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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great book! Couldn't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Alcohol, War
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, War, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Outing, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
Wow. What a book. - Those were my words upon finishing this. It's such an intense experience that had me procrastinating finishing it because of how much I was enjoying myself; I didn't want it to end!
I will admit this book won't be for everyone. Some of it is a bit cheesy or on the nose, and as the story ramps up it becomes very over the top as you watch the main character descend into madness after years of pain and abuse. For me it worked brilliantly, I love a feral female lead and I love when an author is not afraid to take things off the rails. "Wow they really went there" is a thought I had often while reading and laughing my own evil Zetian laugh.
I will admit this book won't be for everyone. Some of it is a bit cheesy or on the nose, and as the story ramps up it becomes very over the top as you watch the main character descend into madness after years of pain and abuse. For me it worked brilliantly, I love a feral female lead and I love when an author is not afraid to take things off the rails. "Wow they really went there" is a thought I had often while reading and laughing my own evil Zetian laugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
Minor: Body shaming
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The concept and world building is the best part of this book. The world is fascinating - the way qi is used, the Chinese culture is thoroughly infused (even though this is very sci-fi futuristic). Unfortunately I didn't feel like this lived up to my expectations. Our main character Zetian is extremely morally gray and not in like a "I'm rooting for this person" kind of way. I really thought there would be a lot more critique or eschewing of gender roles (I actually thought the MC would be nonbinary or trans). Zetian does almost constantly talk about how women are poorly treated, how there are many contradictions between how women are expected to behave, how generally patriarchal cultures are crap. However, I didn't feel as though Zetian was 'in community' with her fellow women. Instead she actually just blatantly disregards them all.
Apparently this was openly marketed as apolycule book I seem to have missed that marketing, so the romance just gave me whiplash until it finally clicked what was going on.
Because I really enjoyed the world, I will continue the series because I hope that there can be some actual character development in the next book(s).
Apparently this was openly marketed as a
Because I really enjoyed the world, I will continue the series because I hope that there can be some actual character development in the next book(s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely check CWs before reading this book.
I have complex feelings about this book, but I’m itching to read the sequel so that means I really liked it. The ending was a bit of a WTF moment for me, but we’ll see how the sequel handles that. It may be great, or it may make me cry over how this series develops. Who knows, lol?
Either way, this is a very fun book. If you’re into an unapologetically vengeful and violent main heroine, you’ll love this book. I really appreciated that the author let Zetian fully lean into her rage and murderous tendencies instead of back-tracking by being all “oooh no she’s still a good guy! She doesn’t kill, she’s too *good* for that” to try and make her more palatable. Also really loved how the romance was handled in this book. And all the big mecha stuff, of course. Super fun book that got pretty dark (in a good way imo, nothing that felt like it was dark for the sake of darkness) and I’d recommend giving it a chance if it interests you.
I have complex feelings about this book, but I’m itching to read the sequel so that means I really liked it. The ending was a bit of a WTF moment for me, but we’ll see how the sequel handles that. It may be great, or it may make me cry over how this series develops. Who knows, lol?
Either way, this is a very fun book. If you’re into an unapologetically vengeful and violent main heroine, you’ll love this book. I really appreciated that the author let Zetian fully lean into her rage and murderous tendencies instead of back-tracking by being all “oooh no she’s still a good guy! She doesn’t kill, she’s too *good* for that” to try and make her more palatable. Also really loved how the romance was handled in this book. And all the big mecha stuff, of course. Super fun book that got pretty dark (in a good way imo, nothing that felt like it was dark for the sake of darkness) and I’d recommend giving it a chance if it interests you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
I must start off with saying that I really enjoyed this book but I do have some mixed feelings on it as well. There were some parts I adored but others that I had some questions or they didn't quite vibe with me.
