“Dangerous, subtle, unexpected and familiar, angry and ferocious and hopeful . . . The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a remarkable accomplishment of storytelling.”
—NPR
“A stunning feminist fantasy . . . The subtlety and nuance of Vo’s evocative storytelling lend the novella an epic, timeless feel. Equal parts love and rage, this masterfully told story is sure to impress.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Vo’s debut has it all: from sapphic love to cruel betrayals; from political intrigue to lakes that glow red to ghosts that continue to walk old paths. . . . The Empress of Salt and Fortune will appeal to all fans of epic fantasy.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“A quiet, wrenching tale of resistance, resilience, and court intrigue.”
—R. F. Kuang
“An elegant gut-punch, a puzzle box that unwinds itself in its own way and in its own time. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Gorgeous. Cruel. Perfect. I didn't know I needed to read this until I did.”
—Seanan McGuire
“A tale of rebellion and fealty that feels both classic and fresh, The Empress of Salt and Fortune is elegantly told, strongly felt, and brimming with rich detail. An epic in miniature, beautifully realised.”
—Zen Cho
“Uncovers a nuanced history of how the disenfranchised shape history, and can come to rule it, though at great cost.”
—Buzzfeed
“Rich details and emotional prose captures readers from the first page of this imaginative and powerful novella. Spun through reflections of the past, in archived objects of love and hate, the tale of Rabbit and In-yo lights up the dark history of monarchy and turns it into a delightful feminist fantasy.”
—Library Journal
“Nghi Vo’s gorgeous debut novella . . . follows two women defying traditional gender roles with striking results.”
—Paste
“At once epic and intimate, this story of revenge, power, and the weight of history is a small, masterful jewel.”
—Aliette de Bodard
“A glorious, beautifully written tale that is both tragic and triumphant, unfolding a secret history through the ordinary artifacts of everyday life.”
—Kate Elliott
“A masterpiece of understatement and implication. This is the little black dress of books: it gives the impression of effortlessness while being quietly meticulous in every stitch. And it’s for everyone.”
—Nerd Daily