Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Rache im Herzen

What a ride!! Omg I haven’t read a book like that in so long. Dynamic, unapologetic story of vengeance, power, love and war. It was like watching an anime. While this book is not highly detailed in its world building, it is sooo evocative and exciting, and it’s the first in a series so I’m actually so pleased with the amount of world building!! Can’t wait for more. Thank you Xiran Jay Zhao!

If you’re wondering if you should read it… if you are tired of watered down dystopian YA novels, moralizing characters, mind NUMBING gender stereotypes (I’m including the stereotypes of the characters who are supposedly breaking the stereotypes as well!!), pussyfooting romance plot lines that are too afraid to commit — then this you might really love.

Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is phenomenal.

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bujo_bellel's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

OMG I seriously really enjoyed this book, the world building, how things work, the characters SO GOOD. I really loved the characters, even though I think that Zetian is low-key going too far sometimes but I still love her. I really liked seeing how Zetian and Shimin bonded and seeing how Shimin slowly started falling for Zetian. I also liked seeing Yizhi and Zetian together like Yizhi is SO sweet!! The magic(?) system was really well built and unique like DAMN. I really liked that there was Yin and Yang and all the different types and the mechas are so cool. I was so entertained reading this book and the world is literally so interesting. I really liked the build up and introduction of the world and its characters and I will be reading the next book. Also all 3 of them were so badass in the end love love!

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anni_o's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring 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

Shit, I really really enjoyed this! Zetian is an amazing main character, even tho it all gets really dark, especially towards the end. I really understand her though, and her struggles make her actions understandable af. I really liked the fight descriptions, I could totally imagine the Pacific rim like battles and it was really exciting. I can only imagine the feeling of power it gives a young woman like her to pilot such a robot

and the devastation when she finds out that her and many other girls were kept at an intentional disadvantage for hundreds of years and killed because of it just for the men to keep their ego. No wonder she kills all the men in power she can ... Queen shit honestly. Or empress shit? Mh.

Anyway! I watched the authors YouTube channel before the book came out and I know I'm late to the party on this book as it's been on my shelf for some time but I really enjoyed their writing and I can't wait for the sequel next year!!

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kylieabbynormal's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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xoemax's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

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tokki_dokki's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved the worldbuilding a lot! Very cool, very very fun—the author is great at writing action scenes! I was also very thrilled about the poc and poly representation as well, but I wish the character relationships were a little more fleshed out.

Zetian was also a very interesting character to read. She was strong but she had her flaws, and I liked that. It felt very fitting for a YA protagonist. We find out a lot of darker aspects of their universe thanks to Zetian's character.

I enjoyed reading about her love interests as well, thought I do wish we had been given a little more insight into why/how they end up liking each other within such a short time frame. (Zetian and Yizhi's relationship was the most fleshed out, which I'm grateful for! They were lovely!)

I do think everything went a bit fast for my liking, but as there is a sequel coming, I have hope that the author may elaborate more on certain aspects of the plot or the relatuonships :) Overall, a very solid read, very action-packed and also diverse characters. Enjoyable ♥️

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mrgattman's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The end is extremely rushed.

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