I found this novella on Audible and had to give it a listen. Something about the description was captivating, but I was not prepared for how the narrative took me in. Nghi Vo really outdid herself with this debut novella.
Set in imperial China with hints of fantasy, we follow cleric Chih as they record the history of late Empress In-yo. An old woman known as Rabbit who was once a handmaiden to the Empress recalls her years spent with the Empress to Chih. What follows is a complicated story. The Empress is a foreigner from the North sent to the South to bear the Emperor a son. Once that task is complete she is exiled. I don’t want to give much away in terms of plot since this story is fairly short, but that is the scene painted in the beginning.
The world created here was quite something. I’d rate it as low fantasy. A talking bird, Almost Brilliant, accompanies Chih on their journey and is able to remember the stories Chih hears to memory. Chih is non binary and that is normalized as well as same-sex relationships. There’s something really enchanting about the narrative but also minimalistic. The descriptions given weigh heavy and are woven through with meaning. The words here are poetic and everything is conveyed with intent in a very subtle way.
Some truly beautiful lines were said outside of Empress In-yo’s story that really made me consider the art of storytelling and its importance. This was a very unique read and one I will listen to again in the future. There is a sequel, When The Tiger Came Down The Mountain, but it is a standalone novella and does not continue the story of Empress In-yo and follows Chih as they continue along. I’ll be checking that out soon.
If you’re looking for an escape then I think you’ll enjoy the compelling storytelling in The Empress of Salt and Fortune.