Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

633 reviews

cozyscones's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault

gogglor's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Imagine the Hunger Games, the Handmaid’s Tale, and Pacific Rim all had a big poly relationship and made a big poly baby. That is this book.

I’ve already recommended this book to three people. Wonderful example of how to write complicated people.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, War

Minor: Biphobia, Sexual violence, Death of parent

The protagonist’s feet are bound, and it’s described in visceral detail.

pitchblackkoi's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I love stuff where characters aren’t necessarily “good people.” This book delivers on this. Wu Zetian isn’t a “good” protagonist, but you understand why she is doing what she does in this book. Wrap it up in Chinese mythology and history (something I am by no means an expert in but find immensely fascinating and enjoy learning about) AND put giant robots in it and you have a book that hooks you from page one. The writing style in this book makes it a quick and easy read even as it also goes into some tough to read subjects. I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Classism

rambles's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture

Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape

ender24's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

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DAMN.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

kefeshe's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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: Complicated

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This book was so incredible!!! The writing style was so captivating every word felt carefully chosen to give the biggest impact, and was consistent throughout the book. We see our main character full of passions and goals, and while she faces set backs and challenges, we see how she has been able to learn from experiences and ultimately prioritise her morals and personal principles over all else. I saw the author post a video on the number of annoying tropes that are challenged in this book and it's so satisfying!!! The love triangle that ends in polyamoury, and not loving family simply because they are blood, but respecting them how they have respected you! I was on my toes at every moment just needing to know what happened next. Reading highlight of the month, for sure! Maybe even highlight of the year it was that good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Classism

Minor: Sexual assault, Xenophobia

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Classism

Moderate: Xenophobia, Grief

unwise_samwise's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Trafficking, War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture

icy_queen's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Do not expect any of the characters to be "nice" or "good people" and be prepared for many horrible things to happen (definitely check trigger warnings)! If you're ok with that or even enjoy reading it, I highly recommend this book.

The main character is absolutely, wonderfully unhinged and hellbent on revenge for her sister, herself, and all the other girls that were sacrificed, mutilated and/or killed by their society. She doesn't stop at killing her sister's murderer, but strives to destroy the whole system with the help of her soft "rich boy" bestfriend and her dangerous, bad boy, involuntary co-pilot (the three of them form an actual love triangle).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality

Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Medical content

There is a a short list of potential triggers at the beginning of the book. Other triggers that cannot be tagged and could be huge SPOILERS:

Main Character Death (unclear if it's final) Foot-binding of girls' feet Domestic Abuse is pretty normal in this society Boys are hugely preferred over girls Purity Culture Etc.

meowbies's review against another edition

4.25

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation