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leanne_miron's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
rtaire's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy
turtlebrainlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief, War, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Infertility, and Suicide
its2early4this's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an interesting book, particularly in how it was written. I enjoyed the storytelling through someone's memories and items. I liked that the world was revealed through glimpses, and that the author didn't just tell how things work in their world, but rather showed what happened and trusted that the reader was intelligent enough to make connections and understand (this is a major plus for me in any book). The biggest downfall for me was that, because of how the story was told, the characters felt distant. I wasn't as attached to them as I might have otherwise been. And things that would ordinarily have felt tragic didn't impact me much at all. Because it is a quick read, it still is probably worth the time invested, and I wouldn't be opposed to reading the others in the series if I have nothing else pressing to read. But the book wasn't particularly memorable for me. I did enjoy how the Empress's story ended. And I did like seeing the story of someone important and powerful told through the eyes of their servant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia, Infertility, Bullying, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Most of the things that are likely to be triggering are not described in any great detail, due to the way the book is written. Loss/grief and pregnancy are probably the triggers dealt with the most in-depth. Although war plays a major role in the story, it is only really talked about from a distant perspective.savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This short novella is home to an excellently-crafted and believable fairytale world. Vo immediately plunges readers into the life of empress In-yo and her handmaiden, Rabbit. In-yo is an intelligent and sly empress from northern lands. Rabbit is a fierce, loyal, and quick-witted handmaiden and friend. Chih is a reserved and wise cleric. Almost Brilliant is a feisty, smart hoopoe. As Chih and Almost Brilliant learn of the significance of Rabbit and In-yo's friendship, readers are completely immersed in a slowly-revealed feminist epic. As this is such a short book, it's hard to say much more without spoiling the story. Just read it!
Though I am normally not much of a fantasy reader, I found myself riveted by Rabbit's stories. Vo's writing is perfectly paced and evocative. I'm now quite looking forward to reading the second novella in this trilogy!
Though I am normally not much of a fantasy reader, I found myself riveted by Rabbit's stories. Vo's writing is perfectly paced and evocative. I'm now quite looking forward to reading the second novella in this trilogy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Confinement
Moderate: Pregnancy, War, and Death
takarakei's review
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: War, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder and Infertility
relearning2read's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
This story was beautiful. it wove such a clear and elegant picture with a good mix of things said and unsaid. The set-up of someone looking back at a beloved person in society from a unique perspective at the end of their life allowed the author to say some really interesting things and to delve into people's complexity. I liked the mix of timelines, storytelling, dreams and object descriptions. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that it occasionally felt a little too on the nose, and also the pacing got a little odd at the end and I wish there had been a bit more of that detail in that part.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Pregnancy
jaan's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Loved Nghi Vo once before and this did not disappoint. She is deft and light in her writing, and her characterization is vivid. This is a short novella but it has depth. Don’t speed through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Pregnancy
Minor: War
nytephoenyx's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Empress of Salt and Fortune is beautifully written. I enjoy the repetition and the cadence in the writing and I think that the storytelling format is absolutely perfect for a novella. It's astounding how much can be gleaned of an individual by looking at choice slices of their lives. I enjoyed the story - or, rather, I enjoyed the collection of micro stories within the larger reflection. It wasn't mind blowing to me, but when writing a novella, the author has a limited amount of space to make the reader invested in the story and fall in love with the character. Nghi Vo did this extremely well and The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a quick story I'd recommend to anyone.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Death, and Murder
danajoy's review
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy