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Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Incest, Police brutality
I enjoyed the action and relationship building, but then the last 100 pages were confusing and a bit problematic.
Also, I thought we’d be saving Shimin but well, no he’s gone. He was only there to build up Zeitian’s character but it no longer felt emotionally charged because the whole Heavenly Court was confusing and weird and I was angry at Yizhi the whole time so I wasn’t rooting for the three to reunite and then it didn’t matter anyway!! Cause Shimin is dead and gone and Yizhi is a fucking dick so the relationship is dead!
I’m conflicted when it comes to Qin Zheng. Because he was stuck in a fake quarantine we didn’t see him do much aside from threaten Zeitian and be an Emperor. Then when they have sex (which is more graphic for YA) it didn’t feel like she was actually giving consent it felt like coercion so he could get what he wants. His entire character felt a bit wasted, but now he’s the villain I suppose after Zeitian stabbed him??
I don’t know I’ll still read book 3 when it releases but so far this wasn’t the strongest end to a story and the cliffhanger was okay. I do think if I didn’t re-read iron widow beforehand I would be rating it higher.
Graphic: Ableism, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, War
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy
Minor: Confinement, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, War
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
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: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Classism
Minor: Mass/school shootings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
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: Violence, War
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, Pregnancy