Scan barcode
fkshg8465'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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gore, Kidnapping, Rape, War, Bullying, Drug use, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, and Suicide
walkie_check's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Torture, Sexual content, Racism, Classism, and Child death
Minor: Rape, Ableism, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, and Slavery
emoweaboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Addiction
daenarvelaryon1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The writing style is a bit sloppy, unrefined and needs to be worked on. The dialogue was occassionally incredibly cringy. The message of the story could have been handled and presented in a better, subtler way. And don't even get me started on the ending (felt like the publisher basically forced the author into writing a sequel). Xiran also needs to start showing things instead of telling.
If I had to compare the story to an already existing work, it really felt like an average fanfiction from AO3 or Wattpad (I have no doubt that Xiran has experience with writing fanfiction and it shows in the book too). If that works for you, then you will very likely enjoy the story.
I really wanted to like this book because I love Xiran's content. Ultimately, it was a fun ride, but I would not recommend this book for someone looking for a high quality story.
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Xenophobia, and Rape
sreddous's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The first 1/3 is paced PERFECTLY. I blew through it fast because I was SO drawn in to the world and so anxious and so immersed in everything. The stakes are always high and terrifying. The way that the magic is described to us I also found to be well-paced and natural as the story went on. The romances might have been a liiiiittle rushed, BUT given everything these characters went through, I enjoyed them just fine and found them to be realistic enough. I am a SUCKER for all the communication and speaking out about wants and needs and boundaries too. Great stuff here!!!!!!!!
Overall though, a few things stopped this from being quite as good as it could have been, in my opinion: I think a little too often we lost the "we're doing this to save the girls who die!" plot. There's a point more than 2/3rds of the way in where Zetian rather suddenly realizes there might be a scandal, and that's what kicks off pretty much the wrapping-up of the plot -- where'd that come from? I feel like sometimes nearing the middle and the end, there wasn't enough buildup to some of the hard-hitting plot points, which is a shame because the first 1/3 of the book was SO ELECTRIFYING. The final battle stuff was a bit too fast since a lot of super interesting secrets were revealed, and I think if some of the stuff with the rich dad and such was cut in the middle, we would have had more room for stuff that was way more hard-hitting.
Additionally, we never really meet any of those girls -- even the sister just feels like a tool instead of any actual, fleshed-out people, and so it starts to feel too close to the "woman dies offscreen which inspires Hero to go on Their Journey" trope. It's a little jarring that in a book so centered on womens' suffering, Zetian only exchanges words with pretty much five other women in the entire book: two of them are just outright catty and mean and competitive with her because they're jealous that men like her, two of them are her mother and grandmother who are just as stuck in their traditions as anyone else, and the one who is kind to her isn't all she seems to be (without spoiling too much, not in a way that I thought actually led to a diverse cast of women with many valuable strengths and perspectives).
Still, this is super. freaking. cool. It's bold and brave and awesome. I feel like this book will give people an OUTLET to be angry, and that's pretty dang valuable. Definitely interested in anything else this author writes.
(Content warning: body horror, mentions of sexual violence, substance abuse)
Moderate: Body horror and Drug use
Minor: Sexual violence
uraveragelesbianreader'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, War, Sexual violence, Sexism, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
starship_olympus'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, War, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Violence, Torture, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Drug use
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
phantasmaboo'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
In a harrowing tale that examines the victimization of women within a patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhou creates a fantastical world that is somehow not too dissimilar from our own. Zetian’s (and other women’s) experiences are highly relatable to today’s world. This books holds no punches as she channels her grief, sadness, and rage into each of her actions to take down the society she lives in.
Overall, I gave this book five stars. Zhou was ferociously brave in her writing and I see this book as the type to advance the genre. I hope more authors and publishers take note, and perhaps begin to write from the “villain’s” point of view, incorporate other perspectives and cultures, and include LGBTQIA+ and different relationship structures. Finally, I love that the book pulled heavily from Chinese culture. It added a layer and perspective not often seen in Western books. I can confidently say I have not read a book like this before, and I cannot wait for Zhou’s next novel.
However, I would be remiss to not mention Zhou’s own warning. This book contains torture, sexual assault (not graphic), body shaming, and body mutilation. Please make sure to check Zhou’s warning before reading, as I can see this text being very triggering.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Torture, Body shaming, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, War, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
karmuno'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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Drug use, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and War
flare_ice8'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
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Torture, Trafficking, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Body horror, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content