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Tuyo #3
Tarashana
A year and a half ago, Ryo and Aras defeated their enemy, ending the conflict between the winter country and the summer lands. But with all his important secrets revealed in that struggle, Lord Aras now faces a new challenge in dealing with his own countrymen. Then a message arrives from Ryo’s people: A woman of the Tarashana has come to them from the starlit lands beyond their northern border. Though she plainly needs their help, she is mute. She cannot explain what happened to her people or describe what enemy drove them from their lands. No Ugaro can speak to her — but Aras might. Will he come, and by his arts help Tarashana and Ugaro understand one another? Intrigued by this problem, and with every reason to leave his own country for some time, Aras agrees. But the journey upon which he and Ryo embark will be far longer and far more challenging than either of them imagine …
629 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2021
101 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Neumeier
58 books580 followersRachel Neumeier started writing fiction to relax when she was a graduate student and needed a hobby unrelated to her research. Prior to selling her first fantasy novel, she had published only a few articles in venues such as The American Journal of Botany. However, finding that her interests did not lie in research, Rachel left academia and began to let her hobbies take over her life instead.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 28, 2023
Re-read, and that was enjoyable! On to the new book!
Original review:
Probably 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
I had a slightly harder time getting into this one as compared to Tuyo. With that book, I was immersed immediately despite there being a slow pace and not very many things happening. This had Things Happening at a pretty good clip. There was certainly several action scenes in this one but still had a lack of smut ;)
This has a sort of quest-ish feel to it. Ryo, Aras, Geras, Lalani and a few others need to travel to the starlit lands in order to help put a stop to a rising- but spreading- threat in the far north. There are a slew of bizarre Alice in Wonderland types of occurrences in these lands. An example might be walking forward along a trail, and then suddenly you're perpendicular to the trail you had been on and walking on the side of a cliff. Things of that nature.
For the plot, I'm going to try to be as unspoilery and suitably vague as possible with some unhelpful bullet points:
-Weirdness established
-Heckuva fight breaks out between good vs. evil
-Things start to make more sense
-More fighting
-WTH?!? Oh, man, he DIDN'T!
-Damaged relationship
-Some fairly significant additional plot developments.
Now that I've cleared up any confusion 🤔 just a comment or two.
I thoroughly enjoyed following along with these characters. We saw a different side to Ryo in the North than we had seen from him in the southern lands. Lalani's character really blossomed in this one; she's so very likeable! I love Ryo's family and the way they are with one another. As a matter of fact, I enjoy his people all around. They appear to be barbarous, but in actuality they are exquisitely polite and respectful with eachother. When they are speaking, if the topic is one that weighs heavily, they will request pregnant pauses in the form of breaths after something has been said, in the hope that the words have been heard and understood. A sentence like the one below is common during a conversation:
“These are my thoughts,” he finished. “I ask that you take forty breaths to consider my words. Twice forty."
The heavier the issue discussed, the higher the number of breaths requested for consideration. I think that is a terrific idea! If we all just shut up and breathed for eighty breaths, perhaps there would be a lot less angry words. It's much better than counting to ten.
As to the story arc, it appears to be sufficiently open to a follow-up, but it's not a cliffhanger. From what I have gathered, Book 4 follows along with Elias on a tangent to Ryo and Aras' tale. I hope there will be a future book with these two friends because I'd definitely read it.
June 2, 2021
Update - This book is even better upon rereading. I still loved it. I will mention that it isn't perfect. There was one fairly minor element that I disliked the first time around and I dislike it even more this time around. However, it is minor enough that I could skip reading it this time. And so I set it aside. Besides, it may be that the next book resolves it in a way that I like.
My original review is below.
=========
Tuyo, the first book in this series, is one I read in record time. I loved the old school fantasy set in a wonderfully imagined world. It was fresh, imaginative, and original. I also really enjoyed watching two men from very different peoples and cultures become friends.
Tarashana is a great sequel. We have the chance to investigate a completely new land when Ryo's people ask if Aras's mind reading ability can help them understand a mute woman asking for help. She is from the starlit land where the people all mysteriously disappeared. Naturally enough, Ryo's people worry about anything that powerful coming after them next. Not only is it an interesting question, but it's perfect timing because Aras has a big problem he can't solve, but that he can avoid by doing this quest instead. So he and Ryo take off for what turns into a huge adventure.
I also read this book in record time and enjoyed the heck out of it. Some of the themes from Tuyo are further developed thanks to the contrast between three different peoples. Ryo's own people are further revealed as a lot of time is spent in the winter country. It would really be impossible to explain this book without spoiling it but Neumeier makes the world a big one with epic battles, friendships, and live-or-die moments.
If you liked Tuyo, you're going to love Tarashana. I was glad to see in the end notes that a novella (?) and a proper sequel to this book will show up in 2022. Woohoo!
My original review is below.
=========
Tuyo, the first book in this series, is one I read in record time. I loved the old school fantasy set in a wonderfully imagined world. It was fresh, imaginative, and original. I also really enjoyed watching two men from very different peoples and cultures become friends.
Tarashana is a great sequel. We have the chance to investigate a completely new land when Ryo's people ask if Aras's mind reading ability can help them understand a mute woman asking for help. She is from the starlit land where the people all mysteriously disappeared. Naturally enough, Ryo's people worry about anything that powerful coming after them next. Not only is it an interesting question, but it's perfect timing because Aras has a big problem he can't solve, but that he can avoid by doing this quest instead. So he and Ryo take off for what turns into a huge adventure.
I also read this book in record time and enjoyed the heck out of it. Some of the themes from Tuyo are further developed thanks to the contrast between three different peoples. Ryo's own people are further revealed as a lot of time is spent in the winter country. It would really be impossible to explain this book without spoiling it but Neumeier makes the world a big one with epic battles, friendships, and live-or-die moments.
If you liked Tuyo, you're going to love Tarashana. I was glad to see in the end notes that a novella (?) and a proper sequel to this book will show up in 2022. Woohoo!
September 23, 2023
I admit, when I opened this book and saw it was over 10,000 locations, my interest waned significantly. The previous books were decent lengths and the stories moved along, though there were obvious places where things could have been trimmed but weren't. This book was much longer than those and, as much as I enjoyed the previous ones, these aren't A Song of Ice and Fire. They don't need to be this long. I ended up skimming heavily in the middle section, which seemed to drag on and on, and even once things started moving along and the author got back to what she does best (examining the differences in cultures and how friendships/relationships work or can be strained from this), I still found myself skimming now and again. This should have been trimmed heavily, but I doubt this was sent to an editor. The typos alone were enough to tell me that, though they weren't enough to break me.
I did like the stuff with Aras and Ryo. I was on the fence if all that would pay off, but it did. But I'm even more on the fence if the author can keep up this nearly idyllic presentation of common sense going forward. It's been a stretch up to this point, but with so many threads left dangling at the end, I would be rather bemused if some serious consequences didn't finally show up and smack our characters upside their heads.
I was amused when Darra
I'm still wishing for more significant world building than we've gotten. So far, we only know of two gods, the gods of the sun and moon, but not their names. There appear to be other gods, but that's all that's been indicated. The world doesn't work the way physics demands, so you just kind of have to suspend disbelief there and assume all kinds of things that the characters aren't knowledgable enough to know about. It's a different kind of reading experience, that's for sure. I am having fun with it, despite this sounding like a complaint. Well, except I do expect the gods to have names since they're so important and actually do exist and intervene in this world.
The Tarashana were interesting but ultimately got left behind around the 70% mark, which was odd since the book is named for them. 🤷🏻♀️ It would have made more sense to end this book when they left the Tarashana behind, not just because they should be the focus of the book but also because that's where tensions were the highest. I get why it was continued though. There was a lot to resolve, and it would have been too much of a cliffhanger to end it that way.
In the end, I really liked what I did read, and am looking forward to Tano's book, but I skimmed over so much, I can't give this higher than a 3.
I did like the stuff with Aras and Ryo. I was on the fence if all that would pay off, but it did. But I'm even more on the fence if the author can keep up this nearly idyllic presentation of common sense going forward. It's been a stretch up to this point, but with so many threads left dangling at the end, I would be rather bemused if some serious consequences didn't finally show up and smack our characters upside their heads.
I was amused when Darra
I'm still wishing for more significant world building than we've gotten. So far, we only know of two gods, the gods of the sun and moon, but not their names. There appear to be other gods, but that's all that's been indicated. The world doesn't work the way physics demands, so you just kind of have to suspend disbelief there and assume all kinds of things that the characters aren't knowledgable enough to know about. It's a different kind of reading experience, that's for sure. I am having fun with it, despite this sounding like a complaint. Well, except I do expect the gods to have names since they're so important and actually do exist and intervene in this world.
The Tarashana were interesting but ultimately got left behind around the 70% mark, which was odd since the book is named for them. 🤷🏻♀️ It would have made more sense to end this book when they left the Tarashana behind, not just because they should be the focus of the book but also because that's where tensions were the highest. I get why it was continued though. There was a lot to resolve, and it would have been too much of a cliffhanger to end it that way.
In the end, I really liked what I did read, and am looking forward to Tano's book, but I skimmed over so much, I can't give this higher than a 3.
August 6, 2024
This series just keeps getting better and better. Innovative writing.
Our hero and his sorcerer's band (the Lau) enter the winter lands at the request of the Ugaro to solve a puzzle presented by a woman from the starlit lands. There is a dark enemy that has abolished the starlit land people. In order to remedy the problem our group must enter the land of the shades. Are we confused yet? The Lau are summer land people. Cold is their bane. The Ugaro are the winter land folk. Cold is not a problem. Starlit has no sun. The Shades is the land of the deceased. Quite the imagination Rachel Neumeier has.
The underlying thread is that honor is threatened and at some point violated. Is the cause justified?
The entire Ugaro nation lives not by laws, but by honor. An intriguing concept.
Battles abound and punishment is harsh. This book is a page turner. Enjoy!
Our hero and his sorcerer's band (the Lau) enter the winter lands at the request of the Ugaro to solve a puzzle presented by a woman from the starlit lands. There is a dark enemy that has abolished the starlit land people. In order to remedy the problem our group must enter the land of the shades. Are we confused yet? The Lau are summer land people. Cold is their bane. The Ugaro are the winter land folk. Cold is not a problem. Starlit has no sun. The Shades is the land of the deceased. Quite the imagination Rachel Neumeier has.
The underlying thread is that honor is threatened and at some point violated. Is the cause justified?
The entire Ugaro nation lives not by laws, but by honor. An intriguing concept.
Battles abound and punishment is harsh. This book is a page turner. Enjoy!
May 26, 2023
Laborious, formulaic exposition of the Winter lands culture. Hugely unintriguing D&D battle. Somewhat interesting twist re the sorceror at the end but one I found rather implausible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2021
It took a long time to get to the main conflict of this sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised by how Neumeier decided to test Ryo and Aras' friendship. It was also thematically very tight, so that the first half of the book - episodes involving new characters – set up the issues of trust, forgiveness, and broken trust that Ryo and Aras had to confront between each other in the last third. It's common, of course, for the second book in a series to end on a cliffhanger where the reader is left in suspense, but much less common for that suspense to be about integrity of character and not some plot action (the plot action, which occupies the middle third, is the least compelling part of the novel, but it's perfectly fine fantasy fare).
March 19, 2023
Very good.
Before reading Tano I went back and reread the stuff near the end. It withstood the reread very easily
Then I reread again!.
Before reading Tano I went back and reread the stuff near the end. It withstood the reread very easily
Then I reread again!.
May 7, 2021
I love this one a lot. A lot.
For me, it all comes down to Ryo and how he views himself and the world. How he deals with still being a Tuyo and therefore shaping the future of other Tuyos. Of how he has to deal with magic and other stuff that he wouldn't have even dreamed of before he met Aras. Of how he deals with a huge betrayal that was necessary but still hurt so much and shattered his belief in a friend. Of how he is a warrior but also a very awesome, and very kind, human being.
