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Graphic: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture
Minor: Sexual assault
The book was excellently paced and had a sense of appropriate urgency given the setting and the dangers the characters were facing. As for the characters themselves, I loved Zetian, Yizhi, Li Shimin and their relationships with each other. My only want with them was to be able to see them interact more.
As for the allegory of the concubine-pilots and Chrysalises, I’m sure that everyone has their own options that range widely, but personally, I liked that it was more nuanced than just “women are just as strong as men”. To be fair, I am writing this review long after I have read this book, and therefore my memory of it isn’t very strong, but if I’m recalling correctly, there was also critique on toxic masculinity and how strict gender norms affect everyone negatively.
The ending left me wanting more, and I’m beyond eager to explore more of this world should this turn into a series. In the meantime, I’m definitely rereading Iron Widow a few times over.
Also, I know that Zhao is an avid Yugioh fan, as am I, and it only felt fitting to use a yugioh card as a bookmark. For those who are curious, it was Virtual World Phoenix - Fanfan.
Minor: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture
Minor: Rape
I loved the route this plot took, the twists and turns I hadn't been able to guess, although on a couple I got close, that end reveal though? Defintely didn't see that one coming! The polyamory representation in this book was lovely to see, but I do feel it could have gone in a slightly different direction that the
I genuinly cannot think of any bad points about this book, but if I had to state one aspect I didn't like as much as the others then
A five star rating because it is one of those books I would give anything to be able to read again and I am eagerly awaiting the second book!
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture
Additional Comments:
- I am obsessed with the cover art! (bonus points for the author's photo)
- "Welcome to your nightmare" is going to be a quote that lives rent-free in my head for the next month.
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Murder, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child death
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Racism, Vomit, Colonisation
What confused me a little was how often I had seen this book come up in LGBT+ book lists. While three of our main characters are bisexual and I enjoyed the fleeting polyamory, the queerness of these characters really is a very minor part of the book. That is not to say their queerness isn't valid, but you sholdn't expect a groundbreaking queer romance going into this book — this is not that kind of story.
This was also a book I was told to expect a twist in. Though there was one twist early on in the story (unless you read the text in the book jacket), I was glad to see more throughout the book. And yet, one final twist was revealed literally on the second-to-last page, the lateness of which made it feel like an afterthought.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content
Minor: Biphobia, Domestic abuse