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ashley_reya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a story! And what an ending!
The betrayal by Xiuying is truly a shock. Also, the tyrannical turn Zetian takes. It’s very interesting to see how her character goes from revolting against the system, working within it, and ending by completely shattering it. Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi all grow as people throughout this book. It was wonderful to see the character development evolve based on how they supported and encouraged each other. Allowed for different moments of vulnerability in a world that seeks to exploit that as a weakness. I do love the throuple they became and the way Zhao navigated that conversation.
The parallels between the misogynistic reality of Huaxia and the misogynistic history/reality of many societies on Earth are very present. Zetian’s feelings and frustrations were ones I’ve known all too well. A very very interesting character. I’m excited to see where this story goes.
Also, the Heavenly Council?! What in the colonizers is going on?! Another last minute wild twist that I was not expecting. The humans being the alien invaders.
The parallels between the misogynistic reality of Huaxia and the misogynistic history/reality of many societies on Earth are very present. Zetian’s feelings and frustrations were ones I’ve known all too well. A very very interesting character. I’m excited to see where this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, and Torture
Moderate: Physical abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
audelidou's review
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
(My whole review will contain slight spoilers, but nothing too intense. If you don’t want to know anything, I don’t recommend reading; other than that, go right ahead!)
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.
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, 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 changes in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, as she becomes more sure of their feelings toward one another), 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. So the lack of evolution mixed with the rushed changes of her feelings make for a weird mix that just doesn't quite work.
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.
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.
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, 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 changes in her feelings toward Shimin (and arguably Yizhi, as she becomes more sure of their feelings toward one another), 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. So the lack of evolution mixed with the rushed changes of her feelings make for a weird mix that just doesn't quite work.
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, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Xenophobia
totallyunemployed's review
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Alcoholism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Biphobia, Torture, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual assault
neko_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape
kemrick19's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Violence, Addiction, Murder, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault
the_readingfox's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
bibliorama's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Iron widow
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Chronic illness, Torture, War, Addiction, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
It's hard for me to say how someone else would handle these triggers as books don't typically get to me with triggering content. For what Iron Widow covers, it didn't feel overly graphic to me but that is very subjective. I would say this is better suited towards older young adults (16ish and above but that’s just my opinion)bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale seems like a fair marketing blurb; I guess I co-sign that. However, Zetian, our main character has zero respect for any other woman in this book, which was a bit frustrating and exhausting tbh. In The Handmaid's Tale, there are a variety of different dynamics that exist between the women who rotate in and out of June's life, but moving on!
Anyway, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and while the narrator was entertaining, I expected a bit more from this book. I would have loved a bit more detailed world-building, because I generally think of the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series to lay the groundwork for us, and it's the book where I don't mind a lot of exposition and "telling" of the historical and political context, and how they tie into the current situation.
However, I think we moreso got the repeated heavy-handed telling of the message the author wanted to convey. It's an important message, and I really do understand the need to sometimes be heavy-handed in the way we deliver messages so that it is crystal clear, especially when one is fed up and exhausted of systems of oppression. I am a staunch supporter of feminine rage and choosing revenge.
I just.... wanted a bit more exposition to contextualize the world beyond the main character Wu Zetian. Like I know this misogynistic and violent world directly impacts Zetian, but I'd like to learn more about how the world came to be, and why these mecha aliens even began lurking beyond the Great Wall to begin with. I appreciated the driving factor of Zetian's goals though: avenging her Big Sister's death.
Overall, I was entertained listening, and the MFM polyamorous relationship was interesting with Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi, who balanced out Zetian's rage with their soft vibes (and this really is a love triangle, because they all have relationships with each other. I think it would have worked a bit better though, if we got their POVs so we could see more of their relationship beyond Zetian too). However, I struggled with the pacing (again because of exposition and repetitive inner thoughts of Zetian about how the patriarchy is awful, and so are all of the women around her), and would have loved more refined world-building.
The epilogue was wild though, and my curiosity is piqued enough that I will continue the series. I do not think Zetian will be a benevolent or altruistic leader; I really think she is power-hungry and her ego has only sky-rocketed, but I digress. We will see, won't we?
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale seems like a fair marketing blurb; I guess I co-sign that. However, Zetian, our main character has zero respect for any other woman in this book, which was a bit frustrating and exhausting tbh. In The Handmaid's Tale, there are a variety of different dynamics that exist between the women who rotate in and out of June's life, but moving on!
Anyway, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and while the narrator was entertaining, I expected a bit more from this book. I would have loved a bit more detailed world-building, because I generally think of the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series to lay the groundwork for us, and it's the book where I don't mind a lot of exposition and "telling" of the historical and political context, and how they tie into the current situation.
However, I think we moreso got the repeated heavy-handed telling of the message the author wanted to convey. It's an important message, and I really do understand the need to sometimes be heavy-handed in the way we deliver messages so that it is crystal clear, especially when one is fed up and exhausted of systems of oppression. I am a staunch supporter of feminine rage and choosing revenge.
I just.... wanted a bit more exposition to contextualize the world beyond the main character Wu Zetian. Like I know this misogynistic and violent world directly impacts Zetian, but I'd like to learn more about how the world came to be, and why these mecha aliens even began lurking beyond the Great Wall to begin with. I appreciated the driving factor of Zetian's goals though: avenging her Big Sister's death.
Overall, I was entertained listening, and the MFM polyamorous relationship was interesting with Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi, who balanced out Zetian's rage with their soft vibes (and this really is a love triangle, because they all have relationships with each other. I think it would have worked a bit better though, if we got their POVs so we could see more of their relationship beyond Zetian too). However, I struggled with the pacing (again because of exposition and repetitive inner thoughts of Zetian about how the patriarchy is awful, and so are all of the women around her), and would have loved more refined world-building.
The epilogue was wild though, and my curiosity is piqued enough that I will continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
dandelionsteph's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I know this is YA, but I was shocked that there was only swearing at about 134 pages in. I thought I'd be able to get through a whole YA book without it having any swearing. I always find swearing out of place, like a 14-year-old boy allowed to watch "grown-up" media going overboard and playing at being an adult. I've seen similar levels of brutality in lower age audiences without swearing (say, Animorphs of Wings of Fire).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Death, Torture, Grief, and Cursing
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Biphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming and Pregnancy
kristenityyy's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Grief, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Gun violence