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heather_harrison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Read for:
- if you like Pacific Rim
- Alt-history
- Asian, poly & bisexual rep
- alt-world with little background
Skip for:
-YA dystopia cliches
- under developed main character
- a book about patriarchy that barely passes the Bechdel Test & has a 2D female MC who is “not like other other girls” and is blatantly misogynistic
- expositional and tactless conversations
- if you like Pacific Rim
- Alt-history
- Asian, poly & bisexual rep
- alt-world with little background
Skip for:
-YA dystopia cliches
- under developed main character
- a book about patriarchy that barely passes the Bechdel Test & has a 2D female MC who is “not like other other girls” and is blatantly misogynistic
- expositional and tactless conversations
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Addiction, War, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Torture
ashley_reya's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a story! And what an ending!
The betrayal by Xiuying is truly a shock. Also, the tyrannical turn Zetian takes. It’s very interesting to see how her character goes from revolting against the system, working within it, and ending by completely shattering it. Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi all grow as people throughout this book. It was wonderful to see the character development evolve based on how they supported and encouraged each other. Allowed for different moments of vulnerability in a world that seeks to exploit that as a weakness. I do love the throuple they became and the way Zhao navigated that conversation.
The parallels between the misogynistic reality of Huaxia and the misogynistic history/reality of many societies on Earth are very present. Zetian’s feelings and frustrations were ones I’ve known all too well. A very very interesting character. I’m excited to see where this story goes.
Also, the Heavenly Council?! What in the colonizers is going on?! Another last minute wild twist that I was not expecting. The humans being the alien invaders.
The parallels between the misogynistic reality of Huaxia and the misogynistic history/reality of many societies on Earth are very present. Zetian’s feelings and frustrations were ones I’ve known all too well. A very very interesting character. I’m excited to see where this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, and Torture
Moderate: Physical abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
sydneykaye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of the first female emperor of China. very feminist and deals a lot with the patriarchy and violence against women pretty good representation for a HEALTHY polyamorous relationship
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Death, Biphobia, Misogyny, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Physical abuse and Rape
SPOILER for why Li Shimin was imprisoned and explains the mentions of rapeaudelidou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
(My whole review will contain slight spoilers, but nothing too intense. If you don’t want to know anything, I don’t recommend reading; other than that, go right ahead!)
This book was a ride. I really loved the worldbuilding! The concept is quite interesting: the actualization of older Chinese culture, or rather futurization of it, works well. The alien menace and the constant fighting with it, which led to the Chrysalises and pilot system, is quite innovative and different, which kept me hooked. The polyamorous situation is amazing! So 10/10 worldbuilding and action.
What did not work is, well, everything else. First, the pacing is kind of odd. Certain parts of the story felt rushed and not developed enough. Things are happening in the background, in the sense that the reader doesn’t get to really read about it, but these actions have a huge impact on the story and the character ‘’development’’. For example, Zetian and Shimin train together which deepens their bond. Except we never get to truly read about it, so their newfound proximity feels a bit odd. We catch glimpses of it, sure, but we don’t see the development of their relationship. It’s just ‘’I hate you’’, we train, ‘’I like you.’’
Which brings me to my second point: the rushed pacing makes the characters’ development fall flat. Or rather, it feels kind of inexistent. For example, we are to believe Zetian evolves as a character, has a change in feelings toward Shimin, while nothing really happens to make her change? Sure, there are some events that can have an influence on her, but they feel rushed and glossed over, so it’s difficult to see how they truly affect her. Also, her inner monologue never changes. She stays the same girl from start to finish in her inner thoughts, which is fine. You don’t need a character to change, especially not one who is so sure of their beliefs and mission. But, at the same time, she changes in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, as she becomes more sure of their feelings toward one another), and it feels impossible for her to live all that she has lived without being ever so slightly changed, at least; for her to never have evolved, for her rage to not have grown. Yet, she is pissed at the beginning and wants to kill everyone, and she’s still the same at the end. Her anger stays the same throughout the whole book, which makes her a one note character and it just falls flat for me. So the lack of evolution mixed with the rushed changes of her feelings make for a weird mix that just doesn't quite work.
Which brings me to my third point: the feminine rage/feminist discourse in this book is not well-written. Zetian lives in a world which is inherently unfair toward women (we know how it feels, girl!) and they keep being sacrificed for the sake of men and humanity. That is a great conflict! She gets to be pissed about it and it’s amazing to see her want to change the system! Except, she must remind us basically every page how unfair the system is, how much women suffer, how she hates society, etc. Understandable. A lot of women feel this way too, including me. But there are so many better ways to bring this conflict and these emotions to light. It would have been so interesting to have a character full of rage, learning how to deal with this emotion as it grows and grows in her, struggling to understand where it comes from, being finally able to understand it and put words on the injustice she’s feeling. Using that new-found knowledge and ever-growing anger to topple the system that keeps her hands tied. Instead, she’s aware of it all from page one and keeps talking about it. None-stop. To the point of hurting her discourse, in my opinion. I feel like having her come to terms with her anger, getting to understand it and master it would have been so good! So gripping! But, instead, she keeps repeating herself, which makes her very annoying and flat. And I’m really sad about this!
Anyway, the plot twist at the end was good. I will read the second book in the hopes that Zetian feels more fleshed out (as well as the other characters – Shimin and Yizhi are quite boring), that the overall discourse is explained in more subtle and interesting ways, and that the pacing rectifies itself. The author had a great idea and was sitting on gold! But the editing and publishing team should have taken more time to work on the text to bring it to the level it could have been. And I really do hope they will put in that work for book 2.
This book was a ride. I really loved the worldbuilding! The concept is quite interesting: the actualization of older Chinese culture, or rather futurization of it, works well. The alien menace and the constant fighting with it, which led to the Chrysalises and pilot system, is quite innovative and different, which kept me hooked. The polyamorous situation is amazing! So 10/10 worldbuilding and action.
What did not work is, well, everything else. First, the pacing is kind of odd. Certain parts of the story felt rushed and not developed enough. Things are happening in the background, in the sense that the reader doesn’t get to really read about it, but these actions have a huge impact on the story and the character ‘’development’’. For example, Zetian and Shimin train together which deepens their bond. Except we never get to truly read about it, so their newfound proximity feels a bit odd. We catch glimpses of it, sure, but we don’t see the development of their relationship. It’s just ‘’I hate you’’, we train, ‘’I like you.’’
Which brings me to my second point: the rushed pacing makes the characters’ development fall flat. Or rather, it feels kind of inexistent. For example, we are to believe Zetian evolves as a character, has a change in feelings toward Shimin, while nothing really happens to make her change? Sure, there are some events that can have an influence on her, but they feel rushed and glossed over, so it’s difficult to see how they truly affect her. Also, her inner monologue never changes. She stays the same girl from start to finish in her inner thoughts, which is fine. You don’t need a character to change, especially not one who is so sure of their beliefs and mission. But, at the same time, she changes in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, as she becomes more sure of their feelings toward one another), and it feels impossible for her to live all that she has lived without being ever so slightly changed, at least; for her to never have evolved, for her rage to not have grown. Yet, she is pissed at the beginning and wants to kill everyone, and she’s still the same at the end. Her anger stays the same throughout the whole book, which makes her a one note character and it just falls flat for me. So the lack of evolution mixed with the rushed changes of her feelings make for a weird mix that just doesn't quite work.
Which brings me to my third point: the feminine rage/feminist discourse in this book is not well-written. Zetian lives in a world which is inherently unfair toward women (we know how it feels, girl!) and they keep being sacrificed for the sake of men and humanity. That is a great conflict! She gets to be pissed about it and it’s amazing to see her want to change the system! Except, she must remind us basically every page how unfair the system is, how much women suffer, how she hates society, etc. Understandable. A lot of women feel this way too, including me. But there are so many better ways to bring this conflict and these emotions to light. It would have been so interesting to have a character full of rage, learning how to deal with this emotion as it grows and grows in her, struggling to understand where it comes from, being finally able to understand it and put words on the injustice she’s feeling. Using that new-found knowledge and ever-growing anger to topple the system that keeps her hands tied. Instead, she’s aware of it all from page one and keeps talking about it. None-stop. To the point of hurting her discourse, in my opinion. I feel like having her come to terms with her anger, getting to understand it and master it would have been so good! So gripping! But, instead, she keeps repeating herself, which makes her very annoying and flat. And I’m really sad about this!
Anyway, the plot twist at the end was good. I will read the second book in the hopes that Zetian feels more fleshed out (as well as the other characters – Shimin and Yizhi are quite boring), that the overall discourse is explained in more subtle and interesting ways, and that the pacing rectifies itself. The author had a great idea and was sitting on gold! But the editing and publishing team should have taken more time to work on the text to bring it to the level it could have been. And I really do hope they will put in that work for book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Xenophobia
totallyunemployed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Alcoholism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Torture, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual assault
mossgoblins's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Grief, Confinement, Death, Murder, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, War, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Body horror, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Rape
pengintoppa's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
4.5
worldbuilding is interesting, i liked the 3 main characters. it was cool to read scifi set in china by a chinese author. some of the messaging felt a little heavy-handed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, War, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, Colonisation, Body shaming, Trafficking, Racism, and Emotional abuse
recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.cfitz13's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Alcohol
discowing87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Absolutely loved this book, probably gonna recommend it to everyone I know. I usually stray away from this genre because I don't particularly enjoy 1st person writing or romances but the romance here is developed in a believable way that feels so human that I was so invested in it working out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Mental illness, Death, War, Sexism, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, and Murder
bibliorama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Iron widow
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Chronic illness, Torture, War, Addiction, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
It's hard for me to say how someone else would handle these triggers as books don't typically get to me with triggering content. For what Iron Widow covers, it didn't feel overly graphic to me but that is very subjective. I would say this is better suited towards older young adults (16ish and above but that’s just my opinion)