Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Viuda de hierro by Xiran Jay Zhao

150 reviews

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about Iron Widow, so this review is subject to change. 

What I enjoyed:
-the ending was absolutely phenomenal, and it made me interested in continuing the series, despite my earlier hesitations 
-the combination of history(loose) in a sci-fi landscape 
-the polyamorous relationship( though I hope it’s expanded more in future books

What I felt was lacking 
- the character walks the fine line between powerful and difficult, which I thought was crossed a few times
-the plot felt a bit convulsed at times, with many things going on
-there was a bit of a lull in the middle before the final battle

All In all I do think this would appeal to fantasy lovers, and I would recommend picking it up if you are interested!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization

mantnam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The main character  is relateably imperfect, headstrong, and angry about the horrendous injustices of her society. Anyone who likes Evangelion or Gundam should give this a try. I never got into wither show but I thought this book was great.

The book was inspired by a lot of real Chinese history and I loved feeling like I was learning while I read this amazing story. It inspired me to learn some more about real history in that region.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Torture, and War

Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gaslighting, Classism, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

rinku's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Domestic abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content

leafhead's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Violence, Classism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Ableism, Xenophobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War

mossgoblins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Grief, Confinement, Death, Murder, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, War, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Body horror, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Rape

lyr1cal's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Body horror, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual assault

cnaccarato's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Colonisation, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Addiction, Ableism, Death, Murder, War, Classism, Confinement, Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Slavery

chanlo1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Death, Ableism, Alcohol, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, War, Trafficking, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexism, and Confinement

Moderate: Rape and Panic attacks/disorders

valjeanval's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well, it was better than I thought it would be. As my book club has started talking more about the four doorways of reading (Character, Plot, Setting, Writing), I'm coming to realize more and more that without that Writing doorway, I just have a hard time getting into a book. 

This book is extremely cinematic in a way that if it was an anime or graphic novel where I could actually see the Chrysalises and watch the battle scenes, I'd probably be pretty into it. The ruthless female anti-hero is a trope that I'm glad is gaining more traction. In the romance aspects of the book,

the pro-poly anti-love triangle take is a great way to turn YA fiction on its head even if the Shimin/Yizhi romance didn't really get enough attention to feel at all believable.

So plot and character-wise, it's pretty good. The world-building is all right too. I think it's just the language including occasional modern phrases that feel so anachronistic to the setting that grated on me. The ending also was pretty abrupt and included so much new information that felt rushed to me. So I don't know. I think it's a good book that just wasn't really for me. It is a shame that it was disqualified in the Hugo debacle this year because as literature aimed at a young adult audience, I think it is making some very important moves and deserved that recognition.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Ableism, Alcoholism, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, War, and Violence

Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

gaymoonreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Addiction, Murder, Physical abuse, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Terminal illness