I absolutely love how Ryo deals with Tana. He had every right to kill Tana due to the ban and him crossing into the lands that belong to Ryos people. But, he saw what nobody else saw and chose kindness. He gave Tana a chance to make up for what he did and in the end? Gained a younger brother and an even younger one along with a few other people. Yeah, kindness for the win!
The betrayal? Such a difficult situation. Was it necessary? Yeah, otherwise the world would have died. Does it still hurt so much on a personal level? Yes, a promise, an oath, the trust between two people has been shattered. Is it mendable? Yeah, I hope so.
I also love how everyone deals with the betrayal. Leaving Ryo time alone to find himself again but still coming an pushing him to return and actually deal with it. Also, Aras offering himself up the way he did? OMG. Everyone agreeing that it is a very difficult situation and sometimes hard choices have to be made even though the hard choice is horrible too? And how all that pings on - what is a leader allowed to do? Are there things that should not be crossed no matter what? Are there things that should be crossed no matter what? What things should be forgiven? Forgotten? Left festering in your heart? When is it okay to let go of the thing festering in your heart?
The story about the Tarashana - good. I love that due to this we get to see even more of Ryos people and their way of life and beliefs. I love that we got to meet a few more siblings of Ryo and some other characters. :)
The marriage thing? Woha. I do wonder if it ever comes to be or if anyone will die before it comes to be. And if not - how will it work out?!?!
So, yeah, I'm so looking forward to the next book that deals with the outcome of this one and the journey Ryo and Aras have to go on.
For me, it all comes down to Ryo and how he views himself and the world. How he deals with still being a Tuyo and therefore shaping the future of other Tuyos. Of how he has to deal with magic and other stuff that he wouldn't have even dreamed of before he met Aras. Of how he deals with a huge betrayal that was necessary but still hurt so much and shattered his belief in a friend. Of how he is a warrior but also a very awesome, and very kind, human being.
I absolutely love how Ryo deals with Tana. He had every right to kill Tana due to the ban and him crossing into the lands that belong to Ryos people. But, he saw what nobody else saw and chose kindness. He gave Tana a chance to make up for what he did and in the end? Gained a younger brother and an even younger one along with a few other people. Yeah, kindness for the win!
The betrayal? Such a difficult situation. Was it necessary? Yeah, otherwise the world would have died. Does it still hurt so much on a personal level? Yes, a promise, an oath, the trust between two people has been shattered. Is it mendable? Yeah, I hope so.
I also love how everyone deals with the betrayal. Leaving Ryo time alone to find himself again but still coming an pushing him to return and actually deal with it. Also, Aras offering himself up the way he did? OMG. Everyone agreeing that it is a very difficult situation and sometimes hard choices have to be made even though the hard choice is horrible too? And how all that pings on - what is a leader allowed to do? Are there things that should not be crossed no matter what? Are there things that should be crossed no matter what? What things should be forgiven? Forgotten? Left festering in your heart? When is it okay to let go of the thing festering in your heart?
The story about the Tarashana - good. I love that due to this we get to see even more of Ryos people and their way of life and beliefs. I love that we got to meet a few more siblings of Ryo and some other characters. :)
The marriage thing? Woha. I do wonder if it ever comes to be or if anyone will die before it comes to be. And if not - how will it work out?!?!
So, yeah, I'm so looking forward to the next book that deals with the outcome of this one and the journey Ryo and Aras have to go on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2021
A richly realised world of magic, intriguing cultures and high adventure
A fantastic blend of cultural clashes, tested friendships and loyalties, and the limits of human endurance as the Ugaro and their allies face a terrible enemy from the north. I loved everything about this book. It's fascinating to see Ryo developing maturity and leadership strengths and a deeper friendship with the sorcerer Aras. This story is set in the land of winter, and the land is a character in itself, with brilliantly described snow, ice, wind, wolves, and bitter storms. I read this book in a single day.
A fantastic blend of cultural clashes, tested friendships and loyalties, and the limits of human endurance as the Ugaro and their allies face a terrible enemy from the north. I loved everything about this book. It's fascinating to see Ryo developing maturity and leadership strengths and a deeper friendship with the sorcerer Aras. This story is set in the land of winter, and the land is a character in itself, with brilliantly described snow, ice, wind, wolves, and bitter storms. I read this book in a single day.
March 21, 2023
this book was a delicious five course meal for me personally. the friendship, the loyalty, the trauma recovery, the trust!!! it's good food!!
July 9, 2024
Drags a little towards the end with the endless judgments, still very good. I am trying to decide whether to do some of the side stories first or whether to go the next book in this story arc.
June 21, 2025
Now, in this moment, after over 40 years of a pathological reading addiction.. after tens of thousands of books, I will finally accept that I get too emotional when reading.
I always *try* to remember to give authors extra credit for evoking this sort of reaction via plot (as opposed to what I consider literary crimes or triggers, which cause a whole different type of severe emotion). You have to build solid characters and get your audience invested to achieve this sort of thing. It’s excellent. It takes skill.
All that to say that I’m too furious to finish the last 15% just now. I’ll certainly come back to it. But like Ryo, I need space from it. I’m genuinely impressed with how mad and betrayed I feel. It’s really something. I think he made the right decision but I never want to see Aras again. Ever. Did Aras really have a choice? No. Is he appropriately sad? Yes. But that makes absolutely no difference. I appreciate that the author has managed to show that in real life, the puzzle pieces don’t always fit. There is a lot of excessive idealism in this story overall (which I personally don’t mind), but this here is a bit of reality that a lot of people don’t ever accept. Life isn’t black or white. Sometimes everyone loses.
What I can’t quite accept is the fact that I know that this relationship will resolve itself. I will give the book a chance to speak its peace, but I know that’s where the story will eventually go. There are sequels. I personally would have to end the friendship though. I’m naturally laid back, irrationally good natured, can get along with anyone, and I’m incapable of holding grudges. Because of this, when a something so severe as a betrayal like this happens, I must cut ties. I’ll accidentally forgive a person if they stick around. And let’s be honest, most betrayers aren’t like Aras. It’s a habit of self preservation. It’s ingrained deep and apparently I take my book relationships very seriously, so here we are.
While we’re on the subject, I was never able to stop hating the manipulative asshole who was all tiny and shining and helpless. Our group of characters would’ve helped her without her throwing their tribe into the underworld. Again, one of those ‘greater good’ decisions that deserve a punch in the face. Or a death sentence. Something.
I’ve enjoyed the themes of this book, with the setup of that terrible decision in the beginning. I always enjoy cultural illustrations, especially when the good and bad are explored in both. The characters continue to be delightful, on the whole. Forgiveness is obviously something I haven’t come to terms with but it’s illustrated fairly extensively.
There were parts that were a slog, but I’ll admit that I don’t ever enjoy underworld expeditions. Nothing has to make sense in that scenario, so the stakes aren’t very high since everything will work out because of reasons. The reasons are never logical so I have a hard time paying attention. So to be fair, that’s not an opinion I apply only to this book.
And I don’t really think the plots are the driving force of these books. They’re more of a prop for character development and the exploration of various ideas. Which I happen to think is excellent. Most authors monologue endlessly about various beliefs. This one follows the ‘show, don’t tell’ premise and that’s wonderful.
Also, while I don’t mind poly romances and I happen to love reverse harems, I’m really picky about circumstances. I need everyone involved to be enthusiastic about the sharing thing. I absolutely cannot stand forcing people to ‘make it work’ regardless of the genders. I’m a jealous person and cheating is a trigger, so my feelings can go pretty strongly in the negative direction. From what I understand about the future romance in this story, Ryo is sharing his wife with a stranger. It’s not a cultural norm. It’s not something between close friends. It’s not his idea. So I don’t like it.
*After considerable thought, I don’t think I’ll be able to return to the story. I’m too angry at Aras. I’m too annoyed by the romance. None of this is the authors fault however. It’s just personal preference. And again, extra points for engaging me enough to make me this mad at a character. I’m astounded by how complex this emotion is. I want to move past it so I can read more, I can see the path to doing so, but I’m too pissed off to do it. Never before have I fully understood the whole “I acknowledge it but do not forgive it” cultural concept. Ugh.
I always *try* to remember to give authors extra credit for evoking this sort of reaction via plot (as opposed to what I consider literary crimes or triggers, which cause a whole different type of severe emotion). You have to build solid characters and get your audience invested to achieve this sort of thing. It’s excellent. It takes skill.
All that to say that I’m too furious to finish the last 15% just now. I’ll certainly come back to it. But like Ryo, I need space from it. I’m genuinely impressed with how mad and betrayed I feel. It’s really something. I think he made the right decision but I never want to see Aras again. Ever. Did Aras really have a choice? No. Is he appropriately sad? Yes. But that makes absolutely no difference. I appreciate that the author has managed to show that in real life, the puzzle pieces don’t always fit. There is a lot of excessive idealism in this story overall (which I personally don’t mind), but this here is a bit of reality that a lot of people don’t ever accept. Life isn’t black or white. Sometimes everyone loses.
What I can’t quite accept is the fact that I know that this relationship will resolve itself. I will give the book a chance to speak its peace, but I know that’s where the story will eventually go. There are sequels. I personally would have to end the friendship though. I’m naturally laid back, irrationally good natured, can get along with anyone, and I’m incapable of holding grudges. Because of this, when a something so severe as a betrayal like this happens, I must cut ties. I’ll accidentally forgive a person if they stick around. And let’s be honest, most betrayers aren’t like Aras. It’s a habit of self preservation. It’s ingrained deep and apparently I take my book relationships very seriously, so here we are.
While we’re on the subject, I was never able to stop hating the manipulative asshole who was all tiny and shining and helpless. Our group of characters would’ve helped her without her throwing their tribe into the underworld. Again, one of those ‘greater good’ decisions that deserve a punch in the face. Or a death sentence. Something.
I’ve enjoyed the themes of this book, with the setup of that terrible decision in the beginning. I always enjoy cultural illustrations, especially when the good and bad are explored in both. The characters continue to be delightful, on the whole. Forgiveness is obviously something I haven’t come to terms with but it’s illustrated fairly extensively.
There were parts that were a slog, but I’ll admit that I don’t ever enjoy underworld expeditions. Nothing has to make sense in that scenario, so the stakes aren’t very high since everything will work out because of reasons. The reasons are never logical so I have a hard time paying attention. So to be fair, that’s not an opinion I apply only to this book.
And I don’t really think the plots are the driving force of these books. They’re more of a prop for character development and the exploration of various ideas. Which I happen to think is excellent. Most authors monologue endlessly about various beliefs. This one follows the ‘show, don’t tell’ premise and that’s wonderful.
Also, while I don’t mind poly romances and I happen to love reverse harems, I’m really picky about circumstances. I need everyone involved to be enthusiastic about the sharing thing. I absolutely cannot stand forcing people to ‘make it work’ regardless of the genders. I’m a jealous person and cheating is a trigger, so my feelings can go pretty strongly in the negative direction. From what I understand about the future romance in this story, Ryo is sharing his wife with a stranger. It’s not a cultural norm. It’s not something between close friends. It’s not his idea. So I don’t like it.
*After considerable thought, I don’t think I’ll be able to return to the story. I’m too angry at Aras. I’m too annoyed by the romance. None of this is the authors fault however. It’s just personal preference. And again, extra points for engaging me enough to make me this mad at a character. I’m astounded by how complex this emotion is. I want to move past it so I can read more, I can see the path to doing so, but I’m too pissed off to do it. Never before have I fully understood the whole “I acknowledge it but do not forgive it” cultural concept. Ugh.
February 10, 2023
I didn't like it /as much/ as Tuyo overall, partially because the even heavier militaristic-cultural elements of this one, but also I'm still deeply invested in the characters and experiencing The Agonies.
We see a different side of Ryo, Ryo as a mentor/older sibling leader and not so much as the young man of the first novel, which makes sense, especially given that this book largely takes place in the winter country among his own people. I didn't care about Ryo's romantic interests, but his bonds with his siblings, and his adopted-siblings, really solidified him for me as a character beyond Tuyo. (And I absolutely adored Raga and if anything happens to him....) Of course, his relationship with Aras also shifts dramatically in this book, but I won't say much on that because spoilers. It was. Excruciatingly My Type Of Character Dynamics.
But Aras. Oh Aras. He undoubtedly remains my favourite character, and though I feel like we almost see less of him this book, or see him less intimately, he undergoes so much change this book. Truly The Agonies. I stand by my initial assessment of him as a man burdened by power, by a curse, but kind and good and determined to behave honourably. And then he goes oathbreaker. Is it sorcery's curse catching up with him? Is it the simple failings of a good man who's extended himself too far? It's delicious. It's exactly the kind of emotional and moral dilemmas I love to see my faves experience. Ryo describes Aras as "generous even where that might be a fault; deeply revolted by any kind of cruelty; willing to take a difficult burden on himself to spare other people." And it's that last bit that gets at the heart of my love for Aras. He's so weary. So sorrowful. So tired. And he can't stop, part of him doesn't want to, maybe part of him revels in the power while another part of him is disgusted by it. And he's tired. But he'll still take on those burdens at increasing cost to himself. It's absolutely one of my favourite character types. I wish we saw more of them. I'll be in agony til the direct sequel to this story comes out and Aras' arc concludes.
We see a different side of Ryo, Ryo as a mentor/older sibling leader and not so much as the young man of the first novel, which makes sense, especially given that this book largely takes place in the winter country among his own people. I didn't care about Ryo's romantic interests, but his bonds with his siblings, and his adopted-siblings, really solidified him for me as a character beyond Tuyo. (And I absolutely adored Raga and if anything happens to him....) Of course, his relationship with Aras also shifts dramatically in this book, but I won't say much on that because spoilers. It was. Excruciatingly My Type Of Character Dynamics.
But Aras. Oh Aras. He undoubtedly remains my favourite character, and though I feel like we almost see less of him this book, or see him less intimately, he undergoes so much change this book. Truly The Agonies. I stand by my initial assessment of him as a man burdened by power, by a curse, but kind and good and determined to behave honourably. And then he goes oathbreaker. Is it sorcery's curse catching up with him? Is it the simple failings of a good man who's extended himself too far? It's delicious. It's exactly the kind of emotional and moral dilemmas I love to see my faves experience. Ryo describes Aras as "generous even where that might be a fault; deeply revolted by any kind of cruelty; willing to take a difficult burden on himself to spare other people." And it's that last bit that gets at the heart of my love for Aras. He's so weary. So sorrowful. So tired. And he can't stop, part of him doesn't want to, maybe part of him revels in the power while another part of him is disgusted by it. And he's tired. But he'll still take on those burdens at increasing cost to himself. It's absolutely one of my favourite character types. I wish we saw more of them. I'll be in agony til the direct sequel to this story comes out and Aras' arc concludes.
August 3, 2024
This book dragged me through a slow-motion, multi-part roller coaster ride.
Part 1: The Summer Country and Journey to the Ugaro
This was FABULOUS. I was so happy to see Ryo and Aras again. Their dynamic remains immaculate. Aras is perfect. He is right about everything. Ryo is unflinchingly loyal, even when he has to tell Aras to his face that he's wrong. Starts off with a bang and then continues through tense negotiations of morality, loyalty, law, and relationships. You know me, I LOVE that.
When they started on the journey to the Winter Country, I was a little sad to leave the developing assassination attempt situation behind without seeing it resolved, but I was consoled by how Ryo almost immediately picked up a pathetic life form. This was engrossing, and Ryo's developing mentorship and relationship with Tano held my FULL ATTENTION. His situation only becomes more gripping with every little detail we learn about his backstory.
Part 2: Land of the Shades
This part seemed to take the longest. I wasn't disinterested in this save-the-universe plot, although it did seem very under-explained, but it was a long journey with a lot of environmental description. I don't really care about the people of the starlit lands. And this section has a lot less of the relationship/morality/values negotiation that is my most beloved throughout this whole series. Finally, at the end, the great climax comes, and it is HORRIFYING. I was stunned with horror. And it just goes on. And on. And on. For so long.
Part 3: Aftermath and Convocation
We're completely done saving the world and it's only like 2/3 through the book. That's when you know that you're really in for it.
I was glad the book didn't end leaving Aras and Ryo in their immediate post-battle state, because I don't think I could have emotionally withstood that. I read this book until 2AM and deeply regretted it the next day, but I COULDN'T put it down until I knew if they resolved their problems. Yikes yikes yikes. This was good, because Aras and Ryo are the heart of this whole series and it was such a high stakes and probably necessary moment for their dynamic, but still so painful. You mean Aras isn't perfect, and right about everything?
The Convocation plotline when they finally made it back to the Ugaro was RIVETING. Satisfying. Excellent. I love the Ugaro's extremely systematic, custom-based form of dealing with issues. Lots of talking. Lots of telling and re-telling things that happened. I couldn't look away the whole time. Tano is a great character, and I very much enjoyed getting a look behind the curtain of his story and seeing him get justice for his family. Loved it.
And then, in the middle of all this talking about what Tano did, the Aras and Ryo problem gets WORSE. SO MUCH WORSE. What is happening??? I'm worried now! But then it gets solved. Kind of? Overall, I went through the wringer with this book. It felt quite long and slow in parts, but I don't regret a minute of it. It definitely left me with the sword of Damocles issues hanging overhead that the second book in a trilogy often does, so I'll be going on to the next book forthwith. I have to resolve this tension asap.
Brief note on negatives: this book goes a lot more into the Lau types of wives, and Ugaro polygamy (and polyandry?) than previous series installments. We'll see how that goes, moving forward.
Part 1: The Summer Country and Journey to the Ugaro
This was FABULOUS. I was so happy to see Ryo and Aras again. Their dynamic remains immaculate. Aras is perfect. He is right about everything. Ryo is unflinchingly loyal, even when he has to tell Aras to his face that he's wrong. Starts off with a bang and then continues through tense negotiations of morality, loyalty, law, and relationships. You know me, I LOVE that.
When they started on the journey to the Winter Country, I was a little sad to leave the developing assassination attempt situation behind without seeing it resolved, but I was consoled by how Ryo almost immediately picked up a pathetic life form. This was engrossing, and Ryo's developing mentorship and relationship with Tano held my FULL ATTENTION. His situation only becomes more gripping with every little detail we learn about his backstory.
Part 2: Land of the Shades
This part seemed to take the longest. I wasn't disinterested in this save-the-universe plot, although it did seem very under-explained, but it was a long journey with a lot of environmental description. I don't really care about the people of the starlit lands. And this section has a lot less of the relationship/morality/values negotiation that is my most beloved throughout this whole series. Finally, at the end, the great climax comes, and it is HORRIFYING. I was stunned with horror. And it just goes on. And on. And on. For so long.
Part 3: Aftermath and Convocation
We're completely done saving the world and it's only like 2/3 through the book. That's when you know that you're really in for it.
I was glad the book didn't end leaving Aras and Ryo in their immediate post-battle state, because I don't think I could have emotionally withstood that. I read this book until 2AM and deeply regretted it the next day, but I COULDN'T put it down until I knew if they resolved their problems. Yikes yikes yikes. This was good, because Aras and Ryo are the heart of this whole series and it was such a high stakes and probably necessary moment for their dynamic, but still so painful. You mean Aras isn't perfect, and right about everything?
The Convocation plotline when they finally made it back to the Ugaro was RIVETING. Satisfying. Excellent. I love the Ugaro's extremely systematic, custom-based form of dealing with issues. Lots of talking. Lots of telling and re-telling things that happened. I couldn't look away the whole time. Tano is a great character, and I very much enjoyed getting a look behind the curtain of his story and seeing him get justice for his family. Loved it.
And then, in the middle of all this talking about what Tano did, the Aras and Ryo problem gets WORSE. SO MUCH WORSE. What is happening??? I'm worried now! But then it gets solved. Kind of? Overall, I went through the wringer with this book. It felt quite long and slow in parts, but I don't regret a minute of it. It definitely left me with the sword of Damocles issues hanging overhead that the second book in a trilogy often does, so I'll be going on to the next book forthwith. I have to resolve this tension asap.
Brief note on negatives: this book goes a lot more into the Lau types of wives, and Ugaro polygamy (and polyandry?) than previous series installments. We'll see how that goes, moving forward.
August 30, 2023
I love the world of Tuyo. This is a continuation of the main story, from Ryo’s point of view, and it covers so much. The main theme of the book is forgiveness. Several times characters do awful things, sometimes for very good reasons, but it is not always easy (and sometimes impossible) to reach a place of forgiveness. The Ugaro custom of insisting on a pause for forty breaths so words can be fully considered is so great. How much better would the world be if we routinely paused like this to keep from lashing out in anger, fear, or frustration?
I loved seeing Ryo and Aras’s relationship continue to develop, and other characters, particularly Lalani, get the spotlight. I loved EVERYTHING to do with Tano and cannot wait to read his own book. I also loved the exploration of the starlit country, which is one of the most beautiful and original locales I’ve ever read about. I also felt the twist regarding the fates of those who died in the land of the shades was well-earned, particularly Ryo’s after-the-fact reactions. I tend not to like that particular story idea (I’m being intentionally vague about what it is), but in this case I think it worked.
The only thing that didn’t really work for me was the long segment in the land of the shades. It was hard for me to follow the action because everything was so alien and strange, and honestly I wasn’t too engaged in it. I much preferred the living world scenes and the interaction of the characters there.
I loved seeing Ryo and Aras’s relationship continue to develop, and other characters, particularly Lalani, get the spotlight. I loved EVERYTHING to do with Tano and cannot wait to read his own book. I also loved the exploration of the starlit country, which is one of the most beautiful and original locales I’ve ever read about. I also felt the twist regarding the fates of those who died in the land of the shades was well-earned, particularly Ryo’s after-the-fact reactions. I tend not to like that particular story idea (I’m being intentionally vague about what it is), but in this case I think it worked.
The only thing that didn’t really work for me was the long segment in the land of the shades. It was hard for me to follow the action because everything was so alien and strange, and honestly I wasn’t too engaged in it. I much preferred the living world scenes and the interaction of the characters there.
November 5, 2024
After reading Tuyo, I could hardly wait to rejoin Ryo, Aras, and the others in their richly developed world. I wasn't disappointed! This adventure is just as good as the first—perhaps better in some ways, because now we get to know a new culture (the Tarashana). They are as unique and well-thought-out as the Lao and the Ugaro, and so is the land they live in.
I took off one star because the plot structure in this book is a little odd. The primary conflict is resolved about 60% of the way through. However, the rest of the book is anything but boring, and the characters still have plenty to deal with (mostly interpersonal issues as opposed to the life-and-death stakes of the main plot). To be honest, I love these characters so much I would follow them anywhere through this amazing world, so even if the book had no plot at all, I would probably still enjoy it!
Like Tuyo, Tarashana is excellently edited. It's a refreshing change to read a novel where I don't get yanked out of the story every few pages (or more) by typos and an author's inability to use grammar correctly.
I hurried to buy Tasmakat the moment I finished Tarashana! Can't wait for the next adventure!
I took off one star because the plot structure in this book is a little odd. The primary conflict is resolved about 60% of the way through. However, the rest of the book is anything but boring, and the characters still have plenty to deal with (mostly interpersonal issues as opposed to the life-and-death stakes of the main plot). To be honest, I love these characters so much I would follow them anywhere through this amazing world, so even if the book had no plot at all, I would probably still enjoy it!
Like Tuyo, Tarashana is excellently edited. It's a refreshing change to read a novel where I don't get yanked out of the story every few pages (or more) by typos and an author's inability to use grammar correctly.
I hurried to buy Tasmakat the moment I finished Tarashana! Can't wait for the next adventure!
August 18, 2025
First of all I really enjoyed this book, so much so they I found hard to put down the book, especially from when they entered the land of the shades.
All the characters feel tridimensional with real beliefs and customs.
This whole book had the feel of an epic journey and I knew some price would have to be paid but I was lulled by the easy interactions between Ryo and Aras in the first part of the book, where I saw how much trust and friendship had developed between the two.
I was aghast when Aras broke his oath. When first Ryo lost his will I kept trying to come up with solutions as to why that happened, ( the tarashana sorcerer made him do it or something on those lines) because surely he wouldn’t, right? He’s the good kind of sorcerer after all.
It was so painful and I was sad when the more I read the more I got the confirmation that he willingly did that to Ryo.
Devastating, their friendship broken, I could not see how ryo might get past this.
Then the book slows, giving me time to adjust.
Ryo forgives him and I realise im not upset with Aras’ character anymore.
Ps: I see you Lau woman running as a wolf in the ugaro’s land of the shades, she must have been Nikoles’ grandmother!
All the characters feel tridimensional with real beliefs and customs.
This whole book had the feel of an epic journey and I knew some price would have to be paid but I was lulled by the easy interactions between Ryo and Aras in the first part of the book, where I saw how much trust and friendship had developed between the two.
I was aghast when Aras broke his oath. When first Ryo lost his will I kept trying to come up with solutions as to why that happened, ( the tarashana sorcerer made him do it or something on those lines) because surely he wouldn’t, right? He’s the good kind of sorcerer after all.
It was so painful and I was sad when the more I read the more I got the confirmation that he willingly did that to Ryo.
Devastating, their friendship broken, I could not see how ryo might get past this.
Then the book slows, giving me time to adjust.
Ryo forgives him and I realise im not upset with Aras’ character anymore.
Ps: I see you Lau woman running as a wolf in the ugaro’s land of the shades, she must have been Nikoles’ grandmother!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
The first 90% of this book was an imaginative and enjoyable book, for me.
A very large part of the book is about manners and respect and doing the right thing. There is so much of this that it borders on the tedious, even though it is up my alley. The book has a fantastic physical adventure which is very slow in parts. I skipped some paragraphs. Also, the main point of conflict of the book is a tenuous beat-up (in the first 90%).
There is normalization of sexual exploitation of women in the summer lands. There is also vague normalization of sexual exploitation of men in the winters lands.
The real problem is the last 10%. There is a nauseating polygamy "romance" that has less than zero chemistry. It as no relationship to the first 90% of the book, and was completely unnecessary and bitterly disappointing. This is a similar issue to the first book: Another excellent book ruined by a couple of chapters.
In the end, I struggled to give this book more than 1 star.
This is the end of the series for me. Reading other reviews, it seems the shorter books in this series are better, but these two books have left me gun-shy.
A very large part of the book is about manners and respect and doing the right thing. There is so much of this that it borders on the tedious, even though it is up my alley. The book has a fantastic physical adventure which is very slow in parts. I skipped some paragraphs. Also, the main point of conflict of the book is a tenuous beat-up (in the first 90%).
There is normalization of sexual exploitation of women in the summer lands. There is also vague normalization of sexual exploitation of men in the winters lands.
The real problem is the last 10%. There is a nauseating polygamy "romance" that has less than zero chemistry. It as no relationship to the first 90% of the book, and was completely unnecessary and bitterly disappointing. This is a similar issue to the first book: Another excellent book ruined by a couple of chapters.
In the end, I struggled to give this book more than 1 star.
This is the end of the series for me. Reading other reviews, it seems the shorter books in this series are better, but these two books have left me gun-shy.
May 23, 2022
I skipped over the second book in this series, Nikoles, to read Tarashana, and I'm glad I did. Ianan's character never interested me much, and I was happy to skip straight to seeing Ryo and Aras again! Their dynamic is so unique, and the development of their relationship was both fascinating and heartbreaking to watch. There is a turning point near the end of the book that irrevocably damages the trust between them, and while I was sad for Ryo, I thought the situation itself was masterfully structured and developed by Neumeier.
Having said that, I don't know how interested I am in continuing the series, particularly considering that the next planned installment is a short novel (not usually my favorite format). I'm also pretty scared to see what will happen with Ryo and Aras once they reach the end of their journey. I think the solution is to keep an eye out for the next book and see how I feel then.
My last thoughts are: I highly recommend these two books to anyone interested in slow-paced, character-driven stories with beautiful cultural world building and a dynamic cast.
Having said that, I don't know how interested I am in continuing the series, particularly considering that the next planned installment is a short novel (not usually my favorite format). I'm also pretty scared to see what will happen with Ryo and Aras once they reach the end of their journey. I think the solution is to keep an eye out for the next book and see how I feel then.
My last thoughts are: I highly recommend these two books to anyone interested in slow-paced, character-driven stories with beautiful cultural world building and a dynamic cast.
May 15, 2023
Such an interesting relationship Ryo and Aras have.
Also cool to see the contrast in appropriate actions for men and women in Lau and Ugaro societies.
I like the slow pace of Ugaro discussions with the "let no one speak for 40 breaths".
The counting in Ugaro in 20s or 40s is a nice touch.
We see 2 different courtships/partner relationships in this book. Etta and Iro and Ryo and Darra. We see far more of Etta and Iro, but it's nice to see Ryo appropriately awkward with Darra.
We so many different places in this book: the Summer Country, the Winter country (including the borderlands, the Steppes, and the mountains), the Starlit lands, and the Land of the Shades.
I'm with the Lau that sleeping in the cae with the skulls of the taiGara seems pretty creepy.
Wolf and eagle shifters, but only shades, and no huge part.
Also cool to see the contrast in appropriate actions for men and women in Lau and Ugaro societies.
I like the slow pace of Ugaro discussions with the "let no one speak for 40 breaths".
