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jjjreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Trafficking, Classism, and Slavery
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Minor: War and Violence
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
catapocalypse'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
4.5
This is a very short novella, but packs a lot of poignancy and intrigue. It follows a cleric named Chih and their talking hoopoe companion, Almost Brilliant, as they explore a recently unhidden location that once housed the late Empress In-yo during her years in exile. They meet Rabbit, an elderly woman who had served as handmaiden to the Empress, and she tells them stories related to various items as they take inventory. The stories piece together the secrets of In-yo's life and ascent to power.
I love a good series of related vignettes like this. It doesn't do anything super unpredictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, their various relationships, and the worldbuilding. We only get a taste of the latter, but I look forward to reading the companion novella when I'm able!
I love a good series of related vignettes like this. It doesn't do anything super unpredictable, but I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, their various relationships, and the worldbuilding. We only get a taste of the latter, but I look forward to reading the companion novella when I'm able!
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Xenophobia
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Nghi Vo is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is just 112 pages of excellent writing and a frame narrative that puts all other frame narratives to shame. I just...adored it through and through.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Murder, War, and Xenophobia
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
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
hmmmm...the empress of salt and fortune is def an interesting story w/ a unique--yet somehow thematically appropriate--structure, but i feel like the story's full potential isnt thoroughly explored bc of its execution that leaves quite a lot to be desired. somehow, the narrative feels disjointed and disconnected, yet i dont think it's fair to blame this on the structure, as some sff short stories w/ a similar structure pull it off to a greater effect (namely, the merchant and the alchemists's gate).
many parts of the writing also feel unnecessarily obscure; show-not-tell is def sth to adhere to, but there are times when it feels confusing here, ultimately leaving me unable to fully connect w/ or even comprehend the characters. ig what im tryna say is it doesnt have to be that discombobulated. however, i do like the story's theme of remembrance, and mighttt just check out the sequel simply to see how things continue after that nicely tied up ending.
many parts of the writing also feel unnecessarily obscure; show-not-tell is def sth to adhere to, but there are times when it feels confusing here, ultimately leaving me unable to fully connect w/ or even comprehend the characters. ig what im tryna say is it doesnt have to be that discombobulated. however, i do like the story's theme of remembrance, and mighttt just check out the sequel simply to see how things continue after that nicely tied up ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content
puttingwingsonwords's review
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Grief, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia
Minor: War and Suicide
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
booksthatburn's review against another edition
dark
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
5.0
THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE unwinds layers of grief and years of confinement amidst luxury into the willing ears of a Cleric sent to record all they can.
The layering of the framing narrative and the tale being told made this feel like it has the scope of a much larger novel while keeping the intimacy of a personal story told by one person to another over an ultimately brief period of time. I loved it and I'm eager to read more in this series.
The layering of the framing narrative and the tale being told made this feel like it has the scope of a much larger novel while keeping the intimacy of a personal story told by one person to another over an ultimately brief period of time. I loved it and I'm eager to read more in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Death
Minor: Medical trauma
troisha's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia
Minor: Infertility, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Suicide, and Death of parent