Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

635 reviews

miss__manga__'s review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Not a perfect read but a great one. I think some of the repeated ideas (mcs ranting) could have been tightened and condensed to make more room for world building and the poly relationship. I feel like a lot was done off screen in that regard. 

Saw the end coming to a degree, but not the ultimatum. 

Contains some iconic and hilarious lines. Looking forward to the sequel. Li Shimin supremacy!

Do not understand the tattoos of one of the love interests. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Colonisation, War

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent

tacita's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, War

olivialandryxo's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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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I am FLABBERGASTED. I am NUMB. I am in PAIN. Xiran Jay Zhao is an EVIL GENIUS.

I don’t think I could write a proper review for this if I tried, but let me say this: it’s been 40 minutes since I finished the book, and I’ve done nothing except try to process what the hell just happened. Immediately after finishing the book, I had to set my phone down so I wouldn’t throw it. I bit my lip so I wouldn’t shriek. I spent several minutes just staring at the wall.

Every part of this book is absolutely brilliant—the characters, the relationships, the world-building, the plot. The world Zhao created is complex and fascinating, as are the characters. Zetian and Shimin are unhinged and I love them for it. Yizhi is a cinnamon roll on the way to becoming unhinged and I love him for it. The trio’s dynamic is my new favorite thing. It’s iconic. They’re iconic. I’ll be thinking of them for the rest of the day, definitely for the rest of the week, and probably even for the rest of the year.

I’m excited and also terrified out of my goddamn mind for the sequel. The author’s Goodreads review (which I found while looking unsuccessfully for a release date) just says, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it in the worst way possible.”

AND I??? EXCUSE ME??? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN????

Let the Iron Widow brainrot begin. :’)))

Representation

• Full cast of Chinese-inspired characters
• Bisexual polyamorous protagonist & love interests (protagonist is also disabled & uses a cane)
• FMM throuple

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault

Sexual assault is discussed, but there are no on-page depictions. As for everything else… just be careful. This is a seriously dark, brutal book.

itsnicholaslashay's review against another edition

2.25

adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault

may_alyse's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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: No

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a murderous, raging, and unflinching female protagonist is all ive ever wanted to read about. i love this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, War

Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia

angeldawn's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

ratkingwizard's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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 was a phenomenal book! I really loved the setting/world building especially with how it ended.  I also really enjoyed the main characters and their interpersonal relationships.  It was almost impossible to put down once I started. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence

Minor TW for Chinese foot binding (not bad for everyone but literally one of the only things I’m squeamish about)

pages_with_panda's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Alcohol

Minor: Sexual assault

ambitiousnalgene's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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I was all in for the first 60% of the book then it felt like it was going too fast to keep me all in. Still good! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts

everentropy's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark 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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A thrilling adventure starring Wu Zetian, the only female emperor of China, in an alternate history where alien invaders need to be fended off by mecha pilots. Compelling characters and an interesting twist at the end makes this an incredibly engaging read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual assault