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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
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
Everything positive you’ve heard about this was absolutely correct.
Go read it.
Go read it.
I don’t even know where to start. This book was absolutely stunning and truly surprising. It explores gender and power and oppressive systems; it’s violent and bloodthirsty and unforgiving; and it’s also tender and careful and lovely. There are twists and turns that instantly became some of my all-time favorites. I got this book from the library, but this is one I NEED to own. Easiest five-star rating in a while.
PLEASE NOTE the content warnings listed at the front of the book. I’ll summarize them here: violence and torture, and particularly heavy warnings for suicide ideation, alcohol addiction, and sexual assault.
PLEASE NOTE the content warnings listed at the front of the book. I’ll summarize them here: violence and torture, and particularly heavy warnings for suicide ideation, alcohol addiction, and sexual assault.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Probably my favorite book I've read so far this year. Immediately started the sequel, heavenly tyrant.
I resonate so much with the female rage as well as the breaking of systems -- the gender binary, heteronormativity, the patriarchy, normalization of monogamy.
I think we are not used to seeing such overt female rage, revenge, and unapologetic strength. It's refreshing to read.
I resonate so much with the female rage as well as the breaking of systems -- the gender binary, heteronormativity, the patriarchy, normalization of monogamy.
I think we are not used to seeing such overt female rage, revenge, and unapologetic strength. It's refreshing to read.
I’m not usually into science fiction but this book absolutely blew me away. Iron Widow is set in a world where boys of Huaxia dream of piloting giant mecha called Chrysalises to fight aliens beyond the Great Wall, and girls are forced to co-pilot with them, pouring out their chi until they literally die for the cause. Casual patriarchy at work.
Enter Wu Zetian. She signs up to be a concubine-pilot not out of loyalty, but for revenge. The guy she’s paired with killed her sister, and Zetian plans to make him pay. What nobody expects is that she actually pulls it off, killing him through their psychic bond and walking away alive. Instead of being a victim, she’s suddenly labeled the Iron Widow, a title used to silence and fear women who can turn the system against men.
From there Zetian does not stop. She’s fearless, morally grey, and absolutely done putting up with anyone’s nonsense. Every time someone tried to control her I found myself smiling because I knew she was about to wreck their day. She might be one of my favorite FMCs of all time.
And yes, there’s romance, but it’s not your typical love triangle. It’s more of a love circle and it just works so well with the story.
This book slaps. It’s bold, it’s brutal, it’s feminist, and it gave me a heroine who is willing to burn the world down if that’s what it takes. I went in thinking it was a standalone, but finding out there’s a sequel has me ridiculously excited.