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adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely a bit weaker and slower paced than the first book but still enjoyable with lots of great moments from our favorite murderous protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, War, Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma
Minor: Pregnancy
challenging
dark
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:
Complicated
Damn.
Encore une fois, cette fin me met sur le cul.
Les points négatifs d'abord :
- beaucoup de longueurs et un problème de rythme.
Toute la dernière partie aurait mérité + de développement, ça en devient limite un peu trop brouillon même si les évènements font que tout s'enchaîne. Au contraire, le milieu du livre paraît se traîner en longueurs ou ne pas assez se concentrer sur des choses + intéressantes(par ex j'aurais beaucoup aime avoir + d'infos sur le développement de l'Alliance du Phénix, les Dames de Fer, les nouvelles Veuves de fer, le Club Lily et ses homonymes plutôt que ça se concentre sur le trauma bonding entre Zetian et Zheng.) .
- Et il faut du discernement et un esprit sensibilisé à ces dynamiques pour discerner que Zetian n'apprécie aucunement Zheng et est juste forcée par le trauma et la violence à se lier à lui (trauma bonding). Rien ne les relie à part la haine et la proximité physique et politique la transforme en désir malsain. C'est absolument pas une sorte de dark romance dégueulasse, mais j'ai bien peur que ça soit lu comme telle.
Principalement parce que le public YA auquel s'adresse ce livre n'est PAS approprié. Et je sais que l'auteurice le dit ellui-même. Et ça se sent que ce serait vachement + logique que Zetian ait une vingtaine d'années plutôt que juste 18 ans.
Du coup je le reprécise ici au cas où : il n'y a rien de romantique et de shipable entre Zheng et Zetian. Par pitié. Mais du coup je pense qu'il aurait été judicieux que l'auteurice le précise plus clairement dans sa note de début.
- Je pensais aussi en apprendre + sur et enfin comprendre le système de magie mais je suis toujours un peu perdu-e 🧍 Il n'y a pas assez de temps accordé à ça alors que c'est quand même un des piliers centrals de l'univers.
Sinon wow, le développement de l'histoire et de l'univers est zinzin. J'ai ADORÉ l'anticapitalisme et le communisme +++ transmis dans les convictions politiques des différents personnages ; c'est une des seules fois où j'ai pu lire un truc politique aussi CLAIREMENT politique et pas enrobé dans des roulades narratives.
C'est aussi statué assez clairement que les personnages font des choix + que douteux et sont loin d'être parfaits et ne doivent pas être pris comme modèles.Zetian en l'occurrence suit un développement d'avis politique réaliste, puisqu'elle part d'un constat et d'une vision très personnelle à une vision communiste et vraiment davantage féministe qu'au départ. Même si elle n'abandonne pas sa rage et sa rancœur et son impitoyable impulsivité pour autant, ce qui fait que son personnage reste hyper cohérent et humain (et je l'ADORE).
C'est super aussi que le fait que Qin Zheng soit un pur connard reste évident, j'espère que personne ne l'apprécie parce qu'il ne doit pas l'être.
Je ne pensais pas que l'univers prendrait un tournant aussi inattendu et c'est vraiment ZINZIN toutes les possibilités de développement qu'il y a et les choses à éclaircir et AAAABDSNJXSKDK!!!!!!! Xiran Jay Zhao excelle vraiment à nous offrir des cliffhangers de zinzin.
Je continue à trouver son écriture super puissante pour nous faire entrer si bien dans la tête de Zetian, même si les problèmes de rythme m'ont + dérangé que dans le premier tome. Je pense cependant que la charge politique dont cette histoire est nimbée est vraiment chouette et importante vu les temps actuels. Et les personnages sont si humainement complexes et contrastés... (Sauf Qin Zheng, c'est juste un immense connard misogyne et tordu).
Bref, c'est presque autant un coup de coeur que le premier et j'ai très très hâte de lire la suite !!!
Encore une fois, cette fin me met sur le cul.
Les points négatifs d'abord :
- beaucoup de longueurs et un problème de rythme.
Toute la dernière partie aurait mérité + de développement, ça en devient limite un peu trop brouillon même si les évènements font que tout s'enchaîne. Au contraire, le milieu du livre paraît se traîner en longueurs ou ne pas assez se concentrer sur des choses + intéressantes
- Et il faut du discernement et un esprit sensibilisé à ces dynamiques pour discerner que Zetian n'apprécie aucunement Zheng et est juste forcée par le trauma et la violence à se lier à lui (trauma bonding). Rien ne les relie à part la haine et la proximité physique et politique la transforme en désir malsain. C'est absolument pas une sorte de dark romance dégueulasse, mais j'ai bien peur que ça soit lu comme telle.
Principalement parce que le public YA auquel s'adresse ce livre n'est PAS approprié. Et je sais que l'auteurice le dit ellui-même. Et ça se sent que ce serait vachement + logique que Zetian ait une vingtaine d'années plutôt que juste 18 ans.
