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screaminmimi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
alexbirdreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
M'kay. I can't really put my finger on WHY I rated this one five-stars. It doesn't exactly have what I usually rate a book five stars for. I think I just really love the characters and the drama. I love how morally gray almost everyone is, and how tragic the one morally good character's situation is. Actually, there is an underpinning of tragedy for everyone. The story puts emphasis on the ways that desire can be the root of suffering, and asks what kind of actions are justified when characters are trying to do more than survive in extreme circumstances. I love that betrayals we see coming still hurt your feelings. I also love just how fucking WILD this book is. Zhu in particular is a special kind of crazy. The tragedy that comes from gender nonconformity in a rigidly gendered society is sprinkled throughout the book in ways that you'd expect, but also in corners here and there that you wouldn't.
I liked that there was room for joyful queer love and joyful gender exploration amid the queer tragedy, because we have a lot of stories of queer suffering. I get that it's important and that there's a place for it (and it certainly had it's place in this book!) but it's nice to have some GOOD. It feels more authentic when a whole spectrum of experiences is represented, and, if anything, the moments of joy make the moments of tragedy feel that much worse afterwards.
It's a little long and convoluted, and the story is really more about character exploration than direct action, so it might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it for some reason.
It really was kind of crazy, though. Like, 'one-armed dingo ate my heaven-ordained baby' crazy. You gotta love Zhu. But someone get Ouyang a therapist, my god.
I liked that there was room for joyful queer love and joyful gender exploration amid the queer tragedy, because we have a lot of stories of queer suffering. I get that it's important and that there's a place for it (and it certainly had it's place in this book!) but it's nice to have some GOOD. It feels more authentic when a whole spectrum of experiences is represented, and, if anything, the moments of joy make the moments of tragedy feel that much worse afterwards.
It's a little long and convoluted, and the story is really more about character exploration than direct action, so it might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it for some reason.
It really was kind of crazy, though. Like, 'one-armed dingo ate my heaven-ordained baby' crazy. You gotta love Zhu. But someone get Ouyang a therapist, my god.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
merisavale's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is really good but it’s very similar to dune in that the main character becomes mad with power and the only likable characters suffer for their tender-heartedness. I loved the first half but got kinda depressed reading the second.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder and Torture
lyakimov's review against another edition
2.0
I was so bored reading this. The whole book and its plot is made up of politics, was, and battle strategy, but it dragged so hard. I think there was just so much TELLING, but no showing. I blinked and Zhu killed 10,000 men. Like what??? How did that even happen? Battles fly by because they are casually mentioned in passing as if it isn’t a huge piece of the plot that we are glossing over. Why is there so much war strategy and then we see literally nothing of the actual war or anything? It doesn’t really make sense and made the story super slow and disjointed at times.
There were too many POVs, it was confusing being an audiobook listener because I felt like they all had the same inner voice. They felt like all the same person and it was hard to differentiate them sometimes. I would think that the chapter was Ouyang’s but it’s actually Zhu’s, and vice versa. They all blended together and no one seemed particularly unique as a character.
Plus, the character development was lacking. They have development but we don’t really see HOW that development happens, it’s so quick because we gloss over EVERYTHING in this book!!! I didn’t like any character, they all felt so boring and static. Zhu’s character was just ridiculous and I was so annoyed with her the whole book. We keep hearing how she is so intelligent and bold and ruthless and strategic but I barely see any of that in the story. Empathy is like such a shocking concept to her the whole book but she lowkey has empathy but just doesn’t realize it. She always is described to feel “understanding” for all the struggling women that she encounters in the story. That’s empathy, bestie! Plus, I have complicated feelings of Zhu just being able to throw away all the struggles that come with being a woman, especially when it keeps driving in to the fact “Zhu UNDERSTANDS!” when it comes to seeing other women struggle, but….does she??? I’m not going to continue discussing this but it bothered me because I felt like the author kept flip flopping and contradicting herself in how she wanted Zhu to act and how she wanted to develop her gender identity. I do want to add in, that random sex scene made me feel so sick lol. You’re telling me two virgins were up to that? Literally the most unrealistic thing ever for a first time. The whole time I was thinking, no way I just listened to that. It was so random too!
I’ve heard that the author states this book is one about gender identity and less about war but….maybe be clear about that being the main concept because both war and gender identity discussions were pretty weak in the story.
Anyways this book was so boring I can’t believe I even had enough thoughts to write this whole rant. This book was definitely not Mulan-esque to me, and Mulan is my favorite Disney princess. Put some respect on her name, please.
There were too many POVs, it was confusing being an audiobook listener because I felt like they all had the same inner voice. They felt like all the same person and it was hard to differentiate them sometimes. I would think that the chapter was Ouyang’s but it’s actually Zhu’s, and vice versa. They all blended together and no one seemed particularly unique as a character.
Plus, the character development was lacking. They have development but we don’t really see HOW that development happens, it’s so quick because we gloss over EVERYTHING in this book!!! I didn’t like any character, they all felt so boring and static. Zhu’s character was just ridiculous and I was so annoyed with her the whole book. We keep hearing how she is so intelligent and bold and ruthless and strategic but I barely see any of that in the story. Empathy is like such a shocking concept to her the whole book but she lowkey has empathy but just doesn’t realize it. She always is described to feel “understanding” for all the struggling women that she encounters in the story. That’s empathy, bestie! Plus, I have complicated feelings of Zhu just being able to throw away all the struggles that come with being a woman, especially when it keeps driving in to the fact “Zhu UNDERSTANDS!” when it comes to seeing other women struggle, but….does she??? I’m not going to continue discussing this but it bothered me because I felt like the author kept flip flopping and contradicting herself in how she wanted Zhu to act and how she wanted to develop her gender identity. I do want to add in, that random sex scene made me feel so sick lol. You’re telling me two virgins were up to that? Literally the most unrealistic thing ever for a first time. The whole time I was thinking, no way I just listened to that. It was so random too!
I’ve heard that the author states this book is one about gender identity and less about war but….maybe be clear about that being the main concept because both war and gender identity discussions were pretty weak in the story.
Anyways this book was so boring I can’t believe I even had enough thoughts to write this whole rant. This book was definitely not Mulan-esque to me, and Mulan is my favorite Disney princess. Put some respect on her name, please.
makaylariley's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
serpina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
For my taste, this was too much politics and intrigues. Not a bad book at all, but much heavier than expected and not exactly what I would classify as escapism.
Plus, my Western brain was overwhelmed by the names. I mainly listened to it and got sometimes quite lost with all the people (two different arcs with a bunch of people on each side). It probably would have been better if I had read it, but I mainly listened to it and only re-read some scenes when I got too confused by the context change.
People always gush about maps in fantasy books. I don't care about them, and never reference them but a nice glossary/who-is-who is always appreciated - be it random fairy fantasy names or, like in this book, Chinese ones.
Plus, my Western brain was overwhelmed by the names. I mainly listened to it and got sometimes quite lost with all the people (two different arcs with a bunch of people on each side). It probably would have been better if I had read it, but I mainly listened to it and only re-read some scenes when I got too confused by the context change.
People always gush about maps in fantasy books. I don't care about them, and never reference them but a nice glossary/who-is-who is always appreciated - be it random fairy fantasy names or, like in this book, Chinese ones.
sammyb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Physical abuse, and Murder
lydia_hennessy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
4.0
MY THOUGHTS:
- both the main characters are gender non-conforming and queer and it made me so ! dang! happy!!
- this is a story of fate and identity and how following your fate can be both great and terrible. Would I go about my life like either of the main characters? no. Did I understand why they did what they did? hell yes
- Ouyang and Zhu made fascinating foils and this is one of the rare occasions where I loved reading both perspectives equally!
-Ouyang's storyline broke my heart
- Zhu's storyline of eventual acceptance was dope but their pursuit of greatness at all costs makes me nervous for what comes next
- Xu Da can have my whole soul
Overall, I totally understand the hype of this book and I'm hopeful there's a second book because I wanna know what happens next!
#IndigoEmployee
- both the main characters are gender non-conforming and queer and it made me so ! dang! happy!!
- this is a story of fate and identity and how following your fate can be both great and terrible. Would I go about my life like either of the main characters? no. Did I understand why they did what they did? hell yes
- Ouyang and Zhu made fascinating foils and this is one of the rare occasions where I loved reading both perspectives equally!
-Ouyang's storyline broke my heart
- Zhu's storyline of eventual acceptance was dope but their pursuit of greatness at all costs makes me nervous for what comes next
- Xu Da can have my whole soul
Overall, I totally understand the hype of this book and I'm hopeful there's a second book because I wanna know what happens next!
#IndigoEmployee
rosi2892's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0