Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Iron Widow

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

635 reviews

pastelkerstin's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

(Definitely look at content warnings for this book. It is dark. So dark that I'm questioning whether it should have been marketed as adult instead of YA.)

Here are two facts about my experience reading this book:
1) I fundamentally disagree with the moral framework for justice that the main characters use (revenge as the response to injustice).
2) I found this book gripping despite that.

Some people hold the view that to like a book with flawed characters means that you agree with everything they do, but I think that's a ridiculous way to view fiction.

Yes, I think Zetian's methods are unethical. But no, that doesn't mean that this book ruins the perception of real-world feminism. Zetian is flawed, hypocritical at times, and cruel. But it's also very clear that she became this way because of the deeply oppressive misogynist society she lives in. She's the monster the world forced her to be if she wants to survive. She's not your perfect feminist icon, who is a good example for children, because she is a fictional character in a very specific world with very specific circumstances, some of them based on actual historical (and on-going) women's rights issues, and some of them entirely fictional. Let female characters be fucked up sometimes!

That's all I have to say on that. Additional thoughts: I wish this book slowed down more often to give you a bit more breathing room between so many tough scenes. I also think those "breaks" could have been used to flesh out the relationships more. I was definitely rooting for these three, but a lot of their falling for each other seems to happen in the in-betweens that we don't get to see. Nevertheless, I think having more canon polyamorous relationships in traditionally published books is really important. The polya rep is one of the main reasons I read this book. I think polya triads where everyone is dating each other allow for very interesting character dynamics.

Another thing I struggled a bit with was not letting the combination of traditional and at times conservative elements and futuristic sci-fi tech break my suspension of disbelief. Some parts of this world seem so very old and then others are so futuristic. I know this is deliberate. It's what makes this world-building pretty unique. But it can feel a bit disorienting at times.

All right, that's all. I'm very interested to see where the sequel will go.

Content Warnings

isnotacrayon's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

macknificent's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

"In fact, I am what the worst kind of hope looks like. The kind that has driven group after group of girls here to be prettied into concubines. Families will point at me— this tamed, airbrushed image of me— to calm down their daughters about being sold to the army."

"One last thing,” I say over my shoulder, too quiet for my family to hear over the hovercraft churning. “Don’t think I’ve overlooked that you came to my house and almost foiled my plan, despite knowing how important it is to me. If you tip off the army in even the slightest way, I will kill myself when they lock me up, and then I will haunt you.”

What I Liked: The opening of the book was stellar! I felt like I was in the midst of a Gundam battle and somehow it had been turned into a novel! The world felt very full and the characters were complex, Wu Zetian's fury and follow through was glorious in the first portion of the book. I appreciated the constant call out of the patriarchy and how it was shown to affect every level of their world.

What I Didn't Like: Once Wu Zetian achieved her initial objective it felt like the book lost its momentum and cohesiveness. In the second half of the book we jumped from gritty & dark to sappy & thoroughly YA with no warning, rhythm or purpose. As happens with many debuts, the ending felt rushed as we tried to wrap up a lot of loose ends and set up for the next book.

We never found out the story behind Gao Yizhi's tattoos!

I enjoyed this book immensely but there are issues with consistency and character cohesiveness that I hope are improved in the next book.

Content Warnings

leonormsousa's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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

Warning: please, DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSYS! thank you!

If you’re following me, you probably already noticed how passionate I am about this book: it was my favourite read of 2021 (and one of my favourite ones ever) and I keep recommending it to everyone. However, I’ve been finding it hard getting around to writing a review, as I usually do with books that have such a big impact on me. I’m pretty sure that no matter what I write, my review will never even begin to express how I feel about this little piece of artwork I’ve stumbled upon. Nevertheless, I’m still gonna try!

I think the first word that comes to my mind when I’m trying to describe Iron Widow is INSPIRING! Iron Widow had everything to be just an amazing Sci-Fi book, but it is so much more than just that. It’s a book that takes all these fictional elements and tells a real message (well, several ones actually). In my opinion, it’s the kind of book that can change the world if it reaches the right audience.

I’ve lately been slowly leaving young adult behind and turning myself more to new adult/adult books since many times they’re able to approach dark topics in a much deeper way (also: smut! :P). However, I think young adult is the perfect age target for Iron Widow and I know it must have not been easy to adapt a book that has a lot of violence and darkness to a younger target but I’m so grateful that Xiran Jay Zhao did it! It makes me so freaking happy to think of all the young people that can pick this book up and see themselves represented or, on the other side, learn about a perspective they hadn’t thought of before. People that are in their mind moulding phase, that can be educated with this book and that can later on, together, change the course of the world. Maybe I dream too big, but this is the future I imagine for this book and it's one of the reasons it will always have a special place in my heart.

Now, moving on. What makes this such a great novel?

It’s a super paced book with things happening all the time. It draws you in a way you just don’t want to stop reading (even when it ends!). And I should mention it since I read it one day (ONE DAY!).

The sci-fi elements (the mechas, the qi flow, etc.) were super interesting and creative. And although it’s such a complex system, I think the book introduces it in a very organic and well-paced way. I read the synopsis a few times and I didn’t understand a thing, but while reading the book everything was perfectly clear. I got to admit though that I had some trouble picturing the mechas at first but a look at some drawings available on Xiran Jay Zhao’s website really helped so I would definitely like to see a future special edition of the book containing those illustrations.

The characters were strong and likeable but very much in the grey area (we love our grey characters!). They had to compromise and do bad things, they’re not the “perfect heroes” and that’s exactly what makes them so great. They were far from plain and, just like one expects from a great novel, they had a good development through the book. I especially enjoyed seeing Zetian’s (the MC) growth: in the beginning, I thought she wasn’t very flexible with others and had trouble accepting the lack of action from them, the fact they weren’t willing to fight and risk things as she did. But she improved greatly and started to be able to understand that not everyone has the strength, the conditions or even the vision to see what’s wrong and challenge it, that sometimes there is more to a person than meets the eye.

And of course, we couldn’t miss some romance, which was just in the right amount and included the best (maybe even the only good one?) type of love triangle. “Love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open.” Tell me this doesn’t completely fill your heart?! I know! It is also evidence #1 (as evidence #2 I’ll use the whole book!) of the beautiful writing of Xiran Jay Zhao, one more “check” in Iron Widow's checklist on how to build a perfect book.

You want more? I can give you more! (I can do this all day)

I think the main topic of this book is feminism and it approaches it deliciously. But when it comes to hard topics, gender is just the start of it all. There are some discrimination issues coming from the division between different kinds of Chinese “communities”. There is ableism and the discussion around the foot-binding tradition and its consequences (as well as how it’s just another way of asserting control over women). There are LGBTQIA+ rights (with good representation!) and the issue of economic differences, as well as prejudice against ex-offenders and alcohol abuse, among so many other topics that are introduced into the characters and plot. At this point, you’re probably thinking this is too much, but I can assure you it is not, since some of these topics are more focused on while others are more lightly mentioned in a way that still brings awareness to them but doesn’t make the book too heavy.

And the introduction of Chinese history in the book: chefs kiss. It’s somehow a book that, being science-fiction, you would expect to give you futuristic vibes, but that instead, gives you almost of a mythological feeling, with the emperors and the legends and the qi. I was living for it! For all you historical lovers out there though, I wouldn’t say to grab on that much to this: it is definitely not historical. But it’s just another detail that contributes to the whole book.

So how much am I obsessing deeply about the second book? The answer is: YES, YES, YES! The ending of Iron Widow was just gasp and I can’t wait to see what is coming my way. In the meanwhile, a girl will have to find comfort in worshipping the book and broadcasting the word of god Xiran Jay Zhao to the rest of the world.

And this, I guess, was all my thoughts about the book put together. It’s been 2 months since I read this, some details are already forgotten but it was time to face this review so I could move on to other books. I’ve only been able to give 5 stars to another book since this one (and it was a novella) which just comes to show how I can’t seem to let go of Iron Widow.

Just before I finish, something very very important I wanted to say: Thank you so much Xiran Jay Zhao for the fight you put into this book. For persisting all the NOs until you find a way to tell us YOUR story, in YOUR way, without any shortcuts. Zetian said in your book: “The world does not deserve my respect. It is not worthy of my kindness or compassion.” Well, the world doesn’t deserve you or the beautiful masterpiece you created. But you still gave it to us and I want to believe that those are the kind of gestures that will make it worthy one day.

Content Warnings

kaseybereading'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

Content Warnings

reocalabra's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark mysterious 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

Content Warnings

angelviewing's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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: Yes

Content Warnings

recycled_personalities's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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: Complicated

It’s genuinely become one of my favourite books and I cannot wait for the sequel. It takes us into a world of torturous misogyny and gives us the one girl who will fuck shit up with no regrets. And, even though it’s not the main focus of the book, the romance in it is quite literally the best I have ever read and I fear that I will never read something as good as it again. If I could give this more stars, I would.

Content Warnings

soundlysmitten's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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

While Iron Widow is inspired by the history of China and its only female emperor, it actually takes place in a different world. One in which more than the patriarchy is set to topple. The official blurb gives away too much and I can’t figure out how to sum things up without revealing key plot points either. So here is an amusing summary posted by the author which you may or may not understand:

“Under siege by monsters beyond the Great Wall like that shitty Matt Damon movie (except the monsters are Cybertronian-like sentient machines) a society that has the fashion, social customs, and beliefs of Ancient China but futuristic tech fights back by pulling a Neon Genesis Evangelion and rebuilding their very invaders into giant mecha. A boy-girl pair in their teens, because of course they have to be teens, pilot the mecha Darling in the Franxx style, except in a much more sensible position (he hugs her from behind). Under command of human pilots, these mecha take on forms inspired by East Asian myth creatures and transform like Transformers through Digimon-esque evolution lines that get more humanoid as you go on. The pilots physically embody them, so it's more Attack on Titan than Gundam. Oh, and they blast qi attacks, so the battles honestly read like a bunch of furries engaged in a Dragon Ball Z fight, and that’s no one’s fault but mine.”

I heard NGE, Digimon & Dragon Ball, lol. Suffice it to say, Iron Widow is a trip 😹 In a good way, though. I don’t usually follow sci-fi well, but all the fast paced action in this book is surprisingly easy to visualize. The pages are rife with brutality, but there’s a good amount of well-timed humor as well. The morally grey cast is complete with a cinnamon roll character. There’s a love triangle that doesn’t follow the usual set up where everyone gets hurt and you can guess early on who ends up alone. And, another brilliant twist.

However, some people don’t like that the book is marketed as feminist because the main character, Zetian, is all about violence and bloodshed. In my opinion… some people need to recall that this story is set in a world where survival is rooted in violence and the government has been systematically sacrificing women for generations. It’s not like Zetian can change anything by say, running for office or writing to representatives. And we are capable of thinking critically, so should we really require her to be the ultimate feminist icon at all times just because the book has feminist themes? Zetian's life is constantly on the line. She isn't given many options, so while her actions might not always reflect an ideal picture of humanity, I think she operates in a realistic way considering all she's been through and all she's up against. In the beginning, it’s obvious that she is desperately done with life. Consumed by grief and rage, she is ready to sacrifice her awful family along with herself. Moreover, she contemplates possibly damning the human race for the sake of revenge. I would’ve liked more content on Zetian’s bond with Big Sister in order to make better sense of her death as Zetian’s initial driving force, but all the same… as circumstances shift, she comes to realize she has a bit of power to leverage and hope begins to spark in her chest. Her goals get bigger, less selfish. It’s still very clear, though, that if things don’t change, she doesn’t want to be around. Taking her past trauma, the conditions she's being forced to endure, and her mental/emotional/spiritual state into account, how can readers expect her to be this golden heroine who always does the right thing? Even the very concept of ‘the right thing’ becomes convoluted as the story progresses. Right or wrong, Zetian is the type of person who’s willing to make heartless decisions in order to tear down the toxic system she was born into. But she’s also prone to lashing out in fits of anguish. And I do wonder how the aftermath of her actions will settle, how she will process it all…

If Zetian ends up having to pull her efforts back, will she feel like she killed her family for nothing? What about the woman who got blackmailed into attacking her? Will she come to regret later murdering that woman?

Another reason people have argued the book shouldn't be labeled feminist is that Zetian goes about attaining victory the way men are often portrayed doing so. I agree that women don't need to emulate men in order to be strong and I so appreciate stories about women who are strong by their own feminine standards. But Zetian is a girl whose qi manifests the way society might expect a guy’s to, and it's great. It doesn't change the fact that the narrative centers on the liberation of women, so I don't see it as a reason to denounce the story's feminist themes.

My question isn’t how did Zetian get such ‘radical’ ideas, but why does she appear to be the only one seeing clearly enough to get big mad?

As someone pointed out to me, there have been others before Zetian. The general population just isn't aware of them, and that seems to further illustrate the fact that the average woman is in no position to push back. But...

I wonder why all these other female characters seem to believe the lie that it's a woman's privilege to almost certainly die. True, they've been exposed to propaganda their whole lives. But is there really only one woman in a generation with thoughts to the contrary, or has the author just delayed introducing us to others/kept them in hiding for the time being?

I think it would've been cool to have the other female pilots in a Balanced Match work with Zetian in some capacity, rather than be hostile and antagonistic or secretly work against her. Though I suppose their actions make a point on the reality of women tearing down other women. And I'm glad we get to see at least a little loyalty towards the end. I do anticipate greater solidarity as the story progresses and hope it coming through gradually will serve to make the narrative even stronger.

Content Warnings

laurajeangrace's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

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