The Firebird by Nerine Dorman

The Firebird Reviews

• 
  Belinda Lewis

  Lovely fantasy novella with surprisingly complex social commentary, a warm water ocean island setting and lemurs.
• 
  Nerine Dorman

  No rating because, well, duh. I'm the author.
  
  I'm also not going to tell you how awesome this little story is, except to say that it's a concept that is very close to my heart.
  
  Also, non-Eurocentric, secondary-world fantasy setting. If you're looking for something that *doesn't* have knights, towers, wizards and distressed damsels, then you might like this book.
• 
  Tizzy Tizzy

  Full disclosure: Nerine Dorman is my editor. This is the first work of hers I read, and I read it out of my own volition. I was in no way involved in the writing or editing of this novella.
  
  
  Fantasy can come in many forms. The best-known kind of fantasy involves a princess aptly locked up in a tower, a dragon, and a prince in shining armor rushing to save her. It’s European fantasy alright, and its popularity comes from the dissemination European (and later on, American) culture have experienced throughout the world. This resulted in pretty much everyone knowing stories like these, while very few people could name you Egyptian or Japanese ones.
  
  This phenomenon has in occasion happened to the detriment of the aboriginal tribes of said countries. For example, while the US is the main market for English Fantasy, relatively few people in the country – and even fewer outside – know anything of American aboriginal folklore outside of people running around a bonfire wearing feather hats. Even in a culturally relevant powerhouse like the US, only a small niche of fantasy thrives, and said niche is based more than heavily on stories coming from Europe.
  
  In The Firebird, Dorman crafts a fantasy world that isn’t about dragons or princesses or evil witches. A fantasy world where winter isn’t a permanent fixture, and where a romp through the woods isn’t part of the storyline. This story is set in a tropical island, with very few of the usual tropes or markings of fantasy. It works fine, and the story feels decidedly different from the more widespread style of medieval fantasy – yet at times, I couldn’t help but wonder if wearing the alternate setting on its sleeve, as the novella does, was at all necessary.
  
  The thing is, this is dark fantasy. Very dark fantasy, even. The setting doesn’t have princesses and dragons, but the storyline itself wouldn’t have allowed for them even if Dorman had decided a dragon was somewhat necessary. (Side note: I believe a dragon is always necessary, and I consider the lack of dragons in this novella its main flaw.) And the real gem in The Firebird, beyond its setting, is its characters and the morally ambiguous positions the protagonist repeatedly finds herself in along with its very obvious criticism towards religiously-minded societies and theocracies.
  
  Focusing on the plot, I can say The Firebird is about as character-driven as fantasy can get. Instead of a heroin tasked with saving the world from evil (ie, the oldest trope in the fantasy book,) Dorman casts her protagonist out of a cultist. Lada is a member of an organization (the Order of the Fennarin) whose main task is to root out other cults from the land; cults that are said to invoke demons and have them possess their own. The only problem with Lada’s position is, her brother is basically at the top spot at the Fennarin equivalent of the FBI most wanted list. And, as far as she’s concerned, nobody knows of this at all – until she herself manages to capture him, almost by accident. Oops.
  
  Yes, I make it sound funny, because I’m a comedy writer and laugh at everything in existence, but in truth, there’s very little to laugh at in The Firebird. More often than not, the protagonist is afraid for her life or her brother’s, and the overall setting is so oppressive Dorman keeps the reader expecting her to get found out and properly dealt with at any moment. This is so tense a novel that I can’t recall a single comic relief moment, although then again it didn’t need one: the darkness in some stories shouldn’t be diluted with humor.
  
  Speaking of darkness, the bleak and tense setting is only enhanced by Dorman’s writing. Far from the YA-friendly fare I generally read, The Firebird feels like Dorman took a much longer novel and condensed it to less than a hundred pages. Every phrase comes loaded with information, every word is as necessary as the ones before and after it, and allowing yourself to drift off for just a moment will inevitably force you to re-read whatever paragraph you were in. In that sense, The Firebird is not an easy book to read, as it demands your attention just as it demands that you carefully read every single word. No flying through pages or skimming through paragraphs allowed: The writing here is so dense you either make an effort to swim or you sink and drown.
  
  That’s not to say the book is particularly difficult to read, curiously. While I’ve likened the experience of reading The Firebird with getting repeatedly bludgeoned by a book (not with a book, but by a book,) every single word here feels necessary. Never during the seventy-odd pages of this novella did I feel like any exposition was there as filler, and while most of the text comes from Lada’s internal monologue, at no point does it get monotonous or digress. The Firebird might be dense and heavy, but overwritten it isn’t – giving Dorman a clear edge over certain other fantasy authors known for writing two-thousand-page door-stoppers with at best five-hundred pages of actual plot.
  
  All in all, I found The Firebird to be a satisfying, quick (if not easy) read. While the ambiance of the novella is overall gloomy, its themes and low word count allow it to shine just as well, if not better, than lighter and longer works. This is a dense book, but one that never gets boring and provides just enough food for thought to remain in your mind after you’re done with it. And even with its density, in truth it rarely gets more difficult than your average epic fantasy book.
  
  If you’re looking for a somewhat different, decidedly dark fantasy story and don’t mind having to work a bit for the payout, The Firebird is quite likely the correct book for you.
• 
  J. R. Rainville

  When it comes to worldbuilding original fantasy, it often takes a sprawling narrative covering a few hundred pages and usually multiple volumes for the world to come alive. The Firebird is able to convey a fully realized fantasy world in the span of a novella. Much of that is owed to the author's tightly controlled prose and heavy reliance on grounding the reader in the setting. The use of first person narration helps with this, as Lada, the narrator, shares her experiences and feelings within the setting in a way that feels organic and natural, and not at all contrived or bordering on monotonous telling. The setting provides a perfect stage for character and theme to shine. Good, evil, betrayal, and forgiveness are at the center of this story, and the emotions are immediate and raw. The plot is deceptively simple, because the complexity of character and emotion are truly the focus of this book.
  
  This was a quick read, but not at all disappointing--the precision storytelling makes this not only a study in the craft, but also packs a powerful punch.
• 
  Lia Patterson

  I read this novella while on holiday on a tropical volcanic island, which turned out to be very fitting, as the story is set in just such a place. The non-Eurocentric setting is also what attracted me to it in the first place. It's rare to find a protagonist walking through a tropical forest with all its scents and sounds (there's even lemurs!) and Nerine Dorman really brings it to life.
  
  This is a dark fantasy story, so don't expect any light-hearted romance or a happy ending for everybody, but it deals with a number of interesting issues, from religious fanatics over the importance of making up your own mind to different shades of skin.
  
  I also enjoyed the details of the islanders' culture and I would very much like to read a longer story set in this world.
• 
  A.B. Neilly

  An amazing ride via the terrific consequences of fanaticism and betrayal in a fantasy world.
  
  Lada is a warrior monk who follows her elders' advice to protect her island from the attack of demons. She is so convinced of her ideology that she will betray her own blood in the fight for a better life.
  From the start, we follow the travel of this woman through the horrendous sacrifice she made in the past, and what she must do in the present to get rid of the devils who threaten her land.
  The problem is, we don't know which side we are fighting for: are we listening to a god or to dangerous entities when we act? Those are the questions that Nerine Dorman, the author, digs deep into her novella.
  I like Lada, but hers is a hard decision. She is strong and tough, and she knows what she wants. I understand what she does, but while I was reading I wanted her to stop, to consider her beliefs. Was it possible for her to change after the long journey?
  The Firebird is dense and macabre, with ghastly descriptions of tortures. It is not so much what we can read, as what we can imagine with her omissions; the stink of the prison, and the terrible odor of rotting meat and poisoned skin.
  The cosmos the writer has created in this narrative is fascinating. An isle filled with monsters who possess people and a hideous order that tries to liberate them from those dangerous beings. It is fiction that echoes of the Spanish Inquisition. I think Lada's thoughts are not far away from Inquisitors when they tortured witches for the sake of the women’s souls.
  This novella is a remarkable story. It deserves a second reading. The first time, my impatience for wanting to know what the final decision of this warrior would be was killing me. Next time, I will savor it, drowning deeper into the myths that are intertwined with the story. I want to enjoy the complex micro-cosmos, the little details that make it alive and believable.
  As a huge fan of Dorman's novels, this work is one of her best. Thanks, Nerine, and please, continue writing!
  
