A Stranger in Olondria

a novel Olondria

eBook, 320 pages

English language

Published April 12, 2013 by Small Beer Press.

ISBN:
978-1-931520-76-8
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
944219763

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4 stars (3 reviews)

Jevick, the pepper merchant's son, has been raised on stories of Olondria, a distant land where books are as common as they are rare in his home. When his father dies and Jevick takes his place on the yearly selling trip to Olondria, Jevick's life is as close to perfect as he can imagine. But just as he revels in Olondria's Rabelaisian Feast of Birds, he is pulled drastically off course and becomes haunted by the ghost of an illiterate young girl.

In desperation, Jevick seeks the aid of Olondrian priests and quickly becomes a pawn in the struggle between the empire's two most powerful cults. Yet even as the country shimmers on the cusp of war, he must face his ghost and learn her story before he has any chance of becoming free by setting "her" free: an ordeal that challenges his understanding of art and life, home and …

2 editions

A wonderful novel

5 stars

This is an ode to books, the power and poetry of words and stories, and it's gorgeously written, without pretention, in a way that takes the reader seriously and transports them instantly into the maze of the author's imagination. The world created isn't a typical western-middle-age fantasy world, it's strongly influenced by south asia, and north and east africa. If you're longing for something poetic and vivid, it's a rewarding read.

Review of 'A stranger in Olondria' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

So I read this just after Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots and the transition was super jarring. Hench is fast-paced, witty, and dark. Stranger is luxurious, slow, and showy. I nearly abandoned the book, but I kept at it! I was rewarded. I really related to the themes of this book: illness, religion, love of reading, and mysticism. These are all my favourite topics. I’m glad I read this.

Subjects

  • Books and reading--Fiction.