Neither thumbs up nor thumbs down for The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. Fantasy.
A novella that was pleasing to read but left me disappointed because it could have been so much more. (Even while remaining a novella, yes: I’ve read some incredibly evocative novellas and short stories.) The prose is aesthetic, but lacking in any unexpected detail and self-contradiction which would make the setting and the characters feel real. Readers who like a fairytale vibe will appreciate this more than I. (Side note: I do love hoopoes though.)
“Something wants to eat you,” called Almost Brilliant from her perch in a nearby tree, “and I shall not be sorry if it does.”
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