I know I’m a little late getting into this series, but I have to say I sort of get the hype about The Empress of Salt and Fortune. The world of the story is pretty interesting if a little underdeveloped, but I’m guessing that gets expanded in the later volumes of which I think there are now 3 more. Really, my only complaint is that the frame character and scenario is so underdeveloped. The here and now frame has a cleric and their talking animal companion in search of knowledge to record, and running into an old lady Rabbit who might just have the story they need. Turns out, Rabbit was a servant of the recently deceased Empress (of the title), and has some interesting suggestions about a few key things about the past. I just wish there was a little more background about Cleric Chih, and the world and their role in it.
Rabbit’s walks down memory lane, some of which are more suggested than actually told, are the focal point of the story, and it’s a good interesting look at the power of women, friendship, dealing with oppression of various sorts, loss, and winning (and some losing too) behind the scenes but maybe not always in the open.
I still want to know about the role of the clerics, the magic that’s in the background a little bit, the history between north and south (obviously political tension and a driver of character motives), and apparently something about flying bison that get briefly mentioned but never really seem to be there.
I see why this is essentially a break-out hit, award nominated, etc. I also think it’s not my favorite, but I don’t think it was a waste to read. I was just hoping for a little more substance, and don’t currently have the patience to try to go through three more volumes to see if it’s there..