Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

448 reviews

ashley_reya's review

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

What a story! And what an ending!

The betrayal by Xiuying is truly a shock. Also, the tyrannical turn Zetian takes. It’s very interesting to see how her character goes from revolting against the system, working within it, and ending by completely shattering it.

Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi all grow as people throughout this book. It was wonderful to see the character development evolve based on how they supported and encouraged each other. Allowed for different moments of vulnerability in a world that seeks to exploit that as a weakness.

I do love the throuple they became and the way Zhao navigated that conversation.

The parallels between the misogynistic reality of Huaxia and the misogynistic history/reality of many societies on Earth are very present. Zetian’s feelings and frustrations were ones I’ve known all too well. A very very interesting character. I’m excited to see where this story goes.

Also, the Heavenly Council?! What in the colonizers is going on?! Another last minute wild twist that I was not expecting. The humans being the alien invaders.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, and Torture

Moderate: Physical abuse and Misogyny

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape

sydneykaye's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of the first female emperor of China. very feminist and deals a lot with the patriarchy and violence against women

pretty good representation for a HEALTHY polyamorous relationship

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Death, Biphobia, Misogyny, Murder, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Physical abuse and Rape

SPOILER for why Li Shimin was imprisoned and explains the mentions of rape

Li Shimin murdered his brothers because they raped a girl

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

pengintoppa's review against another edition

adventurous tense

4.5

worldbuilding is interesting, i liked the 3 main characters. it was cool to read scifi set in china by a chinese author. some of the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, War, Misogyny, and Police brutality

Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, Colonisation, Body shaming, Trafficking, Racism, and Emotional abuse

recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.

betanine's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.0

Iron Widow reminds me of a collegiate level Hunger Games based on peoples who would make up modern China, holding on to traditions from the past. 

This is an emotional book that hits a number of cultural points throughout the book. I like books that make me think and illustrate a concept or make a point and this book does just that. This one wasn’t really for me due to the amount of anger experienced by the main character and the abuse that the main characters go through throughout the story. A number of times I thought about not finishing the book, but I was hoping for redemption after such darkness. 

The theme of this book is to illustrate the abuses and pain caused by a patriarchal rule that uses control and shame to maintain their rule. Initially, the main character sees the injustice women experience. She grows to see the abuse that boys who don’t agree with the patriarchal rule experience next. She sees how someone born to a rich and influential family can have it easier, this isn’t of the hook when they are different. Finally, she sees how people can hurt others even under the threat of the patriarchal rule to hurt others they care for. The book does a good job of illustrating the difference between polyamorous people and sexual promiscuity. Whether one subscribes to that type of relationship being acceptable or not, the distinction is there to see. 

This is the first of at least two and it ends with a cliffhanger ready to sitting right into the next installment.  Perhaps the redemption I’m looking for will be in the next book. I don’t know that I will read it. While I am sympathetic to the perspectives, it leaves me emotionally worn out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, Torture, Sexism, and Sexual content

neko_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape

the_readingfox's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse

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

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

dandelionsteph's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I know this is YA, but I was shocked that there was only swearing at about 134 pages in. I thought I'd be able to get through a whole YA book without it having any swearing. I always find swearing out of place, like a 14-year-old boy allowed to watch "grown-up" media going overboard and playing at being an adult. I've seen similar levels of brutality in lower age audiences without swearing (say, Animorphs of Wings of Fire).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Death, Torture, Grief, and Cursing

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Biphobia, and Bullying

Minor: Body shaming and Pregnancy