The Song of the Shattered Sands series a shot any time soon, I was intrigued by this new novella.

Here's the blurb:

Street urchins have been turning up missing in the great desert city of Sharakhai. Few care until the son of one of the city’s richest patrons goes missing as well.

The apothecary named Dardzada wants nothing to do with it, but his shrewd mind and skills as an apothecary make him indispensable to his cruel half-brother Layth, the captain of the guard tasked with solving the mystery.

When Layth insists he look deeper into the kidnappings, Dardzada is drawn into a struggle much larger than he ever anticipated, and he soon realizes it will take all his wits to save the victims and himself.

In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is a stand-alone work that one can read without having read Twelve Kings in Sharakhai and its sequels. I mean, you'll miss a few nuances regarding the characters. But nothing that would prevent you from enjoying the tale in its entirety. Mind you, I haven't read With Blood Upon the Sand and Of Sand and Malice Made, so perhaps I did miss some myself. To all ends and purposes, this novella appears to be a side story that is self-contained and can be enjoyed on its own. That's how it worked out for me, in any case.

Dardzada, the mysterious apothecary who deals with the Moonless Host introduced in Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, takes center stage. And since he proved to be one of the most interesting characters from that book, this was what made me want to give this novella a try. More than just an apothecary, this brilliant and crafty man will unveil a dangerous secret when he investigates the kidnapping and the murder of an adolescent boy who fell in with the wrong crowd. As Dardzada gets closer to the truth, he'll soon realize that his own life could be in danger.

The pace of In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is quite fluid, which came as a surprise. Bradley P. Beaulieu's works have always been slow-moving affairs, mostly because he's laying a lot of groundwork for what is to come, or he's weaving various threads to bring everything together later on. The novella-length format precludes that sort of approach and the rhythm keeps the tale progressing at a good clip.

Street gangs, drugs, corruption, murder; In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows has all that and more. The story comes together nicely the closer you get to the endgame and this short fiction piece packs a powerful punch at the end.

In the Village Where Bright Wine Flows is a nice addition to The Song of the Shattered Sands series that further fleshes out Dardzada. But as a novella-length stand-alone, it's the perfect opportunity for potential readers who have yet to give Bradley P. Beaulieu a shot to do so.

For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella in the Song of Shattered Sands world, this is a story of Dardzada, who was like a foster-father to Ceda. It's a little side-story, but there are a few characters from the first book. The story centers around Dardzada, who is essentially an apothecary, and his brother who is one of the Silver Spears. And then there is a man with whom Dardzada has done business, who wants to know how and why and who killed his son, and Dardzada's brother comes to him to help solve this mystery. Strange enough, but then he claims it is the King's Business, which leaves Dardzada no choice but to try and find the murderer. There is a little mysticism, a little weirdness, and a good story all in all.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked learning more about Dardzada and his life, he is often portrayed as rather cold, especially in the earlier books of the series so it’s nice to get a short and vivid look in to the character.

There are only around 60 pages and not as action packed as ‘Of Sand and Malice Made”, but I found it quite fresh, and a nice little buffer before I pick up ‘Beneath the Twisted Trees’. Will definitely be looking to buy the other novellas B.B has published.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I really enjoyed this Dardzada novella. It was a fun, interesting little murder mystery essentially with a great ending. I only wish it would have been a tad bit longer, 70 pages felt too brief for me, even 30 more pages would have been beneficial. But even so, very enjoyable Shattered Sands story.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was about Dardzada. It gives some insight into his past and introduces his stepbrother. But it also introduces a Mirean drug ring and I'm curious to which of the two might connect to the upcoming book

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Novella as ever and nice expansion on a under used character

[Htb2050 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okayish novella including a side character Dardaza. The events seem to happen when Ceda had left him and started to live on her own.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somber mystery starring the apothecary DarDzada set in the 12 Kings of Sharakhai Universe. I’m glad I got it on sale for 99 cents as it is a short story, but it was very enjoyable.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad but it also didn't really seem necessary to the mainstory.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite novella so far

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery solved by Ceda's Childhood guardian, The apothecary Dardzada brought to him by his vicious brother who is a captain of the Silver Spears and NOT a friend.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to be back reading in this world again.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but dark. Troubling story of a murdered child.

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting novella. I found the story very intriguing and it gave the whole series some more interesting worldbuilding. I definitely found intrigue in this story and found the characters very interesting.

[Koen]

not bad - just a nice story

[Dani]

This story is a nice addition to The Song of the Shattered Sands world... and frankly, that's all this story has to offer. We get a little mystery, a little action and then a happy ending.
As such this was enjoyable enough - Beaulieu's writing always is - but the truth of the matter is that the story just wasn't very impressionable or memorable to me. Upon finishing I couldn't help but be a little disappointed because in Twelve Kings, Dardzada is a very complex character. Someone that I find hard to figure out (yet) and for me the single character I most wanted to know more about. However at the end of this story, I didn't feel like I learned much more about him. There weren't any layers peeled at all and I believe Beaulieu certainly has the writing chops to have done better than this - even if it had to be done in the space of a novella.

I'm still going to read the other novellas though. A less than stellar story from Beaulieu still beats many many other fantasy works out there.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beaulieu's novellas offer interesting glimpses into the lives of the supporting characters in Ceda's life. It's nice to see them get their turn in the spotlight.

[Vader · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish