A review by badmc
Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Sasha finds herself in a university in an alternate history Russia. When her Chinese friends start to dissapear, she goes on an impulsive mission, with the help of some friends. 

The book was a cosy adventure with pretty high stakes, but a low threat to either the protagonist or the main objective. I found Sasha to be neurodivergent, without deep connections to other characters - so I didn't connect that much either. The book felt short and I'd like themes of colonialism and misogyny explored more, although I found it done subtly and tactfully.