The Unbalancing

June 13, 2022
The finely wrought first full-length outing into Lemberg’s inclusive and lushly folkloric Birdverse universe (after the novella The Four Profound Weaves) begins centuries after the goddess Bird carried 12 stars into the world. One of these stars has become increasingly unstable, tormented by nightmares as it sleeps beneath the Gelle-Geu archipelago. Neurodivergent nonbinary poet Erígra Lilún has a subconscious connection to the star, but they’re uninterested in assuming the powerful position of starkeeper, preferring their quiet life of contemplation and gardening. Meanwhile, the brash and determined new starkeeper, Ranra Kekeri, discovers that the islands’ circumstances are far more dire than anyone realizes: unless the people of Gelle-Geu can stabilize the star, the archipelago is headed for environmental collapse. When Erígra and Ranra meet, they’re instantly drawn to one another as they rush to galvanize their community to mend what has been broken. Brisk action balances the meditations on gender and glimpses of the complex magic system as this unpredictable tale wends to an intense and deeply moving climax. It’s bittersweet and lovely. Agent: Mary C. Moore, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc.

August 1, 2022

Poet Er�gra Lil�n just wants to attend the grove on the mountain, but their ancestor Sember�, one of the original starkeepers, wants them to take up the mantle of starkeeping and shares the tale of the deliverance of stars by the goddess Bird. The new starkeeper, Ranra Kekeri, discovers that the star that rests beneath the ocean waters is restless, and the increasing tremors that disturb the islands of Gelle-Geu may become worse. Ranra and Lil�n form an immediate connection based on their concern for the star and their home, their attraction to each other, and the powerful configuration of their magical deepnames--revealing that while it may be the start of their relationship, it could also be the end of their home. The intricate world of magical names and variations of gender identity provide nuance and character growth while still providing enough action to build to its climactic end. VERDICT Lemberg's first full-length novel in their lauded "Birdverse" (following the novella The Four Profound Weaves) showcases elegant and lyrical prose to create an immersive romantic fantasy.--Kristi Chadwick

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Starred review from September 1, 2022
This first full-length novel in Lemberg's acclaimed Birdverse (The Four Profound Weaves, 2020) shines with the author's signature lush, dreamlike prose and nuanced explorations of trans and queer identity. The islands of Gelle-Geu are disturbed by a star that sleeps fitfully beneath the waves, its nightmares rocking the land with earthquakes increasing in frequency and severity. New starkeeper Ranra is determined to do whatever it takes to learn what is wrong and fix it to save her home from destruction. Poet and gardener Er�gra Lil�n is descended from the first starkeeper, Sember�. Sember� insists that Er�gra is the only one who can wake the star and end its devastating nightmares, but Er�gra has no interest in being starkeeper. Ranra and Er�gra are instantly drawn to one another and fall into a romantic relationship even as the danger to Gelle-Geu increases. Both Ranra and Er�gra have challenging and gratifying personal growth arcs, approached with the same thoughtfulness and determination the characters bring to bear on the threat facing their community. Lovingly crafted with a deep and rewarding world full of complex characters who are often LGBTQIA+ and/or neurodiverse, this is an outstanding novel from a rising star in fantasy fiction.

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