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paulawind's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Don’t get me wrong, Wu Zetian (inspired by actual Chinese empress) is objectively a morally dubious person but you can’t help to be impressed by how unapologetic she is. She will claw her way through misogyny, no matter the cost. Once again - good for her.
I’ve never read such aggressively feminist book, so full of female rage and I absolutely loved it. She sees the injustice and isn’t afraid to not only point it out but actively challenge and dismantle it. Would I like to meet her irl? No, she would most likely killed me, she’s not likeable but she doesn’t have to be.
This book was such a bizarre mixture of all the books/general media I consumed whilst a teenager it gave me a bit of a vertigo. We got Pacific Rim/any mecha anime giant robots fighting a war, Hunger Games discussion about power of media and public image, and a suspicion gnawing on my guts throughout the book about the Hunduns in a very Enders Game way. Xiran truly is one of us.
More of a side note but from now on I accept love triangles to only be resolved like the one here, period
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War
greatdistractions's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
captainhannes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Medical trauma
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Sexual harassment
saaraah'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Biphobia, Rape, and Sexual content
purplelake'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Abandonment
idiomie'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
fraxisle's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
starryorbit12'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Rape
amccarthy's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mustnotblink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
blackened bones left in its wake and could destroy worlds with the sheer size of it. I love her because of that rage - her internal monologue and unhinged choices helped - but it is her rage that resonates so greatly for me. The fact that she is able to combine that rage with a giant mecha makes me seriously jealous.
Xiran Jay Zhao is very good at including bits of humor that in no way detracts from the seriousness of the topics the book is mainly focused on. If I tried to share my favorite examples of this the review would never get posted because there are too many to choose.
This book also has a true love triangle and I utterly adore it- all three characters loves and supports each other - including their flaws - and the sheer rightness of such relationships could clear my skin & water my crops for years. Yizhi and Shimin are not just paper doll men - they each each have very distinguished personalities
and goals that make their affection for Zetian & each other a much more dynamic read than 95% of love triangle' romances. As a bonus they both Stan for Zetian as much as I do! Let them all have a little murder as a gift.
The multiple twists towards the end are well done and have me vibrating with excitement about the sequel. It has only taken one book to make me a lifelong Xiran Jay Zhao fan! That being said this book hits on some very tough topics so please check out trigger warnings ahead of time!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Torture, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts