Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander

Lays of the Hearth-Fire #1.5

by Victoria Goddard

“Someone always leaves.”

That’s what Tovo has been saying to anyone who asks him why his great-nephew Kip Mdang isn’t at his side, isn’t fulfilling the tasks and obligations of the tanà, isn’t there to tend the fire, isn’t home.

“Someone always leaves,” Tovo reminds them. “Kip will return when it’s time.”

He wonders, though. He wonders if his errant grand-nephew was really as bright and as promising as they all thought he was. He wonders if Kip has forgotten the Lays, forgotten what it means to be an Islander, forgotten everything that Tovo taught him.

Of course, the simplest solution to Tovo’s doubts is to go and see for himself.

Someone always leaves, after all, even to the other side of the world.

A companion novella to The Hands of the Emperor.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, LGBT, Magic, Queer

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2022

About the author

I walked across England in 2013, fulfilling a long-held dream. I'm currently the sexton of an Anglican church in Nova Scotia, which means I am keeper of the keys and opener of doors (and shutter-off of alarms). I have a PhD in medieval studies from the University of Toronto, looking at poetry and philosophy in the works of Dante and Boethius -- both the poetry and the philosophy come into my stories a great deal (and occasionally the Dante and the Boethius).

I like writing about the ordinary lives of magical people on the other side of the looking glass ... and the extraordinary deeds of ordinary folk, too. Three of my favourite authors are Patricia McKillip (especially 'The Riddle-Master of Hed' trilogy and 'The Bell at Sealy Head'), Connie Willis ('Bellwether' and 'To Say Nothing of the Dog,' which latter would make my top-ten books on a desert island), and Lois McMaster Bujold ('The Curse of Chalion' and its sequels).

Reviews

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/14 reread: I love Buru Tovo and his husband very much

1/26: Buru Tovo got AROUND. man, myth, legend.

seeing the emperor and Kip interact from a third perspective has filled my brain with bees. more of these novellas please i’ll take twenty

[emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He glanced across at Kip’s emperor, the sun of his life, who was looking on Kip as if he were the stone upon which the world turned.” HECK,

UPDATE: I can happily confirm that the audiobook is good!

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread Jan. 2023: Loved it even more the second time. This novella (this entire series!) is SO GOOD.

**

Oh I loved this a LOT. Buru Tovo was one of the best characters in The Hands of the Emperor, so spending more time with him was a treat.

[Sookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lays of the Hearth-Fire is my favorite fantasy series and this novella is a perfect example why. Everything about this is warm, even when nostalgia is painful, the uncle - an elder , who has great influence on the main character, gets his story told.

Absolutely gorgeous writing, like old auntie telling you stories of the past.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another back story to the two book series, "Lays of the Hearth-Fire;" The Hands of the Emperor, the first. "Portrait," reveals more of the story of the Emperor's Secretary/Chancellor's (Kip) great uncle. The great uncle who was Kip's tutor, mentor, sage, who taught the lore called The Lays.

In all my reviews of Goddard's nine worlds, I mention her story telling. That is exactly the theme of these books. Picture long ago sitting around a camp fire and having an elder (we all used to be children) recite a tale or two or three about myths, magic, deeds of heroes. The list is endless. That is the flavor and enjoyment I get from reading these works. Victoria Goddard tells wonderful stories and they are comfortable.

[Mary Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One day Kip would realize that the way to keep a single ember safe was to light a fire with it."

I'll admit that I was a little unsure about Tovo in The Hands of the Emperor, but I loved him in this novella. It is so refreshing to witness a character so deeply grounded in his tradition and yet so docile with others, willing to listen to both a young girl and to the Emperor. Tovo's words are brusque, but his sensitive observations of the interior of others is where the beauty of his character shines.

The parallels between Cliopher and the Emperor and Elonoa'a and Aurelius Magnus make my heart sing—it's one of those details that remind you that this is a tale of epic proportions. This novella definitely earns its place in Goddard's treasure trove of epic fantasy.

[anna b · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rich, warm world these books inhabit! Truly so wonderful. An absolutely lovely accompaniment to the Hands of the Emperor.

[tillie hellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a novella told from the POV of kip’s granduncle and takes place during HOTE. i liked his narrative voice a lot and the way he viewed the world. it’s another perspective on how everything is foreign and unknown to someone who lives somewhere else, even the things that seem to be “normal” to the majority groups (in kip’s pov we get a little less of this, since he’s been part of the government for a very long time). also classic goddard themes of claiming your accomplishments and being appreciated for who you really are. very sweet, enjoyed his frankness (esp when it came to the emperor and kip’s relationship), but my favorite part had to be when tovo befriended this little girl on the train. good novella! emily you should read it eventually but read ATFOS first (just bc i want you to read that asap, chronological this should be next LOL)

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tovo so much, and obviously Victoria Goddard does too! Tovo goes to visit Kip and see what all the fuss is about.

[David H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I had hoped for more from this novella. It has some really good elements to it (the first two chapters were great), but once he arrives in Solaara, it stops being a complete story, simply rehashing the same scenes but from Tovo's perspective.

I loved loved loved The Hands of the Emperor in spite of some of its flaws, but the longer I've been away from it, and having read both this novella and Petty Treasons, the less I'm willing to continue in Goddard's world (or Nine Worlds, in this case).

[Daniy ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldnt sleep last night and read two murder mysteries so I needed something "nice"
I CRIED SO MUCH WITH THIS BOOK
SO SO MUCH THAT IM REREADING HANDS OF THE EMPEROR NOW


18/01/2026: Reread after reading Feonie's short story, cried a lot, loved it a lot, re re reading Hands of the emperor now.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay but what is it FOR

[Eh?Eh! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I read something profound but don't have the mental chops to communicate the things it's stirring up in me. To be read after The Hands of the Emperor, this expands on one of the events in that book. Tovo, Kip's uncle, comes to visit him and weigh Kip's suitability as successor. As someone separated from traditions or family practices, I wonder what it's like to have such a path available to you. I know nothing is as clear as it seems from the outside. But to carry the weight of these intangibles, to have direction and purpose, what's that like? And to see someone exceed hopes, to know you were a part of someone's growing capability, how full would that make the cup of your heart? I love the everyday sort of interactions Tovo has along the way, connecting with his fellow humans in a way that makes me want to stop avoiding others, hah.

[NiaKantorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
There was something deeply satisfying about following Buru Tovo’s journey. I loved his pov on the journey itself, the people he met, his view of Kip and his great-nephew’s emperor. I laughed myself silly about meeting his own emperor (who was such a let down compared to Antorin and Aurelius). But he did find what he was looking for and that’s all that counts. What a beautiful addition to Kip’s tale.

[Kate Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh, wonderful. this is such a good addition to the series: so loving, so clarifying, so beautiful. once again delightful to read kip from another perspective, and delightful also to read more about the islands and their culture and their history.

[Laurel]

Hearing things from Buru Tovo’s perspective was a happy surprise - he’s so practical, and I love reading how he views Kip. The mentions of young Kip as an impatient and stubborn boy fits so well.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww…

It’s pretty cool to see how Buru Tovo saw the trip to see Kip. We knew he was proud of him, but seeing it through his eyes was really moving.

[Jenny (Nyxie)]

No rating DNF at 20%. I think this book must work best if you’ve read the larger book it’s related to. I just got very bored.

Tags: queer fantasy, not a romance

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. It answered some of my questions from Hand of the Emperor, gave further context, elaborated on Islander history, and made me cry all over again. And who couldn’t love tanà Tovo?

[lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am obsessed

[Emily Kolach · Rating 4 out of 5]

buru tovo is great. i love the little tidbits on the sea train and his perspective of kip and fitzroy!

[Gingerly-Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved:
- Buru Tovo is the funniest queer cranky old man and I love him
- also the confirmations in this book that he's queer and him constantly being like 'ooh if I was thirty years younger' about every hot man is SO AMAZING
- him being like 'oh it's a shame Kip doesn't seem to be into men or women' and then immediately after thinking the gayest shit about how Kip serves his emperor will never not be funny to me
- finally, him on the train with the inquisitive little girl was so sweet I love how it demonstrated what a great teacher and leader he is

[zjakkelien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story. It never reaches the same heartwarming levels as the books, though. Quite frankly, I think Tovo could stand to learn a few things himself. He pretends to be free with his teaching, but he lets Kip figure things out on his own. He recognises that he made mistakes with him, then doesn't say a word about it, and pretty much repeats them. And in the meantime, he looks at everything non-islander thing with condescension. I had a generally good opinion of him before this, but that has now dropped considerably.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my favorite of all of Victoria’s novellas. I already loved Buru Tovo from HOTE, but really getting some outside perspective of Kip, not only from someone back home, but a family member, his mentor? Truly priceless, I love it (and more Vangavaye-ve is always a treat). And I definitely spent the last chapter shrieking in scandalized delight XD

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent companion piece to Hands of the Emperor.

Plot (Story / Pacing / Ending): 5/5
Characters (Characters / Development): 5/5
Writing (Prose / Dialogue / Style): 5/5
Other (Enjoyment / Read Pace / Worldbuilding / Etc): 5/5

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, this little book brought all the feelings I have for Kip in one huge fell swoop. God, Victoria sure knows exactly how to make me emote!!!!!!

[ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

say less about everything you actually said anything about and say more about the death island please and thankyou

[Joe Kessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this midquel novella to author Victoria Goddard's excellent fantasy tome The Hands of the Emperor, but I think I'm not totally impressed by it, especially after the previous short spinoff work for this series Petty Treasons seemed to up the ante on what the format could do. Unlike that title, this one feels essentially like one long deleted scene from the original novel. It's the tale of Kip's uncle Buro Tovo coming from their island home to see him in his exalted station at His Radiancy's side, which means it plays out as a few interactions we've already seen from a different point of view, along with some looks at the older man's travel and his personal reflections throughout.

And that's all interesting, to a degree! It provides a deeper perspective on the cultural practices of the Vangavaye-ve and helps to unlock a figure who could be somewhat enigmatic before -- now with some additional queer representation -- but there's just not enough of a spark here for the story to satisfyingly stand on its own. While it wouldn't have felt too out of place as part of the longer book and succeeds fine for readers who come at it with the context of that broader narrative, it doesn't seem as friendly to newcomers, nor as distinctive in its emotional climax. (In other words, either you can recognize the repeated beats for what they are at a diminished value, or you're likely too lost for their charms to wholly register.) I'm glad I checked this out, and at less than a hundred pages it certainly doesn't overstay its welcome, but I wouldn't call it an essential volume in the franchise by any means.

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[Noelle Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Buru Tovo is 90. While on what will probably be his last trip around the Wide Sea Islands to check the Lays, he decides to go even further and visit his great nephew Kip, to see if he is keeping the fire. Parts of this story is told in “The Hands of the Emperor”, and these are those events either told from Buru Tovo’s POV, or told to him by others.

My thoughts: A delightful story, sometimes very funny, of how and why Buru Tovo ended up in Solaara and why Kip danced the fire dance in front of the court that day. I enjoyed seeing the world through Tovo’s eyes, and Tovo realizing how important a man Kip was. I love Kip so very much, so anytime someone comes to a new understanding of him, especially when that someone is a member of his family, it makes my heart happy. I also loved Tovo telling His Radiancy the story of how portrait came to be painted and what a disappointment his predecessor was! LOL Actually, I loved every time Tovo appreciated a fine young man and wished he were younger…word, Tovo, word…

So, not a story that moved anything along, really, but just an “enhancement” to what we already have. I love how all of Victoria’s stories add to and fill in gaps in this huge world she’s building for us. I just wish there were maps available, because it is a HUGE world (or rather, 5 or 7 or 9 worlds), and it’s easy to lose track of where you are.

Anyway, I’m really kind of torn. Part of me wants to go back and re-read her entire catalog since it’s been awhile since I’ve read them, but I have this shiny, new, HUGE follow-up to The Hands of the Emperor waiting for me…maybe I'll just reread some of my favorite parts of THOTE today, and start ATFOTS tomorrow.

One star off for typos…Victoria, call me. I'd be more than happy to proofread for you.

[Fernanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

BURU TOVO EU TE AMO

"Someone always leaves. He will come back when he’s ready.
Tovo had been holding that ember for a long, long time."

victoria goddard me ataca novamente, um livro perfeito, que história para o buru tovo, com seu começo melancólico e cheio de reflexão e com uma pequena chama de esperança por trás, mesmo sabendo do final da história do buru tovo que glorioso foi terminar ela com essa explosão de esperança e certeza das escolhas feitas

comecei já com os olhos lacrimejados e terminei o primeiro capítulo chorando, a relação do buru com o kip e toda vez que ele reflete sobre o kip 😭 buru tovo é sensacional, todas as interações que ele teve ao longo da história foram ótimas e a personalidade dele é hilária, adorei todas as vezes que ele viu um homem bonitão e ficou desejando ser mais novo

"Oh, Kip had learned some of his lessons well. Tovo saw so much of himself in Kip it almost hurt to look at him and doubt."

e a revelação perto do final? MORRI DE RIR, eu não estava esperando

lays of the hearth-fire definitivamente é uma das minhas séries de livros preferidas, comecei portrait of a wide seas islander com vontade de reler the hands of the emperor e terminei com muito mais vontade

“It can’t be silly to follow something that beautiful, can it?” she said.
“No,” he replied quietly, feeling her small hand steal into his. “No.”