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ax_sebas's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
c_dmckinney's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dragonwearingredshoes's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment
raebelanger's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
snapeygan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My only complaints would be that I had a bit of difficulties to understand all the terms relatives to the universe of the books, and that the main character was a bit the stereotypical girlboss that saves the universe (not saying I don’t like it, but it could’ve been less stereotypical and the other women could have been portrayed in a better light).
I loved how inclusive this book was, and how the characters were nuanced and gray (all were bad and good at the same time). The worldbuilding was really good, as was the way it was written.
I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and War
jessicalauren22's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
sonatica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
After reading and listening to mostly slow- to medium-paced stories for a long time, the intensity of the characters and storyline hit me hard in the most positive way.
Iron Widow is unapologetic and vengeful and so, so satisfying to me. The genre was new to me and I was afraid that I wouldn't like it, but I was so positively surprised.
If anyone is looking for a cozy read, this is not it. But if you're looking for a book with a powerful female character who is fed up with and takes action against an unjust system then this is it!
Spoiler Warning about the romantic sub plot:
(And also, finally an ACTUAL love triangle, instead of two people liking one person but not each other!!)
While I would've enjoyed more buildup to the relationship of Wu Zetian and Li Shimin personally (I couldn' quite follow at which point she actually developed feelings for him), I still ended up really enjoying the whole dynamic betweenall 3 of them!
And more Spoiler about the Ending and Epilogue:
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Colonisation
denee16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
10/10 would recommend because Holly shit!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
vvayl's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
turrean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Listening to the audiobook added an extra depth to the story, since the names were pronounced correctly. I did find that some of the most violent scenes were really hard to get through.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism