Reviews tagging 'War'

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

71 reviews

parenthesis_enjoyer's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Confinement, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Body shaming, Colonisation, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: War, Pregnancy, Murder, Death, and Violence

Minor: Medical trauma, Ableism, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

blacksphinx's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a lovely little story that is being terribly misrepresented by the plot synopsis on the back. The plot of this story is that a cleric from the abby at Singing Hills, Chih, has been sent to record information about the events leading up to the reign of the Inuit-coded Empress of Salt and Fortune, In-yo, over the Chinese-coded empire of Ahn. She is recently deceased and all of her records are still intact at the compound where she was once held in exile. Chih winds up obtaining an account from an old handmaiden of In-yo's nicknamed Rabbit, who reveals how she came into the Empress' confidence. At first Rabbit doesn't want to come right out and say anything direct to this cleric, as she tries to decide what should be left on the floor of history. But over the duration of their many conversations, Rabbit decides to let go of some heavy secrets she's been carrying.

I can see how this wouldn't be the book for everyone. If you wanted to be reductive, the plot is an old woman recounting long-ago events to a cleric and their talking bird. But I kept finding myself getting lulled into the word of the story, the glittering court and the crafty Empress. I understand why this series has gotten so much attention and I'm definitely in it for the long haul. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Trafficking, Death, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: War, Blood, Medical content, and Infertility

Passing mention to forced sterilization.

trizk's review against another edition

reflective fast-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? Yes

4.25

"I felt so very old. At less than twenty-five, before everything that came after, I had no idea how long life was."

Listened to this on audiobook while annotating on my Kindle off and on and the writing blew me away. It's so poetic and beautiful. The way the story is told reminded me of a studio Ghibli film, meaning if you want a fast story WITH action, it will not be here. The author takes their time to tell this story, and it was hard for my neurodivergent ass, but it was well worth it.

Because that ending??? Okayyy...bc why no one told me this shit was lowkey sad asf

 

The audiobook narrator, Cindy Kay, did a very good job of bringing this story to life. Their voice was very soothing and suited the story. It truly captured the feeling of being told a story by someone;

in this case, by rabbit especially.

I definitely would come back to just relisten to the audiobook for a relaxing time, or if I couldn't sleep.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Death, and Xenophobia

Minor: War, Suicide, and Pregnancy

__codex's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Rape, Suicide, Classism, Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Violence, Grief, War, and Xenophobia

amylynnknitsreads's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I really enjoyed this novella. It was a beautiful unfolding of an intricate story of love, politics, and history. I'm excited to move to the next.

Vo's writing is lovely and the story is surprisingly complex for such a short book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking

Minor: Murder, War, and Misogyny

There is a mention of forced sterilization.

ash_tree57's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is easily one of the best pieces of media I have ever consumed. Hands down. I will never shut up about this book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, War, Violence, and Pregnancy

kell_xavi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, War, Colonisation, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy

melodyseestrees's review

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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Misogyny

Moderate: Grief, War, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility, Suicide, and Murder

starduststyx's review against another edition

informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

Beautifully written and packed in a lot of world building for such a short read. I'm looking forward to look at more of Nghi Vo's work because this was a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Bullying

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, War, Sexism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death, Confinement, Violence, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Misogyny