If you thought Iron Widow was action-packed, then this will not disappoint. You get a front row seat to the revolution, one that’s led by what should be a long dead emperor. The righteous anger for those with less is woven throughout. A firestorm of retaliation of the old regime and the hiccups and false starts of a new ruling class future. One that’s led empowers women in a way that didn’t before. 

The violence that was a constant with Iron Widow is just as strong in Heavenly Tyrant. It’s casual and brutal and not altogether unwelcome. The political intrigue is thick, double and triple crossings. You don’t know who to trust and what version of reality is being presented. You can’t help but like the emperor only for two pages later to hate him again. It’s masterful the world Zhao weaves into what it must be like living day to day with no one to truly trust. 

Whatever it is you think is going to happen, you’ll be wrong. Whatever you think you knew will be wrong. What you will be left with is a hell of a cliffhanger!