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documentno_is's Reviews (1.29k)
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My score was going to be lower because the first 77% of this novel are a total slog but it ties up pretty nicely in the end (even if I did guess one of the two "twists." ) I think If I erased this novel from my brain I would be okay for it? Leads were uninteresting (sweaters and pop culture/literature references are her entire character ) and the chemistry didn't click until the end. The concept of falling in love with a dead person was one that had been done before but I expected a new take on it.. and never received it. A re-hash of tropes and formulas this one left me... wanting something else but it was an easy enough read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A gripping and page turning adventure that perhaps built up my own expectations a little high in anticipation of a story that never quite delivered on said expectations. Allow me to start with the positives.
First of all, the world-building was incredible. The concept of the story, the relation to history, the mechs, and the society as a mirror for many ingrained cultural practices of China- all I was easily sold on and loved watching unfold throughout these pages. Second, I was incredibly interested in these characters and their little throuple (lol) was an endearing and liberated relationship dynamic not so frequently explored in YA fantasy. It managed to teeter on the verge of chaste but edgy which I think is perfect for younger readers who understand how relationships in the world work but perhaps don't need a play by play of every specific action *if you catch my drift.*
Zetian as a character was fantastic, I felt like she truly existed as an anti-hero; her cruelty and rage all stemming from her trauma, loss, and abandonment. I'm also just kind of a sucker for revenge media, and I felt she was dynamic enough of a character without really having to learn or grow from some of her mistakes (plus its clearly a series so... we will see.)
I could see clear influences in this story from other Science Fiction and stories I'd read (the media scene in comparison to Hunger Games anyone?) and I found those influences positive and not approaching affect. In contrast I actually felt like I saw a lot of parallels between this novel and Yarros' Fourth Wing which came after.
Which unfortunately now leads me to my negatives. I felt this story was written occasionally in too much of a teen voice-specifically when handling dialog between characters. I've seen other stories do a better job merging capturing interest from a younger audience with better line-level craft and the writing of this story had (at least to me) been built up as an example of somebody doing it better, so when I didn't actually see that happen I was disappointed.
Otherwise, my main real critic is the ending. The entire novel felt like expository positioning for something that was going to happen.. and didn't really?
There was the consummation of their relationships which didn't happen in any sort of novel or feministic way, and if anything it seems like Yizhi's father bullied her into sleeping with Shimin. Shimin's death drives a huge impact and change in character that ultimately becomes a footnote when we realize the pilot's society is the true colonizers. There was the element of a cinematic universe unfolding that existed in this final battle scene that I wasn't partial to and lacked any sort of nuance or interiority aside from blind rage. I think my largest criticism of this novel was that it felt like it was being written to be adapted into script and that was disappointing as it had a lot of potential.
All that being said, I certainly liked it enough to read it in a day so I'm excited to see what Xiran Jay Zhao brings for the sequel.
First of all, the world-building was incredible. The concept of the story, the relation to history, the mechs, and the society as a mirror for many ingrained cultural practices of China- all I was easily sold on and loved watching unfold throughout these pages. Second, I was incredibly interested in these characters and their little throuple (lol) was an endearing and liberated relationship dynamic not so frequently explored in YA fantasy. It managed to teeter on the verge of chaste but edgy which I think is perfect for younger readers who understand how relationships in the world work but perhaps don't need a play by play of every specific action *if you catch my drift.*
Zetian as a character was fantastic, I felt like she truly existed as an anti-hero; her cruelty and rage all stemming from her trauma, loss, and abandonment. I'm also just kind of a sucker for revenge media, and I felt she was dynamic enough of a character without really having to learn or grow from some of her mistakes (plus its clearly a series so... we will see.)
I could see clear influences in this story from other Science Fiction and stories I'd read (the media scene in comparison to Hunger Games anyone?) and I found those influences positive and not approaching affect. In contrast I actually felt like I saw a lot of parallels between this novel and Yarros' Fourth Wing which came after.
Which unfortunately now leads me to my negatives. I felt this story was written occasionally in too much of a teen voice-specifically when handling dialog between characters. I've seen other stories do a better job merging capturing interest from a younger audience with better line-level craft and the writing of this story had (at least to me) been built up as an example of somebody doing it better, so when I didn't actually see that happen I was disappointed.
Otherwise, my main real critic is the ending. The entire novel felt like expository positioning for something that was going to happen.. and didn't really?
All that being said, I certainly liked it enough to read it in a day so I'm excited to see what Xiran Jay Zhao brings for the sequel.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A well written well structured romance that didn’t quite have the time to get out what it meant to create meaning I thought their resolution and transition to romance was more rushed than the does he recognize you part.
I also felt this story tried to do too muchbetween the dead cheating dad, the boyfriend, the earlier boyfriend, the friends, the job hunt, SA, and a mournful romance with a man who also had a dead wife it all felt a bit like soap opera whiplash and I wish the story had narrowed to one or two of the aforementioned. The other components of the novel rather than enhancing its characters detracted from the central plot.
I also felt this story tried to do too much
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
The plot and characters of this novel were so dynamic and whole-ly constructed it was impossible to not get lost in their world. An extremely satisfying read with a constructive but not overly clean resolution. Also impressive was the sum total amount of Puerto Rican history I was able to learn without ever feeling like it was dry or pedantic. The narrator shifts were fluidly executed, never appearing too jarring or taking me out of the story I was immersed in.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
"Life is at its most rewarding and pleasant when large numbers of people understand, appreciate, and seek out interclass contact and communication conducted in a mode of good will."
Putting to form in this ambitious work of auto-theory Delaney states what long term critics of gentrification have championed in a new and unique lens. Not only a focus on the displacement of living areas and lives ( and thats not really what Times Square was ) Delaney focuses on the change of culture and loss of a specific type of sexual third place that was present in NYC in the 80s. The loss of a cultural institution chronicled, albeit one that even its patrons were not so mournful to see go ( as evident in the interviews Delaney conducts in the middle pages of the book. In part the book is a personal history of Delaney's own encounters in these theaters in the time in which he was frequenting them, to establish himself as one of the included members of the community pushed out. The second half is a very academic critique of the loss of this component of Times Square, and as somebody who has frequently been made witness to the late stage capitalist pseudo Disney-hellscape that Times Square currently exists as, a series of adult theaters sounds objectively preferable- although as a bi-woman I'd never ( and shouldn't likely ) attend.
I found this book very informative, poignant, and insightful at parts and equally droning and impenetrable at other parts. The vivid details at which Delaney describes sexual encounters in these theaters I will clarify as likely necessary to set the scene and establish a sense of trust with the reader. Still, actually reading them as somebody who is female and largely queer myself felt like the longest description of an event I had no interest in and wasn't for me anyway. So- I'll sidebar these aspects of the text in my review and not include them in my formation of the text at hand while still informing you, the potential reader, what you are in for.
Still, if you can wade through these sexual descriptions and autobiography I do believe Delaney has so much to say to ANY audience about the nature of change, of the history of New York City, and gentrification as a whole.
Putting to form in this ambitious work of auto-theory Delaney states what long term critics of gentrification have championed in a new and unique lens. Not only a focus on the displacement of living areas and lives ( and thats not really what Times Square was ) Delaney focuses on the change of culture and loss of a specific type of sexual third place that was present in NYC in the 80s. The loss of a cultural institution chronicled, albeit one that even its patrons were not so mournful to see go ( as evident in the interviews Delaney conducts in the middle pages of the book. In part the book is a personal history of Delaney's own encounters in these theaters in the time in which he was frequenting them, to establish himself as one of the included members of the community pushed out. The second half is a very academic critique of the loss of this component of Times Square, and as somebody who has frequently been made witness to the late stage capitalist pseudo Disney-hellscape that Times Square currently exists as, a series of adult theaters sounds objectively preferable- although as a bi-woman I'd never ( and shouldn't likely ) attend.
I found this book very informative, poignant, and insightful at parts and equally droning and impenetrable at other parts. The vivid details at which Delaney describes sexual encounters in these theaters I will clarify as likely necessary to set the scene and establish a sense of trust with the reader. Still, actually reading them as somebody who is female and largely queer myself felt like the longest description of an event I had no interest in and wasn't for me anyway. So- I'll sidebar these aspects of the text in my review and not include them in my formation of the text at hand while still informing you, the potential reader, what you are in for.
Still, if you can wade through these sexual descriptions and autobiography I do believe Delaney has so much to say to ANY audience about the nature of change, of the history of New York City, and gentrification as a whole.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A walk through Kyoto. A series of chance circumstances … orchestrated. A beautifully rich dialogue of the meanings of life, school, and camaraderie. I’ve long been a fan of the Tatami Galaxy anime series and I’m glad I took the time to read some of its source material which has been even more rewarding.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
A cut above your average romantic drama, well-rounded dynamic characters, a protagonist with a clear voice, action, and good plot structure.
I liked that the assault wasn’t treated as some *big reveal* but rather something she had to continually work to get over .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love the premise of a main character who views herself as more of a villain than she is / I loved the city slicker narrative and the idea she achieved what she wanted in the city she loved
The spicy parts were written monotonously and the descriptions were kinda blah
The plot had a good cadence
The spicy parts were written monotonously and the descriptions were kinda blah
The plot had a good cadence
