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taglharp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
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
5.0
"Accuracy above all things. You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 poignant stars
This was such a beautifully written novella that - though short - manages to completely deliver the powerful messages Vo weaves in a tale of clerics, memory-keeping birds & angry women.
As a craft nerd, I was tremendously impressed with the world-building introduced and given life to in the shortest amount of pages. The style and structure of the writing was also very reminiscent of traditional folklore and everything seamlessly fit together - the writing, the style, the voice (clever & charming, though keeping distance), and the characters and objects that might've been deemed simple when in truth they are of the greatest significance.
“Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.”
Vo composes this story of forgotten women, of their great endurance and vicious ruthlessness so masterfully I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time coming.
I can't wait to read the sequel to this novella, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Vo's future work.
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death and Death
carolinewithane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
escapinginpaper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
leahrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel like I'm always saying it, but this right here, is why I love novellas so much. In 100 pages (sometimes a little more) I find myself running the gambit of emotions. Anger, hurt, joy, sorrow. This book made me feel them all and so much more, and I loved every moment.
These characters (Chih, Almost Brilliant, Rabbit and the Empress) will stay with me for years to come, and I'm so happy for that. I cannot wait to read anything and everything by Nghi Vo in the future (and the present as I dive directly into When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain)!
These characters (Chih, Almost Brilliant, Rabbit and the Empress) will stay with me for years to come, and I'm so happy for that. I cannot wait to read anything and everything by Nghi Vo in the future (and the present as I dive directly into When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain)!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, and Grief
spiritedfaraway's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small.”
Exiled to the estate of Thriving Fortune, Empress In-Yo from the North is fierce and coldly furious. With her she brings loyal Rabbit, her handmaiden, who has made her choice and will follow her Empress anywhere.
Years later, a traveling cleric seeks to learn the history of places, of people, of history, of the Empress of Salt and Fortune. And when her former estate opens back up to visitors after her death, Chih goes there to learn.
“Thriving Fortune itself seemed to be a place made of stories and plots, conspiracies and fury.”
There they find items from long ago, ghosts, and Rabbit, whose allegiances now lie with the dead and as she says, “the dead care for very little”. Rabbit agrees to tell them about the items and about the Empress and about the war.
“The war was won by silenced and nameless women.”
This is a very reflective and emotional novella. I wish it was longer so that we could really delve into this world and these characters, but the storytelling aspect really worked for me. We learn with Chih and we feel with Rabbit. We glimpse the personal stories and feelings behind a grand Empress, we see how she rose to rule and create a legacy. We learn of the life of her most loyal companion. We only see a fraction of this vivid fantasy world that Nghi Vo has created based off of imperial China.
But what a world it is.
Definitely give this book a try.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
There is also a mention of forced sterilization and of babies being torn from mothers and an instance of misgendering.
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