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

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. 
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