In Huaxia, a Chinese-influenced futuristic civilization, Col. Yang Guang, 19 and "one of the most powerful pilots alive," channels his qi through his Chrysalis, the Nine-Tailed Fox, a war machine designed to fight the Hunduns, mecha-alien "invaders from the cosmos who'd pulverized the height of human civilization some two thousand years ago and shattered humanity into scattered tribes." Protecting the human world, however, comes at the expense of concubines who pair with pilots, devoting their life force to the battle and often dying in the process. Then mountain villager Zetian Wu, 18, is selected as Yang's new partner. When an unexpected battle outcome shatters Yang's future, Zetian must carefully navigate alliances--including one with a brutal murderer--as well as newfound power, political machinations, love, and more. Zhao combines allusions to modern Chinese issues, such as the marriage crisis, with ancient practices and beliefs, including footbinding, elements and qi, and yin and yang. Unfortunately, the combination of contemporary language with mixed ancient and futuristic worldbuilding often results in an uneasy meld, amplified by an uneven narrative voice. Still, this duology opener will appeal to those seeking high-energy, feminist, queer narratives. Ages 14--up Agent: Rachel Brooks, BookEnds Literary. (Sept.)

An individual vendetta fuels a systemic challenge in a war-torn world. In Huaxia, a Chinese-influenced futuristic society, humankind is in a constant war with the Hunduns. These giant buglike aliens fly and attack with frightening power. In response, humans have built Chrysalises, war machines that take the shape of mythical animals and are powered by the qi of two pilots, one bringing the female yin force and the other the male yang. The female concubine-pilot typically dies in the battle, having been entirely drained of her qi. This sacrificial attitude toward females results in the death of narrator Zetian's older sister. Bent on revenge, Zetian, a frontier girl who chafes at the idea of rigid gender roles and imagines the freedom of "giving onlookers no easy way to bind me with a simple label," voluntarily becomes a concubine-pilot. She proclaims herself the nightmare these careless, selfishly ambitious boy pilots deserve to face. When she is paired with Li Shimin, a pilot and murderer with powerful qi, she must be strategic to survive the war and take down the patriarchy. Things become complicated when her forbidden love interest, wealthy, protective Yizhi, gets involved. The action-packed plot, involving battles both physical and mental, is original and incorporates queer themes and Zetian's unwavering, cathartic feminism. However, lapses in worldbuilding and characters' relationships result in some events feeling random and forced. The epilogue promises a sequel. A pleasurable read despite some inconsistencies. (content note) (Science fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

This feminist, high-fantasy adventure features a tough-as-nails main character and an East Asian--inspired world. In Huaxia, a futuristic society informed by Chinese history and culture, humans are stuck in a never-ending war with Hunduns. These unrelenting pests can only be fought with Chrysalises, war machines powered by two pilots, one female and one male. Utilizing this yin-yang force carries high risks, however, especially for the women who enter the machines as "concubine pilots." For Zetian, Chrysalis journeys bring back terrible memories from when her pilot sister was sacrificed on a mission. Zetian, who does not agree with the rules of her country, seeks revenge for her sister's demise by volunteering as a pilot herself, in order to fight back. What follows is an action-packed adventure with not one but two engaging love interests found in Li Shimin, a murderous pilot, and the wealthy Yizhi. Readers will enjoy the banter between characters, as well as the queer representation in this complex, fierce debut.