Title:

Tess of the Road

Author:

Rachel Hartman

Category:

Fantasy / Science Fiction

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

December 31, 2025

he only thing that I did not like about Tess of the Road was discovering, after reading 521 pages in the hardback edition, that this is only the first half of Tess's story. This is part of a duology, now I must track down a copy of In the Serpent's Wake to find out what Hartman has in store for Tess.

Tess is seventeen years old. She has a twin sister (not identical) named Jeanne who is good, virtuous, ladylike - everything that Tess is not. Even though she is still so young, Tess (the bad twin) is already ruined and fit for nothing more than being shipped off to a convent for the rest of her life. Tess isn't evil, but she has made some mistakes, she speaks her mind when it might be best to stay quiet (like Jeanne!), and she is too curious, too unconventional for her own good. Over the course of the novel, the reader learns all the details of her sins. If only Tess hadn't snuck out of the house that night to attend a lecture on megafauna...

Tess's family is heavily in debt. The plan was to marry Tess off to a wealthy gentleman and use the dowry to save themselves from financial ruin. But with Tess now a social outcast, the new scheme is to marry Jeanne off to an eligible bachelor who has cash. Tess dutifully works on Jeanne's behalf, acting as her sister's handmaiden, trying to procure a suitable spouse. But after the wedding, the convent will still be her fate.

Seraphina, Tess's half-sister, gives her a nice new pair of boots. Is it a hint? Tess decides that rather than the convent, she will flee and live a life as a wanderer. She has the vague idea of setting herself up as an embroiderer, and without more thought than that, Tess pulls on her boots and sneaks out of the house one last time. The bulk of the novel describes her many adventures along the way.

This isn't the typical fantasy "quest" novel, Tess is not out to save the world from evil incarnate. Mostly she is out to save herself. This is more of a character driven novel than a plot driven story. Tess meets up with an old friend, Pathka, who is a quigutl. Even after reading Tess of the Road, I am not sure what a quigutl is - some sort of miniature dragon, with lots of spikes and no wings plus he has as sharp beak for biting. Pathka can eat almost anything, has a keen sense of smell, and can breathe fire. Pathka has dreamt of giant serpents that live beneath the ground and wants to follow his dream to see if they are real. Tess joins him, she doesn't have any other goals except to follow the road where-ever it takes her.

Adventures ensue.

I liked Tess despite some flaws (like her drinking), she is a well developed character who has a conscience and some brains. Pathka was harder to understand, but I guess that is his reptilian nature. (Are dragons reptiles?)

The world building is excellent. I read the Seraphina novels a while ago, and don't remember them too well (other than that I liked them). This book is set in the same fantasy world, Seraphina herself plays a minor role in this story. Reading the earlier books is not necessary to appreciate Tess of the Road; now I have to find the second book to find out how the tale ends.