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CBC bestseller
USA Today bestseller
Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow.
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.
After suffering devastating loss and making drastic decisions, Zetian finds herself on the seat of power in Huaxia, but she has also learned that her world is not as it seems. Revelations about an enemy who dangles one of her loved ones as a hostage force Zetian to share power with a dangerous man she cannot simply depose. Despite their mutual dislike and distrust, the two must work together to take down their common enemy and stoke a revolution against the systems of exploitation that plague their world.
However, power is not so easy to wield once seized, and a revolution is not so easy to control once unleashed. As Huaxia’s former elites strike back and the common people’s fervor for justice turns bloody and paranoid, can Zetian remain a fair and just ruler? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence and succumb to her darker instincts in her quest for vengeance and liberation?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 24, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780735269996
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780735269996
- File size: 5791 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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December 1, 2024
Gr 8 Up-"I am ready to slaughter the gods." Vicious and perceptive, Zetian has leveraged it all to sit at the highest echelons of power in Huaxia, only to discover that everything the masses know about their country, their world, and the gods they worship is a lie. She has awakened Emperor Qin Zheng from his q�-induced cryo-stasis, and due to the power vacuum she created, she cannot depose him to seize his power for herself. Zetian must grapple with the consequences of her actions in Iron Widow and the realities of her ascension as more betrayals and political intrigue hide around every corner. Zhao manages impressive worldbuilding as the plot expands in scope and complexity, but the writing gets bloated with political details at the expense of the momentum the first book did so well. The philosophizing rides the edge of preaching: it is interesting and lends itself to the arcs of many characters, deepening conflict and raising the already high stakes, but it also carries on for longer than many readers will have patience for. The slow burn eventually evolves into tense and engrossing action sequences as the story lives up to its title. Zetian's polyamorous love triangle with Yizhi and Shimin becomes understandably complicated as she tries to secure her throne. The ending promises more to come. Characters are Chinese. VERDICT Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy. Recommended for collections with the first book.-Emmy Neal
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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