Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Iron Widow

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

1025 reviews

sterlingsnail's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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valjeanval's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

Well, it was better than I thought it would be. As my book club has started talking more about the four doorways of reading (Character, Plot, Setting, Writing), I'm coming to realize more and more that without that Writing doorway, I just have a hard time getting into a book.

This book is extremely cinematic in a way that if it was an anime or graphic novel where I could actually see the Chrysalises and watch the battle scenes, I'd probably be pretty into it. The ruthless female anti-hero is a trope that I'm glad is gaining more traction. In the romance aspects of the book,

the pro-poly anti-love triangle take is a great way to turn YA fiction on its head even if the Shimin/Yizhi romance didn't really get enough attention to feel at all believable.

So plot and character-wise, it's pretty good. The world-building is all right too. I think it's just the language including occasional modern phrases that feel so anachronistic to the setting that grated on me. The ending also was pretty abrupt and included so much new information that felt rushed to me. So I don't know. I think it's a good book that just wasn't really for me. It is a shame that it was disqualified in the Hugo debacle this year because as literature aimed at a young adult audience, I think it is making some very important moves and deserved that recognition.

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al_ana5522's review against another edition

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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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lauremi's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

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

0.5

i loved the initial concept, so i hate to say it, but this was one of the worst books i’ve ever read.

it tries way too hard to make everything about feminism, but then there are lines in the book such as “he stumbled like a girl.” it tries to make a statement about an uncontrollable abuse of power, but instead of restoring equality, the book ends with the protagonist also abusing this same power. this whole book is fueled by the emotions of rage and grief, which is understandable given the topic, but it provides no depth to the plot or the characters.

this book felt like it was originally written as a bad fan fiction. there were so many cringy lines and subplots that made me want to stop reading entirely, but with how far into the book i was, i felt the need to finish it (spoiler alert- the ending wasn’t worth it). everything felt very rushed and sloppy, and overall, i wish i never picked this book up in the first place.

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