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bevlovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, War, and Classism
sultrytartreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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
5.0
A million stars if I could!! This books was so fricking good. I’m glad I waited for book two to be out because the ending is a huge cliff hanger.
Any potential reservations or questions I had about the plot/world building were answered by…not directly being answered. Basically, it’s ok to not know because it turns out our MCs don’t really know anything either. And I’m ok for going along with the ride in book two. The fast pace of the story kept me from looking too closely at anything that could have derailed be early on, so I appreciate that tactic.
Feminine and queer rage combine to create a fire no one can dampen. I am obsessed and I cannot wait to read more.
Any potential reservations or questions I had about the plot/world building were answered by…not directly being answered. Basically, it’s ok to not know because it turns out our MCs don’t really know anything either. And I’m ok for going along with the ride in book two. The fast pace of the story kept me from looking too closely at anything that could have derailed be early on, so I appreciate that tactic.
Feminine and queer rage combine to create a fire no one can dampen. I am obsessed and I cannot wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
FMC has bound feet and details the gruesome details, care required for them, and the pain associated with themlastcomment314's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is intense. It's a whirlwind, with vivid writing, and it does not hold back. I love the main characters and the different flavors they each bring to the book, and even though many of the choices they make are morally dubious, that's kinda the point of the book, and everything the characters do is consistent with who they are and what they care about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
vchirico's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Colonisation, War, and Classism
miren_sc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
4 ★ : Good! 5 ★ : Goddamn good!!!
Ein wirklich sehr gutes Buch.
Zhao entführt in eine bunte und detailreiche Welt und konfrontiert einen so mit Gefühlen, wie man es selten ließt: von Rache und Wut, von Liebe und Vergebung. Ein zorniger Aufschrei gegen das Patriachat, bei dem man bis zum Ende hin mitfiebert.
Das Ende des Buche fand ich persönlich etwas zu schnell, aber das ist nur mein eigener Geschmack. Rund um ein echtes Meisterwerk.
-
A really really good book.
Zhao thrusts you into a colourfull and detailed world and confronts you with emotions in a way you rarely read: about rage and fury, love and forgiveness. An angry warcry against the patriarchy, that has you on the edge till the end.
Personally I found the end of the book to be a bit too quick, but that's just personal taste. All in all a true masterwork.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, and Injury/Injury detail
pantslint's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Finally giving a rating and writing a review after my first re-read, in preparation for the sequel. Wu Zetian is unlike any female protagonist I've ever seen, and one that the YA genre absolutely needs (though, I feel like this book should be classified as New Adult... I won't get into that). She's determined, angry, and vengeful. What I love most about her character is how she's completely unapologetic about being that way. She makes no excuses for her actions, and yet as a reader, I completely understand and respect her decisions. Her disability is a core part of her development, and her (literal) crawl to power is wonderfully written and well-paced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
woggle_frog's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Incredible. No notes. Loved it. Also has a list of content warnings at the beginning, very accessible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
augustsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
merlynnefae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and it made me want to learn more about the history that the book is based off of. I enjoyed the strong female representation and resilience of the main character and her refusing to give in and that she kept her morals throughout the book. However at the same time, I feel like there is character development both with her and several of the other characters while she's still remains true to her roots. So good character development while staying true to themselves.
I'm also not a big fan of mech stories, but this held my interest throughout and I found myself wanting to continue this story and find out what happened.
Please do rig to your warnings before reading this book. But overall I did enjoy.
I'm also not a big fan of mech stories, but this held my interest throughout and I found myself wanting to continue this story and find out what happened.
Please do rig to your warnings before reading this book. But overall I did enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
scissor_i_barely_know_her's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I thought this was a very fun read. It kept me very entertained. I loved the three main characters and the dynamic between them. POLYAMORY FOR THE WINNNN This was also the first book I have read that had mechsuits in it and I really liked it! I thought that the way the futuristic world was crafted was really interesting.
I think there are definitely places the book falls short. At times, Zhao tells the reader what is happening and doesn't show. I also think that because of how fast-pace it is, it doesn't give the reader time to take in the worldbuilding and rushes some of the messages the book is trying to get across.
This book does tackle a lot of important and interesting concepts, including (but not limited to): misogyny (as previously stated), war/ violence as entertainment, and complicated family dynamics/ generational trauma. I appreciate the conversations this book is trying to tackle/ address, but I think there are aspects that could have been done better. For instance, even though a major theme of the book is misogyny, there are not a lot of women in the book. Additionally, I think some of the messages fall victim to the pace of the book and the author's tendency to tell. The most obvious one of these related to Ma Xiuying's character. I think that the idea that she was pressured into having children is a good thing to include to show how the pilot system manipulates women, however, I think that the way that information was revealed (Zetian thinking about it to herself) comes off as her judging Ma and looking down on her. I think it would have been more impactful if that had been revealed by Xiuying herself over multiple meaningful conversations.
Despite these flaws, I really enjoyed reading this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I am exited to read the sequel!
I think there are definitely places the book falls short. At times, Zhao tells the reader what is happening and doesn't show. I also think that because of how fast-pace it is, it doesn't give the reader time to take in the worldbuilding and rushes some of the messages the book is trying to get across.
This book does tackle a lot of important and interesting concepts, including (but not limited to): misogyny (as previously stated), war/ violence as entertainment, and complicated family dynamics/ generational trauma. I appreciate the conversations this book is trying to tackle/ address, but I think there are aspects that could have been done better. For instance, even though a major theme of the book is misogyny, there are not a lot of women in the book. Additionally, I think some of the messages fall victim to the pace of the book and the author's tendency to tell. The most obvious one of these related to Ma Xiuying's character.
Despite these flaws, I really enjoyed reading this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I am exited to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and War