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mysteriesofmar's review against another edition
5.0
PHENOMENAL.
rough start (hence the reason it took me so long to finish) but my god when it picks up… absolutely phenomenal
rough start (hence the reason it took me so long to finish) but my god when it picks up… absolutely phenomenal
femisandwich's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
zoilkn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
lillinyra_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
This story has such a richly crafted world and complex characters and manages to weave all this together while questioning and commenting on gender roles, social norms and different cultures, it is absolutely top tier.
cindinaude's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
snd1101's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gibbyreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
cyfox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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? No
4.25
"'You have been living a dream for long enough!' I yell at the cameras between bursts of maniacal laughter, raising my arms. "Welcome to your nightmare!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
I am going to start this off by saying that the concept is very cool. I have been getting more into sci-fi lately, but I wasn't sure how I would feel about the whole mechy-robot elements of the book. Turns out they are great and I had a great time.
I will admit the book had me in a bit of a lull for the middle portions but that is one of the very few complaints I have; it was overall very well-rounded and unique. Also, polyamorous representation! One of two books I have read to do it, making me very very happy. The relationship itself is not particularly special to me, but it's what it stands for that makes it so cool.
Also, that ending was spectacular and I am very excited to watch the chaos that unfolds whenever the next book (eventually) gets pushed through publishing. I will be there! I swear it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
I am going to start this off by saying that the concept is very cool. I have been getting more into sci-fi lately, but I wasn't sure how I would feel about the whole mechy-robot elements of the book. Turns out they are great and I had a great time.
I will admit the book had me in a bit of a lull for the middle portions but that is one of the very few complaints I have; it was overall very well-rounded and unique. Also, polyamorous representation! One of two books I have read to do it, making me very very happy. The relationship itself is not particularly special to me, but it's what it stands for that makes it so cool.
Also, that ending was spectacular and I am very excited to watch the chaos that unfolds whenever the next book (eventually) gets pushed through publishing. I will be there! I swear it.
moonaslan's review against another edition
4.0
There will be no redemption. It is not me who is wrong. It’s everyone else.
THIS was a very good reading to start off the year! I've been wanting to get my hands on this book since the first time I saw the author talking about it on their Twitter account. I followed them because a thread they'd made about everything culturally wrong with Mulan had ended up in my feed and I was curious about Chinese culture and the representation it got in the media.
It lead me to this book and I'm very thankful for it. Although mecha battles aren't really my cup of tea, and I must admit I skipped through them sometimes, I was very invested in the world created and the characters in it. I particularly appreciated the comments about the patriarchal society because it resonated so much with me, and it was amazing to see them printed in a book. I feel like most of the time in fiction it isn't really discussed, it's like it's a given for the characters to be in a male-dominated world. But here Zetian didn't hesitate to voice clearly what was wrong, and it felt so good and refreshing. Talking about the characters, the main trio is simply amazing! I feel like it's impossible to choose a favorite. I like the fact that they're all unhinged together lol. The end felt awesome bc yes, that's what we want to see, heroes who are not apologetic and actually get their revenge!!
I also really appreciated that it was inspired by Chinese history (and its first female empress) and inspired by Chinese culture! I always love reading about other cultures!!
I offer you a selection of quotes that I particularly liked, because I highlighted a lot of them :
« No, he’s trying to worm into my mind and shackle me down with morals, so he can feel more comfortable about my existence. »
« That’s not a matter of losing control. Every guy who does something like that knows exactly what he’s doing. There is always a moment where he consciously decides that he will ruin someone’s life to feel better about his own. Always. »
« The notion that men and women must be with only each other tires me as much as the pilot system. »
« Shame and humiliation are self-imposed emotions, and from here on out, I choose not to feel them. »
« Maybe we’re devalued precisely because we’re so valuable. The world is too afraid of not being able to obtain and control us to respect our true worth. »
« A lifetime of having their sense of self hammered down until they can only take shape when fitted against a man. They wouldn’t be able to detach without crumbling »
and I should probably stop here aha.
THIS was a very good reading to start off the year! I've been wanting to get my hands on this book since the first time I saw the author talking about it on their Twitter account. I followed them because a thread they'd made about everything culturally wrong with Mulan had ended up in my feed and I was curious about Chinese culture and the representation it got in the media.
It lead me to this book and I'm very thankful for it. Although mecha battles aren't really my cup of tea, and I must admit I skipped through them sometimes, I was very invested in the world created and the characters in it. I particularly appreciated the comments about the patriarchal society because it resonated so much with me, and it was amazing to see them printed in a book. I feel like most of the time in fiction it isn't really discussed, it's like it's a given for the characters to be in a male-dominated world. But here Zetian didn't hesitate to voice clearly what was wrong, and it felt so good and refreshing. Talking about the characters, the main trio is simply amazing! I feel like it's impossible to choose a favorite. I like the fact that they're all unhinged together lol. The end felt awesome bc yes, that's what we want to see, heroes who are not apologetic and actually get their revenge!!
I also really appreciated that it was inspired by Chinese history (and its first female empress) and inspired by Chinese culture! I always love reading about other cultures!!
I offer you a selection of quotes that I particularly liked, because I highlighted a lot of them :
« No, he’s trying to worm into my mind and shackle me down with morals, so he can feel more comfortable about my existence. »
« That’s not a matter of losing control. Every guy who does something like that knows exactly what he’s doing. There is always a moment where he consciously decides that he will ruin someone’s life to feel better about his own. Always. »
« The notion that men and women must be with only each other tires me as much as the pilot system. »
« Shame and humiliation are self-imposed emotions, and from here on out, I choose not to feel them. »
« Maybe we’re devalued precisely because we’re so valuable. The world is too afraid of not being able to obtain and control us to respect our true worth. »
« A lifetime of having their sense of self hammered down until they can only take shape when fitted against a man. They wouldn’t be able to detach without crumbling »
and I should probably stop here aha.
sofiafroggie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0