Welcome to Litsy!

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The story here was good, and I loved the main character‘s determination to turn her country‘s patriarchal rules on they‘re heads. Also the different relationship dynamic was really refreshing, especially in YA.

Unfortunately the writing wasn‘t great IMO.

I‘m glad to have read this, and I may give the sequel a try in hopes that the writing matures.

If I sit on a book think anyone would buy it? Probably not for $1000! I‘ll even sign it 🤣

5 outta 5 ⭐

😭😍 I really loved this! This is a sorta reimagining of Wu Zetian, an Empress in China during the 600s, except set in a scifi world with dope mechas (that disgustingly sacrifice girls to run). Zetian is relentlessly feminist throughout and made me mutter hell yes at many points. AND there's a polygamous relationship, which I loved. I called the twist at the end way early, but very stoked to get the sequel and see wtf she does!

Wow. I couldn‘t put this book down from page one. All my to do lists were ignored because I couldn‘t stop reading. The heroine, Zetian, sets out to avenge her sister and finds herself labeled as an Iron Widow when she turns gender norms upside down. So many truths about why women are often forced by society to conform to a system that gives them little freedom. I may have clapped a few times when Zetian delivered scathing rebuttals to commanders.

A rare book bought for love of the author photo. Michael Bay meets Margaret Atwood meets Chinese history. I was sucked in by the intense feminist rage and fighting robots, loved the romantic entanglements, but felt the ending fell a bit flat.

I‘m sad to say I‘m bailing on this one. It is just so unpleasant and difficult content to read. I‘m simply not in a place to read it. I made in 50% because it is a well constructed world with really interesting Sci-fi elements. However the cruelty, though accurate to the history this is inspired by, is just too difficult to read.
Sadly this was my #bookspin book
#Booked2022 - set in China

Amazing. Adventure, setting-do, revolution, giant aliens, powers from both humans & aliens that I cannot explain & a very twisty at the end.

5/5

Life is Huaxia is fueled by the deaths of girls in metal mechs. When Zetian's sister is murdered by a pilot, Zetian volunteers to join their ranks knowing that she'll have a chance at vengeance before her life is sacrificed, but instead she finds her will is strong enough that she survives and sacrifices her partner her first time piloting a mech. It's an incredible story of power, propaganda, and vengeance. I cannot wait to read the sequel!

I loved every moment of this badass, feminist historical/scifi/ mecha mash up. The characters were perfect, I loved the love triangle and Zetian was such a strong character without coming off as self righteous. It shows the effect that beliefs have on a society and how one person can overcome. My first ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ of 2022. The cliffhanger was epic I can't wait for the next one. #pantone2022 #pop22 #popsugar #ownvoicessff #booked2022 #setinchina

“The Hunduns were coming.”

#firstlinefridays

This month has worked out perfectly because my #bookspin and #doublebookspin ended up being the two books I wanted to read in December and didn't have time to get to.

Bookspin: Iron Widow
Double Bookspin: The Unexpected Fall

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

I release a sigh that seems to go on for a thousand years. “I‘m so tired of being a girl”.

“Yeah, if you were a boy, you‘d be ruling the world by now.”

#LMPBC #round13
Very different genre for me- I am enjoying my foray into YA Science fiction.Themes of classism,sexism,Chinese culture/social history(concubines, bound feet,etc.) Chinese philosophy,ying& yang, qi (life force)…fast paced,not always sure who to trust…
Apologies to my group- I have just finished another book so two will be coming your way Christine!

I've never been one to plan out my reads but I thought I would try it this year and do some challenges to try to catch up with what I already have on my shelf. Plus getting through my growing pile of Illumicrate and Fairyloot books. I also wanted to give myself the added challenge of one self improvement book a month. Since the start of COVID I've gotten into poor habits which I'd like to change. #foodandlit2022 #pop22 #popsugar #booked2022

The first third is pure f*ck the patriarchy rage

My bookclub had a virtual Jolabokaflod gathering tonight, and I got this exciting sounding book! I absolutely love this cover, and it sounds like a fast paced adventure. And of course, yummy chocolate. Thanks so much @Eyelit ❤️. I‘ll have to see if this fits any of this year‘s prompts, but then again I don‘t really want to wait to read it!

Ahh @Mitch , thank you so much for this wonderful gift! I apologise for not posting when I recieved it, it's been a hectic few months. I absolutely cannot wait to dive into this book, but I fear the chocolate won't last that long!
Merry Christmas to you, and to the wonderful @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting 🥰🎄

Hi #GroupI 👋 Just finished this one for #LMPBC 📬 What an interesting read! I was really digging all the rage.

I‘ll try to get this one in the mail tomorrow! Happy Holidays!

@suvata @Tattooedteacher @Zoe-h @kspenmoll

Mail day! So a little delayed, but the tagged book is finally on its way to you @WanderingBookaneer for #LMPBC #GroupP

And I was also able to post my #Jolabokaflodswap on the same trip! @MaleficentBookDragon

This book takes place in the future in a dystopian world and follows the life of a young girl named Zetian who volunteers to be a concubine co-pilot. As a co-pilot, her life force is the fuel used to operate a Chrysalis, a giant transformer like machine, to, under a pilots control, fight against alien invaders. But when revenge leads her to unknown strength, she, a woman, labelled weak by society, works to prove that she is lesser than no man.

Today is shopping for the various swaps day! But mostly this post is an update for #LMPBC #GroupP

I was out of town for Thanksgiving and have not had a chance to mail my book yet. Since I am shopping for my swaps today I want to try and make just a few trips to the post office. So, I will get Iron Widow in the mail by Monday! So sorry for the delay — I didn‘t expect this week to be so busy.

What the actual heckity heck?! Where‘s the rest? Why am I being tortured with perfection without end?!

Haven't done a weekly reading progress report in a while. Finished some really great reads and excited to dig into some good new ones and my first holiday read of the year this coming week!

So many feels. Zetian is kicking butt and kicking names. She‘s seeking vengeance against the world that uses girls as fodder in the war. “So the boys survive.” Anti-hero fighting an unjust system from the inside. Love triangle is very well written, especially when Yizhi spoke of sharing love. That hit differently, changes perspective greatly. The three are doing “bad things”, but that‘s because their world has done worse things for millennial

Oh My Gosh Zetian is the embodiment of an antihero. She is done with this insanely gendered and sexist futuristic world. She‘s playing out well, telling them they need her alive. Yes, I think she‘s crazy and maybe mentally ill from what society has done to her. But sure still her fighting for what she wants, no matter who tells her otherwise. She will get what she wants.

Iron Widow coming your way, @Alfrazier21 . It should arrive next week.

#LPMBC @Tattooedteacher @suvata @kspenmoll

What an epic antihero story! In a futuristic world inspired by historical China, a girl seeks vengeance for her mudered sister in a highly gendered and sexist society overrun by kaiju, where girls are sacrificed in order to win battles. There are elements of Pacific Rim and other kaiju movies, but this story is entirely its own. I am soft for an angry, unforgiving female protagonist. And a love triangle that turns into a poly triad.

Today was a good day for baking and audiobook listening

Too bad. I am exactly the kind of ice-blooded, rotten-hearted girl he fears I am. And I am fine with that.

May he stay unsettled.

I‘m not entirely sure how the heck I feel about this. I liked the beginning when it was all like revolution-y and stuff, but then towards the end they were killing people left and right??? I liked the plot though and I‘m totally going to read the sequel. 3⭐️???

#LMPBC #GroupI @Tattooedteacher @Alfrazier21 @kspenmoll I hope you all at least some what like it!!!

I saw a post about this one on IG and just had to snag myself a copy! 😁

How to make an Iron Widow: weld together the righteous feminist anger of The Handmaid‘s Tale, the media-saturated high-stakes battles of the Hunger Games, and the giant robot vs monster action sequences of Pacific Rim but turn the volume ALL THE WAY UP on the rage and revenge, throw a wrench in the classic love triangle, and build it all on a foundation of Chinese history and lore. This book will take you on a ride that will leave you BREATHLESS.

I can't get my phone to focus on the book and the tree but the tree is just as stunning as this cover.

Quote: Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open.

So many hard hitting quotes!
For context, the MC just saw a butterfly with asymmetrical wings emerge from a chrysalis. Her friend explains to her that that's because the butterfly is male on one side and female on the other, which prompts her to ponder the supposed rigidity of "inherent" differences between the sexes.

#LMPBC #Round012 is wrapping up and I @peanutnine wanted #GroupG and #GroupP to know that I am a little behind in mailing but I will be returning books via mail later this week. Mainly this effects @peanutnine @WanderingBookaneer

As for #Round013 I still need to purchase my book, but I did finally decide on Iron Widow I think. So I look forward to #GroupP and more #LGBTQ reads with y‘all.

This is an exciting story slightly reminiscent of The Hunger Games, at least in the early parts. The similarities end early though and this story becomes it‘s own with a rich tale built on ancient Chinese culture and lore. Wu Zetian is the heroine and she sets out to break the norms of a rigid society that sacrifices its young women in an endless war. Not content to settle, Wu Zetian vows to change the rules or die trying.

Perks of refusing to play by the rules: you don‘t have to choose between the boy who‘d torture a man to death with you and the boy who welcomes you back with pastries.

There‘s no such a thing as karma. Or if it does exist, it sure doesn‘t give a shit about people like me. Some of us were born to be used and discarded. We can‘t afford to simply go along with the flow of life, because nothing in this world has been created, built, or set up in our favor. If we want something, we have to push back against everything around us and take it by force.

5/5⭐ Holy SHIT. It's been a while since a book has spiked my adrenaline like this. The unapologetic anger of the characters, the stakes, the unrelenting pace, the relationships, the worldbuilding...

I need the sequel NOW.

#bookspinbingo

🧡 Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao 🐦
🧡 working 💀
🧡 grapes 🍇

#wondrouswednesday Thanks for the tag, @Eggs!

I'm only three chapters in and this book is absolute dynamite!

I've followed Jay Zhao for a while and was very excited to read this.
What a debut! She writes with charm and wit.
I loved the world building and a different look at the old China era.

An new and fresh sci fi/fantasy YA read. Fantastic characters and world building, with lots of action and interpersonal conflict. Loved it and can‘t wait for book 2!

This book is AMAZING and I recommend everyone read it to get their fill of female RAGE and DESTRUCTION. This book touches on topics of gender, sexuality, Chinese traditions and customs, beauty standards, oppression of women, and so much more. All in a world of giant Mechas inspired by mythology. It's such a wild and fun read but also tense and challenging ⭐ 10/5! #yafantasy #lgbt

Read at Libro: http://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm135487

I have been looking forward to reading this ever since I first started hearing about it a few months ago! It also arrived yesterday and it looks AMAZING! 😍

?Happy Pub day to Iron Widow!

Hola, lectores. Estoy súper contenta porque hoy se publicó Iron Widow de Xiran Jay Zhao, y hace mil que tengo ganas de leerlo. Leí varias reseñas y todas dan opiniones positivas, así que estoy muy ansiosa por conseguir una copia. Ahora estoy en una buying-ban pero pronto voy a leerlo.

?¿Van a leerlo?
#booklover #sigamosleyendo #bookaddict #bookaholic #darkread #darkreads #darkcozy #falltbr #fallreads

I'm going to need the sequel like right now. Why was this book so phenomenal?! I was not at all prepared for this kickass, patriarchy smashing, mythic, robotic, thrillride of a lifetime. Fantastic use of the chosen one trope and props to a love triangle that didn't make me choose a "team". I also really enjoyed how while this book takes place in the future, it incorporates Chinese culture and history.

Received to review!

Well, that certainly went places. I was surprised by the poly relationship, but I thought it was great to see it represented. The book felt a little typical YA up to that point -- though it already subverted things once, so I should've known. The ending was... I'm still processing that!