The Daughters War by Christopher Buehlman, a book review by Jim Mcleod
I have not read much fantasy in the 16 years I have been running Ginger Nuts of Horror. It was never a conscious decision; it was simply down to the fact that time was limited, and horror has always been my favourite genre. However, The Daughters War by Christopher Buehlman got my attention, and oh wow, I am so glad it did. Yes, it is a Fantasy novel. However, Christopher Buehlman injects this powerful novel with enough “horror elements” to appeal to anyone looking for a brillaint horror-adjacent fantasy novel.
Daughters War is set in a war-torn world overrun by goblins just before the events of The Blacktongue Thief. The story follows Galva dom Braga and her three brothers as they are thrust into a brutal conflict. The novel details their harrowing journey through strange lands, confronting the clever and ruthless goblin hordes.
The central character, Galva Dom Braga, is a beacon of courage. Her journey from untested warrior to seasoned hero is a joy to read, a testament to Buehlman’s skill in character development. This brilliant protagonist, in danger of nudging Gemmell’s Waylander from the top spot of my favourite fantasy heroes, is sure to intrigue and captivate readers.
Daughters War delves into themes such as war, family, and survival.
Christopher Buehlman handles each theme with a strong emotional depth. Daughters War is a novel that the reader will walk away from with many emotional and mental scars. This novel could easily have been written as a straightforward boy’s own adventure. However, Christopher Buehlman carefully examines the impact of the novel’s main themes with a sensitive and caring eye for detail. The struggle between duty and personal desire, the bonds of family, and the harsh realities of war are explored in a way that deeply resonates with the reader.
Known for his vivid and often gritty storytelling, Christopher Buehlman continues this style with his writing style in The Daughters War. The grit on show here is so strong you could use the book to sand down some rough timber. The Daughter’s War is a breathtaking example of high-concept fantasy. It is characterised by robust and evocative prose that captures war’s bleakness and its characters’ resilience, with detailed worldbuilding and well-developed characters that draw the reader in. The Daughter’s War is a novel that hits the mark like the best elven archer. It is a bleak and harrowing tale that remains captivating despite its dark themes.
The Daughter’s War is steeped in lore and worldbuilding despite never having read any of Christopher Buehlman’s previous books. Shame on me; I never felt that I was out of my depth concerning what was going on. I particularly enjoyed his inventive use of storytelling techniques such as letters, flashbacks, and different points of view; this is both complex but ultimately a very readable novel.
As mentioned above,
One of the book’s strengths lies in its rich worldbuilding and the complexity of its characters, particularly Galva. However, be warned: Some readers might find the relentless grimness of the narrative challenging. I loved every single moment, and I was captivated by this story. The book does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war. And it will forever cement your belief that Goblins are wee jobbies. Typically, Goblins are reduced to just swarms of rat-like creatures, devoid of any real motivation or identity above their basic descriptions and their swarm-like nature. But Buehlman has created one of the most significant depictions of goblins in modern fantasy, which thankfully does away with the somewhat troublesome nature of others’ depictions of them.
His concept of creating an army based on magical crows just sang to me. I love crows, and I wish more books utilise their amazingness. Does anyone have any tips on how to convert the semi-tame crows in my garden to war crows? I await your instructions.
Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughters War is a powerful and evocative novel that skillfully blends fantasy and the harsh realities of war. With a brillaint narrative voice, Buehlman has just found a slot on my must-read list.
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

The goblins have killed all of our horses and most of our men.
They have enslaved our cities, burned our fields, and still they wage war.
Now, our daughters take up arms.
Galva – Galvicha to her three brothers, two of whom the goblins will kill. Has defied her family’s wishes and joined the army’s untested new unit, the Raven Knights. They march toward a once-beautiful city overrun by the goblin horde, accompanied by scores of giant war corvids. Made with the darkest magics, these fearsome black birds may hold the key to stopping the goblins in their war to make cattle of humanity.
The road to victory is bloody, and goblins are clever and merciless. The Raven Knights can take nothing for granted. Not the bonds of family, nor the wisdom of their leaders, nor their own safety against the dangerous war birds at their side.
But some hopes are worth any risk.
A fraught, shattering fantasy adventure, this standalone novel is set during the war-torn, goblin-infested years just before The Blacktongue Thief.
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