Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

60 reviews

parenthesis_enjoyer's review against another edition

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 against another edition

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.

__codex's review

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 against another edition

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.

kell_xavi's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, War, Colonisation, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy

hannahhmh's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Grief

melodyseestrees'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? 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

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

This is a beautifully woven character study, with a stunning narration, though I understood very little of what was important to the narrative until at least 50% (this may not be a series I can trust myself with on audio - I kept getting distracted and having to rewind!). This is intentionally subtle, and it ultimately made this a reading experience I can't quite sum up. I'll continue the cycle, as I now feel I understand the general outline of the series and its intention, and I'm guessing on a reread this one will improve for me!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Xenophobia

library_gremlin's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Pregnancy

devynreadsnovels's review

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