What do you think?
Rate this book
Calligraphy Guild
Dragon ink gives calligraphers the power to set history in stone—or to change it.
Lai Duyên’s dreams are realized when she’s admitted into the ranks of the calligraphers—authors considered trustworthy enough to defend time from those who would change it. She’s thrilled at the opportunity to record her country’s history, and to work with the other calligraphers in her village.
But when Duyên’s guild is set upon by ancient dragons demanding a time-changer be destroyed, her world is flipped upside down. Her guildmates turn on each other, suspicion coloring their every move. To make matters worse, she’s begun hearing the dragons in her head and finds them impossible to block out: a condition that rendered her grandmother insane.
With the calligraphy guild in turmoil and Duyên’s ever-present fear of madness clouding her vision, will the group be able to discover which of their guildmates has altered time before the dragons pass judgment on them all?
Lai Duyên’s dreams are realized when she’s admitted into the ranks of the calligraphers—authors considered trustworthy enough to defend time from those who would change it. She’s thrilled at the opportunity to record her country’s history, and to work with the other calligraphers in her village.
But when Duyên’s guild is set upon by ancient dragons demanding a time-changer be destroyed, her world is flipped upside down. Her guildmates turn on each other, suspicion coloring their every move. To make matters worse, she’s begun hearing the dragons in her head and finds them impossible to block out: a condition that rendered her grandmother insane.
With the calligraphy guild in turmoil and Duyên’s ever-present fear of madness clouding her vision, will the group be able to discover which of their guildmates has altered time before the dragons pass judgment on them all?
381 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2022
2 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
R.M. Archer
4 books152 followersR.M. Archer has been an avid reader since the time she could first make out words, and has always been a lover of story. That interest developed into a love of writing when she was seven (though those first attempts have long-since been incinerated), and she's been pursuing a career as an author ever since. Archer believes that art can change the culture and aims to write YA speculative fiction that thoughtfully explores a variety of worldviews through the lens of her own Christian perspective.
In addition to writing fiction, Archer keeps up a non-fiction blog of writing tips and book reviews, and worldbuilding is her favorite topic to blog about.
In addition to writing fiction, Archer keeps up a non-fiction blog of writing tips and book reviews, and worldbuilding is her favorite topic to blog about.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Read
July 6, 2025RELEASED June 17, 2022
UPDATE - March 24, 2022
Pre-orders are live!
UPDATE - February 19, 2022
I've finished line edits and I am super excited to turn my attention toward marketing and pre-order prep—plus, it's time for formatting and ordering ARCs!!!
ANOTHER UPDATE - January 24, 2022
WOOOOOO!!! THE COVER IS UP!!!
UPDATE - January 24, 2022
So, it turns out that my initial fear of not being able to edit what needed to be edited was correct. I can't update the cover. But it's been revealed everywhere else, and as soon as a librarian has the chance to fix it it will be here also!
(Also, I'm amused by the fact that my past three updates have been coincidentally on the 24th of the month.)
UPDATE - November 24, 2021
Just finished my last personal read-through. Now I can combine those edits with the feedback from my editor and fix the book's structure and prose for the last time. I have mixed feelings about being so close to the end!
UPDATE - September 24, 2021
Finished my latest draft and sent it to my editor!! (Also, enjoy a tiny sneak peek of the cover. ;) )
UPDATE - April 30, 2021
I finally dared to add this project to Goodreads. I'd been afraid I wouldn't be able to edit the details I need to, but it looks like I'm safe, soooo... I'm taking the opportunity to share this one and let people start adding it!
UPDATE - March 24, 2022
Pre-orders are live!
UPDATE - February 19, 2022
I've finished line edits and I am super excited to turn my attention toward marketing and pre-order prep—plus, it's time for formatting and ordering ARCs!!!
ANOTHER UPDATE - January 24, 2022
WOOOOOO!!! THE COVER IS UP!!!
UPDATE - January 24, 2022
So, it turns out that my initial fear of not being able to edit what needed to be edited was correct. I can't update the cover. But it's been revealed everywhere else, and as soon as a librarian has the chance to fix it it will be here also!
(Also, I'm amused by the fact that my past three updates have been coincidentally on the 24th of the month.)
UPDATE - November 24, 2021
Just finished my last personal read-through. Now I can combine those edits with the feedback from my editor and fix the book's structure and prose for the last time. I have mixed feelings about being so close to the end!
UPDATE - September 24, 2021
Finished my latest draft and sent it to my editor!! (Also, enjoy a tiny sneak peek of the cover. ;) )
UPDATE - April 30, 2021
I finally dared to add this project to Goodreads. I'd been afraid I wouldn't be able to edit the details I need to, but it looks like I'm safe, soooo... I'm taking the opportunity to share this one and let people start adding it!
May 20, 2022
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Going into this book, I assumed Duyên would be the main character, but it turned out the POV alternated between her, Tora, Zen, and Sairsha (and maybe someone else I’m forgetting). This was a bit of a struggle for me because I’m used to reading books with a couple of POVs and sometimes have a problem with more. But all these characters were well-developed. Tora with her struggle with her condition (it seemed similar to arthritis to me) and Duyên with her fear of losing her mind struck me as the most deeply developed.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This book contained themes of time, community, family, and learning to deal with chronic illness. Most of the characters worshiped a collection of gods, and only two worshiped one I think was supposed to represent God. Although one or two of the characters questioned their polytheistic religion, they never came around. I would’ve liked to have seen more of a spiritual arc for at least one of the characters.
Plot: The first twenty-five percent or so of this novel focused on character introductions/development, but after that, the plot picked up and focused more on the mystery of who’d rewritten time.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing. Romance wasn’t the main focus of this story, but Duyên did have a boyfriend.
Writing: R.M. Archer’s writing style worked well for this novel. She described things in a way that I could understand what was going on, and I got a good picture of the characters’ lives.
Overall: Calligraphy Guild was an interesting read, and I’d recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and fantasy.
Characters: Going into this book, I assumed Duyên would be the main character, but it turned out the POV alternated between her, Tora, Zen, and Sairsha (and maybe someone else I’m forgetting). This was a bit of a struggle for me because I’m used to reading books with a couple of POVs and sometimes have a problem with more. But all these characters were well-developed. Tora with her struggle with her condition (it seemed similar to arthritis to me) and Duyên with her fear of losing her mind struck me as the most deeply developed.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This book contained themes of time, community, family, and learning to deal with chronic illness. Most of the characters worshiped a collection of gods, and only two worshiped one I think was supposed to represent God. Although one or two of the characters questioned their polytheistic religion, they never came around. I would’ve liked to have seen more of a spiritual arc for at least one of the characters.
Plot: The first twenty-five percent or so of this novel focused on character introductions/development, but after that, the plot picked up and focused more on the mystery of who’d rewritten time.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing. Romance wasn’t the main focus of this story, but Duyên did have a boyfriend.
Writing: R.M. Archer’s writing style worked well for this novel. She described things in a way that I could understand what was going on, and I got a good picture of the characters’ lives.
Overall: Calligraphy Guild was an interesting read, and I’d recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and fantasy.
February 28, 2023
This was definitely a well thought through book with fantastic world building as well as believable cultural and belief systems.
Setting: I found that the setting wasn’t very well described. It took me a few chapters in to realize that it takes place in a tropical place. With the names being a different pronunciation I felt like the first part of the book really lagged simply because I kept having to constantly flip back to the name pronunciations and the glossary to try to understand what was going on. Also because of a lack of general description I didn’t know what sort of culture we were supposed to be in. The cultural and belief systems although very much present in the book have no background at all.
Characters: the main characters all had wonderful and distinct characteristics. Whereas most of the side characters mixed into a blurr and I found it hard to place who was who. Although a big struggle for me was the lack of physical description that we get of the characters. Besides the little kids I don’t recall the age or general appearance of any of the characters being described at all besides two character’s hair colour. From the way most of the characters interact, their relationships, and talk I supposed that most of the Calligraphers (except Zen who I’d guess is in his 50-60’s) were between 18-25 but even at the very end I was never quite sure with a few of them.
The plot: I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the book! The concept of dragon ink and time changing had me before I had even started the book and it did not disappoint on this factor at all.
Writing style: As previously highlighted above, Archer had very little descriptiveness in this book which got me quite lost at times but otherwise I found the writing style very enjoyable and easy to read.
General comments: in the book the culture is polytheistic and there’s another culture to which two of the guild members belong that has one god who they claim is the true god giving this book a slight allegorical feel. The book seemed that it was set up for a character to go from their polytheistic views to faith in the one god. But nothing ever happened beyond her questioning.
Overall the first 1/4 of the book I felt like I was floundering from lack of knowing what I should be seeing as I read. You may say, “Why did you give this a 4 stars with all the things that seemed to be wanting?” Though it was a bumpy start once I started to understand the world and what was going on it utterly sucked me into itself and I loved every bit of it. The storyline as a whole was marvellous and I loved the world building. If there had been a preface better preparing the reader it definitely would have been a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I’d most definitely read a sequel or prequel if ever there is one!! (Sairsha and Raiden’s past anyone… I would totally loveee that)
Setting: I found that the setting wasn’t very well described. It took me a few chapters in to realize that it takes place in a tropical place. With the names being a different pronunciation I felt like the first part of the book really lagged simply because I kept having to constantly flip back to the name pronunciations and the glossary to try to understand what was going on. Also because of a lack of general description I didn’t know what sort of culture we were supposed to be in. The cultural and belief systems although very much present in the book have no background at all.
Characters: the main characters all had wonderful and distinct characteristics. Whereas most of the side characters mixed into a blurr and I found it hard to place who was who. Although a big struggle for me was the lack of physical description that we get of the characters. Besides the little kids I don’t recall the age or general appearance of any of the characters being described at all besides two character’s hair colour. From the way most of the characters interact, their relationships, and talk I supposed that most of the Calligraphers (except Zen who I’d guess is in his 50-60’s) were between 18-25 but even at the very end I was never quite sure with a few of them.
The plot: I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the book! The concept of dragon ink and time changing had me before I had even started the book and it did not disappoint on this factor at all.
Writing style: As previously highlighted above, Archer had very little descriptiveness in this book which got me quite lost at times but otherwise I found the writing style very enjoyable and easy to read.
General comments: in the book the culture is polytheistic and there’s another culture to which two of the guild members belong that has one god who they claim is the true god giving this book a slight allegorical feel. The book seemed that it was set up for a character to go from their polytheistic views to faith in the one god. But nothing ever happened beyond her questioning.
Overall the first 1/4 of the book I felt like I was floundering from lack of knowing what I should be seeing as I read. You may say, “Why did you give this a 4 stars with all the things that seemed to be wanting?” Though it was a bumpy start once I started to understand the world and what was going on it utterly sucked me into itself and I loved every bit of it. The storyline as a whole was marvellous and I loved the world building. If there had been a preface better preparing the reader it definitely would have been a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I’d most definitely read a sequel or prequel if ever there is one!! (Sairsha and Raiden’s past anyone… I would totally loveee that)
June 24, 2022
Sometimes, a book comes along that creeps up on me in the subtlest of ways, steals my heart, then leaves me feeling like I’ve lost something deep and precious… yet also somehow found home. Calligraphy Guild was just such a book. I could gush about the intricate world-building and immersive story, (well, no I guess I couldn't... I'm not really the gushing type); but the quiet strength and deep themes threading this story were what stood out to me most. Page by page, it swept me away on a dynamic journey, before fading quietly to the end. And it was beautiful and unexpected and powerful. I closed the cover gently and sat silently in contented awe.
Read this book, my friend - I don't think you'll regret it.
Read this book, my friend - I don't think you'll regret it.
Read
August 25, 2024Calligraphy Guild is a slow-paced Asian-inspired fantasy that is well written and full of cozy.
I so appreciated that this story had wholesome content and that the relationships presented were sweet and lacked the miscommunication trope.
I received an ARC copy of this book & all opinions are my own.
I so appreciated that this story had wholesome content and that the relationships presented were sweet and lacked the miscommunication trope.
I received an ARC copy of this book & all opinions are my own.
August 25, 2022
3.5 stars rounded to four!
This is a very unique fantasy story... it's so hard to even know how to describe it! I didn't even know what I expected going in, but I'm certainly glad I read it to find out. :) It's fantasy, yes, but it's almost more of a family saga type story.
Now, full disclosure, I tend to read a lot of fast-paced books and I would definitely say this book falls more into the "cozy fantasy" (I only know a little about the genre, but this does seem to fit) slow paced category. Because of that, I must admit I struggled a bit to get into the story until the 50% mark or so. But I don't really fault the book for that, again, it's kind of a preference thing on my end. It's just... slower paced. And if you like a relaxing book where you get to spend time in one of the most WONDERFUL settings (asian inspired! mini dragons! near-utopian community but done WELL! a CALLIGRAPHY GUILD! lovely families and couples!) I've ever gotten to visit bookishly you will love this story.
The main characters are a high point, too. Honestly, their motivations and personalities are so well-thought out, and they really seem like real people (even if a couple may be a bit more ideal than I usually prefer). Trust me, as a fellow fiction author, that is *NOT* easy to pull off, and R.M. Archer nails it. I love Duyen and Ryuu's sweet relationship, I LOVE Sairsha's faith (the way the author handles a Christian-esque faith in a 99% polytheistic world is so intriguing, but I do hope we get a sequel that goes into it more!)
I agree with some of the other reviews here re: number of side characters. Again, may be a me thing (my memory is really bad, and reading on Kindle and not being able to easily flip to the "reference" stuff didn't help, haha), but I think the book would have benefited from a smaller cast list. Or at least a smaller named cast list - I love that the author put so much thought into each person's family and extended family ties. I just don't necessarily think the narrative benefited from having so much of that info on-page!
The way the core mystery/plot was written was very enjoyable. The author did a great job building tension, especially for such an overall laid-back story. I would have loved to know more about the dragons and the "mechanics" of the "magic system", but this story is focused more on the relationships of the protagonists so I think that's more of a style choice.
The ending was very surprising to me, too, which is always so much fun as a reader. :D
Overall, I would love to read more from this author. And I am definitely thinking this book would be so cool with a sequel :D
This is a very unique fantasy story... it's so hard to even know how to describe it! I didn't even know what I expected going in, but I'm certainly glad I read it to find out. :) It's fantasy, yes, but it's almost more of a family saga type story.
Now, full disclosure, I tend to read a lot of fast-paced books and I would definitely say this book falls more into the "cozy fantasy" (I only know a little about the genre, but this does seem to fit) slow paced category. Because of that, I must admit I struggled a bit to get into the story until the 50% mark or so. But I don't really fault the book for that, again, it's kind of a preference thing on my end. It's just... slower paced. And if you like a relaxing book where you get to spend time in one of the most WONDERFUL settings (asian inspired! mini dragons! near-utopian community but done WELL! a CALLIGRAPHY GUILD! lovely families and couples!) I've ever gotten to visit bookishly you will love this story.
The main characters are a high point, too. Honestly, their motivations and personalities are so well-thought out, and they really seem like real people (even if a couple may be a bit more ideal than I usually prefer). Trust me, as a fellow fiction author, that is *NOT* easy to pull off, and R.M. Archer nails it. I love Duyen and Ryuu's sweet relationship, I LOVE Sairsha's faith (the way the author handles a Christian-esque faith in a 99% polytheistic world is so intriguing, but I do hope we get a sequel that goes into it more!)
I agree with some of the other reviews here re: number of side characters. Again, may be a me thing (my memory is really bad, and reading on Kindle and not being able to easily flip to the "reference" stuff didn't help, haha), but I think the book would have benefited from a smaller cast list. Or at least a smaller named cast list - I love that the author put so much thought into each person's family and extended family ties. I just don't necessarily think the narrative benefited from having so much of that info on-page!
The way the core mystery/plot was written was very enjoyable. The author did a great job building tension, especially for such an overall laid-back story. I would have loved to know more about the dragons and the "mechanics" of the "magic system", but this story is focused more on the relationships of the protagonists so I think that's more of a style choice.
The ending was very surprising to me, too, which is always so much fun as a reader. :D
Overall, I would love to read more from this author. And I am definitely thinking this book would be so cool with a sequel :D
May 9, 2022
Calligraphy Guild combines two of my very favorite things—writing and community—into a beautifully familiar story about friendship, trust, and forgiveness set in the lush, vibrant setting of Virilia where magical dragons guard history with their ink and one alter of time can lead to disastrous consequences.
Characters: What makes this story so deeply resonant is the characters. While they’re not overly colorful, they are still vivid and interesting with their own personalities and quirks.
Tora was probably my favorite character because of her battle with chronic illness and her relatable flaws, with Sairsha as a close second. I also adored Ryuu and his adorable, fun-loving sense of humor. I loved how he was always trying to cheer up Duyên and the others! (Plus, their romance is 10/10 what I want mine to be like someday. ;)
The only qualm I had was how perfect some of the characters were, especially Duyên. Besides the understandable irritation with her peers every now and then, she didn’t have any major flaws to deal with, and so I had a hard time relating to her. Sairsha seemed a little too perfect in my mind as well.
Finally, I found it difficult at times to keep track of such a large character cast and I felt some of the side characters could have been paired down a bit.
Plot: Calligraphy Guild isn’t your typical high-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure, but more a gentle meander through the peaceful land of Virilia. It’s a laidback, heartwarming story about friendship and trust, and yet that doesn’t make it any less interesting. I actually prefer character-driven stories to more plot-driven sometimes since they often hold more depth and realism, which I thought this story did really well.
I did enjoy the mystery feel to it as the guild members worked to root out the time changer. The author did a great job gradually building the tension until the breaking point. I did feel like the middle third of the book started to drag, but things really picked up once they entered the jungle and didn’t slow down until the end.
Worldbuilding: Worldbuilding is evidently the author’s strong point! She did a marvelous job weaving the worldbuilding into the fabric of the story in a way that felt integral to it. The world details were vibrant and specific while not weighing down the rest of the story. The magic elements were subtle enough to add richness and depth to the story while not taking away from the central themes. And all the descriptions of the food made my mouth water (That peach tea especially sounds divine!).
Themes: Like I already mentioned, the friendship, family, and community dynamics were some of my favorite parts of the book. Finding thriving, healthy relationships in YA fiction is rare these days, so Calligraphy Guild was a breath of fresh air!
I loved that while all the guild members had varying personalities and desires, they still managed to work together to reunite in the end despite their differences. I absolutely love the idea of a calligraphy guild—I mean, doesn’t that sound like a dream come true for a writer? (It actually reminds me so much of what we do at the Author Conservatory!)
I appreciated that the Christian influence was subtle and didn’t feel overpowering or forced. It flowed seamlessly with the theme of time, and I’m hopeful there’s a second book coming soon that will bring that full circle!
Besides the timeless themes of trust and forgiveness that came out so clearly in the story, I loved the theme about accepting the story God has written for us. We can’t see the big picture and we don’t always understand what’s going on, so all we can do is rest it in the One who does see and know all. That was such a timely reminder for me in this season of my life!
All in all, Calligraphy Guild is ideal for readers who love character-driven stories with a dash of magic and romance. Paired with a delicious cup of peach tea, it’s the perfect comfort read for a rainy day!
Favorite quote: “Strength of character will always trump strength of might.”
*I received a complimentary e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Characters: What makes this story so deeply resonant is the characters. While they’re not overly colorful, they are still vivid and interesting with their own personalities and quirks.
Tora was probably my favorite character because of her battle with chronic illness and her relatable flaws, with Sairsha as a close second. I also adored Ryuu and his adorable, fun-loving sense of humor. I loved how he was always trying to cheer up Duyên and the others! (Plus, their romance is 10/10 what I want mine to be like someday. ;)
The only qualm I had was how perfect some of the characters were, especially Duyên. Besides the understandable irritation with her peers every now and then, she didn’t have any major flaws to deal with, and so I had a hard time relating to her. Sairsha seemed a little too perfect in my mind as well.
Finally, I found it difficult at times to keep track of such a large character cast and I felt some of the side characters could have been paired down a bit.
Plot: Calligraphy Guild isn’t your typical high-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure, but more a gentle meander through the peaceful land of Virilia. It’s a laidback, heartwarming story about friendship and trust, and yet that doesn’t make it any less interesting. I actually prefer character-driven stories to more plot-driven sometimes since they often hold more depth and realism, which I thought this story did really well.
I did enjoy the mystery feel to it as the guild members worked to root out the time changer. The author did a great job gradually building the tension until the breaking point. I did feel like the middle third of the book started to drag, but things really picked up once they entered the jungle and didn’t slow down until the end.
Worldbuilding: Worldbuilding is evidently the author’s strong point! She did a marvelous job weaving the worldbuilding into the fabric of the story in a way that felt integral to it. The world details were vibrant and specific while not weighing down the rest of the story. The magic elements were subtle enough to add richness and depth to the story while not taking away from the central themes. And all the descriptions of the food made my mouth water (That peach tea especially sounds divine!).
Themes: Like I already mentioned, the friendship, family, and community dynamics were some of my favorite parts of the book. Finding thriving, healthy relationships in YA fiction is rare these days, so Calligraphy Guild was a breath of fresh air!
I loved that while all the guild members had varying personalities and desires, they still managed to work together to reunite in the end despite their differences. I absolutely love the idea of a calligraphy guild—I mean, doesn’t that sound like a dream come true for a writer? (It actually reminds me so much of what we do at the Author Conservatory!)
I appreciated that the Christian influence was subtle and didn’t feel overpowering or forced. It flowed seamlessly with the theme of time, and I’m hopeful there’s a second book coming soon that will bring that full circle!
Besides the timeless themes of trust and forgiveness that came out so clearly in the story, I loved the theme about accepting the story God has written for us. We can’t see the big picture and we don’t always understand what’s going on, so all we can do is rest it in the One who does see and know all. That was such a timely reminder for me in this season of my life!
All in all, Calligraphy Guild is ideal for readers who love character-driven stories with a dash of magic and romance. Paired with a delicious cup of peach tea, it’s the perfect comfort read for a rainy day!
Favorite quote: “Strength of character will always trump strength of might.”
*I received a complimentary e-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
June 2, 2022
**I received an eARC of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and these are my honest thoughts about the book.**
Calligraphy Guild is about a community, set in a fantasy world where dragons exist, dragon ink can rewrite time itself, and the calligraphy guild writes down the history. The youngest member of the guild, Duyên, is enjoying being part of the guild, but then the dragons visit because somebody has rewritten time, breaking the rules. The guild is thrown into turmoil, as suddenly nobody can trust anybody else. They only have a week before the dragons will destroy the entire guild, if they cannot find who the traitor is in the first place. And Duyên hears the dragons, unable to block them out, so that she fears for her sanity. Will they be able to work together to discover the traitor, or will all be doomed if the traitor does not come forward?
This is an excellent book! I may have gone slightly overboard in my reviewing, but that shows how much I’ve enjoyed it! …I also read it in practically one day. I was hooked.
I give this book five (thousand) stars. It was well written, one of the most truly wholesome fantasy books I remember ever reading, and had a unique and solid world. Unsurprisingly given R.M. Archer’s worldbuilding focus, I didn’t find anything in the book that felt weird, off or underdeveloped. Some of it made me want to read more about it (an encyclopedia, perhaps…?) in order to properly understand, but it felt very real.
The first chapter, which was all I’d read when I volunteered to review this book, made me slightly concerned that Duyên would be the perfect main character, almost too happy for realistic fiction. However, she had her struggles throughout the book and thus was not perfect! I felt there ought to have been more time to really get into her head (a sequel, perhaps…?) and to appreciate her contribution to the guild. (I guess I also just want more about the guild working together as well because I liked the guild so very much.)
I liked Sairsha very much too. I suspect she would have been my favourite character if only she had got more page time. I liked the bits with her POV, and I definitely appreciated her faith. The ending felt finished and right for where it stopped, but I wanted more of the way she reacted to the events of the book – that would work well for a sequel, perhaps….
Zen felt less easy to get a handle on. Perhaps because Zen, as guildmaster, was the main one continually cataloguing everybody and not himself, and anybody else who went through the other guildmates generally avoided Zen because he was not under suspicion as much.
Tora also felt a bit more confusing. The chronic pain, for instance, wasn’t quite spelled out properly, I felt, and left me wondering for a lot of the time if it was somehow connected to the whole dragon and time stuff, which distracted me rather. However, I liked the character, although her arc didn’t feel as resolved as the others. Sounds like she needs a sequel. :P
A couple of things I wondered about: the general faith/spirituality question felt like it wasn’t properly resolved. They had questions, but it wasn’t really wrapped up properly. A sequel might help. And also, what happened to Koemi, in the end? (And also Ryuu’s friend the wyvern whose name I cannot recall, who never came up again.)
The Emperor and what the Emperor said to do didn’t feel like it was properly resolved. I could extrapolate what presumably happened, but that bit felt slightly unfinished.
I did feel that this book would be a good one to get in paperback rather than ebook, in order to easily flip between the chapters and the information at the start, such as the meaning of the suffix -Mera (I think it meant friend? But it’s not nearly as easy to check in an ebook as a paperback).
The descriptions were very vivid and I loved them; as a result, I would like to see this book adapted into film, since I think it would go very well. Maybe completely animated, so as to reduce the amount of weird CGI or CGI budget stuff that could happen (I don't know much about these things), or maybe live action - I don't really care. I just want to see this ending up on the big screen, even though I think the chances are sorrowfully small.
**Overall**: 5/5 stars, clean fantasy novel that I would recommend to any lovers of fantasy, dragons, calligraphy, community, wholesome content, healthy relationships (did I mention that this book contains about the healthiest relationship I remember ever seeing in a fantasy book that’s also realistic?), and Christian themes without being overt about it.
As soon as it’s available, I intend to purchase the paperback so that I can reread it in a nice paperback (I really like the cover and the layout and also the content, you know?).
*****
A longer review, that goes into more detail but without spoilers, appears on my blog.
Calligraphy Guild is about a community, set in a fantasy world where dragons exist, dragon ink can rewrite time itself, and the calligraphy guild writes down the history. The youngest member of the guild, Duyên, is enjoying being part of the guild, but then the dragons visit because somebody has rewritten time, breaking the rules. The guild is thrown into turmoil, as suddenly nobody can trust anybody else. They only have a week before the dragons will destroy the entire guild, if they cannot find who the traitor is in the first place. And Duyên hears the dragons, unable to block them out, so that she fears for her sanity. Will they be able to work together to discover the traitor, or will all be doomed if the traitor does not come forward?
This is an excellent book! I may have gone slightly overboard in my reviewing, but that shows how much I’ve enjoyed it! …I also read it in practically one day. I was hooked.
I give this book five (thousand) stars. It was well written, one of the most truly wholesome fantasy books I remember ever reading, and had a unique and solid world. Unsurprisingly given R.M. Archer’s worldbuilding focus, I didn’t find anything in the book that felt weird, off or underdeveloped. Some of it made me want to read more about it (an encyclopedia, perhaps…?) in order to properly understand, but it felt very real.
The first chapter, which was all I’d read when I volunteered to review this book, made me slightly concerned that Duyên would be the perfect main character, almost too happy for realistic fiction. However, she had her struggles throughout the book and thus was not perfect! I felt there ought to have been more time to really get into her head (a sequel, perhaps…?) and to appreciate her contribution to the guild. (I guess I also just want more about the guild working together as well because I liked the guild so very much.)
I liked Sairsha very much too. I suspect she would have been my favourite character if only she had got more page time. I liked the bits with her POV, and I definitely appreciated her faith. The ending felt finished and right for where it stopped, but I wanted more of the way she reacted to the events of the book – that would work well for a sequel, perhaps….
Zen felt less easy to get a handle on. Perhaps because Zen, as guildmaster, was the main one continually cataloguing everybody and not himself, and anybody else who went through the other guildmates generally avoided Zen because he was not under suspicion as much.
Tora also felt a bit more confusing. The chronic pain, for instance, wasn’t quite spelled out properly, I felt, and left me wondering for a lot of the time if it was somehow connected to the whole dragon and time stuff, which distracted me rather. However, I liked the character, although her arc didn’t feel as resolved as the others. Sounds like she needs a sequel. :P
A couple of things I wondered about: the general faith/spirituality question felt like it wasn’t properly resolved. They had questions, but it wasn’t really wrapped up properly. A sequel might help. And also, what happened to Koemi, in the end? (And also Ryuu’s friend the wyvern whose name I cannot recall, who never came up again.)
The Emperor and what the Emperor said to do didn’t feel like it was properly resolved. I could extrapolate what presumably happened, but that bit felt slightly unfinished.
I did feel that this book would be a good one to get in paperback rather than ebook, in order to easily flip between the chapters and the information at the start, such as the meaning of the suffix -Mera (I think it meant friend? But it’s not nearly as easy to check in an ebook as a paperback).
The descriptions were very vivid and I loved them; as a result, I would like to see this book adapted into film, since I think it would go very well. Maybe completely animated, so as to reduce the amount of weird CGI or CGI budget stuff that could happen (I don't know much about these things), or maybe live action - I don't really care. I just want to see this ending up on the big screen, even though I think the chances are sorrowfully small.
