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dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 for a "it was ok, but I didn't enjoy it much and don't think I'll continue the series".
This book was glacially slow compared to what I remember of Iron Widow. Zetian goes from kicking every ass presented to her to being basically a prisoner for nearly the entire book. The defrosted emperor immediately takes over and sidelines her, threatening her and keeping her powerless when he's not hate-flirting with her. Zetian is stuck constantly thinking, "I need to take him down, I need to get power of my own" and then...not doing that. It's not really her fault, it's the story's, but it's just not enjoyable to see her once again overpowered and outmaneuvered at every turn, failing most times whenever she DOES try and do something. I see the point being made, but...if you want me to stay entertained, you have to show me that the character is able to do SOMETHING. Otherwise it gets boring to see the main character sitting through endless meetings and speeches and ceremonies with them doing nothing. The book spends a lot of time on palace intrigue and describing political reform, and in the end I just felt it bogged the story down.
Zetian's relationship with Qin Zheng, I admit, was interesting. The emperor is an arrogant and somewhat broken tyrant, but he's hellbent on reforming the system that Zetian has already cracked open. He isn't without charm or humor, and he does seem invested in making the lives of the common people better. So he's kind of sympathetic, even though he keeps treating Zetian like a doll. It's something that maybe was supposed to be a point: the hypocrisy he embodies about lifting up and freeing others and empowering women, while he keeps Zetian all but imprisoned and isolated and feels entitled to modify her body whenever he wants. Zetian isn't immune to him, though, so eventually they get into this kind of love-hate dynamic that leaves you wondering "will they or won't they?" Their relationship is never healthy nor does it feel stable, though it COULD BE if they wanted.
In the end, though, I felt like the book kind of went off the rails for poorly-sketched reasons. As others have said, the last 20% of the book or so is like a different book altogether: Zetian and Qin Zheng head off to challenge the gods, and at that point the whole thing felt oddly loosey-goosey both in practical and plot terms.Despite the technological superiority of the people they're attacking, the two of them manage to basically smash into and destroy the gods' space station in what seems like an hour. Tops. They never meet any serious resistance, which seems incredibly odd. Plotwise...that whole section feels incredibly rushed. And after a detente between them, after using Qin Zheng to do her dirty work, Zetian just...tries to murder him. Because she "has" to. Because she doesn't trust him and is mad at him. This felt...unsatisfying to me. Yes, she's 18. Yes, she's always been driven by rage, and he's definitely made her mad and even their relationship was based on hatesex, but...she's just tried to murder her world's best protector and the person on whom her own political power rests. Aside from the danger to her...what's she going to do when the warships show up? It felt messy and drama-for-drama's-sake, and I didn't really buy it.
I admit, I did not reread Iron Widow and this book does not give you much of a refresher, and I do not recommend that. But I also felt the book just...focused on things I wasn't interested in.
This book was glacially slow compared to what I remember of Iron Widow. Zetian goes from kicking every ass presented to her to being basically a prisoner for nearly the entire book. The defrosted emperor immediately takes over and sidelines her, threatening her and keeping her powerless when he's not hate-flirting with her. Zetian is stuck constantly thinking, "I need to take him down, I need to get power of my own" and then...not doing that. It's not really her fault, it's the story's, but it's just not enjoyable to see her once again overpowered and outmaneuvered at every turn, failing most times whenever she DOES try and do something. I see the point being made, but...if you want me to stay entertained, you have to show me that the character is able to do SOMETHING. Otherwise it gets boring to see the main character sitting through endless meetings and speeches and ceremonies with them doing nothing. The book spends a lot of time on palace intrigue and describing political reform, and in the end I just felt it bogged the story down.
Zetian's relationship with Qin Zheng, I admit, was interesting. The emperor is an arrogant and somewhat broken tyrant, but he's hellbent on reforming the system that Zetian has already cracked open. He isn't without charm or humor, and he does seem invested in making the lives of the common people better. So he's kind of sympathetic, even though he keeps treating Zetian like a doll. It's something that maybe was supposed to be a point: the hypocrisy he embodies about lifting up and freeing others and empowering women, while he keeps Zetian all but imprisoned and isolated and feels entitled to modify her body whenever he wants. Zetian isn't immune to him, though, so eventually they get into this kind of love-hate dynamic that leaves you wondering "will they or won't they?" Their relationship is never healthy nor does it feel stable, though it COULD BE if they wanted.
In the end, though, I felt like the book kind of went off the rails for poorly-sketched reasons. As others have said, the last 20% of the book or so is like a different book altogether: Zetian and Qin Zheng head off to challenge the gods, and at that point the whole thing felt oddly loosey-goosey both in practical and plot terms.
I admit, I did not reread Iron Widow and this book does not give you much of a refresher, and I do not recommend that. But I also felt the book just...focused on things I wasn't interested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
Last year, I said Iron Widow was one of the best books I ever read. I love the sequel even better!
The characters and the circumstances in which they have to survive are incredibly messy and imperfect. They have to make difficult decisions that are sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and sometimes it’s hard to say. I felt the characters were realistic and nuanced in an incredibly engaging way. I wish all my friends would read this series so we could all talk about it often!
The narration was great! I think it was very smart to cast two different narrators, even if one of them didn’t narrate often.
Please keep in mind this book series is upper YA/New Adult, with content not meant for younger teens. In terms of content and trigger warnings, it would be easier to say what trigger and content warnings it doesn’t warrant. There is graphic violence and spicy content, falling short of explicit (depending on your definition).
I’m not sharing any further thoughts due to spoilers! I look forward to reading the third book in the series when it comes out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
the eating disorder I mentioned is actually a hunger strike
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
I'm not sure exactly what I expected from Heavenly Tyrant, but I was definitely happy with what it was! Especially given our current situation, reading about the struggles of leading a country-wide revolution was inspiring and oddly still managed to be escapist. I can't wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
Minor: Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt
This book is heavy. There are frequent betrayals of trust, medical procedures done without consent, and lots of death and brutality associated with a violent revolution.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood
I’m a firm believer in the power of imagining possibilities/futures so we may manifest them into our present and this book fits into that philosophy so brutally. Also damn, she’s a bit spicy in a fun toxic fictional way so that’s fun! SHE PEGS HIM
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:
Complicated
The majority of this book was like if George Orwell wrote queer feminist fantasy, and the last part was toxic romance and sex and fast-paced action. I honestly enjoyed this book, though I felt like it was missing a lot of things I loved from Iron Widow. The love interests are totally different (Shimin is simply not present (BRING SHIMIN BACK), while Yihzi is an asshole and has no chemistry with Zetian) and the feminine rage, while there, doesn't get to be quite as murderous and crazy. It was at least interesting commentary on politics and what a post-revolution government would look like, and while I'm still a bit confused by the ending, I look forward to reading the sequel. Definitely a good book, just didn't pack as much punch as the first.
Also, note: This book is much more adult than the first, I would not classify it as YA. Maybe NA.
Also, note: This book is much more adult than the first, I would not classify it as YA. Maybe NA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Classism
SPOILERS AHEAD!! This book picks up after the events of the first, and focuses on the political instability after revolution. There are lots of mentions of death/executions/torture, as well as riots, economic instability, etc.. Zetian continues fighting for women's rights, which involves misogyny, talks of domestic abuse, and curing disabilities when they find a way to reverse footbinding. Another big plot point is pregnancy, with mentions of abortion and miscarriages, as Zetian is forced to fake a pregnancy and her eggs are stolen without her consent to impregnate someone else. Several sex scenes that are written as violent though consensual. Battle scenes, death, war, etc..
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
Heavenly Tyrant trades the blisteringly fast pace and humor of Iron Widow for a story with a wider political scope, that sometimes struggles under juggling the weight of its philosophical questions about how to best overthrow capitalism with the sci-fi plot twist at the end of the first book.
I see why this one kept getting delayed; even with the extra page count over Iron Widow it feels kind of compressed (especially with the tentative resolution of many plot points around the 75% mark as the book started laying the groundwork for the next one). I'm so glad that one of my major criticisms of the previous book has been addressed and Zetian now has female friends and allies, but the process of actually becoming friends feels squeezed for time over how much the book focuses on pros and cons of communism. Sexism is still a major theme of this book and I like the way it was handled, even if we have yet to have a true resolution here. It's not that the previous book wasn't political, but this one is extremely overt with its discussions of the class struggle and the mirroring of atrocities committed by real-world communist governments. I think that's why I'm struggling so much with reviewing it... there wasn't enough concrete resolution of a lot of the "revolution" plotline for me to know how I feel about this book, and I'm going to need the series to finish before I can form a solid opinion on it.
I have no idea how Zhao will wrap any of this up in one more book. Both the "smaller" plotline concerning Huaxia and the broader scope seem like they'll need way more space than just one book to resolve.
I see why this one kept getting delayed; even with the extra page count over Iron Widow it feels kind of compressed (especially with the tentative resolution of many plot points around the 75% mark as the book started laying the groundwork for the next one). I'm so glad that one of my major criticisms of the previous book has been addressed and Zetian now has female friends and allies, but the process of actually becoming friends feels squeezed for time over how much the book focuses on pros and cons of communism. Sexism is still a major theme of this book and I like the way it was handled, even if we have yet to have a true resolution here. It's not that the previous book wasn't political, but this one is extremely overt with its discussions of the class struggle and the mirroring of atrocities committed by real-world communist governments. I think that's why I'm struggling so much with reviewing it... there wasn't enough concrete resolution of a lot of the "revolution" plotline for me to know how I feel about this book, and I'm going to need the series to finish before I can form a solid opinion on it.
I have no idea how Zhao will wrap any of this up in one more book. Both the "smaller" plotline concerning Huaxia and the broader scope seem like they'll need way more space than just one book to resolve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault
emotional
reflective
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although this was one of the books I was highly anticipating the pacing ruined this one for me. I was bored during about 200 pages and I really wanted to like this. I don’t mind the worldbuilding and I understand why the story focused on politics but omg that could have been a lot shorter. The last 100 pages got me interested again but I'm also annoyed with where the story and characters are going so I will try to keep my expectations low for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Medical trauma, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Xiran Jay Zhao is a master storyteller. A sequel every bit as good as the predecessor. I felt on the edge of my seat the whole time, twisted between so many emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Homophobia, Suicide
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Blood