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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
ameliabee33's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Reread 06/24:
This is still an excellent short story. I always enjoy a book about vindictive women and their will to survive and linger.
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I loved listening to this story. The characters were complex and their journies throughout were equally so. This story definitely touched on how a woman scorned is something to be feared and how women are the most tenacious. Will definitely be reading the next 2 stories in the series.
This is still an excellent short story. I always enjoy a book about vindictive women and their will to survive and linger.
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I loved listening to this story. The characters were complex and their journies throughout were equally so. This story definitely touched on how a woman scorned is something to be feared and how women are the most tenacious. Will definitely be reading the next 2 stories in the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
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
jmcampbell57'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, Death, and Infertility
ijustreallyliketrees'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Grief
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Suicide, War, and Murder
Minor: Medical trauma
lizreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This took a bit to get into and find my footing, but ultimately, I quite liked it. This gave me Psalm for the Wild-Built vibes in the sense of a non-binary monk-like figure who travels to a remote location and talks with a friend about their life stories. This novella deals with themes of love and loss, war, power, and female friendship. There’s a mystery element that reveals itself through Rabbit’s stories, and it’s satisfying in the end. I’m eager to read the next one in the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
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
ablaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
How do you a tell a political history from personal objects left behind? How do you read between the lines of official records to see their unofficial purpose? I found this beautiful, folkloric novel difficult to pin down, but I realized there’s something to learn here about how stories are shaped by both what is recorded and what is omitted.
I first listened to this as an audiobook and was immediately lost. A mystical creature, a gender non-binary cleric and a funeral for an empress were too much for my auditory processing to grasp all in the first few seconds. I’m grateful to my friend for encouraging me to pick it up in written form.
Each chapter begins with an inventory of significant objects and reading reveals the historical meaning of each within this imagined political landscape. Reading this while grieving a parent and taking stock of objects and memories made this a sad and reflective experience, but I’m grateful for it.
Thanks for the recommendation, Hannah ❤️
I first listened to this as an audiobook and was immediately lost. A mystical creature, a gender non-binary cleric and a funeral for an empress were too much for my auditory processing to grasp all in the first few seconds. I’m grateful to my friend for encouraging me to pick it up in written form.
Each chapter begins with an inventory of significant objects and reading reveals the historical meaning of each within this imagined political landscape. Reading this while grieving a parent and taking stock of objects and memories made this a sad and reflective experience, but I’m grateful for it.
Thanks for the recommendation, Hannah ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Body horror and Sexual content
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