Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Heavenly Tyrant

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

7 reviews

ender24's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Last year, I said Iron Widow was one of the best books I ever read. I love the sequel even better!

The characters and the circumstances in which they have to survive are incredibly messy and imperfect. They have to make difficult decisions that are sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and sometimes it’s hard to say. I felt the characters were realistic and nuanced in an incredibly engaging way. I wish all my friends would read this series so we could all talk about it often!

The narration was great! I think it was very smart to cast two different narrators, even if one of them didn’t narrate often.

Please keep in mind this book series is upper YA/New Adult, with content not meant for younger teens. In terms of content and trigger warnings, it would be easier to say what trigger and content warnings it doesn’t warrant. There is graphic violence and spicy content, falling short of explicit (depending on your definition).

I’m not sharing any further thoughts due to spoilers! I look forward to reading the third book in the series when it comes out!

Content Warnings

maricasement's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

Xiran Jay Zhao further explores the world of Huaxia in this sequel to Iron Widow, fleshing out not only the characters and their motivations but the revolution they are inciting.
The story of Heavenly Tyrant follows immediately after the end of Iron Widow, as the characters deal with the consequences of their actions.

Wu Zetian has to not only manage being the Empress but also Li Shimin's kidnapping, the distance she has to keep from Yizhi, new relationships and the realisation about the Hunduns. All this while she tries to stick to her convictions and survive among so many people who want to do her harm.

The book spends more time describing the characters' activities and their conversations than the first one. This was a good choice as so much happens in such a short time in Iron Widow that you are left reeling and rather overwhelmed, even after a second read-through. Spending more time with the characters in moments of less action also allowed for more nuance when expressing their ideals and different points of view.

It was important to have time to dwell on the explorations of the practical consequences of the policies Qin Zheng and Wu Zetian implement, of the terror, anger and fear involved in a revolution, and of how hurt and oppressed people deal with that in different ways.

Xiran Jay Zhao is able to explore complex themes in a nuanced and multifaceted way and I can't wait to read more of their work.

And of course what is going to happen next to the Iron Triangle and the toxic waste Darth Vader...

Content Warnings