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A review by maxarcreads
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
5.0
OMG I loved this book. I loved book 1 because it was all about feminine rage and fighting the system that oppressed you and then you have book 2 which is about what happens next after you have taken down those at the top of that government. What do you do next??? For people who need a comparison instead of Katniss in hunger games sitting on a hill enjoying her peace what if she now has to lead the government and change everything. A poor girl with limited education who has been oppressed for so long even by those closest to her who really never thought passed keeping herself and those she loved safe. That is this book and then you throw in a man who you must share power with who is a legend in her time but for him has awaken to a future that is worse than when he left it, and he is now determined to change it by any means necessary. So still, she is under the thumb of some man because society is still not ready to listen to a woman and she is admittedly doesn't have the tools to lead the revolution herself. So, for now she must prove that she is more valuable to have at his side while learning all that she can and plotting for the future and how she can take back control.
I really like this book because I love political intrigue/machinations, and this was dripping in it. With betrayals, plotting and making you question what the proper way is to lead a revolution. For some small changes to allow for those to adjust are the best way but the question becomes how slow is too slow where essentially you are standing still because for some any change is too fast because they don't want it to change. But then there are those who essentially say burn it to the ground and rebuild it and while their goals and ideals might be what you believe sometimes the manner by which they go by is no better or even worse than those who were in charge prior. Like when it came to Qin Zheng policies a lot, I would agree with but then he would do something, and I was oh nooo not that because it would be the signs of an oppressive dictator. So again, this book brings about the question what the right way is to bring about and maintain a revolution as you fight against these oppressive systems that are so ingrained that people don't even realize they are being oppressed from the top to benefit the top. Then there becomes the question in this book who the true oppressors are because of what was revealed at the end of the book 1. So, can you truly fix an oppressive system within an oppressive system and who should you target.
This ends on a cliffhanger which I was a little surprised by as I thought this was a duology, but I am actually happy about that because I need more of those worlds in my life and I can't wait for the next book. I will also admit there were a couple passages where the writing wasn't as smooth as I would like but I was so lost in this world that it didn't fully take me out of what I was reading and enjoying. I did however have to stop at certain points to absorb what I was reading so it took me a little longer to get through it, but I don't mind because that means I am absorbing and processing something I am really enjoying.
So, this book is about Zetain finding herself in control of her government after she took down the sages that were plotting to kill her as she had become too much of a liability. But with the revelations about the "gods" still fresh in her mind she is shaken to say the least. So, for now she has decided to share power with Qin Zheng a legend of an emperor in her time but who is now back to right the country that he sees as being worse off from when he left. So together they must deconstruct this system built on corruption, misogyny and the exploitation of those for the gain of others. But as they work to change this system there are those who will target them to maintain it. But as they worry about those threats, they must also keep in mind the "gods" who have their own plans and ideas for the Zetain, Zheng and their country and if they step out of line, they or their remaining loved ones will pay the price for it.
I really like this book because I love political intrigue/machinations, and this was dripping in it. With betrayals, plotting and making you question what the proper way is to lead a revolution. For some small changes to allow for those to adjust are the best way but the question becomes how slow is too slow where essentially you are standing still because for some any change is too fast because they don't want it to change. But then there are those who essentially say burn it to the ground and rebuild it and while their goals and ideals might be what you believe sometimes the manner by which they go by is no better or even worse than those who were in charge prior. Like when it came to Qin Zheng policies a lot, I would agree with but then he would do something, and I was oh nooo not that because it would be the signs of an oppressive dictator. So again, this book brings about the question what the right way is to bring about and maintain a revolution as you fight against these oppressive systems that are so ingrained that people don't even realize they are being oppressed from the top to benefit the top. Then there becomes the question in this book who the true oppressors are because of what was revealed at the end of the book 1. So, can you truly fix an oppressive system within an oppressive system and who should you target.
This ends on a cliffhanger which I was a little surprised by as I thought this was a duology, but I am actually happy about that because I need more of those worlds in my life and I can't wait for the next book. I will also admit there were a couple passages where the writing wasn't as smooth as I would like but I was so lost in this world that it didn't fully take me out of what I was reading and enjoying. I did however have to stop at certain points to absorb what I was reading so it took me a little longer to get through it, but I don't mind because that means I am absorbing and processing something I am really enjoying.
So, this book is about Zetain finding herself in control of her government after she took down the sages that were plotting to kill her as she had become too much of a liability. But with the revelations about the "gods" still fresh in her mind she is shaken to say the least. So, for now she has decided to share power with Qin Zheng a legend of an emperor in her time but who is now back to right the country that he sees as being worse off from when he left. So together they must deconstruct this system built on corruption, misogyny and the exploitation of those for the gain of others. But as they work to change this system there are those who will target them to maintain it. But as they worry about those threats, they must also keep in mind the "gods" who have their own plans and ideas for the Zetain, Zheng and their country and if they step out of line, they or their remaining loved ones will pay the price for it.