Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

631 reviews

xx_salem's review against another edition

3.0

dark 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: Yes

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The book was good but the main character upset me in a lot of her choices, I recognized she was tied but I wanted to see her put more on the line and take more and honestly be more evil. It got better in the end, I really liked the twist, but at the same time it took all of the sting out of the book, as if her actions didn’t really have consequences. I didn’t really feel sadness or attachments to any of the characters and really wished the Iron Widow didn’t feel as if she was made out to be the one truly strong girl, I wanted to see more scary powerful women if only in little actions behind the scenes. And all the love felt rushed and awkward and the lack of chemistry I felt was excused by this idea of accepting her sexuality, it’s a nice concept but felt really weirdly executed and off in this romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

jenny_d's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Alcohol

kennyhamann1312's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark 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: No

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i have NEVER read a book that has represented so much lgbt diversity while still being set in traditional ancient Chinese culture. NEVER before have I seen not one but TWO MALE BISEXUAL CHARACTERS. This book is the best writing I've ever read. It dives deep into gender stereotype and sexism hidden in modern culture, while melding together the thrills of Chinese myths and culture. I never read books a second time! but I certainly would read this book again while I wait for the next in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol

nhollie's review against another edition

3.5

emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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The plot is interesting and the world building is vibrant, but the way that gender/sexism/women taking back their power is described in the book reminds me so deeply of being on Tumblr in 2014. And I think in the way that talking back against the gender stereotypes of Wu Zeitan’s world and our own, her character becomes flattened and loses complexity. The world building also gets sort of flat and the Chrysalis tech/training gets zoomed through. The best way I can put it is I would have liked to see more nuance — but I’m interested enough in the world and characters to check out the sequel when it comes out and Zhao’s future novels.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail

micah_mac's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement

julbel's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Intense experience of one young woman's struggle in a system that views her as no more than fuel for an endless war. 
The quick pace of the book does leave me wishing for more moments of quiet, which are few and brief, to get a sense of the characters outside of turmoil. Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi are compelling characters, with much potential for further development of depth (and hopefully *some* down time to figure out who they are when they aren't trying to overthrow the government). 
Looking forward to the continuation of this story in the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality

hales_writes's review against another edition

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I really wanted to like and finish this book. But the (totally justified) mc's rage and painful descriptions of foot binding lead to me putting the book down. I think the story itself was great, I may try again in the future.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts

runefiction's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape

obtoosegoose's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts

krystaldelusion's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, War

Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault