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jehansflowers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
oh my god this book was so gorgeous. i dont even know how to put into words what i feel about this book but just like *chefs kiss*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, and Murder
wrenxavier's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Violence
clem's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
My rating reflects the fact that this is such a complex world and such a short book. Super well-done, but it felt like just scratching the surface. Definitely will continue with this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Infertility
CW for forced sterilizationnotthatlibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Infidelity and Medical trauma
maisierosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
"The Empress of Salt and Fortune" is a beautifully written novella, and its world and characters are remarkably well-developed considering its short length. I'm really glad that I chose to listen to this in audio form through Scribd - it feels appropriate for a story filled with the tradition of oral storytelling! If you'd like a 60 day free trial so you can listen too, here's my referral link.
I really loved that the story of the late Empress In-Yo (a.k.a. the Empress of Salt and Fortune) was told to us through artefacts and her handmaiden's memories years later rather than being told in a linear narrative as it happened. The cleric Chih and their magical hoopoe assistant Almost Brilliant are on a journey towards the capital in order to observe and remember all the details of the new Empress' first Dragon Court when they can't resist the opportunity to stop off at Lake Scarlet and try to unravel some of the mystery surrounding In-Yo's exile to a small house known as Thriving Fortune. It is there that they are greeted and taken in by an elderly woman, Rabbit, who turns out to be Empress In-Yo's former handmaiden and who gradually tells pieces of In-Yo's story to her guests.
As well as being a wonderful fantasy in its own right, I am really intrigued by the world and characters introduced to us in "The Empress of Salt and Fortune", making it a great start to the Singing Hills cycle. I definitely plan to reread it at some point - I feel like I need to in order to truly appreciate all of the details - as well as reading the next book in this series as soon as it becomes available on Scribd next month!
I really loved that the story of the late Empress In-Yo (a.k.a. the Empress of Salt and Fortune) was told to us through artefacts and her handmaiden's memories years later rather than being told in a linear narrative as it happened. The cleric Chih and their magical hoopoe assistant Almost Brilliant are on a journey towards the capital in order to observe and remember all the details of the new Empress' first Dragon Court when they can't resist the opportunity to stop off at Lake Scarlet and try to unravel some of the mystery surrounding In-Yo's exile to a small house known as Thriving Fortune. It is there that they are greeted and taken in by an elderly woman, Rabbit, who turns out to be Empress In-Yo's former handmaiden and who gradually tells pieces of In-Yo's story to her guests.
As well as being a wonderful fantasy in its own right, I am really intrigued by the world and characters introduced to us in "The Empress of Salt and Fortune", making it a great start to the Singing Hills cycle. I definitely plan to reread it at some point - I feel like I need to in order to truly appreciate all of the details - as well as reading the next book in this series as soon as it becomes available on Scribd next month!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, and Grief
opinionsofawolf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Confinement, Grief, and Sexism
taglharp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
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
"Accuracy above all things. You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 poignant stars
This was such a beautifully written novella that - though short - manages to completely deliver the powerful messages Vo weaves in a tale of clerics, memory-keeping birds & angry women.
As a craft nerd, I was tremendously impressed with the world-building introduced and given life to in the shortest amount of pages. The style and structure of the writing was also very reminiscent of traditional folklore and everything seamlessly fit together - the writing, the style, the voice (clever & charming, though keeping distance), and the characters and objects that might've been deemed simple when in truth they are of the greatest significance.
“Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.”
Vo composes this story of forgotten women, of their great endurance and vicious ruthlessness so masterfully I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time coming.
I can't wait to read the sequel to this novella, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Vo's future work.
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Animal death
carolinewithane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
escapinginpaper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
leahrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel like I'm always saying it, but this right here, is why I love novellas so much. In 100 pages (sometimes a little more) I find myself running the gambit of emotions. Anger, hurt, joy, sorrow. This book made me feel them all and so much more, and I loved every moment.
These characters (Chih, Almost Brilliant, Rabbit and the Empress) will stay with me for years to come, and I'm so happy for that. I cannot wait to read anything and everything by Nghi Vo in the future (and the present as I dive directly into When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain)!
These characters (Chih, Almost Brilliant, Rabbit and the Empress) will stay with me for years to come, and I'm so happy for that. I cannot wait to read anything and everything by Nghi Vo in the future (and the present as I dive directly into When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain)!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Suicide, and Grief