Title: |
The Empress of Salt and Fortune |
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Author: |
Nghi Vo |
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Category: |
Science Fiction / Fantasy |
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Rating: |
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Date Reviewed: |
November 28, 2023 |
The Empress of Salt and Fortune begins when Cleric Chih wanders into a region called Lake Scarlet, which once was a secret imperial palace but now is a deserted site. Chih is accompanied by a sentient companion called Almost Brilliant, who I think was a talking bird, but Vo's description did not allow me to imagine much detail. At the empty palace, Chih encounters an old woman who tells her the story of what transpired there. The old woman is named Rabbit. She once was a trusted retainer of the Empress In-Yo. In-Yo was a princess of the northern barbarian tribes, who apparently rode war-mammoths, but were defeated by the southern empire. As part of the truce, In-Yo was offered to the emperor as a consort. After In-Yo was impregnated, she had served her purpose and was subsequently banished to the palace at Scarlet Lake. From her exile, In-Yo plotted her revenge. Because the story is told by Rabbit long after the events have occurred, they are devoid of tension. In-Yo might have been plotting, but her actions are all described second hand. I felt no suspense that she might be caught, I never got a sense of what she was thinking. The events all happened long ago, Rabbit is just relating a history lesson to Cleric Chih. I wish the story had been told as they unfolded, so we could follow In-yo's story as it happened, rather than just described decades afterwards. Apparently there are currently five more novellas in this series. I am not sure I am intrigued enough to look for the second one, even though the first was a fast read. |