  
  
• 
  Lukasz

  Actual rating: 3.5/5
  
  Lada is one of the warrior-monks of the Order of Fennarin who oppose the demons and insurgents that threaten her home. When she joined the Order, she betrayed her kin. When her long-lost brother Ailal is captured, elders demand Lada oversee his trial. 
  
  She must consider, once again, whose side is the right one.
  
  The plot of Firebird isn’t all that original, but it doesn’t have to be. The reader cares less about what’s actually happening than about what makes these characters tick. In that sense, Firebird is a good kind of character novel. It’s honest, it's dark, and it’s a good read. It's told mostly through Lada's monologue and thoughts. Don't expect a lot of action as it's introspective. Her thoughts and memories lead the reader through the myths intertwined with the story. 
  
  Serious issues (like propaganda or corrupted power) dominate the narrative and make it engaging.
  
  A short novella worth attention.
• 
  Barry Gill

  Wow. What a gem of a story!
  
  I was thoroughly engrossed in this short story from the get-go.
  
  A fast-paced and very thought-provoking piece of fantasy.
  
  I find myself hoping Nerine will explore the world she has built in a series of stories like this.
  The format is brilliant, I love the first person inner dialogue that tells the story and I think that the characters she has made have a good mix of emotions driving their actions. These are not flat, standard heroes. They have guilt and doubt and fear and resolve.
  
  I will read more like this anytime!
  
• 
  Frieda

  Wow! Just wow! In the end, I read this in one sitting.
  
  For the first half I felt her deep guilt, the pain of it crippling. How to live with that? But the ending just blew it up! Just amazing!
• 
  Tanja Wessels

  I really loved reading this book. It is a great fantasy set on a tropical island. The test of family bonds and the unplanned cost of following dreams. I wish there was more.
• 
  Cassey

  An amazing short read. In parts terrifying, in parts overwhelming and in all parts an exploration of the tension between that which tries to dominate and that which fights it.
  
  Also lemurs are creepy as all heck.
• 
  Caroline Moody

  I read this novella as the author was coming to the library I work at to give a talk.
  
  The Firebird is set on a humid island, ruled over by a warrior monk sect. The main character, Lada, deeply believes in their doctrine but as she comes face to face with the darkness of her past, doubts begin to niggle at her.
  Was it her fault or her brother's that caused the destruction of their family, this haunts Lada throughout the story as she tries to hold onto her beliefs and figure out the right course that she must take.
  The Firebird takes the reader for a wild and bumpy ride filled with betrayals and danger. This is a fantasy story that does not fit into the traditional mould. It is a short read, perfect for those who do not have much time to read but are looking for a good book.
• 
  Tiah

  ~I cannot afford to be the cause of failure.~
  
  ~It's the lemurs' eerie hooting calls that make me shiver despite the mugginess of the day. The bell-like tones echo in this narrow valley - perhaps a maiden in distress, but then the cry rises and ends on an ascending staccato exclamation.~
  
  ~Guilt is a peculiar thing. Eventually the burden becomes a part of the body, an extra useless limb that trails along in the dirt.~
  
  ~How quickly we fall into the habit of allowing others to decide our actions.~
  
  ~There's nothing noble in blood sport.~
• 
  Mandisi Nkomo

  An exceptionally well written novella, which flitters seemlessly between dark fantasy and horror.
  
  While at times, it felt like the pacing was off, the ending wraps what might have seemed like meandering, into a tight, and some what pretty bow.
  
  The horror elements can get grueling if you're not into that kind of thing, but I recommend staying the course. I would give reasons why, but I don't want to spoil the excellent ending.
• 
  Melissa Polk

  This novella is going to have me thinking for a good long while. And also hunting down anything else this author has written.
• 
  Munaya Al salhee

  I have no idea what I have just read!
  
  Is it about possession, excursion, sexism, ancient religion?! No idea.
• 
  Luz

  Interesting well-written story. Loved the setting.