The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Genre: Asian-inspired fantasy, LGBTQ+ friendly, mystery, novella Awards: 2021 Hugo for best Novella, 2021 Locus for Best Novella I very much enjoyed this novella. I didn't read any reviews, so I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a mystery, slowly unpeeled as Chih investigates forgotten belongings from the Empress' past, layer by layer an unexpected truth is revealed. A lyrical and compassionate read about power, oppression, secrets, and loyalty. A perfect read for the Year of the Rabbit. Chih, a travelling monk, is collecting stories to save the history of the recently passed Empress. On the journey, they stumble across a dangerous secret. "When Chih straightened, ghosts and road and empress were gone, leaving nothing behind but Chih’s own pounding heart." ... so begins Story of ghosts and the past that haunts an empire. Features both non-binary and queer characters.