The writing was very unique not terrific but it wasn't bad. The author does use a lot of metaphors in their writing and some parts you don't really understand right away. Also I feel like some parts could have been added in, like certain situations could have been explained more. Like for example we hear a lot about Shimin's guilt over the death of girls he has lost when he was a pilot but we don't really see him grieving their loss. The only thing we see that indicates that is his dreams. I feel like that could have been explained better.
The characters is what sealed the deal for me, the three main characters were very refreshing to see and I loved how different they were and how they sort of broke the mold that characters like them usually fit into. Zetian was a great main character, I loved how she was allowed to be angry and too challenge her role in life. How she took control of her life and who she wanted to be. She also would do anything to get what she wanted or to save those she loved. A truly refreshing take on a female character! Shimin was a fascinating character, a strong scary looking man who is dealing with intense trauma and grief. He is also dealing with severe alcoholism and being labeled as a killer and distrusting. There is many layers to this man and it was amazing to see the true kind person he was underneath. Yizhi was a great character a true balance of calm and ferocity, he uses his powerful connections and wealth to help Zetian and Shimin but if his money doesn't do it he will not hesitate to use whatever strength he has. He is such an adorable bean and I love him! Another thing I love is the polyamorious relationship that the three enter into. It is so refreshing to see an actual healthy love triangle form instead of the usual love corner we get in books like this. It's so adorable and lovely to see the three of them together and the love they have for each other. Though I would have loved to see more of the romance form between Shimin and Yizhi, we got how Yizhi and Zetian fell for each other and Shimin and Zetian but not enough Yizhi and Shimin. Hopefully we get to see more of the three of them together in the second book!
The worldbuilding was also a plus, I adored the world this book was set in! A world of giant mech suits and alien battles. How the pilot system works and the system of Qi flow, how everyone uses different elements to power certain machines or unlock certain abilities. It is super cool and I hope we get more of this world in the second book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, breaking the mold for most YA books of this kind! It was a good take on a science fiction novel and I can't wait to see where are favorite triangle goes in the second book!
The writing was very unique not terrific but it wasn't bad. The author does use a lot of metaphors in their writing and some parts you don't really understand right away. Also I feel like some parts could have been added in, like certain situations could have been explained more. Like for example we hear a lot about Shimin's guilt over the death of girls he has lost when he was a pilot but we don't really see him grieving their loss. The only thing we see that indicates that is his dreams. I feel like that could have been explained better.
The characters is what sealed the deal for me, the three main characters were very refreshing to see and I loved how different they were and how they sort of broke the mold that characters like them usually fit into. Zetian was a great main character, I loved how she was allowed to be angry and too challenge her role in life. How she took control of her life and who she wanted to be. She also would do anything to get what she wanted or to save those she loved. A truly refreshing take on a female character! Shimin was a fascinating character, a strong scary looking man who is dealing with intense trauma and grief. He is also dealing with severe alcoholism and being labeled as a killer and distrusting. There is many layers to this man and it was amazing to see the true kind person he was underneath. Yizhi was a great character a true balance of calm and ferocity, he uses his powerful connections and wealth to help Zetian and Shimin but if his money doesn't do it he will not hesitate to use whatever strength he has. He is such an adorable bean and I love him! Another thing I love is the polyamorious relationship that the three enter into. It is so refreshing to see an actual healthy love triangle form instead of the usual love corner we get in books like this. It's so adorable and lovely to see the three of them together and the love they have for each other. Though I would have loved to see more of the romance form between Shimin and Yizhi, we got how Yizhi and Zetian fell for each other and Shimin and Zetian but not enough Yizhi and Shimin. Hopefully we get to see more of the three of them together in the second book!
The worldbuilding was also a plus, I adored the world this book was set in! A world of giant mech suits and alien battles. How the pilot system works and the system of Qi flow, how everyone uses different elements to power certain machines or unlock certain abilities. It is super cool and I hope we get more of this world in the second book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, breaking the mold for most YA books of this kind! It was a good take on a science fiction novel and I can't wait to see where are favorite triangle goes in the second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape