Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

41 reviews

ioanna_orf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Torture, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

reader_in_the_meadow's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

The 2021 Science-Fiction Fantasy novel Iron Widow by chinese-canadian author and internet personality Xiran Yay Zhao tells the story of Wu Zetian, a peasant girl who rises to prominence in her mysogynyst and sexist society and goes on to breale the borders set by gender.
The book contains the novel in three parts and 42 chapters and acknowledgements. 

The plot of this novel is rather fast paced. We are thrown into the story on a whim and experience it through the eyes of Wu Zetian, the main character, as it unfolds. 
I loved the way Zhao told the Story and mixed elements of science-fiction and fantasy to form a truly unique story. The inspiration they took from chinese mythology and history was worked into the story perfectly and forms a very special kind of world. 

The characters in this novel were great! The all asian cast with representation of non-heterosexual, polyamorous and disabled characters was very diverse. 
Although not all of them were particularly loveable or morally white I really took a liking to them. I think that the inclusion of many morally gray characters really played into the story and is therefore really important. 

Zhao's writing style is very beautiful. Being not that complicated it was easy to read and therefore immerse yourself into the story. It was a very beautiful and easy style to read. The use of chinese words played into the likability of it all and made the story pictured in the writing. 

I liked many things in this story especially the use of well-liked book tropes like enemies to lovers or the morally gray protagonist. 

Over all, I can say that this book is very unique and an awesome read for people who love Science-fiction, Fantasy and stories inspired by mythology and history.
However, if you are planning on reading this please take a note of the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, and War

bibliophilecrocodile's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

THIS BOOK IS 😙👌 and The Ending was 😦🤯😭🔥 According to me this book was Pacific Rim meets The Great Wall meets The Handmaid's Tale and some parts of it gave me Hunger Game vibes where they were being dressed up all fancy for the audience. I haven't seen Darling In The Franxx yet so I can't compare it to that, but hopefully I'll see it soon and then I'll put up a proper review. 

I was a bit slow at picking up this book because I expected it to be more high sci fi or like much more complex? But this was just really easy to read and just perfect? It's my kind of book, with a strong powerful mc who's just undeniably badass. Xiran Jay Zhao, you're now one of my favorite authors, can't fricking wait for the sequel😫

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

emmaowens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and War

Minor: Body horror and Vomit

feverdreamhigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Violence, Murder, Torture, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape

Minor: Cannibalism

inferiorwit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

like reading a novel made of twitter threads--really interesting thoughts and ideas that never quite come together into a cohesive whole. could've used more time in the oven. or an editor who cared. also every female character besides the protagonist is either an abuser, an enabler of abuse, a catty mean-girl stereotype, or a beloved corpse, so the whole "smash the patriarchy feminist sci-fi" marketing angle rings kinda hollow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, War, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Homophobia, and Eating disorder

potatogrr's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, War, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Xenophobia and Vomit

maricasement's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

(2021/10/22 - after finishing this book at an ungodly hour) Holy shmoly, will have to review properly after processing that ending.

Edit (2021/11/01): I'm not sure I processed that very well... I am now in a bit of a reading slump because I feel that there is no meaning in life and no other book will manage to do what this did. It may seem dramatic, but nothing I've attempted to read since has appealed to me... Hopefully I'll get in the vibe of reading again and finally review this properly lol.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

zombiezami's review

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

Wow! This was such an immersive world and story. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Medical content, and Body horror

Moderate: War, Death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Cursing, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Confinement

Minor: Homophobia, Gun violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Incarceration, death of a sibling, classism

fictionfixer's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a feminist wildfire of a book that rages against the toxicity of patriarchal oppression. It shows how difficult it is to navigate the world as a woman–not just physically but emotionally and mentally too. It shows how patriarchal oppression is systemic and how men (and women) can unwillingly (or willingly) play a part in perpetuating patriarchal views, and how we can challenge said views.

It demands attention with its remarkable, daring characters, and shows a relationship that is complex, nuanced, balanced, and shows why these characters are compelling.

It dares its readers to think bigger with its fantastical, mecha-inspired world, and immerses them in prose so vivid that I could paint a clear picture of each mecha described.

Overall, Iron Widow is fascinating, fiery debut full of feminist fury that left a twist ending so mind-boggling that I’m already scrambling to get ready for book 2.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Vomit