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mattiedancer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Fans of fantasy novels
- Fans of Joan He
- War, death, violence, blood, child death, injury, grief, animal death, death of parent, alcohol,
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Alcohol, Violence, Murder, War, Blood, and Animal death
onemamareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, War, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Gore, Death, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
leweylibrary's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
My favorite thing about this book was the shift when Zephyr
The thing I like the most about this book is how many freaking female characters there are, especially badass ones! There are honestly very few male characters, and none of them are in positions of power really (except Xin Ten's uncle and well 😂). I love that they're all strong and badasses in different ways. Like Zephyr of literally a god but she's not a physical warrior but super smart and intuitive. Xin Ren is a great leader and compassionate towards her people. Lotus and Cloud are warriors. And the list goes on and on.
Overall, I do think it was good enough that I'll read the next book!
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Torture, War, Murder, and Blood
hobbithopeful's review
- 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
The cover is beautiful, but I really love how you get character art in the beginning which helps you to get an idea for what the characters look like. (Quite frankly it is hands down the best character art I have ever seen)
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, War, and Murder
patricktreads'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
4.0
This read was fast paced, and full of unexpected twists. I was honestly taken by complete surprise when the big one came through at around the 60% mark. I am more than excited to read the upcoming titles in this new series.
High recommend. Please note the content warnings as this work does deal some with aggressive character deaths.
Graphic: War, Grief, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Blood, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
maaikereadsbooks_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Blood, Death, Child death, Murder, and Physical abuse
jessicaludden'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
4.0
Strike the Zither follows Zephyr, a strategist for one of the three warlordesses in conflict over the land in the realm. Zephyr goes undercover in the enemy camp to tip the scale in her side’s favor. There, she meets challenges in a rival strategist named Crow and otherworldly encounters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an ARC of this book!
I loved this. Zephyr is such an unapologetic character. She’s arrogant, but for good reason. She’s a very good strategist and I loved being inside her brain throughout this book. I got to hear all her plans and ideas. I love political intrigue and war in a book and this one had plenty of that! I loved her and Crow’s relationship and how it developed from a rivalry to something much more. Their connection was very genuine and intellectual. Joan He always done such an amazing job with plot twists. It’s always something you never see coming and could never possibly guess. Her stories are always so unique and different. The story was rooted in history and possibilities and I enjoyed the journey it took me on.
Minor: War, Death of parent, Murder, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Death
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Vomit, Death, Gore, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, and War
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Violence, War, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gore, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Torture, Stalking, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
ezwolf's review
- 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
5.0
I flew through this book and will probably read it again and again as I await its sequel.
Having all of these women in powerful positions and using the title of "lordess" instead of lady was so much fun and a detail I highly enjoyed. Having a sworn sisterhood made me so excited and immediately added so much to their relationships and to the way that Zephyr was there, as Xin Ren's strategist and right hand, but still an outsider to the ones closest to Xin Ren.
When I read the table of contents and saw it ended on an Intermezzo I was so excited to find out why and the closer I got to the end, the more I wanted to know how it would go. I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting the next in the series. Zephyr is such an interesting character, the way she is willing to do anything to further her cause, and the changes she goes through as she learns more of the truth of who she was and is.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press for making this book available in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and Child death