I'm a tough sell on most fantasy novels these days, but I really loved the world and concept of The Sorceress of Sky Serpents.

On the surface, The Sorceress of Sky Serpents seems like your typical coming-of-age fantasy novel. Our protagonist, Yuala, is an outcast in her community, preferring the company of giant cave worms and her forest friend Lift to that of her clanmates. But as her own powers of sorcery begin to manifest more and more strongly, and with tensions in the southern magic-despising clans rising by the day, she must make a difficult choice—alienate herself even further from her clan by harnessing this forbidden magic, or stand by and watch as they are destroyed.

Taking inspiration from the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, the novel absolutely oozes with delicious and intricate world-building. While "sorcery has been banned for innumerable years after users abused their power, and the world still suffers the consequences of such hubris in the present" is far from a new concept, the way it is wielded here makes it feel fresh. Robinson has obviously thought through every aspect of this world she's crafted, and it's absolutely gripping to read; especially at a time when so many fantasy worlds feel interchangeable. I actively wanted to immerse myself in the world of this book, and was eager to get back to it whenever I had to put it down. Friendly, massive dog-like worms! Octopi that play catch with severed human heads! Giant spiders that wrap you up and either impart elemental magic upon you or turn you into pink goo! The fauna of this world were especially captivating to me.

But all that focus on world-building has to come at the expense of something. While I enjoy Yuala as a character from a conceptual standpoint (I ALWAYS love a neurodivergent-coded protagonist), her first-person narration just feels very detached. Arguably this could be a consequence of her characterization and thus intentional; but there are a number of occasions in the novel where she is telling us she feels this way or that way about something, and the same stated emotions just don't come through in the prose or dialogue. I like to be right up close and personal with my protagonists, so this was something I struggled with throughout the novel. There are also a number of side characters that I would have appreciated more depth from given their importance to the story, as well as more chapters in the vein of the novel's interludes, just so the antagonistic forces felt less nebulous.

And this isn't exactly a criticism, but if you enjoy a fast-paced plot, I don't think this book is for you. The Sorceress of Sky Serpents is absolutely an establishing first book in a series (yes, this is a series, not a standalone!), and very little in the way of action happens for the vast majority of its page count. Most of the novel is spent building the world and introducing us to its characters and politics; the former it excels in, while the latter is executed more shakily. Whether or not you'll get an enjoyable experience out of reading this book depends on what you value highest in your fantasy novels.

As someone who has spent a bit of time away from the adult fantasy genre lately, The Sorceress of Sky Serpents was an enjoyable return to the genre for me. Despite it not always prioritizing my personal favourite aspects of literature, such as characters and themes, I think it presents a compelling world and potential, even given its short length. I'm looking forward to the next installment's release, as well as making my way through Robinson's backlist.

3.75/5.