Book Review: The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 0 of Blacktongue

Publisher: Tor (June 25, 2024)

Length: 416 pages

Author Information: Website

Christopher Buehlman is an author I’ve followed for a while, but I first came upon his work with his horror novels. It was 2021’s The Blacktongue Thief that was his first foray into fantasy, introducing readers to a war-torn world devastated by what were known as the Goblin Wars. The book was…interesting to say the least. Looking back on my review, I called it an “eccentric little fantasy novel”, and even though I meant them positively, those words couldn’t quite capture the full range of emotions that I had. With The Daughters’ War, however, Buehlman has truly hit his stride, delivering a prequel that not only enriches the lore of his fantasy world but also stands alone as an epic tale in and of itself.

Set years before The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughters’ War opens with chaos and bloodshed. Galva, whom we first met in the previous book as a supporting character, takes the reins as protagonist as she defies her family’s wishes and joins the Raven Knights, a new unit of the army created to bring giant war corvids to the frontlines to combat the bird-fearing goblins that have overrun the human cities.

The novel is so named because war has taken a terrible toll; most of the men are dead, so now the women must fight too—even a noble daughter like Galva, who will join her brothers in battle. The journey will be long and arduous, especially against a brutal and clever enemy like the goblins. The Raven Knights’ corvids, created by dark magic, are humanity’s last hope, but even they are an unknown quantity, dangerous and unpredictable to their handlers. Galva will need to learn to bond with her birds, while also navigating the complex dynamics of her fellow soldiers and even some of her more mercurial family members.

While reading The Blacktongue Thief is not a prerequisite before diving into his one, being familiar with Galva will probably give more insight into her character’s evolution. We already know what she has lost and what she will become. This is the story behind the scars she bears, both visible and invisible, and the origins of her purpose. Of course, there are many reasons why I loved The Daughters’ War, and I will be going into more detail about them soon enough, but I think exploring the formative experiences and that forged Galva were the moments that resonated with me the most.

Plus, Galva is simply a great character. A likeable character, a stark contrast to Kinch Na Shannack, the titular blacktongue thief in the original novel whose almost stream-of-consciousness narration made you either love him or want to strangle him. Galva, on the other hand, is thoughtful and grounded. She also has a strong moral compass, whose sensitive nature belies her tough exterior. Her empathy and introspection not only enable her to connect with others but also with her corvids, fostering a sense of camaraderie among those who fight with her, and her own loyalty to friends and family is unwavering, even when they don’t always deserve it.

Finally, the author’s world-building here is nothing short of phenomenal. Not only is there meticulous attention to details, but there is also a surprising amount of emotional depth in the world of The Daughters’ War—in the intricate landscapes, diverse cultures, and rich history, which all contribute to the sense of a MASSIVE thought process behind its creation. Each element feels intentionally designed, not just ornamental, and even the verses and songs in the audiobook version are beautifully sung, not simply read aloud.

Perhaps my only critique, a minor one, is the way the story flips between two timelines, one presenting the current state of the war and the other chronicling the events leading up to it. A few awkward transitions here and there caused moments of confusion regarding the timeline of events. There were also occasional lulls in the middle of the book that I felt were unnecessarily drawn out and did not push the narrative forward. However, aside from those issues, I found The Daughters’ War to be nearly perfect.