Iron Widow
May 17, 2022 15:17:52 GMT -5
Post by ✯~Rippleshadow~✯ on May 17, 2022 15:17:52 GMT -5
Ripple's got another raving review for today, but this one is slightly different. Today's selection is not a video game, but instead a book!
If you want to read an epic and ruthless Chinese fantasy mecha adventure, this is the book for you. Keyword being ruthless. Let's dive right in.
Plot: 9/10
This book feels very unique to me compared to other YA novels. It's got giant robots, it takes place in China, it's got a female lead who wants revenge, and it's got a love triangle that goes all ways instead of everyone fighting over each other. The story is intense and kept me hooked the whole way through. But more than that, I got lost in the introspection of our main character. I found her perspective, although sometimes hard to swallow, very interesting to read.
Maybe I wasn't reading carefully enough, but I couldn't see any major plot holes, and the way characters acted made sense. The flow of events felt realistic and not forced. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, so I can see how this epic adventure concludes. And despite knowing the main characters are a little bit bad, I am kind of rooting for them.
Characters: 8/10
All of the main characters in this book are developed and have complex, interesting relationships with each other. I find myself to be particularly fond of Yizhi, the soft boy. I'm always soft for the soft boys.
The background characters are interesting as well, and provide worldbuilding that helps the reader understand why the main character feels the way she feels.
My one complaint would be that the main character doesn't have any good relationships with other women in the book, except her older sister who is already dead from the start. I have faith that the author will add a solid relationship between Zetian and the other women around her in the sequel, though, so I'm not too concerned about this.
Writing Style: 7/10
Objectively I don't see much wrong with it, although there were a few lines I remember cringing at. However, this book is written in 1st person present tense. For me, books written in present tense tend to feel a little weird, and I prefer past tense. But that's just a personal preference.
Re-readability: 5/10
Again this is highly subjective, I don't think I will re-read this book unless I forget everything that happens by the time the sequel is released.
The most compelling thing about the book is the plot in this case, and since I already know what happens, I do not feel particularly that I will want to read it again.
All that said, I think this book is a good read for people who are fans of YA books. It's refreshing to read books that have representation for minorities and acknowledge systemic biases. It's awesome to see a book I would normally consider very niche become popular.
If you want to read an epic and ruthless Chinese fantasy mecha adventure, this is the book for you. Keyword being ruthless. Let's dive right in.
Plot: 9/10
This book feels very unique to me compared to other YA novels. It's got giant robots, it takes place in China, it's got a female lead who wants revenge, and it's got a love triangle that goes all ways instead of everyone fighting over each other. The story is intense and kept me hooked the whole way through. But more than that, I got lost in the introspection of our main character. I found her perspective, although sometimes hard to swallow, very interesting to read.
Maybe I wasn't reading carefully enough, but I couldn't see any major plot holes, and the way characters acted made sense. The flow of events felt realistic and not forced. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, so I can see how this epic adventure concludes. And despite knowing the main characters are a little bit bad, I am kind of rooting for them.
Characters: 8/10
All of the main characters in this book are developed and have complex, interesting relationships with each other. I find myself to be particularly fond of Yizhi, the soft boy. I'm always soft for the soft boys.
The background characters are interesting as well, and provide worldbuilding that helps the reader understand why the main character feels the way she feels.
My one complaint would be that the main character doesn't have any good relationships with other women in the book, except her older sister who is already dead from the start. I have faith that the author will add a solid relationship between Zetian and the other women around her in the sequel, though, so I'm not too concerned about this.
Writing Style: 7/10
Objectively I don't see much wrong with it, although there were a few lines I remember cringing at. However, this book is written in 1st person present tense. For me, books written in present tense tend to feel a little weird, and I prefer past tense. But that's just a personal preference.
Re-readability: 5/10
Again this is highly subjective, I don't think I will re-read this book unless I forget everything that happens by the time the sequel is released.
The most compelling thing about the book is the plot in this case, and since I already know what happens, I do not feel particularly that I will want to read it again.
All that said, I think this book is a good read for people who are fans of YA books. It's refreshing to read books that have representation for minorities and acknowledge systemic biases. It's awesome to see a book I would normally consider very niche become popular.
