IW: It's so nice that it's funny

[Seth]

One of the things that sometimes gets my hackles up about reading YA-aimed books is just how earnest and serious they are. It makes sense, it's the same vibe you get talking to a teenager about the thing they're most passionate about. I should have guessed it based on the cow-suit author picture, but Xiran Jay Jhao has the rare ability to appreciate that even in the middle of a dystopia, life is often absurd.

Not too far in, Zetian shouts "Welcome to your nightmare!" and later thinks back on how that was a little ridiculous. There are chapter titles like "Not Weird at All" about a developing, awkward relationship that is completely weird. It makes the whole experience much nicer.