Du coup je le reprécise ici au cas où : il n'y a rien de romantique et de shipable entre Zheng et Zetian. Par pitié. Mais du coup je pense qu'il aurait été judicieux que l'auteurice le précise plus clairement dans sa note de début.
- Je pensais aussi en apprendre + sur et enfin comprendre le système de magie mais je suis toujours un peu perdu-e 🧍 Il n'y a pas assez de temps accordé à ça alors que c'est quand même un des piliers centrals de l'univers.
Sinon wow, le développement de l'histoire et de l'univers est zinzin. J'ai ADORÉ l'anticapitalisme et le communisme +++ transmis dans les convictions politiques des différents personnages ; c'est une des seules fois où j'ai pu lire un truc politique aussi CLAIREMENT politique et pas enrobé dans des roulades narratives.
C'est aussi statué assez clairement que les personnages font des choix + que douteux et sont loin d'être parfaits et ne doivent pas être pris comme modèles.
C'est super aussi que le fait que Qin Zheng soit un pur connard reste évident, j'espère que personne ne l'apprécie parce qu'il ne doit pas l'être.
Je ne pensais pas que l'univers prendrait un tournant aussi inattendu et c'est vraiment ZINZIN toutes les possibilités de développement qu'il y a et les choses à éclaircir et AAAABDSNJXSKDK!!!!!!! Xiran Jay Zhao excelle vraiment à nous offrir des cliffhangers de zinzin.
Je continue à trouver son écriture super puissante pour nous faire entrer si bien dans la tête de Zetian, même si les problèmes de rythme m'ont + dérangé que dans le premier tome. Je pense cependant que la charge politique dont cette histoire est nimbée est vraiment chouette et importante vu les temps actuels. Et les personnages sont si humainement complexes et contrastés... (Sauf Qin Zheng, c'est juste un immense connard misogyne et tordu).
Bref, c'est presque autant un coup de coeur que le premier et j'ai très très hâte de lire la suite !!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Body shaming, Rape, Suicide, Police brutality, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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
Absolutely amazing book, I couldn’t put it down and read more than 200 pages in one sitting. The only problem is I don’t know when book three will be released because it’s an ongoing series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
I’m a bit surprised that some people are triggered by the political content in this book, especially since it’s about trying to dismantle a xenophobic system.
Additionally, with all the explicit content (which, at least in the Italian version, has a trigger warning in the author’s note) in this book, I’m confused how a mere mention of a pegging scene could be considered “scandalous.”
There were some things that left me perplexed, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
Additionally, with all the explicit content (which, at least in the Italian version, has a trigger warning in the author’s note) in this book, I’m confused how a mere mention of a pegging scene could be considered “scandalous.”
There were some things that left me perplexed, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Vomit, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
An incredible sequel and book 2 of 3 in this incredible series. The heavy yet beautiful subjects addressed in this book has me hopeful and thoughtful in our progress forward in society. The mix of Chinese history through a modern lense is so expertly crafted. Highly recommend, but it is a book you will likely need breaks from. It is INTENSE. Easily one of the best book series I have ever read and I am new to the mech-battling genre!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Cursing, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture
This second book is much more well written than the first, I enjoyed the last 200 pages immensely. Zetian is everything I wanted Rin in The Poppy Wars to be. She struggles with her humanity and still doesn't come out perfect in the end. She makes mistake that hurt people, and has to live with the consequences. Yet she shoulders them and her own identity with pride, in the end. Shame is a large obstacle for her.
I will say, in its length, the plot becomes lost amongst the tumultuous political landscape. As an anthropology major, this book presents a stunning array of political and personal statements about power, truth, and suffering of humanity. It showed a very philosophical and well-read background from the author, who was able to build complex characters whom you still rooted for— despite the suffering endured, despite thinking in oppsing ways. In its essence, the book is about putting power back into the hands of people whom make up the community they serve. Nobody is correct, only striving to be better than the old regime that came before them.
As an aside, to the author: all those wonderful sensual scenes and you couldn't elaborate on the one thing you used to advertise this book to me?? I needed a longer pegging scene than a paragraph, love.
I will say, in its length, the plot becomes lost amongst the tumultuous political landscape. As an anthropology major, this book presents a stunning array of political and personal statements about power, truth, and suffering of humanity. It showed a very philosophical and well-read background from the author, who was able to build complex characters whom you still rooted for— despite the suffering endured, despite thinking in oppsing ways. In its essence, the book is about putting power back into the hands of people whom make up the community they serve. Nobody is correct, only striving to be better than the old regime that came before them.
As an aside, to the author: all those wonderful sensual scenes and you couldn't elaborate on the one thing you used to advertise this book to me?? I needed a longer pegging scene than a paragraph, love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, War, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Love the complicated representation of a communist revolution
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, War
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