Cleric Chih and their new companions find themselves in an unsafe situation, and to stay alive, Chih must recount the story of the tiger and her scholar lover to survive the night. But they must watch their words as one mishap may unleash the anger of the ferocious tigers who listen closely on.
In my previous review of The Empress of Salt and Fortune, I referred to the story as a “near-epic tale, all condensed into a hundred pages.” While the stakes are not as high this time, I found When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain an exceptional sequel that captivated me way more than the first in such a drastic way. My third foray into Nghi Vo’s work, and I am mesmerised by her storytelling skills.
Chih takes the stage this time and tells the story of tiger Ho Thi Thao and the scholar Dieu and finds themselves at the mercy of the tigers, who interject to explain how their version of the same story happened. The Singing Hills Cycle series, at its core, is about the power of storytelling, and this novella particularly emphasises how history is remembered by the winners. The mediation between Chih and the tiger sisters is thrilling and frightening. Chih is cut off at many points in their recollection of the story by the tigers to correct or disagree with their rendition of the story, new information that shifts Chih’s entire perspective of the tale and makes them even more on edge as they wait out the night.
Nghi Vo’s ability to command words is enthralling. Stuck on a cold mountain, the clock ticking until sunrise, readers can expect to feel like they’re sitting along Chih, anxiously watching their every word, hoping it’s not their last, listening to the love story of Ho Thi Thao and Dao, a sapphic tale between two complicated women. Nghi Vo knows how to keep readers captured, creating fully realised stories in such a tight number of pages. Something about this series so far makes me feel at peace. Much like its predecessor, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain was glorious, and Nghi Vo’s storytelling has won my heart and soul. I highly recommend and eagerly await more about our beloved cleric, Chih.
as told by zaheerah 