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dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Iron widow
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
It's hard for me to say how someone else would handle these triggers as books don't typically get to me with triggering content. For what Iron Widow covers, it didn't feel overly graphic to me but that is very subjective. I would say this is better suited towards older young adults (16ish and above but that’s just my opinion)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale seems like a fair marketing blurb; I guess I co-sign that. However, Zetian, our main character has zero respect for any other woman in this book, which was a bit frustrating and exhausting tbh. In The Handmaid's Tale, there are a variety of different dynamics that exist between the women who rotate in and out of June's life, but moving on!
Anyway, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and while the narrator was entertaining, I expected a bit more from this book. I would have loved a bit more detailed world-building, because I generally think of the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series to lay the groundwork for us, and it's the book where I don't mind a lot of exposition and "telling" of the historical and political context, and how they tie into the current situation.
However, I think we moreso got the repeated heavy-handed telling of the message the author wanted to convey. It's an important message, and I really do understand the need to sometimes be heavy-handed in the way we deliver messages so that it is crystal clear, especially when one is fed up and exhausted of systems of oppression. I am a staunch supporter of feminine rage and choosing revenge.
I just.... wanted a bit more exposition to contextualize the world beyond the main character Wu Zetian. Like I know this misogynistic and violent world directly impacts Zetian, but I'd like to learn more about how the world came to be, and why these mecha aliens even began lurking beyond the Great Wall to begin with. I appreciated the driving factor of Zetian's goals though: avenging her Big Sister's death.
Overall, I was entertained listening, and the MFM polyamorous relationship was interesting with Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi, who balanced out Zetian's rage with their soft vibes (and this really is a love triangle, because they all have relationships with each other. I think it would have worked a bit better though, if we got their POVs so we could see more of their relationship beyond Zetian too). However, I struggled with the pacing (again because of exposition and repetitive inner thoughts of Zetian about how the patriarchy is awful, and so are all of the women around her), and would have loved more refined world-building.
The epilogue was wild though, and my curiosity is piqued enough that I will continue the series. I do not think Zetian will be a benevolent or altruistic leader; I really think she is power-hungry and her ego has only sky-rocketed, but I digress. We will see, won't we?
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale seems like a fair marketing blurb; I guess I co-sign that. However, Zetian, our main character has zero respect for any other woman in this book, which was a bit frustrating and exhausting tbh. In The Handmaid's Tale, there are a variety of different dynamics that exist between the women who rotate in and out of June's life, but moving on!
Anyway, I listened to the audiobook for this one, and while the narrator was entertaining, I expected a bit more from this book. I would have loved a bit more detailed world-building, because I generally think of the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series to lay the groundwork for us, and it's the book where I don't mind a lot of exposition and "telling" of the historical and political context, and how they tie into the current situation.
However, I think we moreso got the repeated heavy-handed telling of the message the author wanted to convey. It's an important message, and I really do understand the need to sometimes be heavy-handed in the way we deliver messages so that it is crystal clear, especially when one is fed up and exhausted of systems of oppression. I am a staunch supporter of feminine rage and choosing revenge.
I just.... wanted a bit more exposition to contextualize the world beyond the main character Wu Zetian. Like I know this misogynistic and violent world directly impacts Zetian, but I'd like to learn more about how the world came to be, and why these mecha aliens even began lurking beyond the Great Wall to begin with. I appreciated the driving factor of Zetian's goals though: avenging her Big Sister's death.
Overall, I was entertained listening, and the MFM polyamorous relationship was interesting with Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi, who balanced out Zetian's rage with their soft vibes (and this really is a love triangle, because they all have relationships with each other. I think it would have worked a bit better though, if we got their POVs so we could see more of their relationship beyond Zetian too). However, I struggled with the pacing (again because of exposition and repetitive inner thoughts of Zetian about how the patriarchy is awful, and so are all of the women around her), and would have loved more refined world-building.
The epilogue was wild though, and my curiosity is piqued enough that I will continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finished this in 2 days. I was hooked immediately. 3/4 of the way through I knew I wanted to read the next one asap. The epilogue made me want to read the sequel even more! I can't believe I have to wait until December for the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know this is YA, but I was shocked that there was only swearing at about 134 pages in. I thought I'd be able to get through a whole YA book without it having any swearing. I always find swearing out of place, like a 14-year-old boy allowed to watch "grown-up" media going overboard and playing at being an adult. I've seen similar levels of brutality in lower age audiences without swearing (say, Animorphs of Wings of Fire).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
I can't believe I waited this long to read Iron Widow! The female rage and defiance against a world meant to cage, Wu Zetian is fearsome and determined and refuses to let anyone stop her.
The hints of the ending and how well it sets up Heavenly Tyrant, I can't wait for it to release. It will definitely be a read same day as publication for book 2.
If you haven't picked this up yet or are only thinking about it, don't think anymore and just read! Both the book and Xiran J y Zhao are deserving of a HUGO award and so much more.
The hints of the ending and how well it sets up Heavenly Tyrant, I can't wait for it to release. It will definitely be a read same day as publication for book 2.
If you haven't picked this up yet or are only thinking about it, don't think anymore and just read! Both the book and Xiran J y Zhao are deserving of a HUGO award and so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Violence