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eap5790's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Slavery
ratchetang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol
Moderate: Dysphoria, Genocide, Xenophobia, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content, Body shaming, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Sexual assault, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
itsjayden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Alcoholism, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
larajgriff1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, War, Addiction, and Misogyny
ravensruin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, War, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Ableism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content
leafhead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Violence, Classism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Ableism, Xenophobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War
laurenmiller100's review
4.0
- Characters: 8
- Atmosphere/Setting: 9
- Writing Style: 5
- Plot: 7
- Intrigue: 7
- Logic/Relationships: 7
- Enjoyment: 9
This was awesome. I love mechs and the setting is very evocative. Brought me out of a reading slump! The prose can be a little on the nose at times, but that’s to be expected in a YA novel. I love Zetien and I love the righteous fury, willing-to-do-anything, femme fatale lead. It’s so refreshing to have a female character be so reckless and have the male characters be more submissive. Also,
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Sexism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Torture, War, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
heather_harrison's review against another edition
- 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
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Addiction, War, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Torture
ashley_reya's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Murder, War, and Torture
Moderate: Physical abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
sydneykaye's review against another edition
- 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
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 rape