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nicolagua's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
betwixtbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
malig12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
potplant's review against another edition
"Some people have learned the unfortunate lesson that causing pain to others alleviates their own...Mabye they can change, if given the opportunity."
Exciting, queer, feminist, meca scifi. Love that it was a reimagining of the rise of Emperor Wu Zetian. However, I found the character growth oddly paced, and *spoilers* the plot twist at the end predictable.
Exciting, queer, feminist, meca scifi. Love that it was a reimagining of the rise of Emperor Wu Zetian. However, I found the character growth oddly paced, and *spoilers* the plot twist at the end predictable.
cybeleflame's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
kendalliskiwii's review against another edition
5.0
i remember when i read this book for the first time i closed it, stared at it, and immediately opened it again and started over
this book is an actual masterpiece
this book is an actual masterpiece
enbylievable's review against another edition
5.0
SO good. Like, unbelievably good. Amazing polyamorous rep, super organic and enjoyable characters and plot development, all around one of the best sci-fi novels I've experienced in a while, with an incredibly strong anti-patriarchy, pro found-family flavor. If you're polyam and have crappy parents and like battle mechs, you'll love this one.
audelidou's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a ride. I really loved the worldbuilding! The concept is quite interesting: the actualization of older Chinese culture, or rather futurization of it, works well. The alien menace and the constant fighting with it, which led to the Chrysalises and pilot system, is quite innovative and different, which kept me hooked. The polyamorous situation is amazing! So 10/10 worldbuilding and action.
(My whole review will contain slight spoilers from now on, but nothing too intense. If you don’t want to know anything, I don’t recommend reading; other than that, go right ahead!)
What did not work is, well, everything else. First, the pacing is kind of odd. Certain parts of the story felt rushed and not developed enough. Things are happening in the background, in the sense that the reader doesn’t get to really read about it, but these actions have a huge impact on the story and the character ‘’development’’. For example, Zetian and Shimin train together which deepens their bond. Except we never get to truly read about it, so their newfound proximity feels a bit odd. We catch glimpses of it, sure, but we don’t see the development of their relationship. It’s just ‘’I hate you’’, we train, ‘’I like you.’’
Which brings me to my second point: the rushed pacing makes the characters’ development fall flat. Or rather, it feels kind of inexistent. For example, we are to believe Zetian evolves as a character, has a change in feelings toward Shimin, notably, and even toward Yizhi, while nothing really happens to make her change? Sure, there are some events that can have an influence on her, but they feel rushed and glossed over, so it’s difficult to see how they truly affect her. Also, her inner monologue never changes. She stays the same girl from start to finish in her inner thoughts, which is fine. You don’t need a character to change, especially not one who is so sure of their beliefs and mission. But, at the same time, she changed in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, in some ways), and it feels impossible for her to live all that she has lived without being ever so slightly changed, at least; for her to never have evolved, for her rage to not have grown. Yet, she is pissed at the beginning and wants to kill everyone, and she’s still the same at the end. Her anger stays the same throughout the whole book, which makes her a one note character and it just falls flat for me.
Which brings me to my third point: the feminine rage/feminist discourse in this book is not well-written. Zetian lives in a world which is inherently unfair toward women (we know how it feels, girl!) and they keep being sacrificed for the sake of men and humanity. That is a great conflict! She gets to be pissed about it and it’s amazing to see her want to change the system! Except, she must remind us basically every page how unfair the system is, how much women suffer, how she hates society, etc. Understandable. A lot of women feel this way too, including me. But there are so many better ways to bring this conflict and these emotions to light. It would have been so interesting to have a character full of rage, learning how to deal with this emotion as it grows and grows in her, struggling to understand where it comes from, being finally able to understand it and put words on the injustice she’s feeling. Using that new-found knowledge and ever-growing anger to topple the system that keeps her hands tied. Instead, she’s aware of it all from page one and keeps talking about it. None-stop. To the point of hurting her discourse, in my opinion. I feel like having her come to terms with her anger, getting to understand it and master it would have been so good! So gripping! But, instead, she keeps repeating herself, which makes her very annoying and flat. And I’m really sad about this!
Anyway, the plot twist at the end was good. I will read the second book in the hopes that Zetian feels more fleshed out (as well as the other characters – Shimin and Yizhi are quite boring), that the overall discourse is explained in more subtle and interesting ways, and that the pacing rectifies itself. The author had a great idea and was sitting on gold! But the editing and publishing team should have taken more time to work on the text to bring it to the level it could have been. And I really do hope they will put in that work for book 2.
(My whole review will contain slight spoilers from now on, but nothing too intense. If you don’t want to know anything, I don’t recommend reading; other than that, go right ahead!)
What did not work is, well, everything else. First, the pacing is kind of odd. Certain parts of the story felt rushed and not developed enough. Things are happening in the background, in the sense that the reader doesn’t get to really read about it, but these actions have a huge impact on the story and the character ‘’development’’. For example, Zetian and Shimin train together which deepens their bond. Except we never get to truly read about it, so their newfound proximity feels a bit odd. We catch glimpses of it, sure, but we don’t see the development of their relationship. It’s just ‘’I hate you’’, we train, ‘’I like you.’’
Which brings me to my second point: the rushed pacing makes the characters’ development fall flat. Or rather, it feels kind of inexistent. For example, we are to believe Zetian evolves as a character, has a change in feelings toward Shimin, notably, and even toward Yizhi, while nothing really happens to make her change? Sure, there are some events that can have an influence on her, but they feel rushed and glossed over, so it’s difficult to see how they truly affect her. Also, her inner monologue never changes. She stays the same girl from start to finish in her inner thoughts, which is fine. You don’t need a character to change, especially not one who is so sure of their beliefs and mission. But, at the same time, she changed in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, in some ways), and it feels impossible for her to live all that she has lived without being ever so slightly changed, at least; for her to never have evolved, for her rage to not have grown. Yet, she is pissed at the beginning and wants to kill everyone, and she’s still the same at the end. Her anger stays the same throughout the whole book, which makes her a one note character and it just falls flat for me.
Which brings me to my third point: the feminine rage/feminist discourse in this book is not well-written. Zetian lives in a world which is inherently unfair toward women (we know how it feels, girl!) and they keep being sacrificed for the sake of men and humanity. That is a great conflict! She gets to be pissed about it and it’s amazing to see her want to change the system! Except, she must remind us basically every page how unfair the system is, how much women suffer, how she hates society, etc. Understandable. A lot of women feel this way too, including me. But there are so many better ways to bring this conflict and these emotions to light. It would have been so interesting to have a character full of rage, learning how to deal with this emotion as it grows and grows in her, struggling to understand where it comes from, being finally able to understand it and put words on the injustice she’s feeling. Using that new-found knowledge and ever-growing anger to topple the system that keeps her hands tied. Instead, she’s aware of it all from page one and keeps talking about it. None-stop. To the point of hurting her discourse, in my opinion. I feel like having her come to terms with her anger, getting to understand it and master it would have been so good! So gripping! But, instead, she keeps repeating herself, which makes her very annoying and flat. And I’m really sad about this!
Anyway, the plot twist at the end was good. I will read the second book in the hopes that Zetian feels more fleshed out (as well as the other characters – Shimin and Yizhi are quite boring), that the overall discourse is explained in more subtle and interesting ways, and that the pacing rectifies itself. The author had a great idea and was sitting on gold! But the editing and publishing team should have taken more time to work on the text to bring it to the level it could have been. And I really do hope they will put in that work for book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Xenophobia and Sexual harassment
nikkilpzs's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! Pacific Rim meets the Handmaiden’s tale in this stunning debut novel from Xiran Jay Zhou. ZETIAN/SHIMIN/YIZHI CHOSE FEMINISM!!!
I think I should start off with the fact that I do recommend this book, just for the fact that I NEED a book two! This book is extremely fast paced and engaging, and I would characterize it as plot driven. I think it’s the first book I have ever read that feels both historical fantasy and science fiction-y at the same time.
There are two main things that keep me from giving this book a 5 stars, as much as I would like to:
1. I felt pulled out of the narrative because of Zetain’s inner monologue. At times I felt like she was telling me how to think explicitly and it was not necessary considering her posture when facing many of the injustices she face don’t really “change”. Everything just affirms her beliefs.
2. The tone of the book went from young YA to adult fantasy at different points of the book and it seemed confused. Considering the adult themes and situations that the characters face I think this book would have been better as an adult fantasy/sci-fi rather than a YA.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I think I should start off with the fact that I do recommend this book, just for the fact that I NEED a book two! This book is extremely fast paced and engaging, and I would characterize it as plot driven. I think it’s the first book I have ever read that feels both historical fantasy and science fiction-y at the same time.
There are two main things that keep me from giving this book a 5 stars, as much as I would like to:
1. I felt pulled out of the narrative because of Zetain’s inner monologue. At times I felt like she was telling me how to think explicitly and it was not necessary considering her posture when facing many of the injustices she face don’t really “change”. Everything just affirms her beliefs.
2. The tone of the book went from young YA to adult fantasy at different points of the book and it seemed confused. Considering the adult themes and situations that the characters face I think this book would have been better as an adult fantasy/sci-fi rather than a YA.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
tashawallace95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0