Review & Designs: Tensorate Novellas

I’ve been wanting to feature the Tensorate novellas by JY Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red Thread of Fortune on my blog ever since their release. These books are stunning from cover to cover, whether it’s their exquisite cover art to the rich world that lies within.

Today, I’m sharing with you a brief review of the two novella, as well as some graphic fanart you can use as phone wallpapers.

R E V I E W

I am a huge fan of the Tor.com novella imprint, and the Tensorate novellas exemplifies all the reasons why. These books are vividly imagined and champion voices long ignored by SFF.

These twin novellas fittingly follow a pair of twins, Akeha and Mokoya, spanning the first few decades of their lives. They are significantly different in tone, tied together by this vastly imaginative world and the strength of the sibling’s bond. Akeha’s book is an introspective saga about family, destiny, and choice. Mokoya’s novella explore her emotions and its manifestation over few short but action-packed days.

The Tensorate series unfold in a world that is at once reminiscent of East Asia, yet filled with wonders such as the Slack elemental manipulation and advanced biotechnology. At every turn, there are delightful surprises within the layers of world building, from raptors to visually impressive feats of slackcraft. While the novellas are short, an immense amount of detail is packed within these pages, allowing the readers to fully appreciate the various factions with the Protectorate and the brewing tension between them.

I love the exploration of gender within these novellas, facilitated by a world where gender is not assigned at birth – but rather chosen by each person (and what a world that would be!). Upon this decision, the person can choose whether they want to take gender confirmation drugs. The novella’s examination of Akeha and Mokoya’s individual choices was especially well-executed.

At the moment, there are two more planned novella set in this world, with The Descent of Monsters set to release on July 31! I’m still secretly holding out for a novella on Sonami. In any case, I’m sure I’ll be back in due time with more graphics and reviews.

W A L L P A P E R S

• Quotes and characters belong to the magnificent JY Yang, cover art drawn by the awe-inspiring Yuko Shimizu.
• The phone wallpapers are free for your personal use only.
• Please do not edit, repost, redistribute the images.
• They are made for iPhone 6, but should fit most smartphones.

“The black tides of heaven direct the courses of human lives”. To which a wise teacher said, “But as with all the waters, one can swim against the tide.”

Black Tides of Heaven Wallpaper DROPBOX
Red Threads of Fortune Wallpaper DROPBOX

• Find more of my free book-related designs here.
• If you enjoyed these free graphics and want to support me, you can find me on Society 6.
• Alternatively, you can commission me for your custom graphics by contacting me.
• Finally, you can grab me a cuppa via Ko-fi here.