Empress of Salt and Fortune The Singing Hills Cycle, Vol. 1

A very unique and utterly fascinating book! Within the not even 130 pages you get thrown into a very complicated and intricate worldbuilding and experience the many years Empress In-yo and handmaiden Rabbit spent together. It does not feel like only getting glimpses of their life. It feels like so. much. more. It feels like you've been there the whole time; playing cards, spending time with fortune tellers, planning the fall of the empire. The characters were as mysterious as the style of writing itself and I really adored the dialogue between Chih and Rabbit (and Almost brilliant ofc). In the end I've got the feeling that I understood this story in my deepest core and then also not at all. And that was the whole point, wasn't it?

In all its 128-page glory, ''The Empress of Salt and Fortune'' by Nghi Vo manages to transport the reader to a high-fantasy equivalent of imperial China, where men falsely presume they rule, fortune-tellers topple empires, and brave rabbits shape history. From the very first page, I was enthralled by the author's evocative writing and world-building prowess. The stylistic choice of creating an embedded narrative made this book all the better. I adored Chih, as well as their charming hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant. I admired In-yo, primarily for her ruthlessness towards those who wronged the people she loves. However, it was Rabbit who bewitched me from beginning to end, with her fiercely loyal nature, her kindness and her wisdom. Seldom is one privy to such excellent character work. Fortunately for me, Nghi Vo wrote multiple entries in ''The Singing Hills Cycle''. So, while I devour the other books, you should take this as your sign to pick up ''The Empress of Salt and Fortune'' in the meantime.