Strange Horizons, March 16, 2015

“City of Salt” by Arkady Martine

Reviewed by Kris Rudin

This tale is part ghost story and part love story. It is set in an abandoned, haunted city somewhere in what appears to be the Bedouin desert. Its point of view switches between the two major characters: Ammar, a man who crosses the desert to bring back the woman he loves, and Sogcha, the woman who has remained in, and now haunts, the city. As the story unfolds, we learn of the events that drove them apart, events which are as magical as those Sogcha releases to try to drive Ammar away. The magic unleashed is full of evocative imagery, delivering a very other-worldly feel. However, the love between Ammar and Sogcha doesn’t quite come across as powerful as it might. This could be due to the restrained type of storytelling – emotions are inferred, rather than exclaimed. Because of this, the ending didn’t quite have the tragic feeling it could have – at least for me. Nevertheless, the story is imaginative and unique.