Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Iron Widow

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

631 reviews

adalinemccormick's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring sad 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

18 year old Zetain offers herself up as a concubine in order to assassinate her sister's killer. But what she never expects to do it's to kill him through their psychic link and survive. Now she carries the label of the Black Widow, a feared woman who has too much power. She is then paired up with Li Shimin, the most powerful pilot (also deathrow inmate) in hopes of suppressing her power. Again she pulls off the unexpected when their pairing is a match.

I really love this book. It has fantastic world building, dynamic characters, and a plot that sucks you in. I love how she brings in historical figures and facts while manipulating them to be relevant to this story and world. Feminism/patriarchy is obviously the main theme tackled here, but she also tackles addiction, abuse, government corruption and oppression, and gender and sexuality.

Throughout the story we learn about how Huaxia is a country fighting against alien invaders called Hunduns, these giant round metallic creatures. For centuries they have been battling them using Chrysalises (giant magical robots crafted out of the spirit metal of Hundun corpses) which uses a two-pilot system in which one girl and one boy pilot a single vehicle.

Huaxia is rules over by the Heavenly Council, a group of "Gods" who orbit the planet. The people of Huaxia must offer up Hunduns corpses in return for the gift of technological schematics. We discover that

the the people of Huaxia are actually the invaders and that their colony only exists to kill and harvest Hunduns for the precious spirit metal. This leaves so many unanswered questions. Where are these people originally from? Are there other colonies? What do they need this metal for?

This world is a patriarchal hell-hole for women. Women have two choices in life: become a wife or sacrifice yourself as a pilot's concubine. Women rarely survive as a concubine as they are scaeificed to ensure the man survives.

Throughout the story we meet Zetian (the iron widow), Li Shimin (the iron demon) and Yizhi (the cinnamon roll rich boy). Zetian comes into the story roaring. There is no build up to her rage, she just wakes up and chooses violence. I love it. She is a very compelling and fascinating character. Through her we learn about the misogyny blanketing this world, suppressing women to sexual play things and property. She is determined to make the world a better place and stands up when all others cower. As she learns about the truth behind the army, she seeks to destroy it from the inside out, willing to sacrifice herself for a better future.

The yin seat is designed to limit the power of women and turns them into a battery that is easily consumed by the male pilot in the yang seat. This ensures the pilots survival.

I really appreciate the approach she took with the love triangle that could have been. Zetian is in love with Yizhi, yet develops feelings for Shimin as well.

Does she have to choose? Nope! And not only does she get to be with both guys, but they both develop feeling for each other. So we get bisexual representation and a polyamorous relationship. Perfect!

I love this because I generally dislike the YA angst of a love triangle.

Content Warnings

ax_sebas's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious sad 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

an absolute thrill! i loved every word of this book. truly jaw dropping.

Content Warnings

c_dmckinney's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

raebelanger's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

erstreetman's review against another edition

4.0

fast-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Content Warnings

brighgreen's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

Maybe the best book I’ve ever read. Definitely top 3. This complicated and interesting and devastating book made me feel everything: the good the bad, and the very bad. A book about fantasy and the cold truth we face today and have faced forever, in such a clear way. I don’t know how to describe it; just read it.

Second time reading it through, I notice a lot more unbelievable dialogue and character development (sometimes it feels like everything clicks together too seamlessly romance/alliance-wise) and Part Three was very underwhelming (while reading it I was thinking “I have this book 5 stars??) but then the ending really did it for me and I remembered that’s what happened the last time I read this too. Still a great read and I’m excited for the sequel.

Content Warnings