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ramiel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Classism
ioanna_orf'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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Vomit
reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The book contains the novel in three parts and 42 chapters and acknowledgements.
The plot of this novel is rather fast paced. We are thrown into the story on a whim and experience it through the eyes of Wu Zetian, the main character, as it unfolds.
I loved the way Zhao told the Story and mixed elements of science-fiction and fantasy to form a truly unique story. The inspiration they took from chinese mythology and history was worked into the story perfectly and forms a very special kind of world.
The characters in this novel were great! The all asian cast with representation of non-heterosexual, polyamorous and disabled characters was very diverse.
Although not all of them were particularly loveable or morally white I really took a liking to them. I think that the inclusion of many morally gray characters really played into the story and is therefore really important.
Zhao's writing style is very beautiful. Being not that complicated it was easy to read and therefore immerse yourself into the story. It was a very beautiful and easy style to read. The use of chinese words played into the likability of it all and made the story pictured in the writing.
I liked many things in this story especially the use of well-liked book tropes like enemies to lovers or the morally gray protagonist.
Over all, I can say that this book is very unique and an awesome read for people who love Science-fiction, Fantasy and stories inspired by mythology and history.
However, if you are planning on reading this please take a note of the content warnings.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and War
bibliophilecrocodile'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
5.0
I was a bit slow at picking up this book because I expected it to be more high sci fi or like much more complex? But this was just really easy to read and just perfect? It's my kind of book, with a strong powerful mc who's just undeniably badass. Xiran Jay Zhao, you're now one of my favorite authors, can't fricking wait for the sequel๐ซ
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
emmaowens'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, and War
Minor: Body horror and Vomit
feverdreamhigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape
Minor: Cannibalism
inferiorwit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
potatogrr'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia and Vomit
maricasement's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Edit (2021/11/01): I'm not sure I processed that very well... I am now in a bit of a reading slump because I feel that there is no meaning in life and no other book will manage to do what this did. It may seem dramatic, but nothing I've attempted to read since has appealed to me... Hopefully I'll get in the vibe of reading again and finally review this properly lol.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
zombiezami'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Incarceration, death of a sibling, classism