The counting in Ugaro in 20s or 40s is a nice touch.
We see 2 different courtships/partner relationships in this book. Etta and Iro and Ryo and Darra. We see far more of Etta and Iro, but it's nice to see Ryo appropriately awkward with Darra.
We so many different places in this book: the Summer Country, the Winter country (including the borderlands, the Steppes, and the mountains), the Starlit lands, and the Land of the Shades.
I'm with the Lau that sleeping in the cae with the skulls of the taiGara seems pretty creepy.
Wolf and eagle shifters, but only shades, and no huge part.
July 1, 2023
The beginning of this book is competence porn in the form of Ryo being both martially adept and emotionally intelligent (and very understanding and kind). Then we go off on a sidetrack of adventure and worldbuilding that did not interest me as much, but finally we land right back at my favorite aspect of Tuyo--Ryo and Aras's relationship facing challenges caused by both outside circumstances and their own choices and values. The end of the book also had some lovely political sparring and introduced plot threads that should prove interesting in the next book.
May 5, 2021
I was a little reluctant to read this because I thought it couldn't possibly be as good as Tuyo, but it was even better! The world opens out in some amazing ways, and we get great development of the main character and the secondary characters. Neumeier has a wonderful gift for secondary characters. Can we have a book series about Tano and Raga now please?
There is one plot element that I could have done without (one that I also disliked when it turned up in Door into Light), but it turns up late in the story, so it's not too much of an issue.
Highly recommended for any fan of character-driven fantasy.
There is one plot element that I could have done without (one that I also disliked when it turned up in Door into Light), but it turns up late in the story, so it's not too much of an issue.
Highly recommended for any fan of character-driven fantasy.
December 6, 2024
This was the first book in this series where I noticed how wildly different the voices were and how good Neumeier is at conveying culture linguistically.
The first half of the book was good and interesting and there was a lot going on and then the second half happened.
(Cue John Mulaney “that’s when it went from good to great”)
Because suddenly it was a story about rules and kindness and power and whether it is possible to ethically hold power over another and whether even good people will eventually break…
There’s also this background story about “how do different societies handle malfeasance and the people who get swept up into it?” And also “what does mercy and kindness look like?”
The first half of the book was good and interesting and there was a lot going on and then the second half happened.
(Cue John Mulaney “that’s when it went from good to great”)
Because suddenly it was a story about rules and kindness and power and whether it is possible to ethically hold power over another and whether even good people will eventually break…
There’s also this background story about “how do different societies handle malfeasance and the people who get swept up into it?” And also “what does mercy and kindness look like?”
February 25, 2025
The second full novel in the Tuyo series. This one is set mostly in the winter land of Ryo's people, the Ugaro, as he and Aras and their companions embark on a journey to help Ryo's tribe with a woman of the Tarashana who has come to them for help. Another immensely satisfying book, featuring a lot of travelling with tents, a lot of cultural clash type stuff, and then a a satisfyingly long and tense battle against the enemies of the Tarashana to finish it off. Some of what I guess are Neumeier's little writing tics became slightly irritating in this book (a bit of a repetition she does in dialogue) but I was so engaged with the characters I didn't care.
August 31, 2022
To err is human and Aras proves that he is as flawed and as human as anyone else as he falls headlong into a situation where his oaths and his magic conflict. The author's treatment of Aras' struggle to keep his oaths is sympathetic yet bluntly pragmatic, just as her portrayal of the tribal Winter clans is realistically harsh yet appealing. The contrast between the civilized and the barbaric is as broad as that between European and aboriginal, but without the possibility of imperialistic colonization, and gives the reader much to ponder. Again, I recommend this to fans to Louis L'Amour.
September 17, 2024
The fact that I'm giving this book five stars really shows my anthropology major in a way few other things do 😄 The description and enactment and comparison of customs and cultures and social mores takes up far more space in this book than the plot, and honestly the plot sags in the middle, slowing to a fitful crawl like it's stuck in traffic. But I continue to really enjoy these characters and the complications of cross- cultural friendships, further complicated by sorcery. And I can't help but enjoy the instances of sensible conflict resolution, which seem so sorely lacking in real life...
March 17, 2021
Excellent
The entire Tuyo trilogy is well worth the investment of time and money. While there are a few unimportant typos in this 3rd book they are unimportant. It was impossible for me not to fully engage in the author’s portrayal of this world and the two major cultures, as well as the consistent depiction of the other species indigenous to this world. Her prose is noble and strangely touching. Well done and looking forward to the two planned sequels.
The entire Tuyo trilogy is well worth the investment of time and money. While there are a few unimportant typos in this 3rd book they are unimportant. It was impossible for me not to fully engage in the author’s portrayal of this world and the two major cultures, as well as the consistent depiction of the other species indigenous to this world. Her prose is noble and strangely touching. Well done and looking forward to the two planned sequels.
April 3, 2021
Satisfying sequel
Enjoyed visiting Ryo and his world. Will gladly grab any others in the series as they are published. Terrifc, original world building. Well written as well. Not quite as absorbing as Guy but not as much to learn . Highly recommended author. I have not been disappointed with any of her works.
Enjoyed visiting Ryo and his world. Will gladly grab any others in the series as they are published. Terrifc, original world building. Well written as well. Not quite as absorbing as Guy but not as much to learn . Highly recommended author. I have not been disappointed with any of her works.
September 28, 2021
This definitely hits the level of epic fantasy, with the time it takes to explore many aspects of the world, rather than having a narrow focus on one main plot. This is also so much better than most epic fantasy. If I'm going to read about a group of people traveling for ages, it might as well be a group this interesting. Plus this book has a really amazing exploration of trauma reactions.
August 5, 2022
A direct continuation of Tuyo from Ryo's POV. A wonderful battle and magic sequence at about the three-quarters mark that would have been the climax of most fantasy books, but this is also a book about honor and friendship and slippery slopes, and so there was victory but also fallout. I especially enjoyed the comeuppance of the inTasiyo. Looking forward to Tasmakat!
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