Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

86 reviews

therainbowshelf's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

This was intense and awesome! I loved seeing historic China reimagined in a sci-fi context with epic mechs. The characters are strong, as are their motives, and the world building is vivid. I also love that everything I wanted or predicted happened, from relationship development to two major twists toward the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Torture, Medical content, Murder, Slavery, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

fatherprozac's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Pretty much scratched every itch for female rage and vengeance I've ever had. I felt the urge to scream my soul out along with Zetian at every turn and was always left satisfied. 

I loved the inclusion of a polyamorous triangle. I've never read a book with one before. Honestly, I also really loved that Zetian crushed her family (literally) in the end. I was so disappointed by the initial "be the bigger person" turn but it was SO perfect how it was really just used as a weapon against her. Sometimes the rotten family really does just have to pay for their behavior and/or passiveness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Ableism, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Colonisation, Homophobia, and Animal death

emilysreadingbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Blood, Chronic illness, Grief, Mental illness, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Torture, and War

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia

jjjreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Confinement, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, and Fatphobia

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, War, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Torture

Minor: Rape

respheal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

To start with, the most anime opening I've ever read. I had a bit of whiplash from the sheer number of anime tropes I recognized in the first few pages (having watched most of Darling in the Franxx was a mixed blessing here). After the initial shock of "that's allowed on paper?", I surrendered to the story and hoooooo boy that was a ride.

As a person in a healthy poly relationship, seeing that sort of relationship in media is lovely. Even when 1/3 is the delightful boyfriend who greets the other 2/3s with baked goods when they're done torturing a man to death. I was a little worried towards the end, before the Sequel Hook dropped. Disappointment turned immediately into deep concern. With the sequel hook came confirmation of many theories I had, which is always a good sign—a cohesive narrative rewards theorizing.

Overall, recommended. I'm still reeling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, War, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying, Cannibalism, Confinement, Pregnancy, and Rape

kalehouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

fast paced, hard to put down, reminiscent of hunger games in many ways. the writing was a little cheesy / clunky at times, but overall really enjoyed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Racism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Colonisation, Classism, Sexism, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization

there are certainly some heavy themes, but it never feel gratuitous. everything helps situate the reader in the world our characters live in and to understand why our characters might behave in certain ways

akafrecks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

"No, he's trying to worm into my mind and shackle me down with morals, so he can feel more comfortable about my existence. Too bad. I am exactly the kind of ice-blooded, rotten-hearted girl he fears I am. And I am fine with that. May he stay unsettled." I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!! It's such ass-kicking feminist ride based on a culture foreign from mine (which was such a huge added bonus). The world building was awesome, the premise intriguing, and the portrayal of polyamory done so tasteful you almost miss it. With one book, Zhao has become an auto-buy author for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, War, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Domestic abuse

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, Death, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Blood, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Rape, Body shaming, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Murder, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, and Addiction

desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.75

"How do you take the fight out of half the population and render them willing slaves? You tell them they're meant to do nothing but serve from the minute they're born. You tell them they're weak. You tell them they're prey. You tell them over and over, until it's the only truth they're capable of living. "

This story and it's main characters are so angry and rightfully so! It's exhausting being female in a society, that devalues exactly that. Your existence alone is a burden sometimes. It's good to have it addresses here while simultaneously not devaluing men on the basis of their gender alone. The book is also pretty brutal and cold, which in turn made me a little annoyed to read it, but I know that just stems from me being a very emotional person and here, it was mostly based on thoughts and strategy and that's just not really my vibe. It's definitely a good book tho! Angry and full of strategy as it is. That probably makes it even better for certain other people ^^ 
One of the main points I liked it better was the very lovely display of polyamory, which I find lacking in a lot of literature, and honestly, this here was the best love triangle! I can't wait for the next book and also I want to see more healthy polyam ships in books, it's amazing! :) 

"Look on the bright side, I tell myself. After this, I can die. Finally. Being alive has been painful, exhausting, and disappointing."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Body horror, Grief, Racism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexism, Slavery, and Vomit