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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Iron Widow is an easy and enjoyable read, especially if you're looking for a book full of female rage and mechas.
While the writing style felt rough for moments, Iron Widow manages to catch you very quickly with a fast-paced action story who explores themes around gender and the role men and women fulfil within society.
I find the characters and their relations interesting, for moments I loved the interactions between them, while others I wasn't convinced at all of their choices.
The plot doesn't stray too much from similar stories, but I appreciate the ending being different to what many other stories would have presented, a bit drastic in execution but still interesting.
Iron Widow feels a lot like reading a teenage dystopian book from the 2010's, with everything good and bad about it, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it a lot.
While the writing style felt rough for moments, Iron Widow manages to catch you very quickly with a fast-paced action story who explores themes around gender and the role men and women fulfil within society.
I find the characters and their relations interesting, for moments I loved the interactions between them, while others I wasn't convinced at all of their choices.
The plot doesn't stray too much from similar stories, but I appreciate the ending being different to what many other stories would have presented, a bit drastic in execution but still interesting.
Iron Widow feels a lot like reading a teenage dystopian book from the 2010's, with everything good and bad about it, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it a lot.
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love the mechas concept and themes of gender identity, equality, and rebellion. Zetian is a handful and I kinda enjoyed her finally giving in to her own intentions. The telltale millennial voice came through some of the story so it was a nice reprieve after some of the heavier moments. I’m also so glad I read this after She Who Became the Sun as these two books share a lot in common with their retelling of Chinese history with strong female MCs and their prominent depiction of yin and yang, the difference colors of Radiance and so on.
I am NOT okay about Shimin.
I am NOT okay about Shimin.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Violence
Minor: Rape
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cheers to my new problematic, likely, sociopathic, fave!
Action packed, futuristic science fiction YA with an anti-hero FMC. The best elements about this book or that it completely flipped the traditional tropes of a FMC YA character on its head. Zetian is not uncertain nor insecure and doesn’t need someone else’s words, actions, and coaxing to know her true worth and potential. Zetian doesn’t think she’s special, but sees very plainly how silly rules have been constructed to make a large part of the population, believe that they’re only roles are to be subservient to men, and it, quite frankly, is so dumb to her! She’s very sure herself and refuses to cower or acquiesce to most people’s expectations around her. She sees the oppressive state what it is, and is filled with rage and revenge at knowing her life is only valued for what it could do to sacrifice for her family in her country’s war efforts.
Rage and vengeance are the primary themes of this book and what leads Zetian on this spiteful quest. She has a lot of sociopathic tendencies, quite honestly, that first emerged when she was in the mind round with her first pilot, and chose to kill the child version of himself.
The most YA thing about Zetian is that her thirst for vengeance and “rage at the machine” leads her to making impulsive decisions that don’t consider the larger implications beyond wanting to get her justice. I wouldn’t say Care development and growth are big element in this book. She, in many ways, lacks empathy, because she’s so spiteful and pissed off. Her main line to empathy are the treatment of women and girls in her country, but there are a lot of limits to how she acts that out.
The poly, bisexual MFM relationship completely flipped the trope of a love triangle on its head. Instead of the FMC having to decide who her “one true love is “she repeatedly emphasizes that her body in her love deserved her, and she can’t give it freely to whoever she wants. She’s also under no illusions that her partners are “inherently good“. It’s their actions towards her, how they act around others, despite complicated and traumatic pasts, and their loyalty that inform Zetian’s love.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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