Review: The Orb of Cairado by Katherine Addison

Blurb:

Set in the world of 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.

Review:

If you’re looking for an easy place to dip your toes into Katherine Addison’s rich world of The Goblin Emperor, or want to continue your journey, The Orb of Cairado is your ticket. This unassuming story of a historian clearing his name and finding more than he bargained for was a treat. With a deep world which felt backed by the vast expanse of its companion novels, I felt immersed into Cairado. Digestible in one sitting, this is the perfect rainy day tale of another hero found in an unlikely place.

Ulcetha Zhorvena has been brought low from his position studying at the university as a historian, after being framed for taking a precious artifact. Now he’s stuck in the unsavory job of forging provenance for fake artifacts for his shifty boss. But when he loses a friend who leaves him a deep mystery to solve, Ulcetha will commence a great adventure to clear his name. But even after the dust has settled, there are questions scratching at the back of his mind that won't relent without answers. This story was fabulous, and I wished wholeheartedly that it had the time for a full novel. Because it was quick, things progressed with little resistance at times, especially those that I wanted a full fledged retaliation to. That said there were enough red herrings and a boat load of intrigue that it didn’t divert my enjoyment but rather made me mourn what could have been when I finished. Nevertheless, it was both thrilling and smart as we followed Ulcetha through his discoveries and the ending was delectable, hanging there as it did, a world of possibility left to imagine.

“Osmer Harcenar might or might not believe him, but he certainly would not believe there was any innocent explanation if Ulcetha refused to talk. So he explained again, trying to tell the story coherently and not leave anything out. He was fairly sure he didn’t succeed.”

The world building is thick, so if that’s your thing, you’ll be delighted. As an introduction to the world of The Chronicles of Osreth, it was a sharp learning curve for a short book with rather deep lore. The titles, naming conventions and their own built in histories took me a good third of the book to sort out, but once I did I felt very much like I had earned the rich world I’d sunk myself into. If you feel you’re losing your way, just keep reading. The rest will come and, brilliantly, the story never gets lost in the details. You can, however, if you try so keep your head up. Where we were buried in lore, I did wish for a little more detail in our surroundings, which I realize is a tall ask for a novella. The Below-palace could have been much more detailed, as well as the University. I think the real issue wasn’t that something was really lacking but that once I got a taste of Katherine’s storytelling, I craved much, much more. *Adds the series to her cart.*

“Why, he thought resentfully, is this my problem? He knew the answer. It didn't have to be his problem at all.”

Ulcetha was a great character, though I think he could have done well with a little more development in his relationships. I think for the length of the story I couldn’t ask for a better idea of who our faithful historian was. I loved how the plot unfolded for him in some ways, and he dragged it along in others. His steadfast idea that there was a right thing to do, even when he wasn’t doing it, made me love him even more. Bending the rules for the right outcome was made all the better. We weren’t told that often how he was feeling, but his feelings were made evident in his actions. And though he wasn’t a horseman, and his agility was severely lacking, it didn’t stop him from completing his missions, if perhaps only after some mulling or anxious pacing. And in the end I found I came to love him, and wished to catch the diligence with him, ready for our next adventure.

But alas, Addison is not one to stand holding the door for you to catch up and I love that about her writing. Her prose was as unassuming as her character, both poetic and plain in a delectable way. I was swept up into her world, as foreign as it felt, with a trusty guide in Ulcetha. You can’t get too lost because you’re already on to the next thing, and if it wasn’t thoroughly explained it will start to make sense over time or not be too important. I do wonder how much I missed as an intro to her world. I can only imagine all the names and places I’d recognize after being four novels in. But I’m glad I’m here, because I can tell you all that it’s worth the trip, even blind. And who knows, perhaps you’ll feel the way I do, drawn to the next story and a stack of novels waiting on the other side of this short book.

“I’m a shopkeeper’s son. Zhorvena, not Zhorvenar. Osmer Harcenar thinks history should be written by the same sort of people it’s written about.”

So whether you’re an Addison stan, just looking for an enjoyable quick read, or aren’t sure if you want to dedicate the time to the full series before knowing if you’ll love it, check out Ulcetha’s tale. With our perfectly flawed MC just trying his best, surrounded by the richness that Cairado has to offer, and the unlikely adventure that lay ahead, you certainly can’t miss being thoroughly entertained. Its cozy vibes and his hesitant nature make it a great book to curl up with while avoiding some responsibilities.