Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

41 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was a magical story within a story. Admittedly, while I wasn’t entirely sure what was going at first, I was compelled to keep reading because Vo’s a good storyteller. I sincerely wish this was a novel instead of a novella; it would have allowed Vo to further develop a lot of these characters and do even more worldbuilding. (Though, that isn’t to say that the characters and setting were bad… I’m just greedy and I wanted more.)

I’ll certainly be reading the sequel, only so I can keep learning more about this world she’s constructed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Violence

sorcha_rosa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautiful, enthralling, dark. I will not forget this story within stories for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment, Violence, and Misogyny

rainbowshelves's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, and Violence

sarahholliday's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

5.0

I was tempted to only give 4.5 stars, but I think that was just my preference for novel-length stories, and if I'm left wanting more...to me that's a sure sign of five stars! 

This epic feminist fantasy is skillfully condensed down to just over 100 pages, a marvel in and of itself, but the story flows easily past the bounds of the pages. It was a beautifully unique experience to read about such a powerful heroine through the eyes of one of her servants/companions, and to be told the story via a traveling scholar. 

Sharply intelligent, beautifully written, a wholly impressive work.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

victorianrogue's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy

Minor: Death, Infertility, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, and Racism

jehansflowers's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

oh my god this book was so gorgeous. i dont even know how to put into words what i feel about this book but just like *chefs kiss*

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, and Sexism

Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, and Murder

wrenxavier's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence

benediction's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual violence and Infertility

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual content

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)!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Suicide, and Grief