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Vini

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Vini is Currently Reading

Vini is currently reading

A Collar For His Brat, Volume Two: Episodes 4-6

by R.J. Moray (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, queer

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progress:

(page 40 of 318)
— Dec 07, 2024 11:15AM

Dec 04, 2024 05:20PM

Vini is currently reading

Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1)

by Xiran Jay Zhao (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: bipoc, currently-reading, queer, re-read

Reading for the 2nd time

read in April 2022

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Vini said: " SCREAMING WHAT AN ENDING !!

“Love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open.”

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the m SCREAMING WHAT AN ENDING !!

“Love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open.”

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her unnerving mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily.

Before reading this book, I was in a reading slump (and a review-writing slump)! Mostly because my rwrb reread and the news about the Henry POV chapter left me unable to think about anything besides Alex and Henry. So after picking up and putting down quite a few books, I decided to try this one!! And I was hooked from the very first page.

Xiran Jay Zhao's writing is super easy to read and get into. I've mentioned before how sci-fi scares me. I'm intimidated whenever I start one. But this one wasn't confusing!! I thought the world building was really well done; it was a little simple but still fascinating with the blending of new and old, technology and mythology.

What initially drew me in to this book was the polyamorous relationship. I love when books have a love triangle and end in a poly relationship. I haven't read many books with that trope (the only other ones I can think of are The Dark Artifices and probably Legendborn if Sel/Nick/Bree actually happens), but I love it every time!!

I know the main comp title for this book is Pacific Rim, which makes sense because of giant robots, but it really gave me Hunger Games vibes. Especially in how big of a role the media takes place in the story. So much of the story is about the management of mass media, with Wu Zetian trying to manipulate the public into rooting for her and liking her.

There are so many interesting discussions here that I thought were dissected brilliantly, while they were a bit too on the nose sometimes, but it's a YA book, so I don't think it's a bad thing!

The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I could not picture what was happening in the battle scenes. Like I understood what was happening, my little brain just could not imagine it 🤡

The ending of this book was fantastic; I'm still reeling from it!! It was so satisfying but also so interesting for the direction the sequel could go? I can't wait for Heavenly Tyrant.

CWs: violence and abuse, graphic injury, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture ...more "

progress:

(25%)
"i forgot how fun this book is" — Dec 07, 2024 11:14AM

Apr 12, 2022 11:22PM · see review

Vini’s Notes & Highlights

Book cover for Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R.F. Kuang

20 highlights

Language was always the companion of empire, and as such, together they begin, grow, and flourish. And later, together, they fall.

Qirat liked this

Blood Communion (The Vampire Chronicles, #13)

by Anne Rice

22 highlights

Vini’s Quotes

“We live and breathe words. It was books that kept me from taking my own life after I thought I could never love anyone, never be loved again. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

tags: tessa-gray, will-herondale

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