To tell the truth, I haven't read Boy Parts yet and this book might not have been exactly what I've been expecting, but I enjoyed these short stories and most have been quite thought-provoking.

In the audio version, the content warning is inconveniently placed at the end, but I'd advise everyone to check these before reading, as almost each story deals with an either potentially disturbing or personally sensitive topic, ranging from eating disorders to body forror and physchological manipulation or physical violence.

Even though this was recommended to me as horror, I would rather categorize it as speculative fiction with occasional elements of horror.

A haunting tale of memory, guilt, and survival, told in Nghi Vo’s recognizable lyrical voice.

Content warning: This novella deals with famine, starvation, violence, death, and body horror.

I requested an ARC of A Mouthful of Dust because I have enjoyed each of the previous five novellas in Nghi Vo’s Singing Hills Cycle, and I find Vo’s poetic, fable-like storytelling consistently captivating. Even in short form, she successfully weaves together delicate stories within the story that build into something larger, while casually dropping pieces of resonant wisdom that stay with you.

In this novella, Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant arrive in the river town of Baolin to collect stories about a legendary famine. They soon discover that the magistrate and his household are unhappy with inquiries into their infamous past, and Chih must carefully piece together what really happened.

The tone here is haunting and uneasy from the start, and that feeling only grows despite the lovely prose. The novella explores how people remember, often divergently, and how memory can obscure or reshape truth, as well as what people will do to survive and how they later live with the guilt of those choices. It also examines how corruption and power create unequal burdens and opportunities during crises; famine is not experienced equally, and the moral compromises of survival are at a central focus here.

Vo’s writing remains as tightly crafted and poetic as in previous entries, though this one might be a bit darker and heavier. The pacing is one of this story’s strengths: Chih keeps collecting stories with steady momentum, and the narrative unfolds at a measured, purposeful pace that keeps the mystery assembling as we read. I think that for the first time in the cycle, both Chih and Almost Brilliant feel truly disturbed and frightened, which adds a tangible emotional weight, although Almost Brilliant has a smaller role here than in some earlier novellas.

At this point, Mammoths at the Gates may still be my favorite in the cycle, but A Mouthful of Dust stands beside it in quality and choice of topics covered. The philosophical undercurrent and Vo’s language make it rewarding, and the sound design in the audiobook enhances the mood nicely.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy dark, fairytale-inspired folklore, lyrical prose, and stories rich in moral complexity. While the novella nods to earlier books in the cycle, it reads well on its own, so returning readers will likely gain additional resonance from the connection with the two main recurring characters.

Overall, this is a strong addition to the Singing Hills Cycle. Its philosophical core and the weight of its atmosphere are its greatest strengths, while I can't find any major flaws. For me, this was a strong and deeply enjoyable four-star read.

Many thanks to Tantor Media / Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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