2.5 for a "it was ok, but I didn't enjoy it much and don't think I'll continue the series".

This book was glacially slow compared to what I remember of Iron Widow.  Zetian goes from kicking every ass presented to her to being basically a prisoner for nearly the entire book.  The defrosted emperor immediately takes over and sidelines her, threatening her and keeping her powerless when he's not hate-flirting with her.  Zetian is stuck constantly thinking, "I need to take him down, I need to get power of my own" and then...not doing that.  It's not really her fault, it's the story's, but it's just not enjoyable to see her once again overpowered and outmaneuvered at every turn, failing most times whenever she DOES try and do something.  I see the point being made, but...if you want me to stay entertained, you have to show me that the character is able to do SOMETHING.  Otherwise it gets boring to see the main character sitting through endless meetings and speeches and ceremonies with them doing nothing.  The book spends a lot of time on palace intrigue and describing political reform, and in the end I just felt it bogged the story down.

Zetian's relationship with Qin Zheng, I admit, was interesting.  The emperor is an arrogant and somewhat broken tyrant, but he's hellbent on reforming the system that Zetian has already cracked open.  He isn't without charm or humor, and he does seem invested in making the lives of the common people better.  So he's kind of sympathetic, even though he keeps treating Zetian like a doll.  It's something that maybe was supposed to be a point:  the hypocrisy he embodies about lifting up and freeing others and empowering women, while he keeps Zetian all but imprisoned and isolated and feels entitled to modify her body whenever he wants.  Zetian isn't immune to him, though, so eventually they get into this kind of love-hate dynamic that leaves you wondering "will they or won't they?"  Their relationship is never healthy nor does it feel stable, though it COULD BE if they wanted.

In the end, though, I felt like the book kind of went off the rails for poorly-sketched reasons.  As others have said, the last 20% of the book or so is like a different book altogether:  Zetian and Qin Zheng head off to challenge the gods, and at that point the whole thing felt oddly loosey-goosey both in practical and plot terms. 

Despite the technological superiority of the people they're attacking, the two of them manage to basically smash into and destroy the gods' space station in what seems like an hour.  Tops.  They never meet any serious resistance, which seems incredibly odd.  

Plotwise...that whole section feels incredibly rushed. 

And after a detente between them, after using Qin Zheng to do her dirty work, Zetian just...tries to murder him.  Because she "has" to.  Because she doesn't trust him and is mad at him.  This felt...unsatisfying to me.  Yes, she's 18.  Yes, she's always been driven by rage, and he's definitely made her mad and even their relationship was based on hatesex, but...she's just tried to murder her world's best protector and the person on whom her own political power rests.  Aside from the danger to her...what's she going to do when the warships show up? 

  It felt messy and drama-for-drama's-sake, and I didn't really buy it.

I admit, I did not reread Iron Widow and this book does not give you much of a refresher, and I do not recommend that.  But I also felt the book just...focused on things I wasn't interested in.