It asks - and answers - the question: What is important? Who is important? Here, the old aphorism 'all that glitters is not gold' is particularly apt.Ĭleric Chih is on their way to the new Empress's first Dragon Court, accompanied by their assistant Almost Brilliant (a 'neixin' or talking hoopoe with mythical, generational recall of history), when word comes that all sites put under imperial lock during the previous Empress In-Yo's reign have been declassified. Nghi Vo's story of women and intrigue at the end of one empire and beginning of another reveals in flashes that what you think you see isn't all there is to see. Ugliness is couched in exquisite poetry and the ordinary is finely-drawn any object, however plain in purpose or silly in function, might be a relic of endurance and a witness to greatness. Here, the truth is delicately, tenderly fished out of darkness. This is a salt and fortune book: dangerous, subtle, unexpected and familiar, angry and ferocious and hopeful.

What details are truly small? Who says they are? Ask yourself as you read The Empress of Salt and Fortune. You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small.'

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. There were a few words that had me reaching for my dictionary.Īlready, I am looking forward to reading this book again.ĭo you understand? “I am not sure I do, grandmother, but I listen, and Almost Brilliant will remember.”Īccuracy above all things. You will never remember the great if you do not remember the small.Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title The Empress of Salt and Fortune Author Nghi Vo This short story had a unique feel, and the author, Vo, has a very diverse and varied vocabulary. It had depth and rich symbolism with strong, smart female characters. The Empress of Salt and Fortune delivered beautiful quotes and is a perfect blend of fantasy and women’s literature. This novella has some fantasy, some strong prose, and it feels non-American, not conforming to the standard American storylines. Rabbit then proceeds to share her stories of Empress In-yo. They meet with Empress In-yo’s former serving girl named Rabbit. Two birds, Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant, are traveling in the Lake Scarlet area when information regarding the reign of Empress In-yo becomes declassified. This book didn’t disappoint! I had no idea that this author wrote The Chosen and The Beautiful(which I also read and loved). When I asked for short book recommendations, my underground book club suggested The Empress of Salt and Fortune. “Sometimes the things we see do not make sense until many years have gone by. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

The empress of salt and fortune