**Overall**: 5/5 stars, clean fantasy novel that I would recommend to any lovers of fantasy, dragons, calligraphy, community, wholesome content, healthy relationships (did I mention that this book contains about the healthiest relationship I remember ever seeing in a fantasy book that’s also realistic?), and Christian themes without being overt about it.
As soon as it’s available, I intend to purchase the paperback so that I can reread it in a nice paperback (I really like the cover and the layout and also the content, you know?).
*****
A longer review, that goes into more detail but without spoilers, appears on my blog.
June 20, 2022
Warning: So, in light of the catastrophe that is my latest review, I have decided to restructure my reviews again to make my views clearer, rants calmer, and feedback more constructive. Please bear with me as I get all this sorted out—thank you! (Thanks to Kristianne Hassman for the idea!)
Stars: 4
Synopsis: The best days of Lai Duyên’s life have just begun...or have they? Only days after becoming a member of her local calligraphy guild, Duyên’s guild is visited by the guardian dragons, who have discovered that one of the guilders has abused the power of dragon ink and rewritten time. They have only a week to find out who the traitor before the entire guild is destroyed...but distrust, betrayal, and dishonest abound. How will they discover the time-changer in time?
Quotes: “But I hope. I hope that this will pass. I hope that both of us are afraid for nothing. And I will love you whether hope of fear wins out.”
“I believe that Aomlan has my best interest at heart, and I’ve seen evidence throughout history that his people are defended and strengthened even through the trials they face. I trust his direction.”
What I Loved: The concept was so different and intriguing (I just loved the vibes, you guys), and the vivid world-building complemented that perfectly, as did the characters. All of the main POV characters were vibrant and unique, with their own struggles and mini-arcs that played out in the story. When I first read this as a beta, I honestly couldn’t keep track *coughs*, but the second go-round was much better! I could see how each POV character stood out and was an integral part of the story. (And, let’s face it, the pronunciation guide/glossary was a life-saver!)
Speaking of characters, all the different relationships were so well-done! It was great to see healthy relationships and female characters that are strong but not feminist, obnoxious, or rude. (Which I know was Archer’s intention, to weave these elements in, and she executed that perfectly!)
Even though there wasn’t a definite message, there were some absolutely lovely themes: loyalty, forgiveness, compassion, family, true love and caring, trust, and more! Not to mention the slight allegory with Aomlan, Sairsha’s god who greatly resembles Jehovah!
What I Didn’t Love: As detailed as the world-building was, there were so many things that were left unexplained and a lot of backstory left out—from the power of the dragon ink to the dragons themselves to Duyên’s ability to hear them to the gods. I honestly wouldn’t have minded an info dump or prequel or something to give me some background on everything and how it operated.
It’s definitely a slow-paced book, which isn’t inherently a good or bad thing, but I felt some scenes were too lengthy and unnecessary and could’ve been shortened, omitted, or replaced. But I guess that’s a stylistic, creative choice!
And although I could tell the main characters apart, most of the minor characters bled together. I usually don’t struggle with large casts (I’m infamous for my own large casts), but I had a hard time keeping track of which character was which, Chaska and Mika especially.
There were some great descriptions in Calligraphy Guild, but I was missing something in the writing. Maybe it’s because I’ve read R.M. Archer’s The Mirror-Hunter Chronicles, which has the best wit, whimsy, and sarcasm, that I was expecting more personality in the writing. Either way, I would’ve liked to see the characters’ voices come to life in the prose!
Long Story Short: Calligraphy Guild is a vibrant and beautiful piece of Asian-inspired fantasy! R.M. Archer crafts a world that pulls you in, characters you can admire, and relationships you relate to.
I’d definitely recommend it to all readers of fantasy and YA fiction and even readers of Asian fiction, whether historical or contemporary! (I also recommend watching The Last Samurai...or really anything set in Asia *winks*...before/during reading this. Trust me, this novel will come to life as you read!) And I will certainly be reading more by R.M. Archer! (Like a SEQUEL!)
Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Stars: 4
Synopsis: The best days of Lai Duyên’s life have just begun...or have they? Only days after becoming a member of her local calligraphy guild, Duyên’s guild is visited by the guardian dragons, who have discovered that one of the guilders has abused the power of dragon ink and rewritten time. They have only a week to find out who the traitor before the entire guild is destroyed...but distrust, betrayal, and dishonest abound. How will they discover the time-changer in time?
Quotes: “But I hope. I hope that this will pass. I hope that both of us are afraid for nothing. And I will love you whether hope of fear wins out.”
“I believe that Aomlan has my best interest at heart, and I’ve seen evidence throughout history that his people are defended and strengthened even through the trials they face. I trust his direction.”
What I Loved: The concept was so different and intriguing (I just loved the vibes, you guys), and the vivid world-building complemented that perfectly, as did the characters. All of the main POV characters were vibrant and unique, with their own struggles and mini-arcs that played out in the story. When I first read this as a beta, I honestly couldn’t keep track *coughs*, but the second go-round was much better! I could see how each POV character stood out and was an integral part of the story. (And, let’s face it, the pronunciation guide/glossary was a life-saver!)
Speaking of characters, all the different relationships were so well-done! It was great to see healthy relationships and female characters that are strong but not feminist, obnoxious, or rude. (Which I know was Archer’s intention, to weave these elements in, and she executed that perfectly!)
Even though there wasn’t a definite message, there were some absolutely lovely themes: loyalty, forgiveness, compassion, family, true love and caring, trust, and more! Not to mention the slight allegory with Aomlan, Sairsha’s god who greatly resembles Jehovah!
What I Didn’t Love: As detailed as the world-building was, there were so many things that were left unexplained and a lot of backstory left out—from the power of the dragon ink to the dragons themselves to Duyên’s ability to hear them to the gods. I honestly wouldn’t have minded an info dump or prequel or something to give me some background on everything and how it operated.
It’s definitely a slow-paced book, which isn’t inherently a good or bad thing, but I felt some scenes were too lengthy and unnecessary and could’ve been shortened, omitted, or replaced. But I guess that’s a stylistic, creative choice!
And although I could tell the main characters apart, most of the minor characters bled together. I usually don’t struggle with large casts (I’m infamous for my own large casts), but I had a hard time keeping track of which character was which, Chaska and Mika especially.
There were some great descriptions in Calligraphy Guild, but I was missing something in the writing. Maybe it’s because I’ve read R.M. Archer’s The Mirror-Hunter Chronicles, which has the best wit, whimsy, and sarcasm, that I was expecting more personality in the writing. Either way, I would’ve liked to see the characters’ voices come to life in the prose!
Long Story Short: Calligraphy Guild is a vibrant and beautiful piece of Asian-inspired fantasy! R.M. Archer crafts a world that pulls you in, characters you can admire, and relationships you relate to.
I’d definitely recommend it to all readers of fantasy and YA fiction and even readers of Asian fiction, whether historical or contemporary! (I also recommend watching The Last Samurai...or really anything set in Asia *winks*...before/during reading this. Trust me, this novel will come to life as you read!) And I will certainly be reading more by R.M. Archer! (Like a SEQUEL!)
Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 4, 2022
Calligraphy Guild is an intriguing Asian-inspired fantasy, involving elements of mystery and themes of family and betrayal. While I enjoyed the ending, I felt the story leading up to it (especially the beginning) was overly slow-paced, which made it difficult to want to continue reading. I felt the worldbuilding—specifically details regarding the magic system—could have been woven into the story even more than it was, which would have significantly helped increase my understanding of the story-world and my emotional involvement in the story. Otherwise, I enjoyed the mystery and loved the vivid descriptions of setting. Sairsha’s tale captured my heart the most, though there were other compelling characters in the cast. Overall, it was interesting and thoughtful, and I love seeing more Asian-inspired fantasy out there in the fantasy world!
August 15, 2022
Note: I did indeed receive a copy of Calligraphy Guild in exchange for a review. My review is honest and true nonetheless (and also correct therefore this book is objectively amazing and you should read it).
Calligraphy Guild is a fantasy unlike any I have read before.
The best way I can sum up this whole book would be with the words rich and real. This book is rich with good themes, rich with relationships, rich with community, rich with atmosphere, rich with creativity, rich with humanity, rich with simplicity.
And it's so real. It is filled with these little paragraphs, these one-liners, these thoughts and interactions between characters that bring the book alive and make every aspect of it relatable in some way. Really this book feels like life. Which is quite impressive for a book about dragons and magic ink and time-changing.
It feels somehow wrong to give a break down of this book, but I'll try to anyways:
Pacing
While being a slow-burn novel, Calligraphy Guild is not slow-paced. I'd say that this moved at a fair pace, not sprinting but also not doddling. It's more like a pleasant stroll.
Something is always happening at any time, often something small but engaging, which helps in both keeping the book interesting and letting the reader feel productive in their reading, and grounding the story in reality.
I would say that the pacing is exactly what is appropriate for this story.
Plot
While this book has an interesting plot with genuine stakes and weight, the characters are so close to it that they very naturally lead the story. By no means is the plot forgotten or brushed to the side, as it often seems to be in character-led books, it's just that the characters are our focal point for it. Which, I believe, works very well for this story and causes it to seem that much more believable. Come to think of it, it may be best to say that the characters are the plot.
Characters
It seems fitting for this to come up after "plot," given the characters are such a crucial part to the story.
While Duyên is, undoubtedly, the main character, the others still carry so much depth, perspective, and uniqueness - and they're all so closely tied to the plot - that the book really would not be the same without them.
I can't say that I loved all the characters, but I can say that I believed them all, and that while there were some perspectives I didn't enjoy as much as others I wouldn't want it without them, either.
Worldbuilding
You cannot, cannot, read a novel by R.M. Archer and not say something about the world building in a review. It is impossible. (I say, as if this is not Archer's first published novel, but shush I'm still right).
The worldbuilding in this book is solid. It perfectly blends in with the more normal/realistic aspects of the setting, and I think that helps make it so convincing - it manages to be both familiar, and very unique. It also kept me curious about different aspects of it without distracting from the matter at hand.
Themes
The themes in this book are incredible. I don't say that because they're especially unique or original or even complicated, but because they are so real. They're so personal and endearing and I think that anyone who reads this will find something that speaks to them.
Here's just some of the themes:
- Community
Very strong community themes. Community with the guild as well as the village and individual families and friends. I just love how much the community came together throughout this book. Especially because, thanks to the execution, it almost felt like I already knew everyone as well-acquainted neighbors.
- Relationships
Of every kind. There's so many different dynamics, it would take forever to go over each one even in summary. But every day relationships - which aren't always perfect or good, but often can be - is very much so present in here.
- Romanticized living
Is this really a "theme?" I don't know. But the whole book puts real life through such a beautiful lens. Though this book is based off of a different time and culture than my own, and takes place in an entierly different world, it showed me so much beauty about the simple things in real life. Even in the unpleasant things, like humidity (never would have anything could make me feel even mildly positively towards humidity).
I've highlighted so many lines and paragraphs in my copy just so I can pick it up and reread some of these beautiful moments - though honestly, I wouldn't even need that. You can seriously just open the book at a random place and you'll probably find some sweet, funny, or beautiful line or scene.
But what I find really wonderful about this theme Is that the prose is not flowery. I'm all for poetic lines and whatnot, but this book manages to convey all of that wonderfulness just be showing life. It's really very impressive, I think. And that same thing - it just being life - stretches into every aspect of this book. I think that's what makes Calligraphy Guild so amazing.
- DRAGONS
But not just dragons! Wyverns, too! And drakes! And other things that I don't know how to spell! Basically lots of really cool and cute and awesome little lizard fellows! They are literally all over the place and they make me so happy. Especially Emiko.
They're kind of reminiscent of the dragons in Dragons' Bane by Melody Jackson, but with a bit of a different spin.
- Religion, handled in a unique way
The majority of characters in Calligraphy Guild, including Duyên, believe in a polytheistic religion and often refer to their gods in realistic ways due to their culture. Then there are two characters who believe in a different religion, one representing Christianity.
(If you're not a Christian and thus aren't concerned with how Christianity is or isn't represented, feel free to pass by this section. I'm mostly writing this for Christians who may have that concern. I'm sure you'll enjoy this book regardless of what your religious beliefs are.)
I didn't really feel the need to touch on this because it wasn't one of the things that especially stood out to me. However, I saw one reviewer saying that she liked that there were Christian aspects, but she would have preferred it if all the characters who believed in other gods has an arch that resulted in them turning to that world's equivalent of Christianity.
However, I think that the way Archer presented these religions, and the brief discussions that were had in various ways, were handled very appropriately and realistically. The book isn't about conversion and I don't see how that would be included without totally changing the focus of the plot. And if the author were to attempt balancing two main plots like that, I imagine it would quickly turn the book into one of those "all moral no story" books that really don't do any good for anyone.
Rather, this book handles the matter of religion in a very natural, believable, and good way. This book plants seeds, it doesn't harvest crops. And I would say that this book does an even better job as-is than if it were to have a purely religious plot, because this portrays Christianity in a far more real way. We get to see a Christian who is in a world that is opposite her beliefs - there's only one person in her whole community who is like-minded in this area - and that is a important thing to portray. For it is a far more relatable and realistic situation than converting an entire guild of people.
But that whole matter is its own discussion.
Suffice to say, religion is a theme, and I believe it was handled well.
Conclusion
This book is undoubtedly 5 stars. I highly recommend it to any fantasy reader who maybe needs to slow down for a bit, to have a book that helps them relax. It could also be quite good if you're in a reading slump. It's also a perfect book to read in the summer time. Or just to read in general, really. I mean, I've read it probably four times and I'm good to go for a fifth, haha.
I would say "if you like [book] you may like this" but I honestly can't think of any books to accurately compare this to. Maybe just give it a try, and see what you think of it.
Calligraphy Guild is a fantasy unlike any I have read before.
The best way I can sum up this whole book would be with the words rich and real. This book is rich with good themes, rich with relationships, rich with community, rich with atmosphere, rich with creativity, rich with humanity, rich with simplicity.
And it's so real. It is filled with these little paragraphs, these one-liners, these thoughts and interactions between characters that bring the book alive and make every aspect of it relatable in some way. Really this book feels like life. Which is quite impressive for a book about dragons and magic ink and time-changing.
It feels somehow wrong to give a break down of this book, but I'll try to anyways:
Pacing
While being a slow-burn novel, Calligraphy Guild is not slow-paced. I'd say that this moved at a fair pace, not sprinting but also not doddling. It's more like a pleasant stroll.
Something is always happening at any time, often something small but engaging, which helps in both keeping the book interesting and letting the reader feel productive in their reading, and grounding the story in reality.
I would say that the pacing is exactly what is appropriate for this story.
Plot
While this book has an interesting plot with genuine stakes and weight, the characters are so close to it that they very naturally lead the story. By no means is the plot forgotten or brushed to the side, as it often seems to be in character-led books, it's just that the characters are our focal point for it. Which, I believe, works very well for this story and causes it to seem that much more believable. Come to think of it, it may be best to say that the characters are the plot.
Characters
It seems fitting for this to come up after "plot," given the characters are such a crucial part to the story.
While Duyên is, undoubtedly, the main character, the others still carry so much depth, perspective, and uniqueness - and they're all so closely tied to the plot - that the book really would not be the same without them.
I can't say that I loved all the characters, but I can say that I believed them all, and that while there were some perspectives I didn't enjoy as much as others I wouldn't want it without them, either.
Worldbuilding
You cannot, cannot, read a novel by R.M. Archer and not say something about the world building in a review. It is impossible. (I say, as if this is not Archer's first published novel, but shush I'm still right).
The worldbuilding in this book is solid. It perfectly blends in with the more normal/realistic aspects of the setting, and I think that helps make it so convincing - it manages to be both familiar, and very unique. It also kept me curious about different aspects of it without distracting from the matter at hand.
Themes
The themes in this book are incredible. I don't say that because they're especially unique or original or even complicated, but because they are so real. They're so personal and endearing and I think that anyone who reads this will find something that speaks to them.
Here's just some of the themes:
- Community
Very strong community themes. Community with the guild as well as the village and individual families and friends. I just love how much the community came together throughout this book. Especially because, thanks to the execution, it almost felt like I already knew everyone as well-acquainted neighbors.
- Relationships
Of every kind. There's so many different dynamics, it would take forever to go over each one even in summary. But every day relationships - which aren't always perfect or good, but often can be - is very much so present in here.
- Romanticized living
Is this really a "theme?" I don't know. But the whole book puts real life through such a beautiful lens. Though this book is based off of a different time and culture than my own, and takes place in an entierly different world, it showed me so much beauty about the simple things in real life. Even in the unpleasant things, like humidity (never would have anything could make me feel even mildly positively towards humidity).
I've highlighted so many lines and paragraphs in my copy just so I can pick it up and reread some of these beautiful moments - though honestly, I wouldn't even need that. You can seriously just open the book at a random place and you'll probably find some sweet, funny, or beautiful line or scene.
But what I find really wonderful about this theme Is that the prose is not flowery. I'm all for poetic lines and whatnot, but this book manages to convey all of that wonderfulness just be showing life. It's really very impressive, I think. And that same thing - it just being life - stretches into every aspect of this book. I think that's what makes Calligraphy Guild so amazing.
- DRAGONS
But not just dragons! Wyverns, too! And drakes! And other things that I don't know how to spell! Basically lots of really cool and cute and awesome little lizard fellows! They are literally all over the place and they make me so happy. Especially Emiko.
They're kind of reminiscent of the dragons in Dragons' Bane by Melody Jackson, but with a bit of a different spin.
- Religion, handled in a unique way
The majority of characters in Calligraphy Guild, including Duyên, believe in a polytheistic religion and often refer to their gods in realistic ways due to their culture. Then there are two characters who believe in a different religion, one representing Christianity.
(If you're not a Christian and thus aren't concerned with how Christianity is or isn't represented, feel free to pass by this section. I'm mostly writing this for Christians who may have that concern. I'm sure you'll enjoy this book regardless of what your religious beliefs are.)
I didn't really feel the need to touch on this because it wasn't one of the things that especially stood out to me. However, I saw one reviewer saying that she liked that there were Christian aspects, but she would have preferred it if all the characters who believed in other gods has an arch that resulted in them turning to that world's equivalent of Christianity.
However, I think that the way Archer presented these religions, and the brief discussions that were had in various ways, were handled very appropriately and realistically. The book isn't about conversion and I don't see how that would be included without totally changing the focus of the plot. And if the author were to attempt balancing two main plots like that, I imagine it would quickly turn the book into one of those "all moral no story" books that really don't do any good for anyone.
Rather, this book handles the matter of religion in a very natural, believable, and good way. This book plants seeds, it doesn't harvest crops. And I would say that this book does an even better job as-is than if it were to have a purely religious plot, because this portrays Christianity in a far more real way. We get to see a Christian who is in a world that is opposite her beliefs - there's only one person in her whole community who is like-minded in this area - and that is a important thing to portray. For it is a far more relatable and realistic situation than converting an entire guild of people.
But that whole matter is its own discussion.
Suffice to say, religion is a theme, and I believe it was handled well.
Conclusion
This book is undoubtedly 5 stars. I highly recommend it to any fantasy reader who maybe needs to slow down for a bit, to have a book that helps them relax. It could also be quite good if you're in a reading slump. It's also a perfect book to read in the summer time. Or just to read in general, really. I mean, I've read it probably four times and I'm good to go for a fifth, haha.
I would say "if you like [book] you may like this" but I honestly can't think of any books to accurately compare this to. Maybe just give it a try, and see what you think of it.
June 13, 2022
(Before I get into the review, can we just appreciate this cover for a moment? It's so pretty and it looks even better in real life. Okay, now we can talk about the rest of it.)
It isn't easy to write a slower paced book, much like playing a slower piece of music. Because it's slow, things show up more clearly. But this book nailed it. Even though the book takes place over only a week or so, I felt like I knew all of the characters and was their friend. The plot was engaging all the way through and the ending was solid.
I loved all the relationships between the characters. The themes of family bonds and community life. I loved their jungle home and the world Ariel built. I especially had a soft spot for Duyen and Ryuo (not sure I spelled those right). It was so refreshing to see a young couple together from the beginning of the book, learning to work together and looking forward to one day getting married. I also loved that Duyen had such a great relationship with her family.
And I have to take a moment to mention the miniature dragons! I love tiny dragons and this book delivered.
There was a lot I loved about this book, so I'll spare you all my ramblings and say read it. 100% clean, strong Christian themes without being overwhelming, a solid plot and characters. An excellent read.
It isn't easy to write a slower paced book, much like playing a slower piece of music. Because it's slow, things show up more clearly. But this book nailed it. Even though the book takes place over only a week or so, I felt like I knew all of the characters and was their friend. The plot was engaging all the way through and the ending was solid.
I loved all the relationships between the characters. The themes of family bonds and community life. I loved their jungle home and the world Ariel built. I especially had a soft spot for Duyen and Ryuo (not sure I spelled those right). It was so refreshing to see a young couple together from the beginning of the book, learning to work together and looking forward to one day getting married. I also loved that Duyen had such a great relationship with her family.
And I have to take a moment to mention the miniature dragons! I love tiny dragons and this book delivered.
There was a lot I loved about this book, so I'll spare you all my ramblings and say read it. 100% clean, strong Christian themes without being overwhelming, a solid plot and characters. An excellent read.
February 7, 2023
This story took me some time to get into because it is a bit slower paced, especially at the start. But by the end Archer had sold me on it, and I was turning pages eagerly. The tension and emotions were really ramped up, and I did NOT expect all these feels after finding the time-changer.
I thought the concept of dragon ink setting — or changing — history and its wide-reaching effects was fascinating. The story raised some interesting questions along this line for me as well: how history and our understanding of it shapes ourselves and our world, what is the proper method and mindset in which to record history, how our past is an indelible part of who we are, and how parts of our story are set by a higher power. That last theme came out really powerfully near the end, with different characters exemplifying the two very different (but completely human) reactions: we can wrestle with and fight against it, or accept and trust in it.
I also was intrigued by the handling of religion in the story, as seen through the various characters. It felt like Archer was able to successfully inhabit a lot of viewpoints. What stuck out for me especially was the portrayal of certain characters’ monotheism in a highly polytheistic world, and Tora’s struggle to reconcile the reality of her experiences with what the gods should have control over and represent. Tora as a character felt really well-drawn. I really related to her struggles, and her point of view was a good balance to Duyen’s — I felt she got more depth later in her struggle with her emotions, but for a while she seemed to err on the perfect side (but maybe that just means I am very flawed as an individual lol).
I also really appreciated how Archer undid some YA tropes I am not a fan of — there’s a variety of healthy relationships portrayed, both familial and romantic. I did struggle with all the named minor characters; it was hard for me to keep them straight, but this only showed up in a few scenes.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I thought the concept of dragon ink setting — or changing — history and its wide-reaching effects was fascinating. The story raised some interesting questions along this line for me as well: how history and our understanding of it shapes ourselves and our world, what is the proper method and mindset in which to record history, how our past is an indelible part of who we are, and how parts of our story are set by a higher power. That last theme came out really powerfully near the end, with different characters exemplifying the two very different (but completely human) reactions: we can wrestle with and fight against it, or accept and trust in it.
I also was intrigued by the handling of religion in the story, as seen through the various characters. It felt like Archer was able to successfully inhabit a lot of viewpoints. What stuck out for me especially was the portrayal of certain characters’ monotheism in a highly polytheistic world, and Tora’s struggle to reconcile the reality of her experiences with what the gods should have control over and represent. Tora as a character felt really well-drawn. I really related to her struggles, and her point of view was a good balance to Duyen’s — I felt she got more depth later in her struggle with her emotions, but for a while she seemed to err on the perfect side (but maybe that just means I am very flawed as an individual lol).
I also really appreciated how Archer undid some YA tropes I am not a fan of — there’s a variety of healthy relationships portrayed, both familial and romantic. I did struggle with all the named minor characters; it was hard for me to keep them straight, but this only showed up in a few scenes.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Read
October 8, 2022I was very excited to read this book, not only because I wanted to support the work of an indi-author (and an internet friend), but also because I was genuinely interested in the premise. I loved the idea of a group of Calligraphers who work together to write down the histories of their world in magical ink. The themes of betrayal, and broken trust, of friendship, and family, all set in a fantasy world with dragons, rich cultures, and close-knit communities sounded so promising. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
.
I think one of the main reasons I struggled to get into this story was because I didn’t like the writing style. The prose was often stiff, and very dry, with a lot of mundane details, and over-explanation of what was happening in a scene. Sentences like, “She picked up her shawl, wrapped it around her shoulders, and walked across the room”, for example, were everywhere, and made it difficult for me to engage with the story. I once saw someone describe a particular writing style as “utilitarian”, and I think that word fits this book’s feel. It held no warmth, or color for me.
.
Another reason I struggled to enjoy Calligraphy Guild and one of my biggest disappointments, was the world-building. It held such great potential for being incredible, but its delivery fell flat for me.
There seemed to be no sort of introduction to the world or cultures, the reader is merely dumped into the story and expected to understand where they are, and how they got there, without much guidance at all. Besides the book blurb, and a few hints here and there, I had no sort of foundation or concept for the world, didn’t know where this story was taking place, or how large or small a country was, or where it was located.
This may sound strange, but even worse than feeling lost was this sense that there wasn’t even a world to be lost in. I knew the characters lived in a village, in some bamboo houses, and they ate some interesting foods, and somewhere, there was a jungle, but I could not find any sort of texture or reality to the world. The most immersive setting was definitely where the calligraphy guild worked, but from even the best descriptions I could create only a vague picture in my mind. It was rather like sitting in front of giant white-board, and watching someone draw random objects, and characters, trees, and bushes, and pieces of clothing, and maybe an Asian-inspired meal, or two, and then being told to create a whole, believable world in your head just from those few images.
The book is promoted as Asian-inspired fantasy, but I was frustrated by how little difference there seemed to be between the world/culture in this book, and the one I currently inhabit. The characters mindsets, ways of speaking, and interacting did not seem very different at all from 21st Century America. The dialogue, in particular, was very frustrating to me. It was so modern, and American-sounding, it really got on my nerves and kept jolting me out of the story.
Being a failure at world-building, I personally haven’t tried very hard to create big worlds but I imagine it must be insanely difficult to create a believable, vibrant, and expansive world inside your head and then successfully transfer it onto a page. I believe this world to be a fascinating and exciting one, but it just didn’t translate well onto the page.
.
The other thing that bothered me a lot was the characters, but before I dive into all that let me say a few good words.
I liked Ryuu, he was a fun character, and I enjoyed his scenes, at least for most of the story. I appreciated Tora, as well, and the way R.M. Archer dealt with, and represented, her chronic illness.
In general, however, I did not enjoy the characters. They were introduced in large groups and I found it difficult to keep them apart, or to see a difference between character voices. But when I DID finally began to differentiate between the characters, my next roadblock was I found it nearly impossible to believe in the characters, or invest in their struggles, and stories, because most of them didn’t feel real to me. I couldn’t find much of a motive for any of the characters…they seemed to just follow where the plot took them, without any real desires or fears. None of them really seemed to have distinctive personalities.
One of the strangest things to me was how little backstory there was to any of these characters. There was mention of some of them dealing with hard things, or having gone through rough times, but beyond that, there was almost nothing. One of the characters used to be a slave but it’s never really explored beyond it serving to act as a (major?) plot point later on. Even the main character. I have no idea what happened in her past life, or why she did what she did, or what she wanted, or why she wanted it. The most believable character was the traitor. He had a motive, and it was actually somewhat believable, if a bit skimmed over. The book says that they had families and lives and interests outside of the guild, but in reality, they seemed to do very little besides writing, or eating food, or walking. Or talking. (There was SO much dialogue in this book. I can’t say whether or not it was too much, but I, personally, found it rather tiresome at times.)
I just did not find most of the characters believable or compelling. A lot of their choices, and interactions with other characters, didn’t make sense to me or the story. I didn’t need the characters to be relatable, just convincing, but I rarely found them so.
.
In all honesty, I’m not entirely sure what this book was about. If someone were to ask, I could give them a vague description of the plot, tell them the names of the characters, and how it ended, but that’s about it. The story did not compel me, or leave me feeling like there was much depth to it. I did appreciate the themes of friendship and community, but their power was almost entirely swallowed up by vague world-building, stiff, unnatural interactions between characters, and, in my opinion, rather confusing plot development.
In the end, I still appreciate the bones of this story, the themes are good, the characters and plotline have so much potential, and the world, more fleshed out, could be truly incredible. This book isn't a good fit for me, but if you enjoy indi-books, fantasy, dragons, non-stereotypical YA fiction, anything along those lines, maybe check this one out.
.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
.
I think one of the main reasons I struggled to get into this story was because I didn’t like the writing style. The prose was often stiff, and very dry, with a lot of mundane details, and over-explanation of what was happening in a scene. Sentences like, “She picked up her shawl, wrapped it around her shoulders, and walked across the room”, for example, were everywhere, and made it difficult for me to engage with the story. I once saw someone describe a particular writing style as “utilitarian”, and I think that word fits this book’s feel. It held no warmth, or color for me.
.
Another reason I struggled to enjoy Calligraphy Guild and one of my biggest disappointments, was the world-building. It held such great potential for being incredible, but its delivery fell flat for me.
There seemed to be no sort of introduction to the world or cultures, the reader is merely dumped into the story and expected to understand where they are, and how they got there, without much guidance at all. Besides the book blurb, and a few hints here and there, I had no sort of foundation or concept for the world, didn’t know where this story was taking place, or how large or small a country was, or where it was located.
This may sound strange, but even worse than feeling lost was this sense that there wasn’t even a world to be lost in. I knew the characters lived in a village, in some bamboo houses, and they ate some interesting foods, and somewhere, there was a jungle, but I could not find any sort of texture or reality to the world. The most immersive setting was definitely where the calligraphy guild worked, but from even the best descriptions I could create only a vague picture in my mind. It was rather like sitting in front of giant white-board, and watching someone draw random objects, and characters, trees, and bushes, and pieces of clothing, and maybe an Asian-inspired meal, or two, and then being told to create a whole, believable world in your head just from those few images.
The book is promoted as Asian-inspired fantasy, but I was frustrated by how little difference there seemed to be between the world/culture in this book, and the one I currently inhabit. The characters mindsets, ways of speaking, and interacting did not seem very different at all from 21st Century America. The dialogue, in particular, was very frustrating to me. It was so modern, and American-sounding, it really got on my nerves and kept jolting me out of the story.
Being a failure at world-building, I personally haven’t tried very hard to create big worlds but I imagine it must be insanely difficult to create a believable, vibrant, and expansive world inside your head and then successfully transfer it onto a page. I believe this world to be a fascinating and exciting one, but it just didn’t translate well onto the page.
.
The other thing that bothered me a lot was the characters, but before I dive into all that let me say a few good words.
I liked Ryuu, he was a fun character, and I enjoyed his scenes, at least for most of the story. I appreciated Tora, as well, and the way R.M. Archer dealt with, and represented, her chronic illness.
In general, however, I did not enjoy the characters. They were introduced in large groups and I found it difficult to keep them apart, or to see a difference between character voices. But when I DID finally began to differentiate between the characters, my next roadblock was I found it nearly impossible to believe in the characters, or invest in their struggles, and stories, because most of them didn’t feel real to me. I couldn’t find much of a motive for any of the characters…they seemed to just follow where the plot took them, without any real desires or fears. None of them really seemed to have distinctive personalities.
One of the strangest things to me was how little backstory there was to any of these characters. There was mention of some of them dealing with hard things, or having gone through rough times, but beyond that, there was almost nothing. One of the characters used to be a slave but it’s never really explored beyond it serving to act as a (major?) plot point later on. Even the main character. I have no idea what happened in her past life, or why she did what she did, or what she wanted, or why she wanted it. The most believable character was the traitor. He had a motive, and it was actually somewhat believable, if a bit skimmed over. The book says that they had families and lives and interests outside of the guild, but in reality, they seemed to do very little besides writing, or eating food, or walking. Or talking. (There was SO much dialogue in this book. I can’t say whether or not it was too much, but I, personally, found it rather tiresome at times.)
I just did not find most of the characters believable or compelling. A lot of their choices, and interactions with other characters, didn’t make sense to me or the story. I didn’t need the characters to be relatable, just convincing, but I rarely found them so.
.
In all honesty, I’m not entirely sure what this book was about. If someone were to ask, I could give them a vague description of the plot, tell them the names of the characters, and how it ended, but that’s about it. The story did not compel me, or leave me feeling like there was much depth to it. I did appreciate the themes of friendship and community, but their power was almost entirely swallowed up by vague world-building, stiff, unnatural interactions between characters, and, in my opinion, rather confusing plot development.
In the end, I still appreciate the bones of this story, the themes are good, the characters and plotline have so much potential, and the world, more fleshed out, could be truly incredible. This book isn't a good fit for me, but if you enjoy indi-books, fantasy, dragons, non-stereotypical YA fiction, anything along those lines, maybe check this one out.
.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2023
This book basically blew my mind away!!! I read the author's blog and have been excited to read this book since it released in June, so when I got it for Christmas, I was super excited.
This is a beautiful, slow paced fantasy with dragons and writing based powers. It's awesome. I loved the family and community aspects to the book! I always love seeing such close, sweet relationships, and the author is awesome at this.
The plot was nice and slow paced, which worked so well for this book. It had a high-stakes conflict that was a little bit nerve-racking, and the way the final twist was layed out was AWESOME! The story still has me blown away literally a month later. And then there's the characters. I loved them all- their growth and all the aspects of their relationships were done really well. I can't remember how to spell any of their namesXD so that's why I'm not mentioning them by name, but I loved every single relationship in the book.
This is one of my new favorites. It was gentle and slow paced, but beautiful, and I loved all the glimpses into everyday life of the community. I'm already looking forward to rereading this book. It's inspired me in my own writing, and it's just such an awesome book! Overall, I highly recommend this book, really to anyone. While it's technically YA, I'd honestly recommend it for 11+, and only that high because I don't think younger kids could fully appreciate its depth.
This is a beautiful, slow paced fantasy with dragons and writing based powers. It's awesome. I loved the family and community aspects to the book! I always love seeing such close, sweet relationships, and the author is awesome at this.
The plot was nice and slow paced, which worked so well for this book. It had a high-stakes conflict that was a little bit nerve-racking, and the way the final twist was layed out was AWESOME! The story still has me blown away literally a month later. And then there's the characters. I loved them all- their growth and all the aspects of their relationships were done really well. I can't remember how to spell any of their namesXD so that's why I'm not mentioning them by name, but I loved every single relationship in the book.
This is one of my new favorites. It was gentle and slow paced, but beautiful, and I loved all the glimpses into everyday life of the community. I'm already looking forward to rereading this book. It's inspired me in my own writing, and it's just such an awesome book! Overall, I highly recommend this book, really to anyone. While it's technically YA, I'd honestly recommend it for 11+, and only that high because I don't think younger kids could fully appreciate its depth.
May 18, 2023
Wow. Just wow. I’ll post a better review soon… but for now, it’s worth the read! 🐉💚😊
June 21, 2022
Calligraphy Guild was outside of what I normally read, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was the strong sense of family that flowed throughout the book. The pacing may be a bit slower, but I liked the depth it created. Ariel did a beautiful job of balancing multiple POV’s without losing traction or the heart of the story. A piece of me connected with each character which deepened the message and struggle each had to overcome.
March 25, 2024
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book quite like this one. Set in a unique fantasy world and featuring an intriguing plot, there’s much I enjoyed about this story. It’s not my favorite book of the year, but it’s a great read that I’m glad I finally got to experience.
Characters: All the characters are portrayed so well, each feeling unusually real. I wasn’t absolutely in love with any character, but neither was I annoyed by any of them. They felt like real people, which is an amazing feat!
It’s hard to pinpoint who the main protagonist is. Most of the story is from Duyên’s POV, but Tora and Sairsha both undergo major character change, as well. That really goes well with the community theme of the book, through; this is a story that’s bigger than just one person!
Content: The book is quite clean. Two characters are in a romantic relationship, and they kiss a few times. There are several other potential relationships.
A few characters suffer from injuries inflicted by the natural world.
Most of the characters believe in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, with a couple believing in a different god. It’s left to the reader’s discernment as to whose beliefs are correct.
Writing: The story is a bit slow initially, with the first 10% introducing us to the world and the characters living within it. Once the action began, though, things picked up speed. The mystery element is executed well (I guessed the lawbreaker; yay!).
The best part is the worldbuilding, though. Archer has created a world that’s uniquely hers and works so well with the story she’s telling. I loved getting to see a practical example of all the worldbuilding tips she teaches!
Summary: As mentioned earlier, this book is different from my usual reads. This was one of my first experiences with Asian-based fantasy (as opposed to the traditional medieval European worlds), and I quite liked it. It’s a good story about community and trust, paired with a twisting mystery that keeps you guessing. I’d recommend this to fantasy fans aged 12+.
Characters: All the characters are portrayed so well, each feeling unusually real. I wasn’t absolutely in love with any character, but neither was I annoyed by any of them. They felt like real people, which is an amazing feat!
It’s hard to pinpoint who the main protagonist is. Most of the story is from Duyên’s POV, but Tora and Sairsha both undergo major character change, as well. That really goes well with the community theme of the book, through; this is a story that’s bigger than just one person!
Content: The book is quite clean. Two characters are in a romantic relationship, and they kiss a few times. There are several other potential relationships.
A few characters suffer from injuries inflicted by the natural world.
Most of the characters believe in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, with a couple believing in a different god. It’s left to the reader’s discernment as to whose beliefs are correct.
Writing: The story is a bit slow initially, with the first 10% introducing us to the world and the characters living within it. Once the action began, though, things picked up speed. The mystery element is executed well (I guessed the lawbreaker; yay!).
The best part is the worldbuilding, though. Archer has created a world that’s uniquely hers and works so well with the story she’s telling. I loved getting to see a practical example of all the worldbuilding tips she teaches!
Summary: As mentioned earlier, this book is different from my usual reads. This was one of my first experiences with Asian-based fantasy (as opposed to the traditional medieval European worlds), and I quite liked it. It’s a good story about community and trust, paired with a twisting mystery that keeps you guessing. I’d recommend this to fantasy fans aged 12+.
February 10, 2023
CALLIGRAPHY GUILD is a lush, gently imagined, and deeply peaceful story built upon a foundation of beautiful values. They are values (camaraderie, trust, truth-seeking, and familial love, among many) time seems to have forgotten. Not to worry; readers can rest their weary hearts here in the embrace of a community so intimate and tender that they may forget they are living on Earth! The world-building in this novel whispers of Heaven and divinity.
This is a rainy day kind of read. Its relaxed pace beckons readers to a sofa seat by a tear-streaked window where they can stroll through vivid descriptions of Hairen, the local village, and the wonderful relationships within. In Archer's novel, parents are loving guardians. "Crushes" are friends first and marriage material next. A warm sense of togetherness hugs the entire story, making for a comforting and refreshing read.
Unfortunately, the slower pace in CALLIGRAPHY GUILD eventually gives way to a yearning for action. Characters spend more of their time talking and discussing what to do without actualizing their thoughts. I was disappointed when I discovered that much of the novel is mostly world-building and relationship exploration but not in a plot-enriching way, engendering a longing for somthing to happen.
A revelation. An attack from the traitorous character. Some tension and chafing between the characters and their connections. Anything done on the Guild Master's part to hold his pupils accountable and identify the insider threat.
CALLIGRAPHY GUILD is beautifully written and intelligent in its own right but is too reluctant to act. The plot drags through excess exposition, and even the character relationships become tiring after a while. Everyone seems too nervous to vent emotions, address the conflict at hand, and manage the horrific fate bearing upon them in a natural way. This seemed unrealistic and weakened some of the character side of the story. It's difficult to believe that these characters, after such a startling betrayal and what this entails for their very lives, are simply... brushing it off.
Finally, the novel's plot twist was immediately apparent to me because of a stylistic choice in the prose and a general sense that the traitor was intentionally being held back; other characters were much more personalized. This led to little surprise at the big reveal toward the book's end.
Despite the shortcomings in CALLIGRAPHY GUILD, I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to Christians seeking a comforting, cozy novel where Heaven doesn't feel so far away. I highly respect the author's intentions, themes, and her accomplishment of both. This is a fine story that blooms with depth and maturity. Greatness stirs in its pages. R.M. Archer created something safe but never coddling or pandering, as it isn't preachy. None of it is over-the-top or ugly. I was surprised and pleased by many of her characters' observations and statements, having felt similar things but never voicing them in the way she does here. Archer proves herself a thoughtful creator; her deep mind and careful exploration of the topics in the novel resonate in every sentence.
Overall, CALLIGRAPHY GUILD is a spiritually empowering read with wonderful values and examples for its readers. It left me feeling refreshed. This is a GOOD novel with issues -- namely pacing and plot advancement -- but a good novel nonetheless. I look forward to more creations by this gifted young author!
This is a rainy day kind of read. Its relaxed pace beckons readers to a sofa seat by a tear-streaked window where they can stroll through vivid descriptions of Hairen, the local village, and the wonderful relationships within. In Archer's novel, parents are loving guardians. "Crushes" are friends first and marriage material next. A warm sense of togetherness hugs the entire story, making for a comforting and refreshing read.
Unfortunately, the slower pace in CALLIGRAPHY GUILD eventually gives way to a yearning for action. Characters spend more of their time talking and discussing what to do without actualizing their thoughts. I was disappointed when I discovered that much of the novel is mostly world-building and relationship exploration but not in a plot-enriching way, engendering a longing for somthing to happen.
A revelation. An attack from the traitorous character. Some tension and chafing between the characters and their connections. Anything done on the Guild Master's part to hold his pupils accountable and identify the insider threat.
CALLIGRAPHY GUILD is beautifully written and intelligent in its own right but is too reluctant to act. The plot drags through excess exposition, and even the character relationships become tiring after a while. Everyone seems too nervous to vent emotions, address the conflict at hand, and manage the horrific fate bearing upon them in a natural way. This seemed unrealistic and weakened some of the character side of the story. It's difficult to believe that these characters, after such a startling betrayal and what this entails for their very lives, are simply... brushing it off.
Finally, the novel's plot twist was immediately apparent to me because of a stylistic choice in the prose and a general sense that the traitor was intentionally being held back; other characters were much more personalized. This led to little surprise at the big reveal toward the book's end.
Despite the shortcomings in CALLIGRAPHY GUILD, I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to Christians seeking a comforting, cozy novel where Heaven doesn't feel so far away. I highly respect the author's intentions, themes, and her accomplishment of both. This is a fine story that blooms with depth and maturity. Greatness stirs in its pages. R.M. Archer created something safe but never coddling or pandering, as it isn't preachy. None of it is over-the-top or ugly. I was surprised and pleased by many of her characters' observations and statements, having felt similar things but never voicing them in the way she does here. Archer proves herself a thoughtful creator; her deep mind and careful exploration of the topics in the novel resonate in every sentence.
Overall, CALLIGRAPHY GUILD is a spiritually empowering read with wonderful values and examples for its readers. It left me feeling refreshed. This is a GOOD novel with issues -- namely pacing and plot advancement -- but a good novel nonetheless. I look forward to more creations by this gifted young author!
July 1, 2022
This was a charming story with unique worldbuilding and a well-rounded cast of characters, with nearly seamless switches in several different points of view. It tells the story of the sacrosanctity of time and the dangers of playing with history, guarded by the authority of dragons. I would have loved to see dragon action and learn more about their place in the world and their communication with humans. I appreciated their involvement with the calligraphers and the guild as the authorities on the documenting of history and their place in the story regarding the main character, Duyen.
I found the plot to be rather slow moving, and it didn't really introduce the conflict beginnings until roughly halfway through. Sometimes, I felt that many scenes were too caught up in the details of characters' reactions, and characters' reactions to other characters' reactions, repetitiously relying mainly on facial expressions. I think this tied into the somewhat awkwardly stilted and unrealistic impression that the dialog had on me, particularly with Duyen's interactions with her family members, but this is more of a stylistic pet peeve that had me distracted mainly in the beginning.
My favorite thing about Calligraphy Guild is the characters. I thought that R. M. Archer did an excellent job with Tora and the complex relationship shared with Sairsha and Raiden, which I thought was particularly beautiful. Tora struggles with chronic pain, and the parts of the story from her POV did a great job capturing the mentality of dealing with physical deprecation as she learns to fight through it and not against it. It's always been hard for me to understand the harsh realities of dealing with chronic disease, but I have been inspired time and time again by friends who do deal with it and the strength that they gain from their endurance. I'd say Tora is a fictional instance.
When it comes to relationship dynamics between Sairsha and Raiden involving the climax, I thought it was very well done. R. M. Archer drops little hints here and there, with just enough information to make us wonder, and then punches us in the gut at the very end with a "you should have seen it coming!" through excellently crafted descriptions of the deep emotions that are so significant to the wrapping up of the plot. The author pulled no punches with pulling out real, raw, and complex emotional conflicts, tying it all to the overall themes of finding right in the wrong, joy in the trials, and complicated love in misunderstandings.
I found the plot to be rather slow moving, and it didn't really introduce the conflict beginnings until roughly halfway through. Sometimes, I felt that many scenes were too caught up in the details of characters' reactions, and characters' reactions to other characters' reactions, repetitiously relying mainly on facial expressions. I think this tied into the somewhat awkwardly stilted and unrealistic impression that the dialog had on me, particularly with Duyen's interactions with her family members, but this is more of a stylistic pet peeve that had me distracted mainly in the beginning.
My favorite thing about Calligraphy Guild is the characters. I thought that R. M. Archer did an excellent job with Tora and the complex relationship shared with Sairsha and Raiden, which I thought was particularly beautiful. Tora struggles with chronic pain, and the parts of the story from her POV did a great job capturing the mentality of dealing with physical deprecation as she learns to fight through it and not against it. It's always been hard for me to understand the harsh realities of dealing with chronic disease, but I have been inspired time and time again by friends who do deal with it and the strength that they gain from their endurance. I'd say Tora is a fictional instance.
When it comes to relationship dynamics between Sairsha and Raiden involving the climax, I thought it was very well done. R. M. Archer drops little hints here and there, with just enough information to make us wonder, and then punches us in the gut at the very end with a "you should have seen it coming!" through excellently crafted descriptions of the deep emotions that are so significant to the wrapping up of the plot. The author pulled no punches with pulling out real, raw, and complex emotional conflicts, tying it all to the overall themes of finding right in the wrong, joy in the trials, and complicated love in misunderstandings.
July 9, 2022
Just—so, so beautiful. Tora is my favourite and will be for all of time.
Maybe I will update this later with more thoughts haha but these are my final impressions at the moment.
Maybe I will update this later with more thoughts haha but these are my final impressions at the moment.
May 19, 2022
This book is amazing! Archer puts so much time and thought and love into each of her projects. Her world building is thorough and unique. She takes pains to make sure her stories all have meaning and are realistic and immersive.
Tora is by far my favorite character! She is persistent and loyal and passionate and strong, even when her chronic illness gets in her way.
I love the way Archer ties together the themes, characters, world building, and plotlines into a story full of meaning and purpose. This story came into my life at a time when books had lost their shine for me. Every book I had read at that time had been abusing the art of storytelling, only writing to have written rather than because they had a story to tell.
Archer broke that mould. This is the story that taught me to love books again. Archer loves what she does, and that shines through in every word she writes. I'm grateful that I got to be a part of this book's story.
Tora is by far my favorite character! She is persistent and loyal and passionate and strong, even when her chronic illness gets in her way.
I love the way Archer ties together the themes, characters, world building, and plotlines into a story full of meaning and purpose. This story came into my life at a time when books had lost their shine for me. Every book I had read at that time had been abusing the art of storytelling, only writing to have written rather than because they had a story to tell.
Archer broke that mould. This is the story that taught me to love books again. Archer loves what she does, and that shines through in every word she writes. I'm grateful that I got to be a part of this book's story.
October 24, 2023
Dnf... I can't finish it.. the story idea is so cool, I was so intrigued at the beginning. But it is sooo endlessly boring.....
Read
April 11, 2025DNF
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews