Toni’s review of Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1) > Likes and Comments
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Mizuki wrote: "It's quite a detailed review, and I appreciate it.
ANYWAY. This whole book is set off by Zetian’s sister being murdered by a Chrysalis pilot for no reason, so Zetian goes off to avenge her sister ..."
They make a point of saying the sister didn't die in battle, and so the family doesn't get any money from the government. Apparently if they died in battle, the family will be sent money, which is why poor families enlist their daughters. It was just a senseless murder and it's never really explained. It's also why Zetian is especially upset about it and wants to go get the guy who killed her sister.
Toni wrote: "Mizuki wrote: "It's quite a detailed review, and I appreciate it.
ANYWAY. This whole book is set off by Zetian’s sister being murdered by a Chrysalis pilot for no reason, so Zetian goes off to ave..."
Wow, this book is even more senseless than I'd expected.
(1) her sister was intentionally murdered by her co-pilot out of the blue, zero explanation.
(2) the heroine killed just one single dude and then her power is recognized by everyone and made into a big deal in a society that goes out of its way to put women down.
(3) said heroine lusts after her sister's murderer.
(4) said heroine killed a bunch of other people with no remorse and self-doubt.
(5) they are fighting against some random aliens, again zero explanation.
The pseudo feminism in YA novels are very annoying, I agree.
I really don't understand why they don't immediately kill her for killing one of their most celebrated pilots, especially if this is the woman hating society that it's supposed to be. She also assumed they would kill her family for this first murder...but they don't. She kills her own family. It would have made so much more sense if the government did kill her family, as punishment, and that could have fueled her anger and motivation.
Wow, so many plot holes, but because this book is written by a POC and a woman, all will be forgiven in the name of feminism.
Mizuki wrote: "Wow, so many plot holes, but because this book is written by a POC and a woman, all will be forgiven in the name of feminism."
I hate to say it but, yeah? Seems like it?
It also has LGBTQ+ rep. It's untouchable.
I feel so conflicted talking about this sort of thing, in fear of sounding like a jealous, privileged white person. I am not racist. I am not homophobic. I'm not sexist. But a book should be a good book first, and who wrote it should come second.
This is not a good book.
@Toni
It's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out.
Mizuki wrote: "@Toni
It's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out."
Thanks.
Toni wrote: "Mizuki wrote: "@Toni
It's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out."
Thanks."
Welcome!
Plus after reading the premise, I found the setting with the male and female pilots in this book to be a bit similar with the setting in a Japanese Sci-Fi manga called The Five Star Stories.
And perhaps you can think of other examples?
I haven't read/heard of The Five Star Stories.
It is very Pacific Rim, like the blurb says. In that one they have to have a connection with their co-pilot and they go into each other's minds while piloting their big robot things (same as what happens in Iron Widow). In the movie it's usually family members paired up, which makes sense. But it's not a great movie. lol The set up is fun but the acting is super cheesy.
One thing I just realized that makes Zetian's "revenge" on Ma Xiuying's "betrayal" even more nonsensical is that she accuses Xiuying of having manipulated her into saving her family so they can be used as leverage for blackmail... except that even if Zetian had refused to help her family, they'd probably would have used Shimin and/or Yizhi against her, but for whatever reason, they're off limits?
Anyway, I think this book was meant to be a feminist revenge fantasy, but when you compare it to other good feminist revenge fantasies (like 9 to 5, Thelma and Louise, Promising Young Woman, even Mad Max: Fury Road to a certain point), the concept of sisterhood is very present... but as you said, Zetian just comes off as hating absolutely everyone... except her two love interests, and it's hard t count her sister since she's dead and we never really get to know her as a character. So you end up with a heroine whose anger we're meant to see as righteous, but she just ends up becoming a villain.
And funny you'd mention Aelin - I only read the first book in the ToG series and really didn't like it, since I really disliked Aelin, but IW has made me consider giving Aelin a formal apology, because she actually looks like a solid character compared to Zetian XD
Aelin definitely has "not like other girls" vibes and is sometimes a bit *too* amazing, lol. I don't love the series, but I also don't think it was awful.
Have you read Damsel or Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold?
I think Arnold is a much better writer stylistically, and Damsel actually shows the main character start from a clueless young woman to someone who understands she is being mistreated and her anger slowly builds.
Although, I liked Red Hood better. There are women murdering men (in self defense) and it's done so much differently than this.
There are people who hate on Red Hood because they feel violence shouldn't be matched by violence...but I think the way that book was written made perfect sense. Damsel also gets a lot of flack for basically being R-rated, but marketed as a YA novel for 13+. But at least Arnold really goes for it and makes it super weird and effed up on purpose.
I haven't read either of them! I'll definitely check them out.
Toni wrote: "It is very Pacific Rim, like the blurb says. In that one they have to have a connection with their co-pilot and they go into each other's minds while piloting their big robot things."
Oh, I see, thanks!
I saw this book being advertised on Instagram with the tagline "Let's smash the Patriarchy!" And I laughed because who says that anymore? What is this, 2014? I assumed it was a very bad self-published book by some out-of-touch weirdo but no, it is a traditionally published book that people are actually reading. And it sounds terrible! It sounds like something an alt-right-winger would write as a parody of leftist fiction.
I've recently stepped away from YA because it feels like overall the quality level of YA has nosedived, (and the constant girl-hate was wearing me out) and this book isn't changing my mind.
Damsel was a great book though.
Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.
But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the Printz Award, so some people in the business do understand a good YA book when they read it. There is hope? I'd like to say I don't think this book will be winning any awards but then...I'm not sure I can say that with confidence, based on the praise it has received so far.
And we get to look forward to the sequel, where they smash colonialism. While being a dictator. This could be interesting.
Thank you for this review!! I thought I was going insane seeing all the high ratings people kept giving this. You've gone into waaaay more detail than I could have, quotes and all, about what was wrong with this book (everything).
Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.
But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the Printz Award..."
Oh yeah, I agree there's some fantastic YA. I started reading the genre for a reason. It just feels like it's going through a phase where every female lead needs to be some violent sociopathic murderer gleefully bathing in the blood of their victims and I'll just... let YA get that out of its system before going back in.
Chantaal wrote: "Thank you for this review!! I thought I was going insane seeing all the high ratings people kept giving this. You've gone into waaaay more detail than I could have, quotes and all, about what was w..."
You're welcome! I felt the same, reading all the rave reviews.
Jessica wrote: "Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.
But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the..."
Jessica wrote: "Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.
But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the..."
Good idea. :)
For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr old, should read this anti-feminist drivel. As you wrote, it makes better sense as a villian origin story, but there's no indication that the author intends it to be one. (Unlike Hench or She Who Became the Sun, or The Poppy War). There are people who I respect who loved this book, so did we read a different book?
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."
I am an adult, so I was wondering the same thing - is this just not for me because I'm not a teenager? However, most of what I read is YA, so I know what is out there, how it reads, what else is being published, etc. Like you, I wonder what everybody else is reading/getting from this book that I'm just not seeing.
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."
I read a lot of YA as well, and there is... a certain level to expect from them nowadays, whether it's the prose, the characters, etc. Don't get me wrong, there are some great ones out there (Tracy Deonn, Claudia Gray, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Neal Shusterman, Laini Taylor, Tamora Pierce if you want more of an old school name) Some just aren't that deep, like The Selection by Kiera Cass, and they're clearly meant to be consumed like cotton candy. Iron Widow would maybe work if it was meant to be some blockbuster with a shit ton of explosions that just happens to be a villain origin story. Unfortunately, it really seems like we were meant to take the story 110% seriously and the prose comes off as clearly wanting to be deep and impactful (to the point it really reminded me of a popular YA series about dystopian royalty I will not name), but it just misses the mark completely.
Yup, even in my youth there was ethically sophisticated YA (Pamela Sargent, Monica Hughes, to date myself).
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."
The historical Wu Zetian was an extradentary woman, a woman making it to the top in a men's world, but she did it by being intelligent, being cruel, ruthless, terrorizing her foes. Though what she had done is pretty much the same like what the other male emperors had also done. Even Li Shimen, her first husband had also murdered his own two brothers and ten nephews to get the crown.
Therefore, if this fictional Wu Zetian is anything similar with her historical counterpart, then I agree this whole book should be an origin story of a supervillain. Plus it's pretty laughable to claim murdering other people has anything to do with feminism.
Omfg yes, I agree with everything. Also, this review made me reconsider reading ToG since it seems better compared to this... thing.
Kinbarii wrote: "Omfg yes, I agree with everything. Also, this review made me reconsider reading ToG since it seems better compared to this... thing."
TOG definitely has it's own issues but it is WAY better than this.
Annnnnnnnnnd....This book is in the running for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2021 in YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi. LOL. I'm not surprised but...c'mon. Ugh.
Excellent review! I am in agreement with you with all your points. Thinking of finishing up my own rant on this piece of flaming trash after getting hyped up on reading your thoughts here.
I'm happy to have found another like-minded individual, since there seem to be so few of us. :) Post your rant! This book has made it to round 2 of Good Reads' Best Books of 2021! Insanity!
Toni wrote: "I'm happy to have found another like-minded individual, since there seem to be so few of us. :) Post your rant! This book has made it to round 2 of Good Reads' Best Books of 2021! Insanity!"
Like you, I'm not really surprised by this, shitty books have been making the list for years.
Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim
Bookish wrote: "Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim"
Always be skeptical when a newbie author (who has nothing but some YouTube videos under her belt) claims her first YA novel is going up to the same level with The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim.
Bookish wrote: "Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim"
And I'm still angry every time I think about this book, months after reading it. lol It keeps popping up on everyone's "Best Books of 2021" list and I'm just...I can't...
this review is giving me life rn
I hated this book SO MUCH that I couldn't even write a proper review for it cuz I was so fucking tired of this whole SETTING AND THE CHARACTERS AND YES THE SHIMIN PART I AGREE
how is this even published is the first question I asked after reading like 20 per cent of it and the only thing bothering me is,
how do people LIKE it?
😭😭😭😭
“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story.
Ami wrote: "“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story."
But it's not written that way AT ALL. She's written as a cheesy Mary Sue not-like-other-girls heroine.
dhuha wrote: "this review is giving me life rn
I hated this book SO MUCH that I couldn't even write a proper review for it cuz I was so fucking tired of this whole SETTING AND THE CHARACTERS AND YES THE SHIMIN P..."
I guess if you're popular on YouTube you automatically get book deals these days.
Ami wrote: "“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story."
I dunno, the only thing this book's protagonist and China's only empress have in common are their names. For example, apparently the historical Wu Zetian had a pretty loving relationship with her parents. Her father, especially, was a big influence on her, making sure she was well educated before she left the nest. I think she would be quite offended by this modern retelling of her gleefully killing her parents and siblings in cold blood.
What Jessica said. And the author claims to be a Chinese historical buff. Sigh. It really irked me when I saw the Author's Note saying, "Wu Zetian, I hope I did you proud with my story" or somesuch nonsense. I can hear the real Wu Zetian rolling in her grave.
July wrote: "What Jessica said. And the author claims to be a Chinese historical buff. Sigh. It really irked me when I saw the Author's Note saying, "Wu Zetian, I hope I did you proud with my story" or somesuch..."
Sighs, what a crying shame.
Jessica wrote: "I dunno, the only thing this book's protagonist and China's only empress have in common are their names.."
In many Chinese tv series and movies, Wu Zetian is painted as a villainess who used sex and murder to get the top job, there have always been rumors about her killing her own daughter, older sister and niece but arguably these rumors could be made up and then spread by her enemies.
However, there are also many historians (especially the modern time historians) pointed out Empress Wu used her wits and her good policies as much as cruelty to run the kingdom for at least 2 decades.
If in Xiran Jay Zhao's novel, Wu Zetian is just a woman who killed people whenever she is pissed off, then...........someone probably hadn't been doing the homework she ought to do before she set out to write a story with Wu Zetian's namesake.
Undoubtedly, the real Wu Zetian was a polarizing character. She did lots of good things for China, and also (supposedly) wicked things to claw her way up to the top.
However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name. It's known that "Wu Zetian" was not actually her name used in life, so that makes it even more of an oversight in this book. It's like someone decided to take some random historical characters and toss them together with all-new personas and backstories, but insisted on keeping some other things in for no reason whatsoever. I have no idea how to describe it. Fanservice? Showing off bits of history like Easter Eggs? Like when the book Li Shimin called Wu Zetian "Meiniang," which the real Li Shimin did, bestowing the name "Wu Mei" to Wu Zetian when she was his consort.
The fictional Wu Zetian lacks any depth, and she's just like KILL KILL KILL throughout the whole book. If you had wanted to write some hybrid anime-Chinese history story, then use new names of your own creation. Don't parade historical real people to do whatever you please with them. It's really sickening. Then there's a disclaimer saying this work of fiction is not an alternative history or something, to protect this book's ass from criticisms of historical accuracy. I repeat, THEN DON'T USE REAL PEOPLE'S NAMES as your basis for your story. It's a glaringly shallow and weak attempt to incorporate Chinese culture into popular media, similar to the author's own criticisms of the Disney live adaptation of Mulan. What a hypocrite.
However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name.
if my memory still serves me right, 'Zetian' is part of the very long imperial title Empress Wu chose for herself. But you are right, her real name is lost in history.
She did lots of good things for China, and also (supposedly) wicked things to claw her way up to the top.
That certainly is true, even when we ignored the rumors about her killing her daughter and older sister etc, there are still enough number of Tang royal family members and courtiers who winded up dead under her order, all of those had been officially recorded. But on the other hand, don't forget Li Shiman also murdered his own two brothers and around 10 nephews on his way to become emperor as well.
July wrote: "If you had wanted to write some hybrid anime-Chinese history story, then use new names of your own creation. Don't parade historical real people to do whatever you please with them. ."
That's the whole point!
It's a glaringly shallow and weak attempt to incorporate Chinese culture into popular media, similar to the author's own criticisms of the Disney live adaptation of Mulan. What a hypocrite
I haven't seen any other reviewer expressed it more clearly.
Mizuki wrote: "However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name.
if my memory still serves me right, 'Zetian' is part of the very long imperial title Empress Wu..."
Wait wait, according to history, the one who killed Wu Zetian's sister was... Wu Zetian? HAH! Boy, that would've been a twist in the books.
To Jessica and Mizuki: I like how this reviewer describes it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Like throwing in a bunch of random historical names with no actual context to the story. It's the fourth paragraph in the review.
So glad I still get notifications for this thread, it's good to know I'm not alone.
My own review/rant is half-written, but it's seriously such an emotionally draining task, I have to take repeated breaks to prevent myself from going full rage mode like this book's main character. I have to read & reread other people's negative reviews to keep me focused, haha!
I really think this is the kind of book people are loving right now because of the hype and because of the author being popular on YouTube right now (and given the publisher might have wanted to cash in on Zhao's popularity asap, that might be why the editing leaves a lot to be desired), but if they come back to it in a few years, they'll probably go "... wait, why did I like this book again?"
It's kind of like how a book series like House of Night was super duper popular when I was in high school (and that was in 2009-2010), every one of my friends loved it, I didn't, and some of them have revisted the series a few months ago to see if it stood the test of time and they had no clue why they even liked it in the first place, for the most part :P
Irina wrote: "I really think this is the kind of book people are loving right now because of the hype and because of the author being popular on YouTube right now (and given the publisher might have wanted to ca..."
Yeah, like Twilight. lol I was very confused when I read that when all my friends (and the entire world?) were raving about it. Some of them have gone back to it as adults and are confused why they ever liked it.
So, yes, maybe this book is aimed at younger readers...and they will go back to it as adults and wonder why they liked it?
But at the same time, I'm an adult who reads YA and I like/love a ton of the YA stuff I read. I also read MG and obviously understand it's for young readers, but still enjoy many MG books.
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Mizuki wrote: "It's quite a detailed review, and I appreciate it.ANYWAY. This whole book is set off by Zetian’s sister being murdered by a Chrysalis pilot for no reason, so Zetian goes off to avenge her sister ..."
They make a point of saying the sister didn't die in battle, and so the family doesn't get any money from the government. Apparently if they died in battle, the family will be sent money, which is why poor families enlist their daughters. It was just a senseless murder and it's never really explained. It's also why Zetian is especially upset about it and wants to go get the guy who killed her sister.
Toni wrote: "Mizuki wrote: "It's quite a detailed review, and I appreciate it.ANYWAY. This whole book is set off by Zetian’s sister being murdered by a Chrysalis pilot for no reason, so Zetian goes off to ave..."
Wow, this book is even more senseless than I'd expected.
(1) her sister was intentionally murdered by her co-pilot out of the blue, zero explanation.
(2) the heroine killed just one single dude and then her power is recognized by everyone and made into a big deal in a society that goes out of its way to put women down.
(3) said heroine lusts after her sister's murderer.
(4) said heroine killed a bunch of other people with no remorse and self-doubt.
(5) they are fighting against some random aliens, again zero explanation.
The pseudo feminism in YA novels are very annoying, I agree.
I really don't understand why they don't immediately kill her for killing one of their most celebrated pilots, especially if this is the woman hating society that it's supposed to be. She also assumed they would kill her family for this first murder...but they don't. She kills her own family. It would have made so much more sense if the government did kill her family, as punishment, and that could have fueled her anger and motivation.
Wow, so many plot holes, but because this book is written by a POC and a woman, all will be forgiven in the name of feminism.
Mizuki wrote: "Wow, so many plot holes, but because this book is written by a POC and a woman, all will be forgiven in the name of feminism."I hate to say it but, yeah? Seems like it?
It also has LGBTQ+ rep. It's untouchable.
I feel so conflicted talking about this sort of thing, in fear of sounding like a jealous, privileged white person. I am not racist. I am not homophobic. I'm not sexist. But a book should be a good book first, and who wrote it should come second.
This is not a good book.
@ToniIt's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out.
Mizuki wrote: "@ToniIt's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out."
Thanks.
Toni wrote: "Mizuki wrote: "@ToniIt's nothing to feel guilty about, Asians and women create shitty stuff all the times and bad, pseudo feminism need to be called out."
Thanks."
Welcome!
Plus after reading the premise, I found the setting with the male and female pilots in this book to be a bit similar with the setting in a Japanese Sci-Fi manga called The Five Star Stories.
And perhaps you can think of other examples?
I haven't read/heard of The Five Star Stories.It is very Pacific Rim, like the blurb says. In that one they have to have a connection with their co-pilot and they go into each other's minds while piloting their big robot things (same as what happens in Iron Widow). In the movie it's usually family members paired up, which makes sense. But it's not a great movie. lol The set up is fun but the acting is super cheesy.
One thing I just realized that makes Zetian's "revenge" on Ma Xiuying's "betrayal" even more nonsensical is that she accuses Xiuying of having manipulated her into saving her family so they can be used as leverage for blackmail... except that even if Zetian had refused to help her family, they'd probably would have used Shimin and/or Yizhi against her, but for whatever reason, they're off limits? Anyway, I think this book was meant to be a feminist revenge fantasy, but when you compare it to other good feminist revenge fantasies (like 9 to 5, Thelma and Louise, Promising Young Woman, even Mad Max: Fury Road to a certain point), the concept of sisterhood is very present... but as you said, Zetian just comes off as hating absolutely everyone... except her two love interests, and it's hard t count her sister since she's dead and we never really get to know her as a character. So you end up with a heroine whose anger we're meant to see as righteous, but she just ends up becoming a villain.
And funny you'd mention Aelin - I only read the first book in the ToG series and really didn't like it, since I really disliked Aelin, but IW has made me consider giving Aelin a formal apology, because she actually looks like a solid character compared to Zetian XD
Aelin definitely has "not like other girls" vibes and is sometimes a bit *too* amazing, lol. I don't love the series, but I also don't think it was awful. Have you read Damsel or Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold?
I think Arnold is a much better writer stylistically, and Damsel actually shows the main character start from a clueless young woman to someone who understands she is being mistreated and her anger slowly builds.
Although, I liked Red Hood better. There are women murdering men (in self defense) and it's done so much differently than this.
There are people who hate on Red Hood because they feel violence shouldn't be matched by violence...but I think the way that book was written made perfect sense. Damsel also gets a lot of flack for basically being R-rated, but marketed as a YA novel for 13+. But at least Arnold really goes for it and makes it super weird and effed up on purpose.
I haven't read either of them! I'll definitely check them out.
Toni wrote: "It is very Pacific Rim, like the blurb says. In that one they have to have a connection with their co-pilot and they go into each other's minds while piloting their big robot things."Oh, I see, thanks!
I saw this book being advertised on Instagram with the tagline "Let's smash the Patriarchy!" And I laughed because who says that anymore? What is this, 2014? I assumed it was a very bad self-published book by some out-of-touch weirdo but no, it is a traditionally published book that people are actually reading. And it sounds terrible! It sounds like something an alt-right-winger would write as a parody of leftist fiction.I've recently stepped away from YA because it feels like overall the quality level of YA has nosedived, (and the constant girl-hate was wearing me out) and this book isn't changing my mind.
Damsel was a great book though.
Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the Printz Award, so some people in the business do understand a good YA book when they read it. There is hope? I'd like to say I don't think this book will be winning any awards but then...I'm not sure I can say that with confidence, based on the praise it has received so far.
And we get to look forward to the sequel, where they smash colonialism. While being a dictator. This could be interesting.
Thank you for this review!! I thought I was going insane seeing all the high ratings people kept giving this. You've gone into waaaay more detail than I could have, quotes and all, about what was wrong with this book (everything).
Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the Printz Award..."
Oh yeah, I agree there's some fantastic YA. I started reading the genre for a reason. It just feels like it's going through a phase where every female lead needs to be some violent sociopathic murderer gleefully bathing in the blood of their victims and I'll just... let YA get that out of its system before going back in.
Chantaal wrote: "Thank you for this review!! I thought I was going insane seeing all the high ratings people kept giving this. You've gone into waaaay more detail than I could have, quotes and all, about what was w..."You're welcome! I felt the same, reading all the rave reviews.
Jessica wrote: "Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the..."
Jessica wrote: "Toni wrote: "Yeah...this book is everything not feminist.
But not all YA is bad. There's just a ton of it that is super popular, and that's the stuff that tends to be pretty awful.
Damsel won the..."
Good idea. :)
For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr old, should read this anti-feminist drivel. As you wrote, it makes better sense as a villian origin story, but there's no indication that the author intends it to be one. (Unlike Hench or She Who Became the Sun, or The Poppy War). There are people who I respect who loved this book, so did we read a different book?
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."I am an adult, so I was wondering the same thing - is this just not for me because I'm not a teenager? However, most of what I read is YA, so I know what is out there, how it reads, what else is being published, etc. Like you, I wonder what everybody else is reading/getting from this book that I'm just not seeing.
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."I read a lot of YA as well, and there is... a certain level to expect from them nowadays, whether it's the prose, the characters, etc. Don't get me wrong, there are some great ones out there (Tracy Deonn, Claudia Gray, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Neal Shusterman, Laini Taylor, Tamora Pierce if you want more of an old school name) Some just aren't that deep, like The Selection by Kiera Cass, and they're clearly meant to be consumed like cotton candy. Iron Widow would maybe work if it was meant to be some blockbuster with a shit ton of explosions that just happens to be a villain origin story. Unfortunately, it really seems like we were meant to take the story 110% seriously and the prose comes off as clearly wanting to be deep and impactful (to the point it really reminded me of a popular YA series about dystopian royalty I will not name), but it just misses the mark completely.
Yup, even in my youth there was ethically sophisticated YA (Pamela Sargent, Monica Hughes, to date myself).
Sanjida wrote: "For most of the book, I was thinking, I'd probably have loved this when I was 14 so maybe this is actually fine and I just don't like YA. But by the end, I decided they no one, especially no 14 yr ..."The historical Wu Zetian was an extradentary woman, a woman making it to the top in a men's world, but she did it by being intelligent, being cruel, ruthless, terrorizing her foes. Though what she had done is pretty much the same like what the other male emperors had also done. Even Li Shimen, her first husband had also murdered his own two brothers and ten nephews to get the crown.
Therefore, if this fictional Wu Zetian is anything similar with her historical counterpart, then I agree this whole book should be an origin story of a supervillain. Plus it's pretty laughable to claim murdering other people has anything to do with feminism.
Omfg yes, I agree with everything. Also, this review made me reconsider reading ToG since it seems better compared to this... thing.
Kinbarii wrote: "Omfg yes, I agree with everything. Also, this review made me reconsider reading ToG since it seems better compared to this... thing."TOG definitely has it's own issues but it is WAY better than this.
Annnnnnnnnnd....This book is in the running for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2021 in YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi. LOL. I'm not surprised but...c'mon. Ugh.
Excellent review! I am in agreement with you with all your points. Thinking of finishing up my own rant on this piece of flaming trash after getting hyped up on reading your thoughts here.
I'm happy to have found another like-minded individual, since there seem to be so few of us. :) Post your rant! This book has made it to round 2 of Good Reads' Best Books of 2021! Insanity!
Toni wrote: "I'm happy to have found another like-minded individual, since there seem to be so few of us. :) Post your rant! This book has made it to round 2 of Good Reads' Best Books of 2021! Insanity!"Like you, I'm not really surprised by this, shitty books have been making the list for years.
Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim
Bookish wrote: "Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim"Always be skeptical when a newbie author (who has nothing but some YouTube videos under her belt) claims her first YA novel is going up to the same level with The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim.
Bookish wrote: "Someone as angry as I am, maybe even more angrier 😭. Offred didn't deserve this comparison, Zeitan could never be like the characters from The Handmaid's Tale or Pacific Rim"And I'm still angry every time I think about this book, months after reading it. lol It keeps popping up on everyone's "Best Books of 2021" list and I'm just...I can't...
this review is giving me life rnI hated this book SO MUCH that I couldn't even write a proper review for it cuz I was so fucking tired of this whole SETTING AND THE CHARACTERS AND YES THE SHIMIN PART I AGREE
how is this even published is the first question I asked after reading like 20 per cent of it and the only thing bothering me is,
how do people LIKE it?
😭😭😭😭
“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story.
Ami wrote: "“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story."But it's not written that way AT ALL. She's written as a cheesy Mary Sue not-like-other-girls heroine.
dhuha wrote: "this review is giving me life rnI hated this book SO MUCH that I couldn't even write a proper review for it cuz I was so fucking tired of this whole SETTING AND THE CHARACTERS AND YES THE SHIMIN P..."
I guess if you're popular on YouTube you automatically get book deals these days.
Ami wrote: "“If it was marketed as a villain origin story” it’s been very clearly marketed as reimagining of China’s only female empress, so yes, pretty much a villain origin story."I dunno, the only thing this book's protagonist and China's only empress have in common are their names. For example, apparently the historical Wu Zetian had a pretty loving relationship with her parents. Her father, especially, was a big influence on her, making sure she was well educated before she left the nest. I think she would be quite offended by this modern retelling of her gleefully killing her parents and siblings in cold blood.
What Jessica said. And the author claims to be a Chinese historical buff. Sigh. It really irked me when I saw the Author's Note saying, "Wu Zetian, I hope I did you proud with my story" or somesuch nonsense. I can hear the real Wu Zetian rolling in her grave.
July wrote: "What Jessica said. And the author claims to be a Chinese historical buff. Sigh. It really irked me when I saw the Author's Note saying, "Wu Zetian, I hope I did you proud with my story" or somesuch..."Sighs, what a crying shame.
Jessica wrote: "I dunno, the only thing this book's protagonist and China's only empress have in common are their names.."In many Chinese tv series and movies, Wu Zetian is painted as a villainess who used sex and murder to get the top job, there have always been rumors about her killing her own daughter, older sister and niece but arguably these rumors could be made up and then spread by her enemies.
However, there are also many historians (especially the modern time historians) pointed out Empress Wu used her wits and her good policies as much as cruelty to run the kingdom for at least 2 decades.
If in Xiran Jay Zhao's novel, Wu Zetian is just a woman who killed people whenever she is pissed off, then...........someone probably hadn't been doing the homework she ought to do before she set out to write a story with Wu Zetian's namesake.
Undoubtedly, the real Wu Zetian was a polarizing character. She did lots of good things for China, and also (supposedly) wicked things to claw her way up to the top.However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name. It's known that "Wu Zetian" was not actually her name used in life, so that makes it even more of an oversight in this book. It's like someone decided to take some random historical characters and toss them together with all-new personas and backstories, but insisted on keeping some other things in for no reason whatsoever. I have no idea how to describe it. Fanservice? Showing off bits of history like Easter Eggs? Like when the book Li Shimin called Wu Zetian "Meiniang," which the real Li Shimin did, bestowing the name "Wu Mei" to Wu Zetian when she was his consort.
The fictional Wu Zetian lacks any depth, and she's just like KILL KILL KILL throughout the whole book. If you had wanted to write some hybrid anime-Chinese history story, then use new names of your own creation. Don't parade historical real people to do whatever you please with them. It's really sickening. Then there's a disclaimer saying this work of fiction is not an alternative history or something, to protect this book's ass from criticisms of historical accuracy. I repeat, THEN DON'T USE REAL PEOPLE'S NAMES as your basis for your story. It's a glaringly shallow and weak attempt to incorporate Chinese culture into popular media, similar to the author's own criticisms of the Disney live adaptation of Mulan. What a hypocrite.
However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name.if my memory still serves me right, 'Zetian' is part of the very long imperial title Empress Wu chose for herself. But you are right, her real name is lost in history.
She did lots of good things for China, and also (supposedly) wicked things to claw her way up to the top.
That certainly is true, even when we ignored the rumors about her killing her daughter and older sister etc, there are still enough number of Tang royal family members and courtiers who winded up dead under her order, all of those had been officially recorded. But on the other hand, don't forget Li Shiman also murdered his own two brothers and around 10 nephews on his way to become emperor as well.
July wrote: "If you had wanted to write some hybrid anime-Chinese history story, then use new names of your own creation. Don't parade historical real people to do whatever you please with them. ."
That's the whole point!
It's a glaringly shallow and weak attempt to incorporate Chinese culture into popular media, similar to the author's own criticisms of the Disney live adaptation of Mulan. What a hypocrite
I haven't seen any other reviewer expressed it more clearly.
Mizuki wrote: "However, this fictional Wu Zetian here bears zero resemblance to her namesake, other than the name.if my memory still serves me right, 'Zetian' is part of the very long imperial title Empress Wu..."
Wait wait, according to history, the one who killed Wu Zetian's sister was... Wu Zetian? HAH! Boy, that would've been a twist in the books.
To Jessica and Mizuki: I like how this reviewer describes it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Like throwing in a bunch of random historical names with no actual context to the story. It's the fourth paragraph in the review.
So glad I still get notifications for this thread, it's good to know I'm not alone.
My own review/rant is half-written, but it's seriously such an emotionally draining task, I have to take repeated breaks to prevent myself from going full rage mode like this book's main character. I have to read & reread other people's negative reviews to keep me focused, haha!
I really think this is the kind of book people are loving right now because of the hype and because of the author being popular on YouTube right now (and given the publisher might have wanted to cash in on Zhao's popularity asap, that might be why the editing leaves a lot to be desired), but if they come back to it in a few years, they'll probably go "... wait, why did I like this book again?"It's kind of like how a book series like House of Night was super duper popular when I was in high school (and that was in 2009-2010), every one of my friends loved it, I didn't, and some of them have revisted the series a few months ago to see if it stood the test of time and they had no clue why they even liked it in the first place, for the most part :P
Irina wrote: "I really think this is the kind of book people are loving right now because of the hype and because of the author being popular on YouTube right now (and given the publisher might have wanted to ca..."Yeah, like Twilight. lol I was very confused when I read that when all my friends (and the entire world?) were raving about it. Some of them have gone back to it as adults and are confused why they ever liked it.
So, yes, maybe this book is aimed at younger readers...and they will go back to it as adults and wonder why they liked it?
But at the same time, I'm an adult who reads YA and I like/love a ton of the YA stuff I read. I also read MG and obviously understand it's for young readers, but still enjoy many MG books.
ANYWAY. This whole book is set off by Zetian’s sister being murdered by a Chrysalis pilot for no reason, so Zetian goes off to avenge her sister by killing said pilot. The why and how of the sister’s death are never explained
I'm not defending this book, but from the premise I learned that the girl pilots tend to die in battle because the male pilots use up their energy, isn't it the case why her sister died?