Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

635 reviews

jessicax941's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault

evs_shelves's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, War

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War

victoriousbookworm's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

---

 

I heard the author describe this book as “400 pages of female rage” and they were completely right and I am here for it! 

 

I absolutely loved this book! Wu Zetian is everything a girl in her society isn’t supposed to be: spirited, headstrong, determined, and a dreamer. She enlists into the army to avenge her big sister’s death and becomes the Iron Widow. Through her journey, trials and successes, she never loses her fierce spirit. 

 

This story was intense throughout, with lots of twists and turns. The dynamic between the three main characters was engaging and their journey extremely gripping. 

While I recommend this book, I also recommend checking the content warnings, as there are instances and descriptions of sensitive topics. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War

Minor: Sexual assault

mekikula's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

alliallialli's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark 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

---

This book is everything I want in a YA fantasy. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence

thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition

5.0

---

I read this in an afternoon and couldn't put it down! Definitely impatiently waiting for the sequel now!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

megselyane's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail

ka_ke's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark 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: Yes

---

As a debut novel, Iron Widow gets the job done. It’s a good mix of sci-fi meets literary fiction. I felt that the first part was shorter than it could have been, while the other two parts were longer than they needed to be. I felt that some of the women’s rights pieces were either repetitive or preachy, and that is coming from someone who is actively watching the world turn against women and dying inside while it happens. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement

coolra's review against another edition

2.5

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture