I Should Read That

I hadn’t read anything by de Bodard before, however I’ve been hearing amazing things about her books for years. The Tea Master and the Detective seemed like the perfect place to start because not only is it a novella, it’s also a retelling of The Study in Scarlet, the very first Sherlock Holmes story.

Even though this book is clearly based on The Study in Scarlet, it feels like its own unique thing. It follows a sentient spaceship called The Shadow’s Child who used to carry passengers, but has suffered a deep trauma. They now make a living brewing teas that will allow humans to comfortably travel in the Deep Spaces -- think something like hyperspace, but much weirder and more trippy. Long Chau, a consulting detective, comes to them one day for a brew and convinces The Shadow’s Child to accompany her on a puzzling mission into Deep Spaces

This book is absolutely gorgeous. There’s something about it that, despite the fact that it deals with trauma, is so incredibly peaceful. De Bodard is an incredibly talented writer, especially when it comes to setting the scene for her reader. Reading The Tea Master and the Detective feels like floating in a very strange, but beautiful dream.

I really liked the fact that The Shadow’s Child and Long Chau, who represent Watson and Holmes, feel very unique. They’re not caricatures of the people they’re based on, however you definitely see that influence. I especially loved The Shadow’s Child and their struggle to function despite their deep trauma.

The Tea Master and the Detective is a slow burn book that is a lovely read. I will admit I dipped in and out of it a little because at times it felt a little dense, however I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different in sci-fi.

CW: PTSD