Reviews tagging 'Death'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

675 reviews

moonysraccoons's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, and War

Minor: Sexual content

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Sexism, Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Death, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Gore

Moderate: Sexual content

griminycricket's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

jnobrien21's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

5.0

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.

I was told there was a twist, but I didn't expect it to be in the epilogue! Can't wait for the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, and Drug abuse

Minor: Murder and Suicidal thoughts

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

This feminist retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian was everything. It makes you really think about misogyny, gender-based violence, and binary gender roles in such an interesting and action-packed way.

You’ll find yourself furious throughout the book with how many times women’s pain, suffering and lives are seen as necessary sacrifice zones for the “good” of society. I especially loved Wu Zeitan’s badasss spirit, thirst for justice & the poly romance 🔥

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, War, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Death, Blood, and Alcoholism

bexs848's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual violence and Death

sadie_hawkins's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

if the writing wouldn't be so elite, this would be a 4 star read. 

my problem with this book started at the first chapter. unnecessarily long, drages, terrible first introduction. i ended up skipping lines.

after the second chapter... it only got better and better. i find the dark elements, scary enough to keep you tense but not grotesque. 

main character was interesting, i enjoyed being inside her mind and author succeded to gave her messages without making me feel like i was reading *inspiring pinterest quotes*. 

the only weak writing was the deliverance of li shimin's backstory. but i forgive that.

slowburn was very tastefully done. characters relationships to each other felt very realistic even though this book is single pov. 

my only other problem is.... the ending. in this point, problem can be me because i am not used to reading sci-fi. So the long war scene at the end... i think i ended up skipping a brunch. 

the real ending was *fine* but i really don't like ambiguous endings. the ending was probably predictable but still, deliverance was good so it didn't felt forced.

i will %100 re-read, since i finished it in less than 24 hours since it was too captivating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault

kittara's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, War, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

astropova's review

adventurous dark inspiring 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 an incredible book! So gripping, the pacing was on point. The centering of female rage really resonated with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Sexual assault

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Grief

kendal_reads's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, and Classism

Minor: Rape