Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson. I didn’t know anything about this one going into it, and, honestly, I’m not quite sure what to make of it.

Kelly Robson is back with fairies, scribes, and many many kisses in High Times in the Low Parliament.

Lana Baker is Aldgate’s finest scribe, with a sharp pen and an even sharper wit. Gregarious, charming, and ever so eager to please, she agrees to deliver a message for another lovely scribe in exchange for kisses and ends up getting sent to Low Parliament by a temperamental fairy as a result.

As Lana transcribes the endless circular arguments of Parliament, the debates grow tenser and more desperate. Due to long-standing tradition, a hung vote will cause Parliament to flood and a return to endless war. Lana must rely on an unlikely pair of comrades—Bugbite, the curmudgeonly fairy, and Eloquentia, the bewitching human deputy—to save humanity (and maybe even woo one or two lucky ladies), come hell or high water.

*** Thank you to Tordotcom for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

This was one odd little novella. It was charming in a way, but also frustrating because I don’t think I ever really got the point. The juxtaposition of the main character’s lackadaisical attitude alongside the supposed world-ending threat of the null votes in Parliament didn’t work for me. I think the author was trying to create a clever critique of the seemingly never-ending partisan brinkmanship that has plagued recent politics. However, the ending was rather abrupt and didn’t offer anything remotely resembling a satisfying solution to that problem. The world-building and history of the human and fairy co-existence was interesting, though, and it kept me amused and engaged with the story. I especially enjoyed Bugbite and would have loved to learn even more about the fairies than the story provided. Most of the characters spent the story sloshed or high out of their minds, and while reading, it felt like the person narrating was on a good trip that made little sense. So, maybe it was a job well done? I’m not sure. However, I enjoyed the writing and world-building enough to rate this 3 stars even if I’m not quite sure what I just read.