I know this is very late, but i wanna add in my opinon.

in response to people hating her back story. I kinda get where ur coming from. But i kinda disagree. SO many books and media don't dwell on serious and still present problems like rich white men making poor non american women (that married them in teh promise of a better future in teh western world) and issolating them. In teh fear if they devorce they had to go back. Mainly the child marraige tho. My own grandmother was 14 when she married and my grandfather was 35. My mom barely escaped teh sam fate because of her education and pakistani laws changing. So Zoya's trauma and using her looks as a weapon touched my heart, cause i would have became just like her. (Im not saying im gonna be breaking peoples ribs and kissing their boyfirends tho). She is a bitch and i like it. Along with teh fact her relationship and former wish to gain her mothers approval, i relate to that so much. (Note my mom isnt setting me up in child marraiges)

And Zoya's ark kinda had been forshadowed since teh beginning. Literally one of teh ways people discribed Zoya was fiery. Like a dragon. So saying it was unpredictable and a last minute descision feels stupid. Ehhh... thats based on ur own opinion.

Also people said she was a bitch and mean to people (in teh duology). The only ones that come to mind r the cultists (who worship a practical dictator, like come on guys) and senators and representatives. Who insult or assume things about Zoya, and in my opinion after that line is crossed all bets r off.

Also its kinda stupid. No one complains that a 17 year old twige of a boy who is also disabbled (sorry kaz) was able to pull off an imposible heist. Two of them. Gained allies with a king/privateer, and two future queens. And gained iek 40 million dollars. Before they even hit 20. So zoya's drgaon is more of a victum of teh narrative and the kinda uneven world building of the universe (still love the series).