Emily M’s Reviews > The West Passage > Status Update

“Hawthorne frowned. ‘I have to say, I don’t remember the stories saying [redacted] is so…loquacious.’… ‘Think carefully: Who tells these stories? And what do they gain by saying I am mute?’”

Oooh…Yeah, that’s consistent with my theory!

Oh, so the cover image is a painting within the story! Neat!

But I wonder why Yarrow, the most senior person in Grey, feels like she is forbidden from looking at the Grey portion of the image?

“Had the new Yarrow overstepped?…Arnica drew herself up to her full height, which was only an inch or two taller than the new Yarrow. She had no spines like the old Yarrow, no claws like Ban, no fur like Grith, no twigs for hair like the new Yarrow. She was simple flesh and bone, but nothing was more frightening than her anger. In a house of the old, it was the first new thing in years.”

“A bee…landed briefly on his hand. ‘Tell them I tried,’ he said, for the sake of having spoken… ‘Oi,’ said a husky voice above him. A small person with a trout’s face…was looking down at him… ‘Tried what?’ said the person. ‘Huh?’ said Kew. ‘The bee said you tried. Tried what? If you’re talking about surviving, that sure as South ain’t working, as far as I can tell.’”
😂

Saw a review that said this reminded them a bit of ‘The Tombs of Atuan’. First chapter DEFINITELY giving that vibe! But based on an author interview, I’m expecting more chaotic world building.