. To fight back, the military uses massive mecha suits called Chrysalises
Zetian is an archetypal anti-heroine. She is not a character who seeks justice for all or to make the world a better place out of altruism. Her primary drive is revenge, and her methods are calculated, ruthless, and effective. Zetian is often cold and calculating, a personality forged by a world that has forced her into survival mode. She was subjected to foot binding at five years old, a practice that left her permanently disabled and unable to walk without aid. Throughout the novel, she rails against the shocking treatment of women and is wholly committed to equality, often judging those she perceives as complicit in the patriarchy. Her character arc is inspired by the rise of China’s only female emperor, Empress Wu Zetian, and we see her ascend to power not through luck but through grit, intellect, and a willingness to do whatever it takes. Iron Widow Vk