Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

184 reviews

mosterdmonster's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Classism, and Misogyny

sassyykassie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

i feel like this book has me with so much to digest. 
 love morally gray characters but this was next level.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Death, Gore, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Body horror

mossgoblins's review

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

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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

spookylettuce's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

5.0

I read Iron Widow in ~4h several years ago instead of writing a very important paper and loved it. I plan to re-read it as soon as I finish all the holds I have at my local library.
The pacing was some of the best I’ve ever had the fortune to read. The author has mentioned via social media that they’re audhd like me, and I think that’s makes Iron Widow so readable and well-paced. I also thoroughly enjoyed the world building, and I think its efficacy is related. After all, are some styles of effective world building not just well-timed and plot-relevant mini info dumps?
Content-wise, I knew going in I would love Iron Widow. I love Pacific Rim, and really enjoy reading fantasy books inspired by Chinese culture and history. I was also excited about the disability rep and

romance being  bi-polyamory instead of the very tired love triangle trope

. My expectations were high, which I always try to avoid since I feel like it can make my reading experience less enjoyable. I couldn’t help it with this book, but it was fine because it actually exceeded my expectations anyways.
I love the characters and that they are not paragons of morality. If you’ve also been waiting for a fmc to unapologetically snap at the people/society that’s been treating her awfully, get ready for some catharsis.
I say all of this with the understanding that not all readers are homogeneous and while I LOVE Iron Widow, not everyone will. But if you’re like me and enjoy fantasy/sci-fi informed by Chinese culture and/or are an audhd reader, definitely give this book a shot!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Genocide and Sexual assault

cfitz13's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Rape and Alcohol

discowing87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely loved this book, probably gonna recommend it to everyone I know. I usually stray away from this genre because I don't particularly enjoy 1st person writing or romances but the romance here is developed in a believable way that feels so human that I was so invested in it working out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Mental illness, Death, War, Sexism, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, and Murder

charliesshit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Classism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

jonghyun4life's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-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

3.5

An easy read to be honest. I ended up liking the side characters more than the FMC. The book is very feminist, with a strong headed female main character and her two softy bfs. Her bfs were quite adorable. I'm not sure where Zetian expressed her desire to rule the world in the whole book except that last chapter. And now they r supposedly in another planet that isn't theirs. Very interesting development.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Torture

Minor: Body shaming and Sexual harassment

moonsongsiren's review against another edition

I was going to write a much more in depth review of this book, but seeing how i dnf’d at 174 pages i don’t think i’m fully qualified to do so. i went into this book with high expectations, and was prepared for an exciting and compelling story. i was not met with such a story. 
the main character is not complex, she is unlikable, and incredibly misogynistic to the girls around her. her love interests at the point i stopped reading were.. mediocre. she is poor “representation” if you can even call her that, but i understand and appreciate that this book was written with a LOT of heart and a LOT of effort was put into it. But that does not make a good story. 
What was truly the last straw for me was the main character forcing herself upon one of her love interests (does not, at any point ask him for consent, and he even tells her to stop and wait and she does not comply). To me, that sends the exact opposite message that the book was trying to send. 
Over all, EXTREMELY disappointing. i would not recommend this to anyone, there is simply too much it is lacking. but for a debut novel that was clearly a loved passion project, it serves that purpose. 
it is self indulgent for the author, it has a very bare bones emotion that drives the story, and it barely scratches the surface of the message it WANTS to convey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Child death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Genocide, Bullying, Murder, Gore, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

natraf_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

5.0

This was one of the easiest five stars I’ve ever given. I was OBSESSED with this book from start to finish!! I could not get enough. From the first page I was hooked!! Exceptionally written, I would absolutely recommend this book!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence, War, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism, Death, War, Physical abuse, Addiction, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery

Foot binding, forced sex work