Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

740 reviews

simonas's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Very enjoyable read but not insanely high-quality writing; while Zetian's brutality makes sense in the time period and society she lives in, there's not much explanation as to where she gained this worldview or how she developed as such, so it's kind of implied that she just sprung up fully formed ready to be the badass main character who slays the patriarchy. Beyond her sister, she has no well-formed relationships with women and has little-to-no sympathy for women who survive in this horrifying world in a way that doesn't agree with how she does. Fair enough for a villain character, I guess, but it would have benefited from some criticism of her that wasn't from absolutely terrible people who no one wants to agree with. 

I was a huge fan of the love interest plot and resolution: seeing a love triangle resolve as a throuple was awesome.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexism, War, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

al_ana5522's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

So good. Everything I wanted and needed for a book. When I say I want a strong female lead that slightly morally grey this is what I meant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, War, Rape, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

teconaisha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Blood, War, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Torture

jewels_pg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

An exciting read, asks challenging questions. Occasional moments where I went, "wait, did that just happen??"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Addiction, Violence, Racism, Murder, and War

Minor: Torture and Suicide attempt

foot binding

gaymoonreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Addiction, Murder, Physical abuse, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Terminal illness

ebp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Alcoholism, War, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Rape, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Confinement

raptorq's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, War, Classism, Violence, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

ghostless's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I need the sequel right now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse and Blood

Minor: Sexual assault

mitta_girl452's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

This book is a wild, crazy ride.
Personally, I LOVED it, and was hooked from the start.
It explores so many amazing themes of sexism, family, love, guilt, war and grief, and its all done so beautifully. I really enjoyed the anger that Zetian has towards men, and her platonic adoration for women and their strength.
I LOVE her quote:
"He does not get to make me a statistic." 
As I survivor of sexual assault, that really hit home with me. When I read for the first time I stopped, put down the book and immediately wrote it out and put it up on my wall. It's just so powerful. 
It is a very dark book, and if you are someone with poor mental health or easily triggered by anything you see in the content warnings below, I possibly wouldn't recommend this to you. 
I love how this book speaks about the stereotype that being strong means to hide emotions, be distrustful and not love, especially for women. Women who publicly show fear, love, sadness or really any strong emotion are labelled as 'weak', when really they are the strong ones, for having the courage to show that much openness publicly.
This book is definitely a must-read, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel. 
The characters are loveable, the premise is exciting and interesting and the plot is so full of twists and turns that you are always on the edge of your seat. 
It's a really wonderful mashup of science fiction, dystopian future, Chinese mythology and action. 
Please read this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Torture, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Medical content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

Minor: War, Classism, and Confinement

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-April 2024
📖
This was an excellent re-read. I loved it. This is one of the books that got me excited about reading in 2022. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-April 2022
📖
I loved this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Murder, Rape, and Sexism