Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

447 reviews

jacmuffler's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Murder, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, War

Minor: Xenophobia, Colonisation

that_brish's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Gaslighting, War

Moderate: Colonisation

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence

enbyaddams's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

ashwoodbooks's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Wow! I loved this book and immediately reserved my spot for Heavenly Tyrant at my library!

Wu Zetian is an angry and vengeful girl who is set out of fighting against her misogynistic society. Li Shimin is a sweet boy with a dark past who is just doing his best to survive in a world that doesn't want him to. Yihzi is a gentle boy with a restrictive father in a world of high expectations and different dreams.

Placing these three characters together in the way that they were made me so giddy, I just wanted to scream. There were so many twists including a major one in the epilogue!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent

The military actively points loaded guns at the heads of the characters while threatening to shoot them for a good chunk of the book. If that is triggering for you, I can not recommend this book.

rizky's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging 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

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 Re-read before reading Heavenly Tyrant

I had forgotten SO MUCH, especially the final act, so this was another wild ride.

Not a lengthy review, but just the crux of my thoughts/feelings: this book has flaws - it is a debut, and noticably so. My main concern is a lack of subtely (Zhao spells the political implications out quite explicitly) and slightly convoluted worlbuilding. At same time, the story and characters are absolutely worth it (at least to me) (all the feelings I felt, damn).
I definitely recommend Iron Widow to anyone who enjoys female rage, morally dubious characters, and poly romance.

Excited to start reading Heavenly Tyrant! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual violence, Trafficking

grace_b_3's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous 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: No

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Upon reread, I can see more of the flaws, but it’s still an enjoyable ride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence

aurora4847's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous 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

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Reread in audiobook form to prepare myself for reading the sequel Heavenly Tyrant. Iron Widow is just as incredible as I remember it being! I'm not a huge Scifi fan, but this blends futuristic tech and mecha battles so seamlessly with myth and magic that it's easy to forget. Zetian is the my favorite character ever for bloodthirsty female rage, and it doesn't hurt that Shimin and Yizhi are my favorite supportive male leads. The character arcs are brilliant, the stakes are just high enough, and the action sequences are so tense and fun. This book doesn't pull punches, so read with caution of course. But the ending is so satisfying and leaves you desperate for the continuation into Heavenly Tyrant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Rape, Sexual content, Trafficking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury

This book has very heavy topics and scenes, including misogyny, foot binding, death, war, colonisation, murder, torture, death of family members, sexual assault, ableism, racism, exploitation, and war. It is all handled well, and is worth it.

ceruleanseas's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Abandonment, Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt

embersbooknook's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

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I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I picked up this book but HOLY SHIT🤯  It blew my mind.  It was such a huge undertaking of a book in that I feel like, while we could nitpick character arcs and plot rhythm, the scope of the book was, to me at least, very focused on the undertaking of exposing the evils of empire, and of the consequences of peoples and groups of peoples too long oppressed, and the way that systems of oppression harm EVERYONE.  

I really appreciate the way Xiran captures this

especially in the way that men are shown to be being lied to, fooled, and used by the powers that be, too.  Especially with them being ‘tributes’ once they reach a certain age.  Also in the way that many of the male pilots don’t want to hurt their female co-pilots and yet do because they have bought the lies, but then also live with the guilt because they don’t realize the whole thing is totally rigged.  It’s deep and feels so chillingly close to our own realities

.   

While there’s SO much more to say about anti-colonialism/empire, sexism, gender based violence and oppression, and propaganda, this was a fantastic beginning.  I feel like the soul of the book is Zetian fighting back for all those who can’t anymore, and to make sure that those to in future generations don’t face the same abuse, violence, and oppression that she and all those before have had to. 

On a lighter note

MY THROUPLE BETTER MAKE IT DAMMIT!!!  They’ve been through enough, I want them to rule the world as a throuple - Zetian, Yizhi, and Shimin just need to be okay at the end of this. 😭😭❤️‍🩹

 

I appreciate the stage that was set in this book, and I am simultaneously terrified and excited for book two, and to see the next level of these discussions.  
I really haven’t properly captured this book because I am still processing it, and will be for some time to come.  10/10 would recommend.  I will be tagging some content warnings below, although the author also provides them in the beginning of the book.  Definitely read this one when you’re feeling stalwart because it’s some heavy themes but well handled and important. 🙌🏽  
Okay, gonna go preorder Heavenly Tyrant now…😉 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

The rape is never any on page depictions, but it is implied to have happened to a few non major characters and there is pressure on the female protagonist to allow sex from people she doesn’t want it from. Rape is also discussed as a theme throughout the book in regards to gender based violence and oppression. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy to read despite not being overly graphic. I experienced intimate partner sexual coercion, manipulation, and a couple assaults and that made it feel close to home for me. If you’ve been through something more traumatic than I have, definitely read with care and don’t be afraid to take breaks and be sure to have some self care in place❤️‍🩹 It is an excellent read but heavy so I felt these notes were needed. The other violence mentioned, while not overly graphic, is still upsetting at times so again just…take good care.

morgs_gray's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Grief

Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Rape