A review by mgdoherty
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I think if this book were longer, we as readers would fall deeper in love with these characters and feel more emotionally invested. It’s a fascinating feminist portrait of women and power, but due to the short form, a lot has to happen in a very short page count, and the framing device of Rabbit telling the story adds even more distance to an already spare storytelling style. It’s skillfully rendered, but for me, not really enough to leave a lingering impression or a particular emotional investment. 

This would appeal to anyone who enjoys pseudo-historical portraits of angry, clever queens and who knows the value of a handmaiden/servant’s account of history. History is written by the victors, so there is always more to learn.

Overall, this was well-written, if not quite the book for me, and I’ll look forward to seeing what Nghi Vo can achieve with a more generous page count! ☺️
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