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lilithall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
silentrequiem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Classism
kirsten_marie'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? No
3.25
For me, a person who's favorite genre is not science fiction with a lot of world building, the plot and all the fighting action scenes bored me to be honest. On the contrary, did I find the romance and exploration of themes such as feminism, sexuality, polygamy, gender roles etc. FAR more intreguing. However the romance and interpersonal conflicts and relationships wasn't as explored as I might would have hoped in a book almost the length of 400 pages. That is a main reason why this book dragged a little for me. In addition was the writing a little too dense in my opinion and the pacing a little off.
But still considering all of this, I need to state that this book is an impressive debut from a young person.
I will call this an original and severely interesting idea that could have been executed better.
Of course is the star rating also influenced by my personal taste in genre and theme.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Blood
dragonbornsandwaffles'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
4.75
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, and Classism
Moderate: Child death
louiseriddles'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? No
5.0
The best stuff: Strong women characters, intricate plot based on deceptions, strong voice of the main character, bisexual representation, strong social commentary on gender roles, abusive family dynamics, and celebrity culture
My only problems with the book were world-building issues around the role of women in their society. I don't know anything about Chinese culture so I'm not sure which parts were inspired by that. It was hard to tell when Zeitan's actions were outrageous to her society, or allowed due to her fame. HOWEVER it mirrored the real world's misogyny and double standards for women, so it felt very real.
Few other characters in this book were women. Most were either part of Zeitan's abusive family or very catty and hostile. While this book has great feminist themes, unfortunately it lacks multiple well developed women characters.
Finally, and this is simply personal preference, it did the thing of the main character falling in love with a violent person because they're misunderstood. The relationship makes sense, and aforementioned love interest has many underlying issues. But I don't like the trope of guy beating up other people as a romantic gesture. It's more complicated than that, but it was a tad annoying.
Finally this book is very dark, and discusses a lot of misogynistic issues(virginity tests, footbinding, rape), as well as death, murder, and torture.
Overall, great book, loved the main character.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Murder, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
le3713's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
schmidi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Great themes (feminism, rape-culture, toxic masculinity, polyamorous relationship)
Dystopia
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Sexism
athlen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Sexism, Torture, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape
miss__manga__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Saw the end coming to a degree, but not the ultimatum.
Contains some iconic and hilarious lines. Looking forward to the sequel. Li Shimin supremacy!
Do not understand the tattoos of one of the love interests.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
cloudyfran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Torture
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape