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Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Torture, Pregnancy
Zetain’s growth in this book I think is the best part. Looking back on the first book, she was clearly very isolated even with Yizhi and Shimin at her side. Watching her grow a support network not just for her, but other women was just such a treat. It really felt like she came into her own in this book. All the side characters in the novel were such a treat, especially the women Zetain befriended. I also think her ever-evolving relationships with the men in her life were fascinating. Watching her relationship with Yizhi shift, knowing it will never be the same was the perfect storm of emotions. I really do think it was a close race between her relationship with Yizhi and her relationship with Zheng. I won’t give away too much, but I would love to study those two and their toxic mess under a microscope.
The world felt just as vibrant and complex as the first book, if not more. I think this is especially where all the work put into research for this book really shines. There’s clearly so much thought put into how Zetain and Zheng’s government take over would work and what the hindrances would be. I also like that not everyone immediately falls in line and the variety to beliefs and opinions on what should be done. It remains a constant struggle for power and control, so many changes so quickly lead to those previously in power trying to spread chaos and regain control by forcing those beneath back to fighting each other. It was just so clear that a lot of work had been put into considering how this all would work.
I really think this skill with the expansion of the world and the people in it suits the themes. Which is clearly the intent. It really breaks down the movement Zheng and Zetain are trying to bring to light and put in charge, and exactly how it’s been oppressed for so long. The ideas behind it are explained so well and then going from that to the series’ feminist messaging was perfect. Seeing how it takes a community, building support networks, and that you can’t rely just on yourself was PERFECT. I think this is an extremely topical and relevant book to the current age we’re in and what to expect to see in the coming years.
Overall a seriously amazing book. I haven’t been able to shut up about it to my friends since I finished it and I’ve been begging all of them to read the series with me. I don’t have the words to really convey how amazing it was.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Trafficking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content
I have been waiting since April 2022 with baited breath for this book, and was of course worried my expectations would be let down after so much anticipation. They were not. This was really damn good.
I think if it had been the same as iron widow, I would have been disappointed. But Heavenly Tyrant has very different tone and pacing. I loved it. It feels like growth. So you took your rage and smashed your oppressors, now what? How are you going to use power for good? It honestly mirrors my own journey of becoming aware of oppression, getting angry, and learning so much more of how the world works. Building a better world takes more thought and effort than angry me would have expected.
The relationships are INTENSE. I love how Zhao builds characters. The interpersonal dynamics had me always on the edge of my seat.
I also have to commend them on how
Goodness gracious I can't wait for the next one.
A note on the audio book: there are two narrators, giving each POV character their own voice. The main character narrator does a good job voicing various dialect changes in a way I enjoyed.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
The first few chapters follow the action from the end of Iron Widow (which I found slightly confusing as it has been a while since I read the first one, but I quickly orientated myself) but I felt like the story really kicks off when we start to see the aftermath. It's very hard to describe without spoiling, but I love that Zhao doesn't shy away from very difficult questions and consequences of revolution. Zetian goes through a lot of internal conflict and despair in this book as she reckons with everything she has done, everyone she has lost, and the accidental consequences of her actions, but we also see how she can't allow herself to break down if she wants any of that loss to mean anything.
I also love that Zetian gets to have many more deep and meaningful relationships with women explored in this book, as well as the very interesting dynamic between her and Qin Zheng being the central storyline.
Addictively readable!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, I was so excited to get this early!
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Classism