Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud

The Books of the Raksura #0.1; 0.2; 0.4; 3.6

by Martha Wells

In The Falling World, Jade, ruler of the Indigo Cloud Court, has travelled with Chime and Balm to another Raksuran court. When she fails to return, her consort Moon, along with Stone and a party of warriors and hunters, must track them down. Finding them turns out to be the easy part; freeing them from an ancient trap hidden in the depths of the Reaches is much more difficult.

The Tale of Indigo and Cloud explores the history of the Indigo Cloud Court, long before Moon came to Court. In the distant past, Indigo stole Cloud from Emerald Twilight. But in doing so, the reigning Queen Cerise and Indigo are now poised for a conflict that could ruin everything.

Stories of Moon and the shape changers of Raksura have delighted readers for years. This world is a dangerous place full of strange mysteries, where the future can never be taken for granted, and must always be fought for with wits and ingenuity, and often tooth and claw. With two brand-new novellas, Martha Wells shows that the world of Raksura has many more stories to tell...

Contains:

The Falling World #3.6
The Tale of Indigo and Cloud #0.1
The Forest Boy #0.2
Adaptation #0.4
Appendices

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adventure

206 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages.

She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.

Reviews

[N.K. Jemisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this one. The stories are painfully brief but chock full of awesome Raksuran goodness: new chances for Moon and Jade to be awesome, new characters, a few surprise shots of old beloved characters, new revelations about the Three Worlds and the Raksura. I want another full-length novel, but until/unless we get that these snack-size versions will do nicely. My favorite part of this is "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud", because it gives us a chance to see the ancestors of the court we know and love in happier, easier times. It's almost shocking to see the comfortable, affectionate relationship between Cerise and Indigo, when we're so used to the bare tolerance that exists between Pearl and Jade. And we get to see how relationships between queens and consorts can go wrong -- and right. There's just so much awesome, here. Check it out.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did a quick reread because I couldn't help it. It's been THREE years since--can't believe that either. Still as amazing as the first time I read it. These stories will never age. (June 2018)

* * * * *

The cover artwork for this series is just stunning. I love them all.

We return to the Three Worlds with this volume of four adventure-filled short stories (actually two novellas and two short stories) featuring characters from all three previous books and with special guest appearances by Indigo and Cloud.


"The Falling World" takes place after The Siren Depths, and it's about Moon coming to Jade's rescue. Now with powerful alliances like Opal Night and Emerald Twilight, the Indigo Cloud court is moving up the Raksura social ladder, with many other courts around the Reaches vying for their attention.

On a mission to visit a smaller court, Jade takes five of her warriors to discuss a trade deal, but on the day she's due back, a young queen from that court comes to Indigo Cloud asking to speak with her. This causes a stir among the Arbora and Aeriat, and since no one has heard from Jade or the warriors since they left, Moon, Stone, and Pearl suspect she must have ran into trouble on the way there. Moon and Stone, along with a group of Arbora hunters, set out to find her and the others.


"Tale of Indigo and Cloud" goes back to a time before Indigo Cloud got its name and the colony tree was filled to capacity, with Aeriat and Arbora all over the place.

According to rumors, Indigo "stole" Cloud from a young queen at another court. But according to historical accounts, she did not. This story is about what really happened and how two courts almost went to war if not for some clever maneuvering on the part of a reigning queen. Since the courts came close to going to war, we get to see how courts prepare for or initiate war, and as usual, it's a whole production, complete with nuances and posturing.

Best part though is seeing Stone as a little fledgling.


"The Forest Boy" is about Moon as a child. He had just lost Sorrow and his Arbora siblings to a Taft attack, and had been hiding out in the forest near the edge of town when two orphaned children found and brought him back to their foster parents' house. The family was poor, but they took him in anyway and he lived with them for awhile. But he could not stay when one of the orphans saw him in his Raksura form.

A bittersweet story, told from the POV of an orphan boy. Makes you wonder how Moon's life would turn out if he'd been raised in a stable home with decent people who cared for him, instead of bouncing from village to village.


"Adaptation" takes place not long before Moon's arrival, and it's about Chime's transition from Arbora mentor to Aeriat warrior. Life with wings is a challenge, both physically and mentally. For Chime specifically, though, becoming an Aeriat means losing his mentor and reproduction abilities, as all warriors are sterile and have no magic. It takes him a long time to adjust to the transition--and even now he's still struggling with it--but with Balm's help, he's able to fly and the experience is unlike anything he'd ever imagined.


These stories are great, but too short. I need more. Good thing the second volume of short stories is coming out tomorrow!


Review originally posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...

[Kristalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final rating: 5/5 stars

It is very rare for me to give 5 stars to the collection of short stories set in the same world. Or short stories in general. The usual highest I give is 3 stars. But I want to say these are fantastic additions and give more insight into the world and have other POVs. Since this one is the first volume, I will write generally about the both of them.

I highly recommend you to read all of the stories in both volumes - a lot happens in them and there are more things that were revealed. There are two volumes of short stories: Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud and Stories of the Raksura, Volume 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below. Best way to read them is to read them AFTER third book if you want to prevent spoiling yourself for the first three books, and if you don't mind spoilers, then you can read them all in chronological order.

But if you are thinking of starting this series chronologically - with the prequels first - the only safe and spoilerless story is The Forest Boy. I personally read it first before The Cloud Roads because I wanted to see how Moon was like as a child and what he had to face. It's generally short story and not spoilerish, so there is no reason not to read it first.

But the other prequel short stories have spoilers for specific books: The Tale of Indigo and Cloud has a spoiler alert for book 2 and 3, and is best to be read after third book. The Dead City has a spoiler alert for book 1. Best to be read after first book. Adaptation does not contain severe spoilers, but I recommend reading Adaptation after first book. Just in case, cause it could be confusing for those who didn't read first book, when it comes to Raksura's POV.

So, in short, about the prequels: they showed insight into the story of Indigo and Cloud (two Raksura after whom the court Indigo Cloud is named); Moon's life as a very young fledgling trying to find a place to live, who just recently lost his family; once again a story of Moon after he escaped from Saraseil; and lastly, Chime's transformation from mentor to warrior class.

Then the sequels: Jade's adventure, which turns out more dangerous; what happens when raksura want to trade goods between courts (in which Raksura try to trade by giving more wealth for less); Jade and the rest of the group trying to make a trade arrangement with another court and then fail to return; Indigo Cloud's neighbors Kek are in trouble - some of their members are missing and Raksura agree to find them, and Jade and Moon expect the new members of the court - a clutch any day now. And lastly, a short story " The Almost Last Voyage of the Wind-ship Escarpment" about other characters set in the other part of the world.

So no one get's confused, this is the correct chronological order, from author's website and where to find them:

Prequels:
◈ Volume 1: The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
◈ Volume 1: The Forest Boy
◈ Volume 2: The Dead City
◈ Volume 1: Adaptation

Main books:
◈ Book 1: The Cloud Roads (Plus free missing scenes: Missing Scene I /  Missing Scene II / Missing Scene III)
◈ Book 2: The Serpent Sea
◈ Book 3: The Siren Depths

Sequels after third book - The Siren Depths:
◈ Volume 2: Mimesis
◈ Volume 2: Trading Lesson
◈ Volume 1: The Falling World
◈ Volume 2: The Dark Earth Below
◈ Volume 2: The Almost Last Voyage of the Wind-ship Escarpment

Main book sequels:
◈ Book 4: The Edge of Worlds
◈ Book 5: Upcoming book

Overall, these stories are addictive and I enjoyed reading them. Other POVs fit in nicely as well and not to mention the sequels - it feels like we already have another full book.

► STORIES:

Sorted in chronological order:

► STORY 1: The Tale of Indigo and Cloud

"I wanted to see her again."

◈ Rating: 5/5 stars
◈ POV: Cerise
◈ Chronological order: Prequel 1, set in the distant past in the Reaches.
◈ Recommended order: Best to be read after third book.
◈ Spoilerless synopsis for those who didn't read Raksura before: This is a story of Indigo and Cloud and how they met, before the court changed name.
◈ Synopsis for those who read at least 1 book of Raksura: The actual true story of how Indigo "kidnapped" Cloud from Emerald Twilight, and his queen Argent. The reigning Queen Cerise of the Umber Shadow court (former Indigo Cloud) and her first consort Paragon, now have to deal with one very angry daughter queen and Emerald Twilight, and with Indigo and Cloud who made a bigger mess and who don't know how they feel about each other. It gets worse when Cloud admits he manipulated Indigo to steal him because his own queen abused him.
◈ My opinion: Wonderful story, giving more details into their lives before, when they were a powerful colony to be feared. I enjoyed reading through Cerise's POV, but I wish I could have read from their POVs too. Also, tiny Stone, a character I love, makes an appearance! He was so damn cute. It also shows how Raksura deal with abusive relationships and even divorces. Damn, i felt really sad for Cloud, because he had to trick another queen just to escape the abuse of his own queen, even knowing this could end up in big trouble for all of them... Guessing it was that bad. But i loved how supporting Indigo and Cerise and even Paragon were.

► STORY 2: The Forest Boy

Lua started toward the boy, moving slowly as if she was trying to approach a wounded animal. The boy watched her with wary mistrust. She stopped in front of him and sat on her heels; he was still taller than she was, even sitting down huddled against the doorframe. She held out the doll, pressed it against his hand until his fingers closed around it. Then she whispered, “I won’t tell.”

◈ Rating: 5/5 stars
◈ POV: Tren, an orphan boy
◈ Chronological order: Prequel 2, set when Moon was very, very young.
◈ Recommended order: Before or after the first book.
◈ Spoilerless synopsis for those who didn't read Raksura before: A story of the main character, when he was around 5-10 years old, when he tried to search for anyone to live with after his family was murdered by Tath. Read from the perspective of an orphan boy Tren, when he and his adopted sister Lua found a terribly hurt and afraid Moon. Their adoptive family accept him, but Moon is terrified of being seen in his real form.
◈ My opinion: Heartbreaking story. Knowing how most of Moon's encounters with groundlings end up, it's just sad to see hope dying on his face.

► STORY 3: Adaptation

“You’ll let fear rule you.”
“I won’t.” He hissed at her. “You think it’s easy to be a mentor? Making simples that could kill if we get the slightest element wrong? Making light and heat with our hands? I won’t let fear rule me because I never have before!”

◈ Rating: 5/5 stars
◈ POV: Chime
◈ Chronological order: Prequel 4, set just before first book The Cloud Roads.
◈ Recommended order: After the first book.
◈ Synopsis for those who read first book at least: Chime, a mentor (sort of a shaman, or a wingless raksura with special powers) gets transformed into warrior class - a flying type and falls into panic. The change is physically and mentally devastating for Chime, and the worst of all is losing his mentor abilities and ability to have children and getting wings in return. He doesn't feel like this is a welcome change, but Balm tries to help him recover and get stable.
◈ My opinion: It's interesting to know how Chime sees things, and from this POV, it's kinda easier to see what Moon and Chime see in each other.

► STORY 4: The Falling World

“But why would Ocean Winter want to war with us?”

◈ Rating: 5/5 stars
◈ POV: Moon
◈ Chronological order: Sequel after third book #3
◈ Recommended order: After The Siren Depths, Mimesis and Trading Lesson
◈ Spoilerless synopsis for those who didn't read Raksura before: Jade, one of the rulers of the Indigo Cloud court and her entourage goes missing after trying to make a trade deal with other court.
◈ Synopsis for those who read The Siren Depths: 20 days have passed and when Indigo Cloud gets news that Jade and co. didn't return, Moon falls into panic, and things get worse when that court, Ocean Winter, sends a queen to make a trade agreement. Moon and others form a search party.

Talking to Pearl, Garnet said, “Venture is the clutchmate of our reigning queen. She will be helpful to you in your search, and if it takes you into Ocean Winter territory, she can explain your presence to our patrols.”
Moon said, “And betray us at the first opportunity, if you’re lying.”
Venture’s expression tightened, and Garnet’s face worked as she struggled not to react. Garnet said finally, “The consort speaks freely.”
Pearl’s spines flicked once in amusement at Garnet’s discomfiture. “It’s his bloodline. His birthqueen is Malachite of Opal Night.” She added dryly, “She also speaks freely.”
Pearl had a love-hate relationship with Moon’s recently discovered lineage. She hated that an older and more powerful queen than herself had a proprietary interest in Moon, but she loved to use Opal Night’s patronage as a diplomatic club on other courts. Every court that might consider crossing Indigo Cloud was well aware that they weren’t just dealing with a small struggling court recently re-established in its ancestral territory, they were dealing with Malachite, the Terror of the Western Reaches.

◈ My opinion: (spoilers for first 3 books) Great story, I really loved it, especially that thrill and kind of a plot twist. Also, Ember is adorable and I like him so damn much and I felt sorry for River, even though he was douchebag before, he tries so hard to prove himself again. Moon was great in this one as well, but this was actually the story about Chime's abilities.

A normal warrior would have been honored to go on a trip with the court’s sister queen, but then Chime wasn’t a normal warrior. Moon wasn’t a normal consort, either, and that was one of the reasons why they had been drawn to each other.

Bonus:

Stone didn’t comment on that. “I’ll start out again after I get some sleep.” He took a sip of tea and winced.
Bramble said, “It’s good tea. You’re too picky.”
Stone ruffled her hair. “I’m a delicate consort.”

► OVERALL:

Great stories, worth your time. Don't miss reading them if you want to read this series.
P.s. I really love switched gender roles in this series. It feels so... natural.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFO:
⚠ Standalone: No. Closely related to the main series, in fact, prequels and third book's sequels.
⚠ Point of View: Third POV, 1 different (mostly) character per story.
⚠ Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Angst: Oh yes.
⚠ Supernatural: Dragonlike Shapeshifters and new unknown beings.
⚠ Explicit content: No. You know what happened but no descriptions.
⚠ Recommended: HELL YES. If you want complete Raksura experience and background stories, histories, and cute after stories of which the most important one is actually in volume II but it's worth it.

► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:

◈ The Cloud Roads (Books of the Raksura, #1)
◈ The Serpent Sea (Books of the Raksura, #2)
◈ The Siren Depths (Books of the Raksura, #3)
◈ Stories of the Raksura, Volume 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
◈ Stories of the Raksura, Volume 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/12/22/a...

Stories of the Raksura is a delightful romp into Martha Wells’ world of the Raksura – even if you have not read the main series. I have been meaning to get to her Books of the Raksura for a long time now but still haven’t found the opportunity yet, so I was very happy to get my hands on this collection.

Of course, I had the usual concerns: How much do I need to know before jumping in? Am I going to be able to follow along with the short stories in here without getting lost? I shouldn’t have worried. As it turns out, this collection actually serves pretty well as an introduction to Wells’ wildly imaginative universe and the fantastical beings that live in it.

The Falling World

“The Falling World” is the first novella found in this anthology. For those like me who were unfamiliar with the race of fantasy creatures called the Raksura, you get a quick and intense crash course in this tale. Raksura are shapeshifters that look a bit to me like a form of bird-people, though their societies more closely resemble those of hive insects. A ruling queen is at the top, followed by lesser queens. Queens mate with fertile males called Consorts to produce royal clutches composed of Queens, Consorts and Warriors (infertile males and females that defend the colony). Together, these three types make up the Aeriat. They are winged and capable of flight.

Then there are the Arbora, who have no wings but are capable climbers. They are made up of Teachers that oversee the nurseries and train the young, Hunters who provide food for the colony, Soldiers who guard the colony, and Mentors who are seers with magical abilities enabling them to perform tasks such as foreseeing the future or healing the sick and wounded.

It can be a bit daunting at first, but all this information is adequately provided and easy to pick up as the story progresses. In “The Falling World”, a sister Queen called Jade travels with her entourage to another colony to negotiate trade, leaving her consort Moon behind at court. But then the diplomatic convoy fails to reach their destination, and an expedition is launched by Moon along with a party of warriors and hunters to try to discover what happened to them. However, what the rescuers find in the end might prove too dangerous and difficult for them to handle.

The story is simple and straightforward: one group sets out to find another. What amazed me though, was the amount of lore and world building Wells managed to inject into this novella. I was blown away by the information here about Raksuran culture, physiology, and social hierarchy. And the great thing is, none of it was really forced. I never once felt like I was taken aside and given and info dump; instead, all the information flowed naturally just from the normal course of storytelling. I’m sure as a new reader there’s lots I’m missing still, but the amount of knowledge I gleaned here of the Raksura and their world was just superb.

Perhaps it is also a good thing that the story itself is not overly complicated. On top of the information about Raksuran culture, there are a lot of characters to meet, many names to learn. The naming convention might take some getting used to, and you probably won’t remember who’s who all the time, but this particular story for me was mostly about getting to know this fantasy world and the Raksura, and I had a good time with it.

The Tale of Indigo and Cloud

“The Tale of Indigo and Cloud” is the second novella found in this collection. It is more of a historical narrative, exploring the legend behind the origins of Indigo Cloud court. A long time ago, a sister Queen called Indigo stole a consort named Cloud away from another Raksuran court, angering the hot-tempered queen who was Cloud’s mate, leading to a conflict that could mean all-out war between the two colonies.

This was an interesting story, which read a bit like a mythological scenario. That’s not too surprising, given its unique nature. It is a tale about the Indigo Cloud court’s queens of old, long before the key character Moon joined the colony’s ranks. It reveals more information about the way Raksuran society works, or rather how easily it could also fall apart. There’s a bit of politics and a bit of romance, the kind of perfect mix you’d want to find in an ancient legend.

There’s not much else I can think to say about this novella, but it’s probably my favorite of the two in this book. I really enjoyed the story and the lesson it imparted, as well as the overall vibe.

The Forest Boy

Next comes this short story, which tells of Moon as an injured fledgling taken in by a kind-hearted family in a nearby village, who are all unaware of his Raksuran background and shapeshifting abilities.

“The Forest Boy” is a nice bonus, giving the reader more insight into this central character.

Adaptation

The final short story tells of Chime, one of the warriors who accompanied Jade on her diplomatic mission back in the first novella in this collection, “The Falling World”. Chime’s situation is interesting in that he didn’t actually start off as a warrior. He was born a mentor, who then changed forms. That’s huge.

A switch from mentor to warrior, as you recall, also means a switch from Arbora to Aeriat. Wingless to winged. Fertile to infertile. Quite the life-changing event. “Adaptation” is exactly what it sounds like: Chime’s struggle to come to terms with this drastic transformation.

Despite being so short, this is probably my second favorite piece in this collection. It’s a powerful tale in its own right, not only because of the emotional and physical obstacles that Chime has to overcome, but also because of what his transformation might ultimately mean for the colony. It’s a great read, and in the end I am left to wonder what fate might hold in store for the entire Indigo Cloud court. It’s a bit ominous and unsettling.

Concluding thoughts:

The Raksura are one of the most original fantasy races I’ve ever encountered in fantasy fiction. I was genuinely compelled by everything about them. Despite them being so different biologically and culturally, the depth of their personalities and motivations make them feel very human. The novellas and short stories in this collection show that they have to deal with the same complex emotions we do, such as love, hate, guilt, etc. Their issues and conflicts like politics, gender and societal roles are also realistic and relatable.

All told, this is a great collection filled with all kinds of goodness like magic, rich worlds, and fascinating characters. I can’t believe how invested I am, as someone who hasn’t even read the Books of the Raksura main series. After reading this, I’m going to have to try hitting them sooner rather than later. Hopefully there will also be more of these short tales collected in future anthologies, because I would definitely be interested in reading them.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
A very beautiful tale in the world of Raksura, exploring a piece of history of the Indigo Cloud colony, with characters we only knew from other characters' stories. The idea and writing are very good, and I especially loved the strong female protagonists, much more so than the queens from the main novels (except Malachite, of course 😜)

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, for those of you who already know these gems that are the Raksura and love them, I found both novellas to be complex and surprisingly satisfying for their shorter length. They sucked me right back into the world, and I really loved them. There are also two short stories included, which were a fun bonus when I wasn't ready to let go yet, but they were too short for me. I just can’t be satisfied with such tiny snippets, but the novellas did feel complete enough to be filling little bites.

Now, if you are a Fantasy fan at all and you haven’t read the original trilogy yet, go do that right away! It starts with The Cloud Roads:



I highly recommend the whole series. It is unlike anything else I've read, one of the most imaginative worlds I've experienced, and deserves so much more attention. If there’s one series that I believe more people need at least to try, it’s this one. It’s so different from any typical Fantasy that I have a hard time describing it. It's truly a breath of fresh air.

I really love the world of the Raksura - the individuals, their culture and even their mannerisms. When the trilogy ended, I was so sad to leave them all behind. But Wells apparently agrees with me that there is plenty of room for more, and delivered these new novellas to read. I'm desperately hoping there will be many more, including - dare I? - more full length novels. But for now, I am happy.

The first novella, The Falling World, takes place about six months after the end of the trilogy, so we get to see all of our old friends again. The scrape they get into has plenty of danger and suspense packed into it, as well as details of a more settled court life and politics between courts.

The second novella, The Tale of Indigo and Cloud, is a prequel that takes us back to the story of what happened when Indigo stole Cloud. This one focuses more on tense court politics, and we get to see the Reaches back when they were more populated and the courts were stronger. I was afraid I wouldn’t be as interested because it was all new characters (except for one surprise cameo appearance), but I loved it just as much.

So, if you haven’t read the original trilogy yet, start there, and then be thankful that you have some more crumbs to eat when you’re finished because these novellas are fantastic as well. I wanted to read slower so I could stay in the world for a while, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next lot.

~~~~

Sept 8, 2014:

I really loved these novellas and I'm sad to be finished with Raksura stories again. Review to come.

~~~~

September 2, 2014:

I might have to bump all my other currently-reading books for this tonight. So excited!

~~~~

March 7, 2014:

Wait - a new Raksura book??? This could save 2014.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb collection of short stories set in the world of the Raksura. This is not the place to start if you haven't read any of the books, but extremely satisfying if you have.

The Falling World
A short adventure that takes place not long after the events of book 3 of the main series, The Siren Depths. The Reaches continue to contain mystery and danger previously unseen by the Raksura. This was like a short form of the novels, with rich descriptions of both the world and the intensely emotional interactions between the characters. Of particular interest is the signal change in the way River and Moon seem to deal with each other, plus some illumination of Ember, whose character was left largely unexplored in The Siren Depths. I loved it.

The Tale of Indigo and Cloud
Finally! The story we hear referenced throughout the novels about how the sister queen Indigo steals the consort Cloud from the court of Emerald Twilight. Stone makes a brief appearance as a giggling fledgling, if you can believe it. Learning more about Indigo and Cloud I can see now a basis for Stone's special affection for Moon and Jade and their unconventional ways. My favourite story of the collection.

The Forest Boy
A snapshot of one of the events of Moon's life as a boy after his mother and siblings were killed. Told from the perspective of the groundlings who take him in, it's just as sad as expected given what we know of Moon's history.

Adaptation
Another snapshot detailing Chime's change from Arbora mentor to Aeriat warrior. Again, no surprises, but a nice complementary piece which fills in the details of an important event often referred to in the novels.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story with a fledgling Moon who almost finds a home with a family of varied groundlings.

Merged review:

The story of Chime's transformation from Arbora to Aeriat.

[Mitticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022: 5 stars

2017: 4 stars

Merged review:

Two novellas about the Raksura verse, and 2 short stories.

-The Falling World Novella

Jade and co, after the book 3 and after Opal Night stuff.

Jade desaparece mientras va a una corte , y Moon va en su busca sin saber si esta muerta , capturada, o si llegara a tiempo.

Stone snorted at this example of naiveté. “Warriors obey queens. Us they obey as long as we’re standing there staring at them.”
“I noticed.” Moon pushed to his feet.

-The Tale of Indigo and Cloud. {i love this stoy :D} Novella

what happen with the famous couple that name the current court?
very informative about queens, relashionship, and more.
love Cerise ironic humor:
-------------
Cerise had been worried that she might not have any queens at all. Then Indigo and her warrior sisters had come, and they were strong and intelligent and sensible, when they weren’t being rash, silly, and brave to the point of blind idiocy.
--------------
Raksuran life was all about living without killing each other.
---------------

-The 2 short stories I already know.: The Forest Boy (Moon) and Adaptation (Chime)

---rtc--

The Forest Boy

Poor Moon.

Two kids found another wounded boy while searching among debris. The boy is accepted, but Tren start to feel jealous---

Setting in a world with people using cargo animals, hunting and fishing, and people of different colors: green, gray, etc. Discrimation and prejudice still run though. And predator danger.

Descubri esta serie por una reseña en GR. Se ve interesante.

Merged review:

Adaptation <7b>

Not all the changes are good. Specially when the subject is not happy about it.

A glimpse in the everyday life of arborean people, their division of class, and great changes to come.

Chime transition from mentor to aerial warrior.
Too short.

--las fechas diferentes son porque las lei por seprada, y luego fue unido por el sitio.

[Seregil of Rhiminee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Risingshadow.

Martha Wells' Stories of the Raksura: Volume One: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud is an excellent collection of Raksura stories. Everybody who enjoyed reading Books of the Raksura trilogy will be thrilled to read this collection, because this collection demonstrates that there are plenty of intriguing stories to tell of the Raksura and the Three Worlds.

To those readers, who have never read Raksura novels and are not familiar with the Raksura, I can mention that the Raksura are shapeshifting beings. Their society and social hierachy is a bit reminiscent of the insect world. There are two breeds of the Raksura: the Arbora (teachers, hunters, soldiers and mentors) and the Aeriat (warriors, consorts and queens). The Arbora have no wings, but the Aeriat are winged Raksura. The Raksura have enemies called the Fell.

Stories of the Raksura: Volume One: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud is an essential companion to the Books of the Raksura trilogy and will be of interest to all fans of the Raksura novels. The stories in this collection reveal more information about the Raksura and shed some light on what has happened before Moon arrived to the Cloud Indigo Court.

If there are any readers out there who wonder if this collection was worth waiting for I can tell them that it was definitely worth waiting for and should be read by all readers who enjoyed reading the trilogy. This collection contains all the elements that readers have come to expect from the Raksura novels. The author doesn't disappoint fans of the novels, but delivers them beautifully written stories that will enthrall and delight them. All the stories in this collection deserve to be praised.

This collection contain two novellas and two short stories:
- "The Falling World" (novella)
- "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" (novella)
- "The Forest Boy" (short story)
- "Adaptation" (short story)

It's a bit difficult to write about these stories without a few spoilers, but I'll try to limit the amount of spoilers to the minimum so that I won't spoil anybody's reading pleasure by too many revelations.

"The Falling World" tells of how Jade, sister queen of the Indigo Cloud Court, travels with Chime and Balm to Ocean Winter, which is another Raksuran court. When visitors from Ocean Winter arrive and Jade doesn't return back to the Indigo Cloud Court, her consort, Moon, becomes worried. Moon and Stone - and a few other Raksura (warriors and hunters) - begin to track Jade and her companions down. During their search they find surprising things and notice that freeing the Raksura from an ancient trap is challenging and difficult...

"The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" tells of what happened long before Moon was born. This novella explores the history of the Indigo Cloud Court and tells what happened when Indigo returned with Cloud from Emerald Twilight. She stole Cloud and brought him with her to the court which caused problems for the reigning Queen Cerise...

"The Forest Boy" tells of Moon as a fledgling and "Adaptation" tells of Chime. (Readers who have visited the author's website may have noticed that both of these stories can be found there.)

The appendices at the end of this collection offer good information about the Raksura and their different Courts.

Ever since I read The Cloud Roads, I've been fascinated by the Raksura and also by the biology of the Raksura, because they're totally different from other species and races found in modern fantasy novels. Their different forms still continue to amaze and thrill me, because it's genuinely interesting to read about them, their lives and their fates. Although they're shapeshifting beings, there's something humane about them that makes it easy for the reader to care about them.

I'm also fascinated by the history of the Three Worlds, because there are many stories of the past among the inhabitants of the world. Martha Wells has created a vast fantasy world that has its own history, races and secrets, and at times she reveals new information about the past and also surprises her readers by other revelations. There are many mysteries concerning the past of the world and that's part of the charm of the Raksura novels and stories (for example, little is known about the flying island people).

There are many interesting scenes in these novellas and stories. For example, it was fascinating to read about Chime's eagerness to visit the libraries of Ocean Winter, because he wanted to find out more information concerning the shapeshifting change of the Raksura. It bothers him that he doesn't know much about what happened to him and he's obsessed with knowing more about the change.

What Moon and his companions find during their search for Jade is very interesting. I'm not going to reveal what they find, but I'll mention that it's a total surprise for them. I'm sure that all readers will find their astonishing discovery interesting.

Reading about Cerise and Indigo in "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" was great. If you've ever wanted to know about the ancient Raksuran queens, now's your chance to read about them, because this story takes place before Moon's time.

It was great to read about how Indigo stole Cloud and what happened afterwards, because there are rules that the Raksuran courts must live by and obey, because rules and etiquette between different courts exist for a reason. What Indigo did was the worst possible violation of etiquette and the court of Emerald Twilight doesn't approve of it.

I enjoyed reading about how the theft of Cloud was explained and what caused Indigo to do it. I can mention that the young consort's life at the court of Emerald Twilight wasn't good and Indigo easily noticed it, because Cloud was ignored and was treated with contempt.

I also enjoyed reading about the conversation between Cerise and Argent, because they discussed why Indigo had stolen Argent's consort. This conversation was brilliantly entertaining and contained excellent dialogue that will please fans of sharp and well written dialogue.

I'll also briefly mention that the epilogue of "The Story of Indigo and Cloud" is interesting, because it take place many turns later. It's a fitting end to the novella.

I was already familiar with "The Forest Boy" and "Adaptation", because I had read them earlier. It was nice to read them again, because they're good short stories. It's nice that they've been added to this collection.

The characters in these stories are just as complex, diverse and sympathetic as in the novels. Their gender roles are explored believably, their actions are also believable and they have realistic problems. In my opinion the character interaction in these stories works perfectly. The author has managed to write about the characters in a realistic way that gives depth to them and fleshes out their different traits and feelings. The relationships and tensions between the characters are handled admirably.

The author writes well and surprisingly deeply about politics and the alliances between the different courts. It was interesting to read about politics and power play in the Raksuran courts, because their political system is based on the social structure and strict rules that define how to act and behave in the court (the author writes fluently about life in the court and what the Raksura do the and how the balance is maintained between different Raksura). The tensions and differences between the Raksuran courts are handled well.

Although there's plenty of politics to be found in the two novellas, it's nice that the author never lets the stories become too heavy with politics. She uses just the right amount of politics to keep the stories complex, but avoids drowning the stories in it. This is nice, because there's much more to these novellas than just politics.

It was nice that there was a bit of humour in these stories. As example of the author's humour I can mention that I think that everybody can't help but smile or even laugh out loud when they read about what one of the Raksura is called in "The Tale of Indigo and Cloud".

The worldbuilding is still as good as in Books of the Raksura trilogy. This was a nice surprise for me, because I enjoyed the worldbuilding in the trilogy. In my honest opinion the Three Worlds is one of the best created fantasy worlds in modern fantasy literature. There's something compelling and unique about it that makes the reader immediately attracted to it. To me, the most compelling aspects of this fantasy world are probably the vastness and depth of the world and the Raksura themselves, because they're complex beings.

Reading about the tree-people was genuinely fascinating for me, because they were fascinatingly different kind of beings and communicating with them was difficult. Beings like the tree-people are something that most authors probably wouldn't have dreamed of writing about, but Martha Wells has had courage and imagination to create this kind of beings and she has managed to make them a believable part of her fantasy world.

Different elements blend seamlessly in these stories and the author creates a coherent and compelling vision of a fantastical world where non-human characters have human-like problems and have to deal with such issues as friendship, survival, love, war and magic.

This collection will please all fans of Books of the Raksura trilogy and can be recommended to everybody who enjoyed reading it. It's possible that readers who have never read Books of the Raksura trilogy will enjoy this collection, because it consists of novellas and short stories that offer glimpses to the lives of the shapeshifting Raksura, but fans of the trilogy will probably enjoy it the most, because they're already familiar with the characters and the rich and detailed fantasy world.

I personally consider these Raksura stories and Books of the Raksura trilogy to be exceptionally good, because Martha Wells has created an interesting fantasy world that is inhabited by the shapeshifting Raksura and other beings. I think that all readers will be impressed by these stories and the trilogy, because everybody who appreciates quality and originality can't help but enjoy them.

Stories of the Raksura: Volume One: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud can be seen as proof of Martha Well's writing skills and her ability to write fascinating adult fantasy. It's fair to say that she's one of a kind when it comes to writing original fantasy stories and novels. She has never disappointed readers with her fantasy stories, because she has always managed to avoid clichés and has been able to create something new. She's a storyteller who's willing to take risks and explore new things. This is one of the reasons why readers should read these Raksura stories and Books of the Raksura trilogy, so don't be afraid to give them a chance to enchant you with their originality.

Readers who enjoy reading this collection will be delighted to know that the secod volume of Raksura stories will be published next year (the second volume is called Stories of the Raksura: Volume Two: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below and it will be published in April 2015). I look forward to reading the second volume, because this collection was excellent and enjoyable fantasy entertainment for adult readers.

I have to mention that the cover art by Steve Argyle looks beautiful and fits the collection perfectly.

My final words are:

I highly recommend this collection to everybody who wants to read quality fantasy stories, and I especially recommend this collection to all who have read and enjoyed Books of the Raksura trilogy. This collection is perfect fantasy entertainment for adult readers, because there's originality, imagination, surprises and good prose in it. What more could you possibly hope for in a fantasy collection?

Highly recommended!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time on Mt. TBR: 1 year, 4 months as of 8-Jun-2018.

So, again amazing.

I didn't finish "Forrest Boy" as I couldn't take the heartbreak.

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has stories (2 major ones) that focuses in more ways on the Raksura politics and art of diplomacy. A number of cultures will certainly find this parts funny likely because it really simulates in one way or the other.
Additionally, there were other minor stories included that shares a little of Moon's younger survival living days as well as Chima's warrior turnout.
Overall, another entertaining story telling.

[Saphirablue · Rating 4 out of 5]

New stories of the Raksura! \o/

When I started it felt as if I'd never left this world and characters. I just fell right back into them. ♥

In the first story, I love that we see Moon being an unusual Consort once again and leading the search party. ♥ I love that Moon had to deal with different people this time since Chime & Co are missing. I like the idea of a sorcerer being so powerful to freeze the time and trap the others in this time-freeze-bubble. I love that we see how they all are doing a while after "The Siren Depths" and that Moon still has to rescue the others and that visitors still show up when it's pretty inconvenient (because once again Moon is doing things a Consort shouldn't do (in their eyes). *g*)

The Tale of Indigo and Cloud? Loved it! I love that at first it seemed that Cloud is an usual Consort and then? He's not as shy and timid as everyone thought. I love to see how the colony once has been and to see the mountain tree full of Raksura. ♥ I love getting insight of the politics and customs of the reaches when there have been a lot more Raksura than now. I freaking love to see Stone as a giggling blanketfledgling. ♥

Compared, I like the story of Indigo and Cloud a bit better than the first one. I can't put my finger on the "Why?", though. It's just the way it is.

The other two short stories I've already read on the homepage of Martha Wells and I still love them.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four tales set in the world of the Raksura which I gobbled up because I have less self control than a four-year-old in an all-she-can-eat ice cream parlor … which is a great idea for a little business right there, if you're rich & don't have to make money off your business venture. Rich folk, pay attention - great little ice cream charity idea! :)

The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud are longer stories, The Forest Boy and Adaptation are shorter; I loved 'em all though I'm the first to admit that after having read Wells' novels I am an unabashed fangirl, even given to some entirely age-inappropriate squeeing & dancing around when my copies finally arrive.

Onward: The Falling World is a rousing adventure tale, featuring the Indigo Cloud court as we know it from the novels.
The Tale of Indigo and Cloud is a nicely crafted story of what really happened between these historic characters, which wasn't quite what I expected - well done!
The Forest Boy is a poignant chapter from Moon's youth, before coming to the Indigo Cloud court.
Adaptation is an interesting story about Chime: I enjoyed it though I think it's the weakest of the four, reading more like a flashback piece from one of the original three novels.

If you enjoyed the first three Raksura novels be sure to pick this up, it's well worth adding to your collection (says the Antique Fangirl). Cheerio!

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! OMG! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON! I LOVE MOON! I loved these short stories. Normally, I don't read shorts in series because I generally find them a waste of time but Wells is a fantastic author!

I'd totally throw a dozen tea pots at Jade if I thought I could steal him from her. D:< But then Moon would get upset and he gets violent when he's upset.

I really love the gender switch here. It's kind of funny to see how everyone expects the consorts (all males) be passive and shit.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5 Stars] Wow, it was amazing to get back with this world and these characters again. You definitely have to read the original trilogy before reading these novellas and short stories, but they really add a lot. They tell some of the stories I had been really curious about while reading, so it was awesome to get answers. The Tale of Indigo and Cloud was so frickin good. That one was 5 stars for me. The others were really good but not at the 5 star level, so overall I gave the volume 4.5.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Falling World": JUST REALLY STRESSFUL WHY DID WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS BUT ALSO I LOVE EVERYONE AND THAT WAS REALLY CRAZY AND GREAT 5/5
"The Tale of Indigo and Cloud": Um I skipped it because I was afraid it would ruin my headcanons
"The Forest Boy": This is the most Moon story ever! But kind of boring. 4/5
"Adaptation": Chime has the actual worst day ever. 4/5

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the books, check out the short stories! They are asides, or new adventures, or little views into other creatures from the world. Lots of fun, made me want to read the books again.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Reads Review - Stories of the Saksura, Volume 1 by Martha Wells

This was the first Martha Wells that I have read, and while some might say that it's not the place to start at all, I find it a great sign that I can pick this up not having read the other Raksura books and still like it as much as I did. The setting is fresh and interesting, the characters charming, and the stories as a whole weave together to make something that makes sense, that is entertaining and emotional and good. It's a lot of fun, and it has made me want to read the other books, so it has done its job admirably. Really my largest complaint isi that it is rather brief, with only four stories, and one of those taking up a full half of the pages. None of the stories are bad, though, and there is enough to make reading them a treat even for new readers.

The first story is the longest, and honestly I'm not sure how big a fan I am of starting the collection off with a 100-page novella, but it is a compelling read. I imagine for fans of the series it would be a chance to see familiar characters out and getting things done. For me, a newbie, it was still structured so that I learned who everyone was and how they fit into the society. I'm sure that's why this kicks off the collection, because it has the length to stand more on its own while giving a good overview of the setting and the characters. And it's fun. Moon was a great viewpoint character because of his relationship to Jade and Chime and all the others. He has some power but isn't really supposed to use it. The way gender works in the setting is good and makes sense and I like how sexually liberated everyone is. Definitely can have gay and bi relationships and that is always a good thing.

Which is, I suppose, part of why I liked this so much. More bi main characters (I think)! At least, that's how I read Moon with his relationship with both Jade and Chime, though I guess the one with Chime is explicitly sexual. It still seems much more than friends, though, so it still counts! Indeed. But all of the characters were great, and I liked how fun it was, how free and how the setting is very much different, not just Earth dressed up in some scales. Things make sense with the society the way it is. A little less clear to me was how the non-Raksura societies operate, but that's probably more having to do with me being new than anything else. There is a glimpse of things in the prequel story about Moon spending time with surface dwellers, but that didn't give a real good idea of what it's like down there. Much more realized was the Raksura world. Which was great.

The three shorter stories also tie back in together. Mostly with Moon, because he's the one who finds the story that makes up the second story, which gets into some of the history of the clan. The third story is entirely about Moon's past and the last is dealing with Chime's transformation from Mentor to Warrior. So that event, that transformation, is given a lot of weight, because it plays into the first story too. And it all just works, giving a nice taste of how things are like and eluding to the things that must have happened in the novels without feeling too spoilery. It's a good time and I certainly enjoyed myself reading this. I want more, and am going to give this a definite four stars out of five.

[Yune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone. As a fledgling. Go read now.

It's only a cameo appearance, but I think I squeaked aloud when it happened. Thankfully with no witnesses -- I stayed up late to finish this book the day it came out. I have so much affection for the characters in the Books of the Raksura (and considering the number of rereads and recommendations I've racked up for the trilogy, I really should go back and raise its star ratings) that it's hard to view this volume objectively. I actually burbled at the clerk of a science fiction bookstore when he told me that this book was coming out, but it was okay, he was a fellow enthusiast.

The first novella, "The Falling World," details Moon once again navigating a tricky inter-court situation while discovering more of the wonderfully weird threats present in the Three Worlds, Jade having run afoul of this one first. It felt a bit compressed to me, as I didn't quite feel the richness of the trap and the people who set it, but I did love the image of the creature curling back into its spot. The story also highlights how Moon may have found acceptance in Indigo Cloud, but not all Raksura are going to be understanding of a once-feral consort's ways.

"The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" is exactly that. Obviously the Raksuran notion of romance is not quite aligned with ours, so it was amusing to see one of their love stories, set amidst the very real possibility of war when a careless queen neglects her consort, and he finds a potential way out of the situation when another court's queen comes visiting. It's less full of angst than bristling spines and bared teeth, and demonstrates nicely how Indigo Cloud may in fact have a legacy of non-genteel consorts.

There's also a couple of short stories. "The Forest Boy" shows how other races viewed Moon back when he was a lone wanderer with no place to belong. While he manages to find a home for a while, friendships are all too fragile when he has to hide the secret of an identity even he isn't quite sure of. This one in particular may not have much impact if you haven't read the other books, but if you have, it's a little heartbreaking even though you know what's ahead for Moon.

"Adapation" is Chime's tale of his unexpected transformation; it's more of a personal perspective than a look at the larger colony's straits that led to the change, and it ends on a hopeful note that lingered as I flipped through the ending appendices.

Well worth it if you enjoyed the setting and characters of the Raksura books, as a lot of background gets filled in, but there's not a ton of forward momentum, if you're looking for a continuation of Moon's adventures. And obviously shorter works often don't offer as much depth as novels, but I didn't leave unsatisfied so much as just wanting more. Am eagerly awaiting the next volume.

[Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three prequel short stories to The Cloud Roads and one novella set between The Siren Depths and The Edge of Worlds.

"The Falling World" - A trading party including Jade and Chime goes missing, and Moon, Stone, and others set off to find and/or rescue them. Lighter on interpersonal character dynamics and Raksuran sociopolitics than I prefer, but it's a good adventure story with some nice character development for Chime.

"The Tale of Indigo and Cloud" - I love this story. Plenty of Raksuran politics, a little romance, and a cameo appearance by a fledgling Stone. I only wish there could be an entire book focused on Umber Shadow and the wonderful new characters introduced in this story.

"The Forest Boy" - Lovely and poignant story about Moon as a child, trying to find a place where he fits in.

"Adaptation" - The story of Chime's transformation. Not a bad story, but doesn't add much to what was already revealed in the novels. I'd have been a lot more interested in seeing this part of the court's history explored through Jade's or Pearl's or Stone's POV.

[Fayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella/longish short story and some short stories in the Three Worlds. Apart from Forrest Boy they all fall short for me, even though I loved Cloud Roads. I think there were too many characters for such a short story.

I may have enjoyed it as a full novel, maybe with a focus on the Queen and 1st consort passing their wisdom onto the new generation.

Generally I love this author, although I suspect that editors, publishers or early readers push her out of her sweet spot into unnecessary action. She also writes great male characters which isn't common with female authors.

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Big Wonderful Winged Stars.

Now to resist starting Volume 2. If I start it now I'm just going to binge-read and I will love it but then I will hate myself. I have to make it last a few months, until another book is released.

YES MARTHA WELLS? I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER TEN MORE RAKSURA BOOKS PLEASE.

[Gergana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review: http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2015/0...

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

More exciting and insightful content from Wells' Three Worlds. This is a delightful collection of short stories that continue to expand on our knowledge of the Raksura.

I love that she published this (and the next volume of short stories, that I'm sure I'll finish way too quickly). These are the fun, exciting, stories in the writers mind that I, as a reader, would ponder but not expect to see - simply because they're the type of stories that simply wouldn't fit within the main story properly. many of them take place in the past and expand upon Raksuran culture and social norms, biology information, or character insights. They just wouldn't make sense within the main novels, but they are definitely something that I am wondering about regardless - so it's such a treat that she published them! Its almost like fan content, just for dedicated readers to learn more about the world even if it's not really essential for enjoying the rest of the series. and honestly? I enjoy the character insights and tidbits of lore so much, maybe more than some of the genuine adventures 😅🤷 and they're good adventures!



The first story was one of the two novellas - a story set after Siren Depths detailing an adventure where Moon must venture out and help find the missing Jade, Chime, and our favorite warriors. It's really neat seeing Moon rescue them, rather than the usual Jade coming to rescue Moon scenario. I feel like this one felt the most like a typical Raksuran book, and focused mostly on the adventure - as well as a focus on Chime and his ever present anxiety about his life-altering change from mentor to warrior.


We also learn the story of our favorite colony's namesake - Indigo, and how she stole Cloud. As well as more insight on consorts and other character's perspective of them.



We get a surprise cameo of fledgling Stone! Right after a description of exactly what a line-grandfather is, and how they occur. And that not all consorts will live this long, and it is a lonely road, outliving your friends and family for generations. It really deepens the understanding of not only Raksuran biology/caste customs but also Stone's character! I love that moment of sudden gained knowledge after reading so much of a character, and seeing them in another light. It's just *chef's kiss*👌 These books are so full of these sudden revelations after the fact. I just know it's going to make re-reading them with said knowledge a very different and incredibly fun experience.


Then we have the short stories - one a glimpse into Moon's (sad) childhood experience, and a very interesting look at when Chime changed into a warrior. Just the kind of short stories that I obsess over thinking about, that wouldn't have any kind of place in the main books that makes sense - and have now been blessed with canon content to fill in the gaps on the side.

If you like fantasy and shapeshifters just read these books already. It's gonna be my favorite series for a long time I know it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment in the Raksura series includes four stories: two novellas and two short stories. I read this after having finished the third novel, The Siren Depths; the first novella takes place just after this novel, while the other stories take place significantly earlier. For me, the highlight was The Tale of Indigo and Cloud, which tells the story of these two ancestors, the namesakes of the Indigo Cloud colony - having Stone appear as a fledgling in this novella was wonderful. It was a bit strange to read a Raksura colony with otherwise entirely new characters, but I really enjoyed it. The Falling World is a quick adventure featuring the characters known and loved from the novels and so of course it was great fun. The short stories felt a little too short for me - almost like flashback scenes that could've been inserted into a novel somewhere - but I appreciated them nonetheless, and look forward to continuing this wonderful series.

Content warnings: violence, injury / injury detail, blood, bullying, xenophobia

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why reading about polyamorous shapeshifters who live in a tree is so homey but it totally is. Maybe because they all live with extended family? Maybe because they're always fighting? Maybe because my soul has scales? Who can tell.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four short stories, interesting and useful in understanding more about the origins and history of the Indigo Cloud Court and also an event in the life of a very young Moon, before he was found by the Raksura.

[Kara-karina]

DNF, unfortunately. I tried it on audio from Audible Plus catalogue, and it didn't grab me.