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_andviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I had high hopes for this book because I followed Xiran Youtube channel for many years but this book was astonishingly subpar.
The prose is too childish for a story with such heavy, dark topics it's almost embarrassing. It's a poor attempt at critiquing the patriarchy with no real resolve or clear message/call to action as the main character Zetian
[At this point I feel like I have to iterate that I'm not white, I'm also a queer POC so it's not anything about "not relating" to Zetian or Xiran.]
I understand that a lot about the character Zetian is a self insert of Xirans own struggles with their culture and sentiments with identifying as nonbinary, but a lot of the narration felt like aimless venting. I'm sorry I dare say its virtue signaling because Xiran only further perpetuates the concept of binary roles instead of eliminating them ("All. Boys. Want. It."; and when Zetian gains control over the Dragon saying "I finally feel like a man").
The love triangle was also pretty subpar for how much people hyped a bi-poly team. The 2 male characters felt like role played side characters and Zetian was kind of insufferable, and way too fueled by hatred. That's not female rage.
Oh also the weird racism against Shimin for not
The last half of the book was really a drag and the only interesting plot revelance happened in the last 10 ish pages, but at the cost of
We get it, bad thing is bad! Please for the sake of your followers that are still willing to read the sequel, give them some sort of resolve to your talking points.
Graphic: War, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Confinement
bluejayjazz'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Medical trauma, Body shaming, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
sissizc'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: War, Domestic abuse, Death, Alcoholism, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual harassment
angelfireeast24'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: Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, War, Xenophobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Sexism, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Child abuse, and Body horror
sapphic_necromancer'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: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
imchelsi's review
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Violence, Torture, War, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Alcoholism
julessssss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
the fantasy / sci-fi parts were great in my opinion, and I liked how complicated the world building, history, and such seemed to be.
I did not like any of the main characters that much though, and I do not think the relationship between Zetian and Shimin was developed enough for how they were acting, idk. I did not feel any compatibility for them, even when they were supposedly in a relationship. The polyam part though, I want to see more books with relationship dynamics like that.
also the "feminism" was overwhelming and a lot of what I have seen in other books before. I did not see much new or innovative in that respect and it got annoying very quickly.
I don't think it was badly written though and the plot seemed at least well thought-through.
idk overall it was fine, but not my favorite
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Murder, Death, Misogyny, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse
fragrant_stars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Death, Addiction, War, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Confinement, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Classism, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Vomit, Ableism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Murder, Rape, and Child death
ara02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Death
p_ttyb_tch'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? No
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Racism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: War, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence