Wow. What a book, full of wonderful characters (some your don't want to see dead — even though you think they might come back), with a lot of things to discover. Many great ideas in there, loved the whole concept of the Fallen! Looking very much to the sequel I hope will be there soon. Wonderful book, congratulations and my thanks to the author. Highly recommended.

This a short story set in the author's 'Dominion of the Fallen' world, but it is possible to read this as a standalone without reading any of the other books. I was impressed by how, in a small space, she managed to fill in all the details you need to understand how this world works.
The story itself has has a touch of horror, with eldritch beings literally coming out of the woodwork. And subtle details of furnishings and architecture generate an atmosphere which is oppressive and decaying.
There is a sense of peril since you can't be sure if any of the characters in the story will survive to the end. An excellent story which I think would appeal to fans of Gothic tales.

This wasn't my cup of tea, unfortunately. I like Aliette de Bodard's prose style so I'd read more from her, but this one wasn't for me - too heavy on the worldbuilding.

A fantastic novella from a captivating and original series!

This short novella concerns the character of Tuan who features in the new novel The House of Binding Thorns. It's not only a useful bit of extra world building but also a great story in it's own right. I love that the internet encourages more novellas that keep us intrigued while we wait impatiently for the next big chunk of story.
As we join Tuan and his friend they are undercover delegates from the dragon kingdom who must attempt to get places in the House of Binding Thorns. The tests are arduous and the house has it's own ideas about who is suitable.
There are lots of intriguing references to the plot of the novel and it's a real bonus of extra content.Very enjoyable.

Originally packaged as a bonus with pre-sales copies of House of Binding Thorns (to which it forms an immediate prequel), this short tale relates how Thuan became a dependent of House Hawthorn. It's a chancy thing, spying on a Fallen House - least of all one ruled by a master of torture such as Asmodeus - but it's a risk Thuan and Kim Cuc willingly undertake to insinuate themselves into House Hawthorn to do so on behalf of the dragon kingdom (if perhaps a little reluctantly on Thuan's part - he reflects ruefully that no matter how terrifying the Fallen are, there are others - namely Second Aunt - who is he more afraid of). It's no easy thing to be accepted as a dependent: competition is fierce, and Thuan at least is nervy.

So this becomes a tale of two tests: the aborted attempt to make chocolate eclairs to win a place by baking something delightful in too little time with too poor ingredients (which... won me over. I mean, dragons do Bake-Off in post-apocalyptic Paris. Of course it did); and Thuan's attempt to rescue Kim Cuc when a mysterious force turns on the would-be dependents and steals her away.

Those who have read House of Binding Thorns will know how this ends for most of the characters, which kills the tension (although Kim Cuc at least is a new character, and makes a big impression quickly), but I enjoyed this for being genuinely creepy and for the reasons behind the assault - once revealed - being utterly unexpected.

I like being pleasantly surprised (almost as much as I like chocolate eclairs), so consider this a successful side adventure for Thuan, whose company is always a pleasure - and I suspect it will win him plenty of new friends.

Pensant qu’Asmodée pleure la perte de son amant, deux espions des dragons asiatiques cachés dans la Seine essayent de se faire embaucher dans la Maison Aubépine. Mais la magie qui protège celle-ci semble s’effriter pendant la faiblesse du Maître, et la magie des dragons est bien différente de celle des Déchus… De nouveaux personnages intéressants font leur entrée dans ce récit qui montre que même la sécurité ressentie dans chaque Maison est relative, et que la magie est parfois capricieuse et comme douée d’une vie propre.

Very speedy review since this book was a preorder reward for House of Binding Thorns which I still haven't managed to read. It's firmly on my list since I really enjoyed House of Shattered Wings (my review is here).

I don't read a lot of short fiction, partly because I like something I can really get my teeth into and partly because I read too quickly and the story feels over before it's begun. But I'm beginning to see why people like short stories like this. It's a kind of really speedy catharsis, with intense emotions all resolving themselves in 100 pages.

I have a feeling this story of magic taking over a wing of the house of Hawthorn will make a lot more sense after I've read the second book in the series. But what does come through is Aliette De Bodard's otherworldly prose. I don't know how but they have a way of viewing the world through a whole different lense. Her writing instantly transports me. I adored the first book, I loved this short story and I'm excited to devour the sequel!

If you liked the first book and like me you're saving your pennies for the sequel, I would recommend trying to get your hands on a copy of this short story, it's a nice dip into the world of Aliette De Bodard's Paris without having to dive in completely.

Children of Thorns, Children of Water is a novella set between The House of Shattered Wings and The House of Binding Thorns; not having read any of the two book did not help in understanding the novella contest, setting and worldbuild.
Surely it will be much more appreciated by the fan of the Dominion of the fallen series.

I love the premise of this series: in a futuristic yet olde-worlde Paris (huzzah for slightly different locations than the ‘norm’), the survivors of a war in Heaven are divided into Houses vying for power over the shattered city. Scavengers ‘loot’ the bodies of Fallen Angels – literally, as in, stripping the flesh off of fingers, to mine for magic. Ick.

Without wanting to give too much away – you might be more inclined to read things in the proper order, after all! – Children of Thorns shows two applicants to one of the great Houses, masquerading as ‘houseless’ ones to infiltrate a rival power. The application process is perhaps a little unusual, but when strange magical eddies start to swirl, the test becomes more global…

I can see how this would lead into the next book, The House of Binding Thorns. Indeed, this was released as a bonus for pre-ordering the second installment, and was previously not available in any other way.

I was reasonably impressed. There’s a darkness here, and also enough of a difference from most fantasy-type fiction to pique my interest. I’m fully planning on allowing my to-read list to groan some more, and start back at the beginning!

Although only a short novella, Children of Thorns has enough detail to show you a flip side to the dragons from the first book with enough drama to keep you occupied and drawn in.
It's written in much the same style as The House of Shattered Wings only takes place in House Hawthorn instead.