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ggcd1981's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
The Empress of Salt and Fortune é uma novela inspirada pela Cultura Chinesa. Eu resolvi ler esta obra quando recebi um crédito VIP mensal no Audiobook.com e não me arrependi. A história é contada quase como uma fábula, inclusive a narração de Cindy Kay contribuiu muito para essa atmosfera do livro. A história em si tem momentos pesados de morte e luto, intriga política e até mesmo a queda de um império, mas através da escrita de Nghi Vo e da narração de Kay a obra obtém uma certa leveza. Resumindo aqui o enredo, a novela trata da história de como a Imperatriz In-yo estando em isolamento e em um país que não era o seu construiu uma rede de espiões a partir de “Leitores de sorte” e, apesar de estar sob vigilância constante, por meio de sua engenhosidade e desenvoltura derrubou um império e tomou o poder. Essa história é contada por sua fiel criada e amiga, Rabbit, quem sacrificou seu amor e sua filha por In-yo. Rabbit conta sua própria história assim como conta a da imperatriz para o clérigo (não binário) Chih do Monastério Singing Hills e seu pássaro e companheiro Almost Brilliant (uma ave dotada, na obra, de fala e da habilidade de nunca esquecer). Em The Empress of salt and fortune já no início In-yo havia falecido, Rabbit conta sua história para que esta não seja esquecida, mas também para que alguém saiba que na verdade a nova imperatriz que irá suceder é na verdade filha de Rabbit com seu amor, Sukai (este assassinado por suspeita de espionagem), adotada em segredo por In-yo. A novela é feminista e tem boa representação LGBTQ+. Ela também aborda temas como opressão, classes sociais e luto. Gostei muito da obra apesar de que a escrita e vocabulário necessitaram mais atenção de minha parte para não deixar de compreender o seu sentido. Foi uma boa experiência e continuarei com a série. Dou um sólido 4.5 estrelas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Classism, Grief, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
arcinzole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I was amazed at the character development the author packed into this very small space with a complex plot. Loved the narrative devices used. Good, organic queer representation too.
My one possible complaint with the queer rep was that the one explicitl nonbinary character was portrayed as part of a semi-magical religious order removed so much from the other characters, but that may simply be a result of the very compact story. I am so excited to read more and see more characters. I have a feeling I will find more well handled gender-identity related diversity in her work.
My one possible complaint with the queer rep was that the one explicitl nonbinary character was portrayed as part of a semi-magical religious order removed so much from the other characters, but that may simply be a result of the very compact story. I am so excited to read more and see more characters. I have a feeling I will find more well handled gender-identity related diversity in her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Misogyny, Classism, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
ghulsona's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Confinement, Sexism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Sexual content
larqspur's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: War, Murder, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, and Infertility
sylvestra's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny and Pregnancy
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Confinement, and War
Minor: Pregnancy, Violence, Murder, Suicide, Animal death, and Sexual content
lain_darko's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Suicide
laneport's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Murder
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Violence, and Misogyny
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
“Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.”
So, after reading the Binti trilogy and The Haunting of Tram Car 015, I think I realized that, while novellas are maybe not a favorite genre of mine, I will honestly love a novella that Tor.com publishes. Plus, this one was a Hugo Award nominee for best novella this past year so, I figured it was the best next novella to pick up.
Years ago, Rabbit was sent to the royal palace to pay off a debt her family couldn’t afford. While there, she befriends the new Empress from the North, In-yo, alone in a new land. Over the years, Rabbit and the In-yo, spend time together in exile, as In-yo slowly amasses resources and allies in her bid to bring her homeland, back into power. The novella opens in present day, with Rabbit as an older woman, looking back on those years and telling her role in the story of the rise of the Empress of Salt and Fortune.
Whoa. This one was exactly what I was promised in the blurb and reviews – a spectacular high fantasy/historical fiction (reminiscent of imperial China) that delivers a searing judgement on monarchy and a wonderful feminist governmental grab/overtaking of government from a position of “submission.” As always with novellas, everything moved so fast, and as a reader used to longer books/series, there is always that search for more, more details, more world-building, more everything. But I am getting used to the pace and bare minimum details in novellas, a little at a time, and this one was spot on under the circumstances.
In regards to other things, I was very into the structure for this novella. It was a perfect execution of the “older present-day narrator looks back and tells the story of her life/experiences to a younger audience” style. It’s one I don’t always go for, but it was spot on here. Also, I loved the framing that was used, with Chih, a sort of cleric of a religious sect gathering and honoring knowledge, itemizing the remaining pieces of In-yo’s life in the home that Rabbit keeps/lives in. It give a very cool insight into the workings of the Empress’ secret communications (ummm secret codes in fortune-teller readings – yes please!) in her efforts to win back/lead the Empire, as well as Rabbit’s own life by her side, as well as offering an easy device to jump years and topics as Rabbit relayed her story, using Chih’s discoveries as “reminders.” And I loved the way it built to the twist of succession that I was not expecting, but totally into.
Finally, I just want to mention the way this novella honors the passing and safe-keeping of knowledge, whether its immediately needed or used, or not, the having and keeping of said knowledge for any potential future use, the honor in being the one to carry it forward, is paramount. As an avid reader, that really spoke to my soul. Plus, I did love that, while a more subtle spice than the blurb makes it seem, there were some wonderful moments that truly did bring the feminist fire and the condemnation of a monarchic system of government.
Overall, like I said, exactly the short epic that I was expecting and hoping for!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Confinement, and Misogyny