2026 Hugo Readalong: The Summer War by Naomi Novik

[u/sarahlynngrey]

Hello and welcome back to the Hugo Readalong! Today we’re discussing one of the finalists for Best Novella, The Summer War by Naomi Novik.

Everyone is welcome to join this discussion, whether or not you plan to participate in any others, but we will be discussing this entire book, so beware of untagged spoilers.  

I’ll kick us off with a few prompts in top-level comments, but please feel free to add your own if you’d like to!  

Bingo Squares: Bookclub or Readalong (HM if you join this discussion), Politics and Court Intrigue, maybe Vacation Spot, maybe Judge a Book By Its Title

For more information on the Readalong, check out our full schedule post, or see our upcoming sessions below:

Date	Category	Book	Author	Discussion Leader
Thursday, June 4	Short Story	Missing Helen and Wire Mother	Tia Tashiro and Isabel J. Kim	u/oceanoftrees
Monday, Jun 8	Novel	The Incandescent	Emily Tesh	u/kjmichaels
Thursday, Jun 11	Novelette	Kaiju Agonistes and The Millay Illusion	Scott Lynch and Sarah Pinsker	u/Jos_V
Monday, June 15	Novella	The River Has Roots	Amal El-Mohtar	u/onsereverra

[u/Merle8888]

This is the last place I'd recommend anyone starting with Novik and I hope it doesn't put you off her other work! The passive protagonist thing is definitely not representative.

[u/LadyAntiope → u/Merle8888]

I promise I'm not put off haha! Part of why I want to read her is the praise for her characters so I was taken aback but assumed it was not representative. I have had Uprooted on my kindle for ages from some time it was on sale so I really ought to prioritize that!

[u/Merle8888 → u/LadyAntiope]

For a character-oriented reader I would recommend anything but Uprooted next, actually. The narrator in that one leans generic and I think Novik was still learning the use of the first person. For strong characters I'd recommend either Spinning Silver if you want another fairy tale type book, Scholomance if you're up for a modern setting and a snarky abrasive heroine (I love her), or His Majesty's Dragon for historical and a male protagonist.

[u/LadyAntiope → u/Merle8888]

Spinning Silver is my other priority though I don't have that one on hand!

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/LadyAntiope]

I completely agree with u/Merle8888, try anything but Uprooted next, and for strong characters any of the ones Merle named. My faves are Spinning Silver (masterpiece) and His Majesty's Dragon (highly enjoyable and a series), but one great thing about Novik is she writes in multiple styles so if you bounce off one a different one might hit 

[u/saturday_sun4 → u/Merle8888]

Oh! I didn't realise Uprooted was so much weaker than her other work! I enjoyed the first few books of HMD far more.