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Empress of Salt and Fortune
Empress of Salt and Fortune | Nghi Vo
73 posts | 97 read | 78 to read
With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama, Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully.Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece.Praise for The Empress of Salt and Fortune"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
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coffees
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Pickpick

The cover for these!? Amazing!! The story inside...imo, debatable 😆 I've been meaning to pick these up for a while now but kept putting them off bc they're novellas... Finally read it tho and I was slightly...confused? But after a second restart, I just let it play and it became quite interesting. I think that's how I have to treat these little nuggets. This story focused on the current empress and her origins #sapphic #nonbinary

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peanutnine
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Mehso-so

I feel like this is one that will grow on me over time. Even though it's a short novella, I read it slowly over a month. This fantasy world is slowly revealed through the memories of a handmaiden to the exiled empress. I'm interested to read the next books from this series to learn more about this world.
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#AuldLangSpine @sebrittainclark @monalyisha

TheSpineView Fantastic! 2w
Kitta I agree, I rated it a so-so 2w
45 likes2 comments
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bookwyrm7
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"The abbey at Singing Hills would say that if a record cannot be perfect, it should at least be present. Better for it to exist than for it to be perfect and only in your mind", in "The Empress of Salt and Fortune", by Nghi Vo.

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Littlewolf1
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Pickpick

4.1⭐️ it was good, not quite what I expected, but that‘s OK. What drove me crazy with the continuous amount of the times the question “do you understand” was asked, because no, no, I really kind of don‘t. I mean, I get why it ended the way it did, and why certain events happened. However, I still don‘t understand the cause of some of the events, the decisions that were made, or why everything is being confessed now.

Pogue Ohh I loved this. I think the “do you understand “ was just her speach pattern because of who she was. 1mo
20 likes1 comment
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rabbitprincess
Mehso-so

I wanted to like this more than I did. The story was intriguingly told and the world being built had many interesting elements. However, it felt incomplete, possibly because it was a novella rather than part of a longer work. The storytelling was the sort of thing I‘d want in like a 500-page novel.

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xicanti
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I reread THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE in a single sitting while the boyos frolicked outside. It‘s a book I really liked the first time through and loved the second. Every element is so loaded, and so subtle, and such a joy to mine for meaning. I‘m excited to reread Vo‘s next two novellas, too, and I hope the people ahead of me for the fourth one return it quickly.

dabbe 🖤🐾🐾🐾🖤 3mo
39 likes1 comment
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Pogue
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Pickpick

Last book of 2023. Happy New Year everyone! I know I have read these out of order but they are all so good.

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Rachiiebookdragon
Mehso-so

I read this one via e book and I think I enjoyed it 🤔

I may read the rest, but this one didn‘t amaze me (should it have done? 🤔😅)

Read for reading challenges.

3.5/5

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RavenclawPrincess913
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Pickpick

Great read

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Tea_and_Starstuff
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Pickpick

I was so drawn into this world. A traveling historical monk gets a chance to unravel some secrets of the past. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer! An engaging tale that slowly reveals a world - it does a lot with the space it's given. The story stayed engaging for me too, there were some twists I didn't expect that made it a very satisfying bite-sized read.

And with that I am FINALLY caught up in reviews. I think. Yay reading!

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BehindthePages
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Pickpick

This was emotionally impactful, and constantly moving forward. Despite taking breaks between tales for side conversations, every moment capitalized on the displayed emotions and cultivated a compelling reading experience. I recommend this to readers who enjoy Asian inspired tales dedicated to the need for women's voices to be heard and recognized.

Review: https://www.behindthepages.org/post/the-empress-of-salt-and-fortune-by-nghi-vo-b...

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Chittavrtti
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This book has been on my wishlist for some time. I picked it up from an independent book seller today:)

4 likes1 stack add
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kimmypete1
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Panpan

This novella didn‘t draw me in at all. Only reason I finished is so I could check off “rabbit on the cover” for the pop sugar challenge.

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majkia

Library Book

An interesting short book on women and empire. No as impressed as everyone else seems to be.

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sebrittainclark
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Very hard decision to choose between my January Favorite: Light From Uncommon Stars and my February Favorite: Empress of Salt and Fortune.

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she.hearts.horror
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Pickpick

What The Dead Know

Silent thoughts. No words at all.
Because who can catch them? As you fall?
Plunge to darkness.. a swift leave of despair…
Share your story? Who will care?
Predator‘s access … how they prowl…
They‘ll always strike again… Even if not now.
Women weeping … under water…
Listen.. you‘ll hear a wife, mother, or daughter.
Salty tears… turn to lake‘s water…
Last remains… following slaughter.

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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

This little novel has beautiful writing, but I struggled following it. I recommend NOT reading this on audiobook, the narrator didn‘t differentiate characters well so it was difficult to follow. A well crafted Chinese fairy tale in a pretty little book. 4⭐️
#NoShameReadathon2023 - lesser know fairy tale or non-European fantasy
#FabulousFebruary

52 likes3 stack adds
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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

5/5

Cleric Chih interviews an elderly woman, Rabbit about her first hand experience as a servant to The Empress of Salt and Fortune, In-Yo.

It's an incredible story that communicates so much, in so few pages. I loved it.

rachelsbrittain Love these novellas! 14mo
46 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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NotCool
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Pickpick

This series is excellent. I‘d like a bird friend who went everywhere with me and remembered everything, although …maybe not if they were as talkative as Almost Brilliant.

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kera_11
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Pickpick

Rabbit, an elderly woman, former handmaid to the recently deceased empress In-Yo, is our narrator. Telling cleric, Chih(they), the story of empress In-Yo, from her marriage and exile, to how she took the throne. This world is so full of secrets and strife, a world where wars are won by “fierce women raised by angry mothers”, and history outlasts all the silences and erasures. This is a novella but feels so much longer in the best way.

Mariasimon I have this available from the library right now!! Should I read it?? 1y
5 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookmarkTavern
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Into the Riverlands is getting published this month, so pick up a mobi or ePub download of The Empress of Salt and Fortune before 11:59 PM ET, October 7th, 2022

https://ebookclub.tor.com/ #TorBookClub

Available in the US and Canada.

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LibrarianRyan
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TieDyeDude I don't know why I keep getting booted from this mailing list. Thanks for the reminder! I didn't love Siren Queen, but I'm interested in reading more from her. 1y
LibrarianRyan @TieDyeDude you r welcome. I still haven‘t listened to siren queen. I‘ll get to it eventually 1y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

I don‘t always like the novella length, it‘s difficult to get right, but this genre bending fantasy is perfectly suited to it. Its vibe is like an Asian period drama crossed with mythology. It centers on female friendships that spring up in the fight against a sexist oppressive regime. #PopSugar2022AHugoAwardWinner

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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Feels like it belongs to the canon of ancient legend. Hard to say much without spoiling a novella, but while I loved the way this tale unspooled, I was saddened by the necessity of repeated calculation and sacrifice that always seems to accompany imperial sagas, no matter how much more indelible to the mind the flavour of tragic happenings is. I don't know if you call the ending hopeful, but it's worth pondering. Huzzah for non-binary rep!

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heyther
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Pickpick

Unexpectedly comforting. Reminded me of Chambers' Psalm for the Wild Built even though the overall tone and story are quite different.

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ElleMNOpe
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Pickpick

Magnificent. The writing is so beautiful. Nghi Vo is an incredible storyteller. The prose is wonderful & the characters are incredibly rich for a story less than 100 pages long. The mythos is amazing, reminiscent of an Imperial era China, & the commentary on the patriarchy is inspiring. I love the strength & cunning of Empress In-Yo. Highly recommend for anyone who loves fantasy with a folklore feel. Short & sweet, but packs a magnificent punch.

10 likes1 stack add
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Jari-chan
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Pickpick

This was my #DoubleSpin for March, a short, but very impressive story. I like Vos way of telling, but not saying. Kind, calm, comforting - that's how this story felt.

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
38 likes1 comment
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encinarus
Pickpick

Listened to the audio book and really enjoyed it. It's a collection of vignettes from the empress's life and in total you get a sense of her life, and of rabbit, the storyteller.

It's a slow start, stick with it.

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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

This was a really quick read! A 2hr novella with a really great reader.

Feminist, high fantasy, debut, queer story.

Using for #Booked2022 - Set in China

Cinfhen I LOVE Cindy Kay!!! I might have to try this one!! 2y
Laughterhp @Cinfhen She was great!! 2y
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Angeles
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Pickpick

It lives up to the hype. I loved it, and the audiobook narration was great. A fierce story of revenge, power and love. The empress reminds me of Catherine the great and her rise. The story doesn‘t sugar coat what it takes to grip power, and shows the empress as both clear eyed and ruthless.

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underground_bks
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Pickpick

In this Hugo-nominated novella, an aging former handmaiden and a journeying cleric converge on Thriving Fortune, the cursed and isolated estate where the young foreign empress once plotted her revenge against the empire that destroyed her people. I found this one intricate and fascinating—with such a novel perspective and narrative structure, but it does take a while to get your bearings! I‘m very curious about the next book in the series.

29 likes2 stack adds
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BacklistReader
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Mehso-so

Book 2 for #clearurshitreadathon complete

Prompt: Smallest Book

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alysonimagines
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A novella about an empress in exile who plots a war against the kingdom that took her away from her people.🔸#augustreads2021

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BarbaraJean
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Mehso-so

I‘m still not sure how I feel about this one, other than realizing that perhaps novellas are not really my jam. I liked the world-building (but I wanted more). The characters were interesting (but I wanted more). The writing was beautiful, the plot was clever, but I didn‘t feel like I connected with either of the main characters. Overall, I just wanted more fleshing out of everything—and I think this may just be an issue I have with novellas.

39 likes1 stack add
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claudiuo
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Pickpick

Beautiful novella, I really loved the story and how it unfolded, in separate talks between the 2 main characters. Great writing! Thanks for TOR free ebook program, I already got the second book in The Singing Hills Cycle, I will start it soon.

Also finished last installment in the Murderbot series, Fugitive Telemetry; this series keep going strong and I love it.

Here is my #BookSpinBingo board

@BookishMarginalia #LitsyAtoZ

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Twainy
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Pickpick

🎧 Thank you HOOPLA & Josefine! Great novella!

(EDIT: I did warn you 😁 I‘m caught up for now, sorry so many)

Reasons I liked it (so I don‘t spoiler-it).

I feel a short story/novella is a difficult thing to write. Stephen King who can spend ten pages describing a fire hydrant is also a fantastic short story teller.

This book hits that mark. ⭐️ It‘s succinct. No extra words. I feel all the words belonged in this story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️2/3 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Twainy
Also I like it when I‘m reading & something harkens back to a book I read in the past, not in a plagiarism sort of way but in a feeling or a place or a time or object etc. I was brought back to Man in the High Castle briefly and that grounded the fact that there‘s Asian folklore or history connected to this short story. ⭐️

👇🏻👇🏻
3y
Twainy
While listening to this story it felt like a genuine bedtime story a mom would tell their child. The narration might be part of that feeling. It was comforting. ⭐️

And finally there‘s a RABBIT! She‘s a servant. I don‘t think it‘s supposed to be funny but when she brought a tray of 4 drinks all I could think was DID ANYTHING SPILL 😁 so it made me smile & think.

👇🏻
3y
Twainy
Enjoy the woodland creatures!

I enjoyed this novella. Strong female characters.
3y
22 likes3 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This got my attention because of the cover. I read the entire thing in an afternoon. Thankfully there's another book in the series because I definitely didn't get my fix. One main character is a bird. One is genderless. The third is an old woman named Rabbit. If you're still with me, definitely give this a go.

#BookSpinBingo square 10
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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kwmg40
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Pickpick

Excellent storytelling in this Hugo Best Novella nominee! An elderly woman who was a servant to a former empress tells a cleric about her time at the court, in a story with some surprising twists. @hugoawards @hugo2021

I'm at 9 hours and 20 minutes for the #20in4 readathon. One more day to go!
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Doing great 👏👏👏 3y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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booksandsympathy
Pickpick

"Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves". Such a vibrant story told in so few pages! It's quite impressive that the author can build this whole world in less than 120 pages. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Nghi Vo.

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booksandsympathy
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Next book in the #Asianreadathon. A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This book chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy. The country represented is Vietnam.

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BookishTrish
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Pickpick

A very quick listen. It was easy to get caught up in the world and the story. #audiorisotto

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effani
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Pickpick

I loved this book in a way that I'm not sure I can put into words. It's about the way that material objects and memories combine to make history. It's about power in different forms - what it gives and what it takes away. I think I'll be thinking about it for a long time, and I can't wait to read the sequel.

22 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
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I started this beautiful little book late last night, continued it over breakfast, and finished it just now.

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danimgill
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Pickpick

At first I was bummed about the rainy day we had today (that might be snow overnight? I'm over you, March) but the gloomy atmosphere after work turned out to be the perfect ambience for this fairy tale of a novella. I was utterly confused at first but fell into the story relatively quickly, and I think Nghi Vo has a gift for wonderful prose. I never felt truly immersed in the story's world but I still liked it and will read more from this author.

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effani
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Here's my March #BookSpin list. I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!!! 3y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
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cleoh
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“Something wants to eat you,” called Almost Brilliant from her perch in a nearby tree, “and I shall not be sorry if it does.”

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

45 likes1 stack add
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Angitron
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Pickpick

Beautifully written fairy tale-like short story. I loved the way each portion of the story was related to an object. Excited to read the next book in the series!

17 likes2 stack adds
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night_shift
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Pickpick

This was so beautifully written and though just a novella, didn't leave me wanting for information nor did it overload me with it. Interesting story of women, both the ones in power and those very much not, and politics and how history can be distorted or erased. Looking forward to the sequel and Vo's soon to be released novel, The Chosen and the Beautiful, which is a queer retelling of the Great Gatsby! 😱

Lauredhel \o/ 3y
Lauredhel I'm wrapping up the #fourfoursin21 #readingchallenge ! If you have completed it, please email me lauredhelhoyden@gmail.com with your list of reads by the end of the year. I'll randomly choose a winner, and email you your prize questionnaire. 2y
51 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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MsLeah8417
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

ChaoticMissAdventures I got access to her new book, it was my first of hers and it was so good, love her writing. 3y
MsLeah8417 @ChaoticMissAdventures I have The Chosen and the Beautiful on my TBR ☺️ 3y
13 likes2 comments
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SassenachTheBookWizard
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This morning's read

MidnightBookGirl Very cool cover! 3y
70 likes2 stack adds1 comment