The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle, #1)

by Nghi Vo

A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully.

Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.

At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece.

Reviewed by shannonmiz on

5 of 5 stars

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You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

4.5*

This is such a lovely gem of a book! I'll admit, I was a little unsure at the start. I felt a wee bit disconnected, and didn't know if it'd be for me. But I am so, so glad I stuck with it, because it was extremely well worth the time! The first thing that drew me in was the writing. It is truly next-level phenomenal, lyrical and lovely without being overdone.

It's both a story, and a story-within-a-story, and I found the telling of it to be such a fresh take. And while a large chunk of the events in the book took place long before, you can tell how deep an impact they still have on Rabbit, the old woman sharing her story. I loved how the tales wove together, seamlessly uniting the past and the present.

This story will absolutely make you feel things, too. The author manages in a short number of pages to pour out tons of emotion. You will care for the characters and their relationships, about the people who defined their lives. And while it can be quite dark at times, it will undoubtedly provide hope in humanity.

Bottom Line: At it's core, it's such a wonderfully feminist story, full of friendship and love, and strength. Do yourself a favor, and read this one immediately.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 5 March, 2020: Reviewed