Book Title: The Orb of Cairado
Series: The Chronicles of Osreth (0.5 ?)
Author: Katherine Addison
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221288099-the-orb-of-cairado
Release Date: 1/31/25
Star Rating:
When I get a new book in this series I just want to lie in bed and marinate in it.
Set in the world of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award nominee The Goblin Emperor, The Orb of Cairado offers an unlikely hero in historian Ulcetha Zhorvena. Five years ago, Ulcetha was studying at the University of Cairado, working his way toward becoming a scholar first-class in the Department of History. Then a prize artifact disappeared and Ulcetha, deftly framed, was kicked out. Now he works for a crooked importer, using his knowledge of elven history to write provenances for the fake artifacts Salathgarad sells. When the airship Wisdom of Choharo explodes, killing the emperor and three of his four sons, it takes with it Ulcetha’s best friend, Mara Lilana. But Mara leaves behind a puzzle–the one thing Ulcetha can’t resist. And the puzzle leads Ulcetha back to the Department of History…and maybe the chance to clear his name. – Goodreads
Such a short book, but as always, so engrossing. They usually feature a mystery of some sort, which is not solved through fast paced action, but through introspection and reasoning. The characters are surprising in their depth and the reader comes away with empathy for their inner struggles.
This novella (or is it a short story?) is the same as the full length books in the series. I don’t want to go into too much detail because with a short story you run the very real risk of spoiling something and that would be truly egregious. If you couldn’t tell yet, I absolutely adore all of the books by this author and she is coming out with a new full length novel early next year. This will just keep me going until then. Maybe.
