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kittara's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, War, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
cnaccarato's review
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Colonisation, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Addiction, Ableism, Death, Murder, War, Classism, Confinement, Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Slavery
sterlingsnail's review
- 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: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Torture, Domestic abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Sexism, Alcoholism, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism
valjeanval's review
- 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
4.0
This book is extremely cinematic in a way that if it was an anime or graphic novel where I could actually see the Chrysalises and watch the battle scenes, I'd probably be pretty into it. The ruthless female anti-hero is a trope that I'm glad is gaining more traction. In the romance aspects of the book,
So plot and character-wise, it's pretty good. The world-building is all right too. I think it's just the language including occasional modern phrases that feel so anachronistic to the setting that grated on me. The ending also was pretty abrupt and included so much new information that felt rushed to me. So I don't know. I think it's a good book that just wasn't really for me. It is a shame that it was disqualified in the Hugo debacle this year because as literature aimed at a young adult audience, I think it is making some very important moves and deserved that recognition.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Ableism, Alcoholism, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, War, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
teconaisha'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Blood, War, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Torture
ebp'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Alcoholism, War, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Rape, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Confinement
mitta_girl452's review
- 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
Personally, I LOVED it, and was hooked from the start.
It explores so many amazing themes of sexism, family, love, guilt, war and grief, and its all done so beautifully. I really enjoyed the anger that Zetian has towards men, and her platonic adoration for women and their strength.
I LOVE her quote:
"He does not get to make me a statistic."
As I survivor of sexual assault, that really hit home with me. When I read for the first time I stopped, put down the book and immediately wrote it out and put it up on my wall. It's just so powerful.
It is a very dark book, and if you are someone with poor mental health or easily triggered by anything you see in the content warnings below, I possibly wouldn't recommend this to you.
I love how this book speaks about the stereotype that being strong means to hide emotions, be distrustful and not love, especially for women. Women who publicly show fear, love, sadness or really any strong emotion are labelled as 'weak', when really they are the strong ones, for having the courage to show that much openness publicly.
This book is definitely a must-read, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel.
The characters are loveable, the premise is exciting and interesting and the plot is so full of twists and turns that you are always on the edge of your seat.
It's a really wonderful mashup of science fiction, dystopian future, Chinese mythology and action.
Please read this
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Torture, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Medical content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: War, Classism, and Confinement
scubba101's review
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
scribblinginthemargins's review
- 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
3.75
Still well worth a read.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Addiction, and Trafficking
adalinemccormick's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, Rape, and Murder