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The story of Heavenly Tyrant follows immediately after the end of Iron Widow, as the characters deal with the consequences of their actions.
The book spends more time describing the characters' activities and their conversations than the first one. This was a good choice as so much happens in such a short time in Iron Widow that you are left reeling and rather overwhelmed, even after a second read-through. Spending more time with the characters in moments of less action also allowed for more nuance when expressing their ideals and different points of view.
Xiran Jay Zhao is able to explore complex themes in a nuanced and multifaceted way and I can't wait to read more of their work.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, War, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
I literally just finished, and my brain is still catching up with the chaos of the last few chapters.
First of all, this book — like the author has said on their IG — is very different from the first book. It’s got a very different done and purpose than IW.
At times, I felt like this book would never end. It dragged a bit at times during the “rebuilding” stages. This book is unique in that I think we really get to see what happens after the power at the top has been toppled — how difficult it is to truly build something new and without the terrible parts of the old regime, without becoming a tyrant power reborn. It was also a bit hard to stomach at times, especially with the impending reelection of Ye Olde Rotten Cheeto Corpse and knowing how white men in power are doing everything they can to take rights from women, POC, immigrants, LGBTQ+, etc.
The way Zetian and Qin Zheng were literally like fire and ice — so toxic, so hateful, so delicious. If you’re looking for a book with a distinct good guy/bad guy, this is NOT the series for you. While yes, they are both attempting to create a better world for the working class, everyone is morally grey to their bones. Zetian is doing her best, but sometimes bad men still need to be unalived. And sometimes what she wants just doesn’t quite work out. Re: Zeitan and Qin Zheng — I love that as the reader, you’re never quite sure if you should want them together. I got to the point that I kind of did but then (massive massive spoiler!!)
Anyway. I had no idea there’d be more until the very very end with the TBC. I can’t wait to see what kind of tyrannical chaos Zeitan gets up to next.
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, War
It's hard to give a good review of the book without spoilers, since the book is extremely eventful. Essentially, the situation is that, having overthrown the government of Huaxia with the help of the ancient emperor Qin Zheng in the first book, the two of them must now begin to rule the country, despite Zetian not having any political education and Qin Zheng being a brutal warlord. Also Shimin was taken hostage by the beings calling themselves "gods" who live in a spaceship orbiting the planet so Zetian wants to get him back and take down the gods. There is a great deal of revolutionary socialist politics, feminist coalition-building, bloodthirsty scheming, and mech piloting to learn and execute in very little time.
I would be deeply surprised if this book did not end up on some banned books, if not for its communist revolution and propaganda, then for its violence, sexuality (several very steamy scenes, but all the explicit stuff is fade-to-black), or toxic relationships. To me, all these aspects are to the good and handled in a very self-aware manner, but this book won't be for everyone. As with the first book, I loved the characters, world-building, and fast-pace of the book (especially considering its length). The central themes of the book surround the questions of when violence and coercion are justified and what their consequences are, which is a great topic for the YA and New Adult age range to grapple with. I cannot wait for the third (and final?) book of the series!
Thank you to Tundra and Netgalley for providing a free Advanced Readers Copy of this book for review.
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Colonisation, War, Classism
Minor: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism
I was definitely taken aback by the not-romance subplot and I still don't know how to feel about it. Even though I have to say,
Unfortunately, the big revelation at the end felt quite predictable as with the first novel. Nevertheless, so much tension and high-paced fun! I really really hope there's going to be a third book!
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy