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22.3k reviews for:

Iron Widow

Xiran Jay Zhao

4.13 AVERAGE

adventurous inspiring fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

4.75⭐️
adventurous dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Italian review:

DNF

Lo stile di scrittura è orribile e non mi piace come è caratterizzata la protagonista. Il libro si fa chiamare femminista ma lei "non é come le altre ragazze" roba già vista e rivista e non è vero femminismo. La protagonista odio praticamente tutti i personaggi femminili (che sono scritti dall'autrice in modo molto vano e stereotipato). Non è così che si fa il femminismo.
Inoltre il world building è inesistente, non capivo cosa stesse succedendo per la maggior parte del tempo.
Non capisco perché questo libro sia così acclamato, fa veramente schifo.

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English review:

DNF

The writing style is horrendous and I don't like how the protagonist is characterised. The book claims itself as feminist but she is "not like other girls" stuff already seen over and over and that is not real feminism. The protagonist hates basically all other female characters (which are all written by the author in a very stereotypical way, with no real personality). That's not how you do feminism.
Also the world building is nonexistent, I didn't understand what the fuck was going on for most of the time.
I don't get why this book is so acclaimed, it sucks.
adventurous emotional sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad 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: Yes

Holy fuck this book THIS BOOK this insane beautiful book had me at every turn. I DEVOURED THIS. I love every inclination of it. I need an R18 rewrite. I need it all. 
adventurous emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I loved the first 100ish pages of this book so strongly. Really thought it was going to be a 5 star read. 

I fell in love with the FMC at the beginning - she was fierce and came without the typical ‘lazy’ weaknesses I’ve found in many books recently. Her character really challenges what it is to be a woman in a culture like hers, in a non-apologetic way. 

Where I think this book fell down was that it was trying to cover too many important, sensitive topics. I found that it was jumping from one topic to the next, leaving little room for the sci-fi or even romance element to fully develop. There was a decent amount of sci-fi in the first and last 100 pages, but the 200 pages in the middle felt like it was over-tackling ‘shameful’ topics, which whilst important, got quite repetitive.

I loved both MMCs, both being a highlight of the book for me. The romance development felt realistic and I enjoyed this part of the plot. It felt quite shy at times and I really loved this aspect as it felt natural.
adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes