Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Iron Widow

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.

Content Warnings

dohlenturm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

hey bestie? I mean this in the absolute best way possible, what the fck?

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective 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

If the synopsis or the phrase "mech battles powered by polyamory to fight a misogynistic death harem" intrigues you then you should go read this book as soon as you can. I love the whole thing, from the world to the plot to the characters, this is amazing on its own and I’m really excited for more. It's well-paced, brilliantly written, and just a damn good story.

The setting is vibrant, I love the main characters and the interplay between them. The slow burn between the three main characters is subtle but unmistakable, they have different dynamics between each pairing and it just fits so well. I appreciate that Zetian never loses her laser focus on what matters: burning this misogynist system down.

Zetian has bound feet and it matters to the narrative, affecting the way she moves through the world, literally, as well as being one more way that her society has oppressed her for her gender. Sometimes she walks, though according to her the last time "walk" was appropriate to describe her motion was right before her feet were broken and bound, the verb she uses is "totter". She's occasionally carried or in a wheelchair, but more often she has a cane. There's a consistent awareness of her mobility or lack of it and how that affects her daily existence. Piloting a mecha is the only time she's awake and not in pain from her feet, but it's also not positioned as a permanent solution. It's thematically appropriate, explored throughout the text in a nuanced way, and makes her one of very few protagonists I can think of who begin their story with a mobility issue but no plotline about a cure of any kind.

I loved this and I wish the sequel were available immediately.

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