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stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
4.0
i didn't really get what exactly the hunduns were. i don't even remember there being a physical description for them. also the emperor stuff i didn't really get. maybe that's my fault, or maybe it wasn't written clearly enough.
still, the epilogue, though rushed, sets itself up so that you want to read the sequel and it seems the next books would be more interesting
also this is like a much watered down version of the poppy war
Graphic: Child abuse, War, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
xoemax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
tekoppstok's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Death, Gore, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness, Torture, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
The content warnings make the story seem like a downer. It very easily could have been a very depressing book. Instead, the passionate rage and desperation of the main character buoys the narrative into something much more fierce and addictive than doom and gloom, even at the very darkest moments. It's fight or flight the whole way through, with heavy emphasis on fight.taque's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Confinement, Alcohol, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
kbairbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, Child death, Cursing, Body shaming, Grief, Colonisation, Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Mental illness, Biphobia, Blood, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and War
rubybastille's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
That gets accomplished almost immediately. After that, it’s Zetian unleashing potential she never thought she had, plotting to overturn the pilot system and possibly the entire government, and piloting a majestic mecha to new heights while she’s at it. She does it with the help of equally mistreated male pilot Shimin and media scion Yizhi, possibly the only decent males in the entire world.
Zetian starts off already overflowing with cutthroat, righteous anger, and she shaves away any and all traces of kindness or compassion as the book progresses. YMMV on how much you enjoy a protagonist like that. For the most part, Zetian is easy to root for, but I get the feeling the second book will be a very different Zetian.
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Sexism, War, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Confinement
matturay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Medical content, Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Blood, Cursing, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Ableism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Bullying, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Classism, War, Colonisation, Gore, and Sexual harassment
squinnittowinit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I thought this book did a very good job of immersing the reader in the very real misogyny that Wu Zetian experiences at every turn, but also not wallowing in those feelings. Instead, Zetian fights against the system at every turn and the reader can celebrate with her when she succeeds. Gao Yizhi and Li Shimin are great supporting characters as well, full of their own depth, but without taking away from Zetian's character in any way.
I especially loved how unapologetically bloodthirsty Wu Zetian was, so often the "dangerous woman" main character ends up just being misunderstood, or becomes tamed by love or something, which is just weak character development. Wu Zetian is a dangerous woman, and that never changes.
4.75 stars because some of the most dramatic dialogue moments were just a little too silly for my liking.
Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Confinement, Violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Misogyny, Death, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, War, Gun violence, and Ableism
Minor: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Vomit, Transphobia, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
mersymerci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
iane_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Ableism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Child death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Torture, Murder, War, and Hate crime
Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, and Trafficking
Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death of parent, Deportation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content