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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting premise, but the worldbuilding doesn't really come through. We get told a lot of little things that don't all make sense together. Characterization is inconsistent.
The development of the polyamorous relationship between the three main characters is a good point in the book's favor.
The development of the polyamorous relationship between the three main characters is a good point in the book's favor.
I was highly anticipating this book as a fan of Xiran Jay Zhao's content, but as a few other reviews have stated, Iron Widow fell a bit short for me. Firstly, it was easy to read and encourages me to read future works of Xiran, as I wasn't too bothered with the style of prose. That being said, I felt as though many of the plots in this book were rushed. Both Zetian's relationships with her love interests were presented to me in a blunt and underdeveloped fashion, rather than being shown and grown through multiple interactions, etc. I appreciate the queer rep but I wasn't invested in any of the three pairings as much as I should have been while reading this story. I also found this "telling, not showing" to be a problem when addressing the characters' sexualities, as the reader is literally TOLD how far "the attraction extends" to people outside the opposite gender. I was very disappointed as I could see the potential for the relationship being ignored in this book.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Onto the plot, I didn't have much of a problem with it until close to the end. The whole last arc of the book addresses Zetian's political revolution against the government that's supposed to occur directly after the Big Battle. I felt that it definitely could have been the focus of the second book in this series, so as to tie up loose ends in Iron Widow and to give the right amount of attention to the downfall of Huaxian government by Zetian's hand. However, it's just kind of solved by Zetian just killing everyone in power (I don't necessarily have a problem with this, but I wonder how she expects people to listen to her after the fact. It seemed like Zetian herself didn't think anything through). The plot twist, again was told instead of shown. Besides the aliens' few lines of speech, there was no foreshadowing for it, and completely took me out of the story's shakily built world, seeming just like a last ditch attempt by the author to set up a large conflict for the next book, even though Zetian taking over and trying to dismantle the patriarchy is already interesting enough. Lastly, besides Zetian suddenly changing her mind about Shimin, I don't think she went through any character development. The family visit scene was interesting to me, as Zhao starts to explore that complex feeling of mourning for your mother's ignorance and simultaneous anger with her for not breaking out of it, but that whole scene is obsolete in the end. I also found this issue with the other female pilot who let her partner tear up the most powerful Chrysalis in the world. It seemed out of character, and while I guess it was to show how stupid racist people can show up in the worst of moments, the partner only had one other scene in which he just throws a discrimination temper tantrum against any Rongdi pilots. I'm not sure if that scene was enough to foreshadow ruining the entire Big Battle Scene, although these are just my personal views.
All in all, I'm glad the book was successful, as I do still think Zhao can create some very eloquent content, but unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Onto the plot, I didn't have much of a problem with it until close to the end. The whole last arc of the book addresses Zetian's political revolution against the government that's supposed to occur directly after the Big Battle. I felt that it definitely could have been the focus of the second book in this series, so as to tie up loose ends in Iron Widow and to give the right amount of attention to the downfall of Huaxian government by Zetian's hand. However, it's just kind of solved by Zetian just killing everyone in power (I don't necessarily have a problem with this, but I wonder how she expects people to listen to her after the fact. It seemed like Zetian herself didn't think anything through). The plot twist, again was told instead of shown. Besides the aliens' few lines of speech, there was no foreshadowing for it, and completely took me out of the story's shakily built world, seeming just like a last ditch attempt by the author to set up a large conflict for the next book, even though Zetian taking over and trying to dismantle the patriarchy is already interesting enough. Lastly, besides Zetian suddenly changing her mind about Shimin, I don't think she went through any character development. The family visit scene was interesting to me, as Zhao starts to explore that complex feeling of mourning for your mother's ignorance and simultaneous anger with her for not breaking out of it, but that whole scene is obsolete in the end. I also found this issue with the other female pilot who let her partner tear up the most powerful Chrysalis in the world. It seemed out of character, and while I guess it was to show how stupid racist people can show up in the worst of moments, the partner only had one other scene in which he just throws a discrimination temper tantrum against any Rongdi pilots. I'm not sure if that scene was enough to foreshadow ruining the entire Big Battle Scene, although these are just my personal views.
All in all, I'm glad the book was successful, as I do still think Zhao can create some very eloquent content, but unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
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
I’d guess a 59 year old straight white guy isn’t exactly the target audience for this book. Spent the first 100 pages or so feeling guilty for simply existing as a man at all. The misogynistic world is utterly depressing and brutal - and made all the more so in the knowledge that foot binding was wide spread in China for centuries and there are almost certainly a few elderly women still alive who have had to live with it almost their whole lives. Having been brought up in a pretty privileged middle class area with women and girls who were at the very least my equal, if not better than me at many things - and certainly better role models than many of the males - I’ve never, ever, understood the belittling and oppression of half the human race which is still standard practice across so much of this benighted planet. Nor do I understand why people are so hung up about other people’s sexuality. How does it affect them?
I enjoyed the action sequences, Li Shimin’s character and the way different forms of Qi are used to give different effects and properties to the Chrysalises. Apart from the twist right at the end there was pretty much no explanation of the Hunduns, nor how they became different sizes, nor of how humans had managed to subvert their dead bodies to create the Chrysalises.
Knowing this book was written in the first person I ordinarily wouldn’t have read it as too often I find it increasingly annoying being inside the ego of somebody else, instead of getting an objective perspective, and this book was no different.
Wu Zetian is far from being a likeable character - guess you don’t become a ruling Empress any other way. She certainly has every reason to be angry with her lot and with her family, but in the end she looks as though she is aiming to replace one disgusting regime with another - albeit one where, perhaps, women might have a few more rights, at least if they are Pilots. Senseless and somewhat indiscriminate violence seems set to continue.
If this hadn’t been a Book Club choice I don’t think I would ever have read it and I was very glad to finish it so I could get back to books I’ll enjoy more.
I enjoyed the action sequences, Li Shimin’s character and the way different forms of Qi are used to give different effects and properties to the Chrysalises. Apart from the twist right at the end there was pretty much no explanation of the Hunduns, nor how they became different sizes, nor of how humans had managed to subvert their dead bodies to create the Chrysalises.
Knowing this book was written in the first person I ordinarily wouldn’t have read it as too often I find it increasingly annoying being inside the ego of somebody else, instead of getting an objective perspective, and this book was no different.
Wu Zetian is far from being a likeable character - guess you don’t become a ruling Empress any other way. She certainly has every reason to be angry with her lot and with her family, but in the end she looks as though she is aiming to replace one disgusting regime with another - albeit one where, perhaps, women might have a few more rights, at least if they are Pilots. Senseless and somewhat indiscriminate violence seems set to continue.
If this hadn’t been a Book Club choice I don’t think I would ever have read it and I was very glad to finish it so I could get back to books I’ll enjoy more.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, War
This book was a rollercoaster, but in a good way! 10/10 recommend, I am not entirely sure how to write a review without spoilers, but just trust me when I say you should read Iron Widow!
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
This book was recommended by a friend and I wasn't familiar with XJZ outside of this work. Iistened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent.
It features queer, poly, people with disabilities who aren't white. Yes. Love this. Let's read about people who aren't cis/white/het/etc.
This book gets three stars because I liked it. I didn't really like it (4 stars) or love it (5 stars). It was fun reading and I wanted to know what happened next. Some things I didn't like could be specific choices aimed at making the novel YA. I probably would have liked it more had I read it as a teenager.
XJZ has room to grow as an author and I'm looking forward to seeing how the second compares.
Here are my main criticisms:
1. I like reading books from authors with Asian heritage, like Ken Liu, Fonda Lee, Nghi Vo, RF Kuang, and Liu Cixin. This book has Chinese... flavour? It misses something these other authors have that makes culture integral to the story. You could take this story, change the names and dress styles of the characters, and it wouldn't have made much difference. (I did Google it to better understand the historic references, which was interesting). It reminds me more of Brandon Sanderson's Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I was hoping for something more, here. (I am super open to other perspectives on this. Happy to be wrong or have missed things.)
2. Lack of other female characters. Zetian is a Strong Female Character fighting the patriarchy...with other feminist men? The two other female pilots have different complex attitudes (cool), but why is Zetian the only lady woke to patriarchy? There are missed opportunities here.
2b. Lol @ Zetian being 18, mostly uneducated, and a fully formed social scientist amongst the brainwashed ladies. Fun and unrealistic.
2c. Why is Zetian brash around everyone else except the two other female pilots? It seemed inconsistent to me. I had many eye rolling moments at Zetian while reading. On reflection, I do like how her anger is a strength and weakness.
2d. Nitpicky for a fantasy/sci-fi/YA novel, but that is not how someone moves on from suicidal ideation and depression.
3. Saw the Big Twist coming almost from the start.
4. The narrative style reminded me a bit if ACOTAR ("I'm so gritty and dark, I did this to survive, also, sex") and The Empyrean. One I hated and one I loved, so I will split the difference on this.
Tl;dr - A fun contemporary read that lacks some of the sophistication that could have given the book the incisiveness the author seemed to be looking for.
It features queer, poly, people with disabilities who aren't white. Yes. Love this. Let's read about people who aren't cis/white/het/etc.
This book gets three stars because I liked it. I didn't really like it (4 stars) or love it (5 stars). It was fun reading and I wanted to know what happened next. Some things I didn't like could be specific choices aimed at making the novel YA. I probably would have liked it more had I read it as a teenager.
XJZ has room to grow as an author and I'm looking forward to seeing how the second compares.
Here are my main criticisms:
1. I like reading books from authors with Asian heritage, like Ken Liu, Fonda Lee, Nghi Vo, RF Kuang, and Liu Cixin. This book has Chinese... flavour? It misses something these other authors have that makes culture integral to the story. You could take this story, change the names and dress styles of the characters, and it wouldn't have made much difference. (I did Google it to better understand the historic references, which was interesting). It reminds me more of Brandon Sanderson's Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I was hoping for something more, here. (I am super open to other perspectives on this. Happy to be wrong or have missed things.)
2. Lack of other female characters. Zetian is a Strong Female Character fighting the patriarchy...with other feminist men? The two other female pilots have different complex attitudes (cool), but why is Zetian the only lady woke to patriarchy? There are missed opportunities here.
2b. Lol @ Zetian being 18, mostly uneducated, and a fully formed social scientist amongst the brainwashed ladies. Fun and unrealistic.
2c. Why is Zetian brash around everyone else except the two other female pilots? It seemed inconsistent to me. I had many eye rolling moments at Zetian while reading. On reflection, I do like how her anger is a strength and weakness.
2d. Nitpicky for a fantasy/sci-fi/YA novel, but that is not how someone moves on from suicidal ideation and depression.
3. Saw the Big Twist coming almost from the start.
4. The narrative style reminded me a bit if ACOTAR ("I'm so gritty and dark, I did this to survive, also, sex") and The Empyrean. One I hated and one I loved, so I will split the difference on this.
Tl;dr - A fun contemporary read that lacks some of the sophistication that could have given the book the incisiveness the author seemed to be looking for.