The Empress of Salt and Fortune

In the award-winning novella "The Empress of Salt and Fortune," Nghi Vo crafts a lush, tightly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the formidable anger of women. The story follows Chih, a non-binary cleric from the Singing Hills, who journeys to the remote, abandoned winter palace of the late Empress In-yo. Tasked with cataloging the palace's relics, Chih uncovers the forgotten history of the empress through the fragmented memories and possessions of Rabbit, In-yo's former handmaiden and loyal companion. In-yo, a young royal from the northern territories, was sent south for a political marriage into an empire reminiscent of imperial China, her family and armies defeated. Isolated and sometimes reviled, she navigated the treacherous court, ultimately bending history to her will and bringing down her enemies. Through Chih's investigation, the novella explores themes of power, rebellion, and the quiet resilience of marginalized voices who shape history from its intimate margins.