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

4.0

This short novella is very beautifully written, not a word wasted. We follow Cleric Chih and a talking bird as they piece together a story about the former empress, as told by an aged handmaiden while they all chronicle the items left behind in an old royal palace of sorts. The story is both sad and powerful, and the ending satisfying in a number of ways. It’s amazing to me how such a short novella can feel as impressive as a longer novel, so that speaks volumes about the author’s skill. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.