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ktv's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Child death
kaziaroo's review
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I normally go for substance over style, but I liked this one a lot. It's very atmospheric and immersive, and I really enjoyed the narrative style and framing. The storytelling was very subtle and I'm still a little confused about the timeline of events but it suited the overall tone. It took a while for me to realise what made the empress so great and even now I feel like I barely know her, more as a shadow in the mist than a person. As someone who tends to read chunky novels, it feels strange and almost uncomfortable to finish a story while not knowing so much about the characters. It kept me company for a few hours, and now it's gone. I'll definitely keep the other books in the series on my to-read list for next time I have a long journey.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Abortion, War, Pregnancy, Murder, Violence, Suicide, Sexual content, Infertility, and Animal death
fraise's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, War, Suicide, Infertility, Colonisation, Murder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death and Slavery
blackcatkai's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
beautifully written and engaging, im interested to see where the story goes in subsequent novellas. it's more of a high fantasy than what I'm personally used to/into so I got a little lost despite how short it is, but thats a me issue. either way, nghi vo is clearly ridiculously talented with descriptions & story telling and I am absolutely reading more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: War, Pregnancy, and Grief
Minor: Suicide and Sexual assault
rtaire's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy
turtlebrainlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief, War, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Infertility, and Suicide
its2early4this's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an interesting book, particularly in how it was written. I enjoyed the storytelling through someone's memories and items. I liked that the world was revealed through glimpses, and that the author didn't just tell how things work in their world, but rather showed what happened and trusted that the reader was intelligent enough to make connections and understand (this is a major plus for me in any book). The biggest downfall for me was that, because of how the story was told, the characters felt distant. I wasn't as attached to them as I might have otherwise been. And things that would ordinarily have felt tragic didn't impact me much at all. Because it is a quick read, it still is probably worth the time invested, and I wouldn't be opposed to reading the others in the series if I have nothing else pressing to read. But the book wasn't particularly memorable for me. I did enjoy how the Empress's story ended. And I did like seeing the story of someone important and powerful told through the eyes of their servant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia, Infertility, Bullying, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Most of the things that are likely to be triggering are not described in any great detail, due to the way the book is written. Loss/grief and pregnancy are probably the triggers dealt with the most in-depth. Although war plays a major role in the story, it is only really talked about from a distant perspective.totsfions's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a masterful work of storytelling. It's a book fascinated with the historical record, asking what we pass down and what we do not, and why. What responsibility do we have to preserve history, and how do we tell it? What is a matter of record? Who do we make vulnerable when we chose to preserve? What makes this book so compelling, is that the story is not concerned with objective history, as it is the point of view of it's characters. The act of making history is personal. The book becomes a captivating blend of the oral and the written, a reflection on what is seen on the surface and what is revealed through depths of knowledge unavailable to fresh eyes. The rich and vibrant world Vo has created is the perfect vehicle for this line of inquiry, unparalleled in it's creativity and intrigue. I came away from this book feeling at once satiated by the experience and salivating for the answers to it's queries. A wholly worth while read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death, and Xenophobia
savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This short novella is home to an excellently-crafted and believable fairytale world. Vo immediately plunges readers into the life of empress In-yo and her handmaiden, Rabbit. In-yo is an intelligent and sly empress from northern lands. Rabbit is a fierce, loyal, and quick-witted handmaiden and friend. Chih is a reserved and wise cleric. Almost Brilliant is a feisty, smart hoopoe. As Chih and Almost Brilliant learn of the significance of Rabbit and In-yo's friendship, readers are completely immersed in a slowly-revealed feminist epic. As this is such a short book, it's hard to say much more without spoiling the story. Just read it!
Though I am normally not much of a fantasy reader, I found myself riveted by Rabbit's stories. Vo's writing is perfectly paced and evocative. I'm now quite looking forward to reading the second novella in this trilogy!
Though I am normally not much of a fantasy reader, I found myself riveted by Rabbit's stories. Vo's writing is perfectly paced and evocative. I'm now quite looking forward to reading the second novella in this trilogy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Confinement
Moderate: Pregnancy, War, and Death
takarakei's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: War, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder and Infertility