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ramiel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Confinement, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Racism, Body shaming, Classism, Sexual content, and Racial slurs
aardwyrm'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: Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Bullying, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
teaandsolitude'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
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Rape, and Sexism
teatales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Homophobia, and Biphobia
readingelli'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? It's complicated
4.5
I am really interested to see where the author will take the next book, especially as Zetian is extremely femmephobic and rejects female companionship. Is this a product of the setting? Is it a product of their complicated feelings about their own gender?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Gore, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Xenophobia
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
- Content warnings were at the beginning of the book.
- A non-historical disclosure was at the beginning of the book (Zetian is inspired by Empress Wu).
- Our protagonists are not heroes in any sense of the word.
- Love triangle that actually works (polyamorous rep!)
- Tian’s anger through the book never subsides.
- There is an actual, in-story reason why Tian and Shimin reconcile so quickly and it makes sense.
- When Xiran Jay Zhou writes about unpleasant things, they do not hold back.
- The characters never feel the need to explain themselves and I kind of loved that.
- The physically intimate scenes were tasteful and non-intrusive. Way too much YA lets romance overthrow the plot, but not this book!
- The writing balances description, dialogue, and action really well. It’s a debut, but doesn’t feel like your traditional “they’re still learning” debut. This book is polished and ready to go.
- The chapters are short so it’s easier to find a place to take a break, assuming you’re not so sucked in that you binge read the whole thing, which would be very possible.
- I appreciated the world and setting – it’s an Asian-inspired fantasy/sci-fi/action book and it feels both extremely original and yet somewhat familiar. Anime fans should love it. And for the rest of us, it’s a refreshingly different read.
- There were multiple twists at the end I definitely didn’t see coming.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Colonisation and Medical content
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- This book is heavy, given that it's set in a world steeped in misogyny and violence. You will rage right along with Zetian as she blazes her way through the system, hanging on to every twist, turn, and fight. Even if you see some of the twists coming, you can't turn the pages fast enough.
- Plus, all three main characters are lowkey queer, and for blessed once we escape the dreaded YA love triangle. I cannot wait for the sequel to see what other boundaries, tropes, and systems come crashing down.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Death, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
flare_ice8's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Torture, Trafficking, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Body horror, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
hadeell'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Medical content
lipstickitotheman'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence