Series: The Singing Hills Cycle #1
Published by Tor.com on March 24, 2020
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 112
Format: eBook, ARC
Source: Publisher
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
One year after the death of In-yo, Empress of Salt and Fortune, the sites that she put under lock become declassified. On their way to the new empress’s first Dragon Court, Cleric Chih and their assistant, the neixin Almost Brilliant, make a detour to Lake Scarlet, the place where In-yo spent her years in exile before usurping the emperor’s throne. At Lake Scarlet, Chih and Almost Brilliant meet In-yo’s handmaiden, Rabbit, who tells them In-yo’s story: from her arrival at the Gleaming Palace to her banishment at Thriving Fortune (the other name for Lake Scarlet) to her victory over the Empire’s forces. In the process, Chih will learn about the silenced, nameless women who helped In-yo rise to power.
She had a foreigner’s beauty, like a language we do not know how to read.
In-yo, a princess from the far north, arrives in the Anh Empire for a political marriage. The court reviles her because they consider her people barbarians. The servants fear her as a witch or sorceress until they discover that “she [is] only a heartbroken and lonely girl, and she [becomes] of no account at all.” And they are correct, for her life—down to the last strand of hair—is subject to the emperor’s whims. Rabbit, “a rabbit-toothed girl from the provinces,” becomes a servant at the Palace of Gleaming Light to make up the difference when her county falls short on its taxes. Later, she follows In-yo into banishment as In-yo’s loyal handmaiden. Though these two women come from different classes and backgrounds, they share similarities: both are sent to a foreign place to fulfill a duty to their people, both are held in low esteem by the people in power, both have no voice of their own as a woman.
Even as Rabbit chronicles In-yo’s rise to power, she reveals the inner workings of a culture that has silenced women. And the cries of these women speak through the actions they take and the actions taken on behalf of them to place a woman (In-yo) on the highest seat of power. One may ask what will happen to In-yo’s successor, who must prove herself worthy of inheriting In-yo’s will—of inheriting the will of the women who came before her. As these women say, “Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.”
In-yo would say that the war was won by silenced and nameless women, and it would be hard to argue with her.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune tells Empress In-yo’s story. It also tells her successor’s story, her handmaiden’s story, and her peoples’ story: for whether they perpetuated or were suppressed by the system, history belongs to its people. Everyone has a part to play. From this perspective, the reliability of the narration comes into question. Given Rabbit’s close relationship with In-yo, we may assume that her perspective is biased. This raises questions about how we tell stories: What details do we choose to include? To omit? What does the storyteller want us to know about the subject of the story? How trustworthy is the storyteller? How does this challenge our perception of the characters and events?
The Empress of Salt and Fortune warrants multiple readings. As one re-reads, one must question when and where Empress In-yo’s schemes began and what are the thoughts and motivations of the people surrounding her.
If you’ve read The Empress of Salt and Fortune and, like me, can’t wait to read another Nghi Vo title, Tor Books has some good news for you. On December 8, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain releases as a standalone follow-up to The Empress of Salt and Fortune. It promises to deliver another intricate, layered story that explores the tension between truth and history.
Rating R
- Sex scene (some explicit details)
- After the crown prince is born, Empress In-yo View Spoiler »
Bias Notes
As an asian writer who wants to support other asian writers, I’m predisposed to liking books that feature asian characters and are written by asian authors.
Let’s Chat
📚 Have you read Empress of Salt & Fortune?
📚 How do the realities in the Anh Empire parallel those of our world?
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight says
I think you are quite right about a re-read! I should do that before the next one comes out. I ADORED this book. It sneaked up on me a bit, at first I wasn’t quite sure, and the next thing I knew, I was so completely enamored with it I could not put it down!
Crystal (Kester) says
The story really does sneak up on you! I couldn’t put it down either!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra says
This sounds like such an interesting read. I love the idea of women fighting back against a culture that has tried to silence them.
Crystal (Kester) says
It is. I love that it doesn’t shy from portraying the women’s imperfections along with their strengths. It makes them real and personable.
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer says
This sounds wonderful and I love that it demands a reread 🙂
Crystal (Kester) says
It is a wonderful book 🙂