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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Slow to get into for me, though some of that is because of a personal repulsion to gore and I found the description of feet binding to be gory . Also the FMC was driven by revenge at the beginning and I don't relate.
Things picked up in the middle and I was enjoying it, but felt like I was reluctantly getting through the final quarter rather than devouring it. Some revalations at the end may make me try the sequel, but I'm certainly not rushing to start.
Overall walking away with a feeling of it being okay but wishing there had been more. More developed between the FMC and two MMCs. More to care about or want to learn more about.
Audiobook version was great.
Things picked up in the middle and I was enjoying it, but felt like I was reluctantly getting through the final quarter rather than devouring it. Some revalations at the end may make me try the sequel, but I'm certainly not rushing to start.
Overall walking away with a feeling of it being okay but wishing there had been more. More developed between the FMC and two MMCs. More to care about or want to learn more about.
Audiobook version was great.
adventurous
dark
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
Iron Widow had the bones of a great concept and undeniably eye-catching cover art, but everything else fell flat. The author clearly wanted the main character to be compelling, maybe even admirable, but instead she came across as someone I couldn’t care less about. The plot’s potential was buried under frustrating characterization and writing choices that made it hard to stay invested. One star for the cool idea and pretty cover, zero stars for everything else.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
Zetian is a bad ass who refuses to bow down to the patriarchy and goes above and beyond to dismantle the misogynistic pilot system. The hatred of men is next level. It’s toxic feminism but justified.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, War, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Torture, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent
definitely more like a 4.5!
i really enjoyed this and the ending was sooooo slayful, i love to see morally gray/anti-hero(?) protagonists, they're always so interesting to read from! i also really liked the subversion of the typical love triangle tropes with zetian, shimin, and yizhi!! i wish we could have seen more of their interactions, but overall they were really cool to read about! some parts overall felt a little rushed and were confusing to figure out at the beginning, but i thought the world-building was so interesting and detailed (i absolutely loved the artwork of the chrysalises that the paperback version has!), so i really enjoyed reading this and can't wait for the sequel (and the inevitable mental distress it'll cause me)
i really enjoyed this and the ending was sooooo slayful, i love to see morally gray/anti-hero(?) protagonists, they're always so interesting to read from! i also really liked the subversion of the typical love triangle tropes with zetian, shimin, and yizhi!! i wish we could have seen more of their interactions, but overall they were really cool to read about! some parts overall felt a little rushed and were confusing to figure out at the beginning, but i thought the world-building was so interesting and detailed (i absolutely loved the artwork of the chrysalises that the paperback version has!), so i really enjoyed reading this and can't wait for the sequel (and the inevitable mental distress it'll cause me)
adventurous
dark
fast-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
Reviewing this after reading the sequel too.
I preferred book 1 to book 2 but not sure how much that is colored by the fact that I (mistakenly) thought I was reading a complete duology. It is not. Sad. Don’t want to wait for a conclusion.
I really enjoyed the Chinese influence - it was a very different “magic” system from what I usually read. It’s a bit darker than a lot of books I would have put against it as “similarly” but it works. It just challenges you to think about the what ifs.
I really appreciated the acceptance of lgbt characters as a “well duh” while still acknowledging that not everyone in the world would be so accepting.
The romance is nicely balanced in - not a chili pepper level view of action but sweet hints.
I could hardly put this down. Read it in just days (which is impressive with my current toddler mom era life.) When I couldn’t read I was thinking about it. Digitally checked out book two the same night I finished book one.
I preferred book 1 to book 2 but not sure how much that is colored by the fact that I (mistakenly) thought I was reading a complete duology. It is not. Sad. Don’t want to wait for a conclusion.
I really enjoyed the Chinese influence - it was a very different “magic” system from what I usually read. It’s a bit darker than a lot of books I would have put against it as “similarly” but it works. It just challenges you to think about the what ifs.
I really appreciated the acceptance of lgbt characters as a “well duh” while still acknowledging that not everyone in the world would be so accepting.
The romance is nicely balanced in - not a chili pepper level view of action but sweet hints.
I could hardly put this down. Read it in just days (which is impressive with my current toddler mom era life.) When I couldn’t read I was thinking about it. Digitally checked out book two the same night I finished book one.
Polyamorous version of sexist hunger games + aliens! Incredible concept and aesthetics, the relationships didn’t feel fully developed, but still very enjoyable.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
It was a little predictable but I loved the world.
I thought this book was really interesting. I’m honestly surprised this was a YA novel and not new adult. The themes throughout the book and the general premise of the book is pretty brutal. I probably would’ve rated the book higher, but there were some things that had issues with. I was a bit lost on the world politics within the book. I had a vague understanding of the workings, but the book didn’t really go that much in depth. I respect the author for making the love triangle as a true love triangle. It’s a polyamorous relationship- everybody involved was interested in each other. However, there were some of the pairings that I didn’t understand where the sudden romantic feelings came from. There was no real build up or little scenes amongst them that would explain it. Also, some of the characters felt a bit flat to me. I love an unapologetic character when it’s done right, but this felt wish-washy to me. Zetian was judging certain people’s actions and then would turn around and do the same thing. Or maybe that’s the point and it went over me 😭 to be fair, I haven’t really read that many books with morally gray characters. I think my biggest issue was that there was a lot of showing and not telling in this book.
I feel like I rambled about a lot of issues, but I did find the book interesting. I can see myself picking up the second one in the series after I work through the other books I have currently checked out.
I feel like I rambled about a lot of issues, but I did find the book interesting. I can see myself picking up the second one in the series after I work through the other books I have currently checked out.