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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a fantasy novella set in a world with more than a passing resemblance to Imperial China, except it's queer and feminist, with an anti-empire/anti-monarchy message. The story within a story structure was initially a little confusing, but ultimately effective. I especially liked the intrigue of court politics, watching In-Yo learn to survive and thrive in an unfamiliar and often hostile environment, the relationship between Rabbit and In-Yo which crossed class lines, and the lush evocative writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Infertility and War
angorarabbit's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
TLDR;I think I am a sucker for stories of clerics and their familiars.
This is a hot chocolate comfy blanket fairy tale. It is so gentle but the ending plot twist still is a surprise. Told in third person it is lavish in it’s descriptions of place and characters. A lovely diversion from Ringworld and proof of the writers whose works we are so privileged to be able to read.
Yes, I am aware that I have complained about books being too fairytaleish. There are good ways and bad ways to tell a fairytale. Ms Vo does it the good way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Suicide, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Murder
not_another_ana's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The abbey at Singing Hills would say that if a record cannot be perfect, it should at least be present. Better for it to exist than for it to be perfect and only in your mind.
Chih, a young cleric from Singing Hills, is on their way to the capital when their curiosity takes them to a former residence of the Empress of Salt and Fortune. There they come across the Empress' former handmaiden Rabbit, who is willing to recount tales of life in the residence and the Empress' rise to power. It's a story within a story that slowly unveils something deeper and secret.
Very much enjoyed this, it was short but packed quite the punch. I am amazed with how much world building Nghi Vo manages to cram in 100 pages without infodumping or making it a tedious read. The story is engaging and draws you in and, perhaps, that was the only thing that bothered me: that I wished to know more about this world and was left hanging dry.
Chih was a solid character and a solid device to introduce the reader to this world, and Almost Brilliant quickly became a favorite. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Cindy Kay's narration a lot, easy to understand yet full of emotion. Can't wait to keep reading this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, and War
jahnadv's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy and War
lumidouce's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
ahoyitsjoy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really loved the way the empress' story was told, through the eyes of her handmaiden wanting to make sure the truth is remembered. That someone somewhere knows what was sacrificed. I loved getting little tidbits about the setting through her story and Chih's comments. So much is familiar to the real world in the past, but then someone offhandedly mentions that there are mammoths or that the empire has mages who can change the seasons. The small size of the book is perfect for leaving you wanting more (in a good way).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Minor: War
abnormal_shadow's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I like the way the flashbacks interact with the story but the structure of the book is hard to follow when it's an audiobook. The plot wasn't hard to follow and was very predictable not bad just average.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and War
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Trafficking, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Blood, Medical content, and War
Passing mention to forced sterilization.trizk's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.25
"I felt so very old. At less than twenty-five, before everything that came after, I had no idea how long life was."
Listened to this on audiobook while annotating on my Kindle off and on and the writing blew me away. It's so poetic and beautiful. The way the story is told reminded me of a studio Ghibli film, meaning if you want a fast story WITH action, it will not be here. The author takes their time to tell this story, and it was hard for my neurodivergent ass, but it was well worth it.Because that ending??? Okayyy...bc why no one told me this shit was lowkey sad asf
The audiobook narrator, Cindy Kay, did a very good job of bringing this story to life. Their voice was very soothing and suited the story. It truly captured the feeling of being told a story by someone;in this case, by rabbit especially. I definitely would come back to just relisten to the audiobook for a relaxing time, or if I couldn't sleep.
Listened to this on audiobook while annotating on my Kindle off and on and the writing blew me away. It's so poetic and beautiful. The way the story is told reminded me of a studio Ghibli film, meaning if you want a fast story WITH action, it will not be here. The author takes their time to tell this story, and it was hard for my neurodivergent ass, but it was well worth it.
The audiobook narrator, Cindy Kay, did a very good job of bringing this story to life. Their voice was very soothing and suited the story. It truly captured the feeling of being told a story by someone;
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, and War
__codex's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Classism