Mammoths at the Gates: Singing Hills Cycle #4    by Nghi Vo Order:  USA  Can Topcat, 2023 (2023) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Mammoths at the Gates follows Into the Riverlands as the fourth in Nghi Vo's extraordinary Singing Hills Cycle that began with The Empress of Salt and Fortune. Cleric Chih, who travels the empire of Ahn collecting stories, narrates their adventures. This time, Chih is heading home to the Singing Hills Abbey. They're shocked to see royal mammoths at its gates, along with northern Coh clan pavilions! Mammoth corps corporal Vi In Yee meets them and encourages them to keep negotiations civil. Inside, they're shocked to learn that their mentor, Cleric Thien (once the patriarch of Coh clan), has died and their two granddaughters (the ones at the gates) demand his body for burial in the north. Surprisingly, Chih's childhood friend Ru is acting head of the abbey. Visiting neixin (sentient hoopoe) Almost Brilliant, Chih finds Thien's neixin companion Myriad Virtues in deep mourning. Ru doesn't handle the northern visitors well but is touchy about their authority. At the funeral service, memories of Thien are shared, revealing his compassion and wisdom - and something darker. The situation seems dire until Myriad Virtues does something extraordinary. This amazing series is a must read for fans of fantasy. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews