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adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The dramatics of the MC sometimes took me out of the book.
Normally I do not enjoy even remotely vague messaging about a character's moral compass or whether they are "good" or "bad." Despite moral greyness -- or really, characters doing both good and evil, participating in manipulation or enacting violence but for righteous reasons, etc. -- I still really enjoyed it.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Normally I do not enjoy even remotely vague messaging about a character's moral compass or whether they are "good" or "bad." Despite moral greyness -- or really, characters doing both good and evil, participating in manipulation or enacting violence but for righteous reasons, etc. -- I still really enjoyed it.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, War
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hello again zetian my little pookie wookie oh how i missed you. and oh how happy i am this finally ended up being published!!!!! yay!!!!! and that this series is going to continue!!! whoohoo!!!
yet again my girlie pop zetian ate ate ate. in terms of comedy and raw personality honestly i think she’s one of my fave book characters ever. she honestly gives no fucks aside from her goals and ambitions and i think that is so cunt. she delivered yet again.
qin zheng is so fucking crazy i kinda live. his characterisation was great because he wasn’t a ridiculous villain, but he felt realistic in his politics. but he also was terrifying, and i really liked how he was fleshed out beyond just being ancient and a communist.
speaking of communism…. i lived for that plot. having ur ancient resurrected character’s politics be communism is so funny i loved it. i also loved that the “issues” with communism in the country were realistic issues with communism, and i found the politics super intriguing and fun.
i also really liked all the plot twists scattered throughout this book. they had me gasping and having to pause because i was shocked. the pacing as well was great, and it felt like everything was moving at a realistic speed.
i also really liked all the plot twists scattered throughout this book. they had me gasping and having to pause because i was shocked. the pacing as well was great, and it felt like everything was moving at a realistic speed.
the comedy in this book is superb. in the first book i do feel like the comedy was good, but here it really shined. all the pop culture references were super cute and were written in a way where they didn’t feel misplaced, but made me chuckle. shout out the derrick barry stonewall reference i lived.
the god subplot….. ehh i really didn’t like it, and to me it felt out of place. i mean in all honesty it *wasnt* out of place at all, but i much preferred the plot of the first book with the chrysalises. it felt so random, especially with the last 20% of the book…. i really didn’t like it and couldn’t even picture what was happening. i found it so hard to follow and that is literally the only reason why this wasn’t a 5-star. this book was great in every other aspect except anything relating to the god subplot. i’ll pass. the ending also was super weird, and it was so insanely high scifi i was turned out (and this is how i learnt im not a fan of high scifi!)
xiran jay zhao will always eat in my book. so far they’ve not let me down, and i do think the only reason this wasn’t a 5-star for me was simply because the genre the story changed to at the end wasn’t what i personally liked. and i mean hey that’s a preference! it’s not a fault of this book. i just didn’t expect it to go in that direction. but other than that i adored this book. i need the third book right neowwwwww i already miss zetian 💔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
This was rawr feminist badassery. The twist at the end was chef's kiss. I am still shook from it. Can't wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Violence, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcohol, War
Minor: Child abuse
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Book 9/30 for my youth fantasy literature class. Holy crap I LOVED this book. It was very long and I was totally hooked the entire time. I love how morally grey everyone in this book is, it's incredibly nuanced and well done. When Yizhi did crazy shit I would put the book down and send a voice message to a friend of mine because I HAD to tell someone about it. I did miss reckless wild Zetian but she was playing the long game and I was just so hyped to see how the book would end. The last 1/4 of the book went so hard, it picked up really fast and I absolutely cannot wait for book 3.
Also if SA/rape is a trigger for you, read my spoilers:
This book has an enemies with benefits thing going on, the first time they have sex it starts sort of without Zetian's consent but she decides to go with it to manipulate him. Later they have sex again but they very clearly establish boundaries and have discussions on safe words and similar things. I was worried that Zetian would be raped/sexually assaulted but the worst it gets is the first instance where it didn't super start with her consent but she decided to go with it. I wanted to explain fully what to look out for in case this is a trigger for you because I was worried. <3
If forced pregnancy is a trigger for you, read these spoilers:
There are many instances where characters talk about impregnating Zetian, but this does not happen. She eventually finds out that they stole eggs from her to put her egg and Qin Zheng's sperm into a different woman who consented to this happening, and at the end we find out that Yizhi tried to sabotage this procedure so it's likely not Zetian's baby but the woman who was impregnated's egg.
Also if SA/rape is a trigger for you, read my spoilers:
If forced pregnancy is a trigger for you, read these spoilers:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
I have rarely, or maybe even never, seen an author squander their potential so atrociously. I was a MASSIVE fan of Iron Widow, it is (was?) probably up there as an all-time favourite book of mine. This book was shit. I hated it so much. I don't even know if there are words to describe how terrible of a follow-up this was but I guess I'll try.
Maybe it's biggest issue is the sheer length. It was so torturously boring. There is so much time taken up in this book where Zetian is in recovery, and then learning, and then plotting and so much of this could be cut out or made more interesting. It was horribly done. This book felt like it wasn't thought out at all, almost like it was written in a stream of consciousness and never edited or condensed and certainly not carefully planned out.
The political parts feel written for the comprehension of a seven year old. You really don't have to hold my hand and tell me all the ways that women deserve rights, I'm already there with you. The writing in these sections (and there were SO MANY of these sections) was fucking dreadful. The pacing was a disaster, the internal dialogue was unbearable, and it felt both patronizing to the reader and also to the main character.
The characters are fucking awful and I hate them all. Congrats, you even made me hate Zetian, who was previously one of my favourite characters I had ever read. How do you take a character with the power and fortitude that she had in the first book and just make her into a complete doormat in the sequel? Controlled by men at every turn, never fighting against them and even willingly submitting to them IN EVERY WAY. Zetian from the first book would have rathered die than end up as Zetian in the second book and I'm furious on her behalf. Awful writing.
I don't understand why all of the "intimate" scenes in the first book, involving pairings who actually liked each other, were fade-to-black but in the sequel, the pairing who viciously hate each other have far more mature, detailed sex scenes. I can't help but question why it was more acceptable to write several fairly graphic scenes of what I would consider violent sexual assault, coercion and rape than it was to write graphic scenes of consensual sex. I do not care that they had safe words, Zetian felt obliged to say yes to him in the first place because of the immense power he had over her even if she's "using him" to preserve her own safety. That is an incredible power imbalance that is not rectified just by having trite little safe words. It is coercive at best and rape at worst. She was only with this man because she was threatened into it. There is no undoing that. You can't go back on that and suddenly make these scenes "sexy" instead of Zetian getting dubious sexual pleasure from being raped.
The massive disappointment of this sequel has changed how I view the first book in some ways. There was a lot of clumsiness and heavy-handedness in Iron Widow that I forgave/passed off as being camp and intentionally over the top but I think maybe the author just isn't a very good writer after reading this. Maybe the first book was a fluke. I wish it had ended differently and been a standalone because this was such an unbelievable flop.
If you loved Iron Widow, do yourself a HUGE favour and don't touch this book. I am not someone who buys new books without reading a library copy first but I loved the first book so much that I bought this sequel without hesitation and I regret it so much. I will be reselling it ASAP, I don't even want this thing in my house. I will be reading all of the spoilers and reviews of the next book before I consider even signing it out from the library, I don't know if it's possible for the author to fix the havoc they wreaked here.
Maybe it's biggest issue is the sheer length. It was so torturously boring. There is so much time taken up in this book where Zetian is in recovery, and then learning, and then plotting and so much of this could be cut out or made more interesting. It was horribly done. This book felt like it wasn't thought out at all, almost like it was written in a stream of consciousness and never edited or condensed and certainly not carefully planned out.
The political parts feel written for the comprehension of a seven year old. You really don't have to hold my hand and tell me all the ways that women deserve rights, I'm already there with you. The writing in these sections (and there were SO MANY of these sections) was fucking dreadful. The pacing was a disaster, the internal dialogue was unbearable, and it felt both patronizing to the reader and also to the main character.
The characters are fucking awful and I hate them all. Congrats, you even made me hate Zetian, who was previously one of my favourite characters I had ever read. How do you take a character with the power and fortitude that she had in the first book and just make her into a complete doormat in the sequel? Controlled by men at every turn, never fighting against them and even willingly submitting to them IN EVERY WAY. Zetian from the first book would have rathered die than end up as Zetian in the second book and I'm furious on her behalf. Awful writing.
I don't understand why all of the "intimate" scenes in the first book, involving pairings who actually liked each other, were fade-to-black but in the sequel, the pairing who viciously hate each other have far more mature, detailed sex scenes. I can't help but question why it was more acceptable to write several fairly graphic scenes of what I would consider violent sexual assault, coercion and rape than it was to write graphic scenes of consensual sex. I do not care that they had safe words, Zetian felt obliged to say yes to him in the first place because of the immense power he had over her even if she's "using him" to preserve her own safety. That is an incredible power imbalance that is not rectified just by having trite little safe words. It is coercive at best and rape at worst. She was only with this man because she was threatened into it. There is no undoing that. You can't go back on that and suddenly make these scenes "sexy" instead of Zetian getting dubious sexual pleasure from being raped.
The massive disappointment of this sequel has changed how I view the first book in some ways. There was a lot of clumsiness and heavy-handedness in Iron Widow that I forgave/passed off as being camp and intentionally over the top but I think maybe the author just isn't a very good writer after reading this. Maybe the first book was a fluke. I wish it had ended differently and been a standalone because this was such an unbelievable flop.
If you loved Iron Widow, do yourself a HUGE favour and don't touch this book. I am not someone who buys new books without reading a library copy first but I loved the first book so much that I bought this sequel without hesitation and I regret it so much. I will be reselling it ASAP, I don't even want this thing in my house. I will be reading all of the spoilers and reviews of the next book before I consider even signing it out from the library, I don't know if it's possible for the author to fix the havoc they wreaked here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't salivating and freaking out about this one as much as I was the first book, but I still enjoyed it! Idk how a friend DNF'd it. I do think it feels like a middle book of a trilogy, like it's building and getting ready for the big finale. Lots of character development, including of the Emperor which I wasn't expecting (idk how anyone didn't expect her to kill him?? She was debating it for ages, and we know she does impulsive, potentially bad with huge consequences things in big moments lol) .
I did really miss the otherthird of our love triangle 🥹 , so that was definitely a bummer. The parallels to today were a bit too on the nose and stated rather than shown sometimes, but I didn't mind it. It makes sense knowing the author. I still can't wait for the third one, even if we have to wait years and years again 🫠
I did really miss the other
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Grief
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism