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norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
phantasmaboo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
Iron Widow follows the story of Wu Zetian, who lives in a futuristic society after an attack on humanity. Her world is constantly under threat from the invading species, and to combat them, they have developed a pilot system in which male pilots consume the life energy of their female co-pilots. Zetian enlists after a pilot kills her system, seeking revenge against not only the man himself, but the system that enabled him.
In a harrowing tale that examines the victimization of women within a patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhou creates a fantastical world that is somehow not too dissimilar from our own. Zetian’s (and other women’s) experiences are highly relatable to today’s world. This books holds no punches as she channels her grief, sadness, and rage into each of her actions to take down the society she lives in.
Overall, I gave this book five stars. Zhou was ferociously brave in her writing and I see this book as the type to advance the genre. I hope more authors and publishers take note, and perhaps begin to write from the “villain’s” point of view, incorporate other perspectives and cultures, and include LGBTQIA+ and different relationship structures. Finally, I love that the book pulled heavily from Chinese culture. It added a layer and perspective not often seen in Western books. I can confidently say I have not read a book like this before, and I cannot wait for Zhou’s next novel.
However, I would be remiss to not mention Zhou’s own warning. This book contains torture, sexual assault (not graphic), body shaming, and body mutilation. Please make sure to check Zhou’s warning before reading, as I can see this text being very triggering.
In a harrowing tale that examines the victimization of women within a patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhou creates a fantastical world that is somehow not too dissimilar from our own. Zetian’s (and other women’s) experiences are highly relatable to today’s world. This books holds no punches as she channels her grief, sadness, and rage into each of her actions to take down the society she lives in.
Overall, I gave this book five stars. Zhou was ferociously brave in her writing and I see this book as the type to advance the genre. I hope more authors and publishers take note, and perhaps begin to write from the “villain’s” point of view, incorporate other perspectives and cultures, and include LGBTQIA+ and different relationship structures. Finally, I love that the book pulled heavily from Chinese culture. It added a layer and perspective not often seen in Western books. I can confidently say I have not read a book like this before, and I cannot wait for Zhou’s next novel.
However, I would be remiss to not mention Zhou’s own warning. This book contains torture, sexual assault (not graphic), body shaming, and body mutilation. Please make sure to check Zhou’s warning before reading, as I can see this text being very triggering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, and War
pucks_pups's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is so good , I need more . Characters are complex and plot is equisite. Only gave 4.75 cause cliff hanger. Why you do this 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Rape, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
blissofalife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fantastic original plot and characters, presented with great descriptions for visualization!
Would be 5 stars if the writing wasn’t juvenile with some of the dialogue, it pulled me out of the setting abruptly.
Can’t wait for the next book!
Would be 5 stars if the writing wasn’t juvenile with some of the dialogue, it pulled me out of the setting abruptly.
Can’t wait for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
honey_pie's review against another edition
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
5.0
The single bad thing I have to say about this book is that the epilogue is clearly only there to set up a sequel, a bunch of stuff and plot twists and information comes out within 2 pages and it seems a little forced so that she can set up another book lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, and Kidnapping
andromeda_1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Iron widow is one of those books that I followed on TikTok while it wasn’t released yet and my anticipations were HIGH, for the record they records they were so ridiculously high that I waited months to read it. And while the book hasn’t let me down there are still some points about this that I wish where different.
Characters
Zutain is a very strong woman, who challenges the ideals of her whole society. She is strong minded, brazen and dangerous. It’s amazing! She is really morally grey and we all know that I love those kind of characters. The only thing I liked less was the relationship…. I wanted more, more moments of tenderness. One of the relationships was already a thing when the book started and the other was a complete 180 from the way she viewed this character when they met. We get some growth into there relationship but I would have liked to see more bounding moments.
Worldbuilding
This world is very Mecha, which is exactly how it is advertised, but with a lot of story outside of the Mecha. The strong feminist take on these kinds of storylines makes it refreshing. I would have loved more detailed worldbuilding. It feels like I only know the basics at this point, which is fine if book two dives deeper into it.
Story
The story of a girl who wants to break the world and reshape it to her ideals. She wants a life where her value isn’t measured by her looks and her worth as a wife. Which is understandable and valued in every way. As a reader we also read a lot about her bound feet and the values she learned as a child. This is also a story about polyamory and that was one of the aspects that made we want to read this book. I don’t know if the representation is done well but I hope it was.
I hope you will read it to. I especially recommend this book to lovers of the Mecha genre and anime lovers.
Characters
Zutain is a very strong woman, who challenges the ideals of her whole society. She is strong minded, brazen and dangerous. It’s amazing! She is really morally grey and we all know that I love those kind of characters. The only thing I liked less was the relationship…. I wanted more, more moments of tenderness. One of the relationships was already a thing when the book started and the other was a complete 180 from the way she viewed this character when they met. We get some growth into there relationship but I would have liked to see more bounding moments.
Worldbuilding
This world is very Mecha, which is exactly how it is advertised, but with a lot of story outside of the Mecha. The strong feminist take on these kinds of storylines makes it refreshing. I would have loved more detailed worldbuilding. It feels like I only know the basics at this point, which is fine if book two dives deeper into it.
Story
The story of a girl who wants to break the world and reshape it to her ideals. She wants a life where her value isn’t measured by her looks and her worth as a wife. Which is understandable and valued in every way. As a reader we also read a lot about her bound feet and the values she learned as a child. This is also a story about polyamory and that was one of the aspects that made we want to read this book. I don’t know if the representation is done well but I hope it was.
I hope you will read it to. I especially recommend this book to lovers of the Mecha genre and anime lovers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
storykath's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
In a futuristic war, male pilots operate gigantic mechas with energy provided by female concubines, often resulting in the concubines' deaths. When Wu Zetian becomes a concubine with the intent of avenging her sister's death, her power and tenacity take the army by storm.
I'm still so conflicted about what I think of this book. The idea of it, and many of the tropes, are fascinating and engaging. I wanted to love the hints of Zetian's corruption arc, the challenging of a long-held system, the magical elements of qi and Chrysalises and Hunduns.
But I just didn't love them. The execution of the plot and character arcs did not strike a chord with me. I felt like I barely understood the magic/qi system, with the five elements and spirit armor and such, and everything that happened felt pretty unbelievable, except I had no basis to refute it thanks to not having a solid grasp of the world itself. This book tried to fit so much into it, and my impression is that the quality of the story and its themes is degraded as a result.
This is a very #girlpower book, which is not a problem in and of itself, but it got to the point where I was rolling my eyes at Zetian's stilted words of empowerment. I find it hard to believe that an uneducated teenage girl in a violently patriarchal society would be able to so effortlessly analyze the roots of misogyny and discrimination, no matter how outspoken and clever she is. She always seems to figure out everything right away and always make the best possible decision.
Along the same lines, the characters are all very black or white. While the 'good guys' do some morally questionable things, it's all for the 'greater good' and is justified without anyone feeling conflicted about it. The 'bad guys' are wholly unlikeable, with no motivations beyond selfishness and greed. If the 'good guys' appear to have any flaws to begin with, they're later waved away through exposition of their trauma, or the revelation that they actually had good intentions. I was annoyed by the protagonists' moral untouchability, and I was desperate for them to have any actual flaws that wouldn't be explained away or that would have actual consequences for them. The only exceptions to the black-and-white characterization might be some of the pilots and their partners, like Qieluo, but with the rapid pace and jam-packed storytelling, we hardly get to focus on them.
To be fair, I made it about halfway through the book before all of these problems really started to wear on me - I had hope in the first half that the plot would pick up and that I'd get to know the characters and the world better. My hopes were disappointed, but I was far enough in that I forced myself to finish it. The conclusion and epilogue did hook me, so I might try the next book in the series at some point, but I don't expect to be blown away.
Also, like, triple check the content warnings on this one, because it does get pretty dark and gruesome.
I'm still so conflicted about what I think of this book. The idea of it, and many of the tropes, are fascinating and engaging. I wanted to love the hints of Zetian's corruption arc, the challenging of a long-held system, the magical elements of qi and Chrysalises and Hunduns.
But I just didn't love them. The execution of the plot and character arcs did not strike a chord with me. I felt like I barely understood the magic/qi system, with the five elements and spirit armor and such, and everything that happened felt pretty unbelievable, except I had no basis to refute it thanks to not having a solid grasp of the world itself. This book tried to fit so much into it, and my impression is that the quality of the story and its themes is degraded as a result.
This is a very #girlpower book, which is not a problem in and of itself, but it got to the point where I was rolling my eyes at Zetian's stilted words of empowerment. I find it hard to believe that an uneducated teenage girl in a violently patriarchal society would be able to so effortlessly analyze the roots of misogyny and discrimination, no matter how outspoken and clever she is. She always seems to figure out everything right away and always make the best possible decision.
Along the same lines, the characters are all very black or white. While the 'good guys' do some morally questionable things, it's all for the 'greater good' and is justified without anyone feeling conflicted about it. The 'bad guys' are wholly unlikeable, with no motivations beyond selfishness and greed. If the 'good guys' appear to have any flaws to begin with, they're later waved away through exposition of their trauma, or the revelation that they actually had good intentions. I was annoyed by the protagonists' moral untouchability, and I was desperate for them to have any actual flaws that wouldn't be explained away or that would have actual consequences for them. The only exceptions to the black-and-white characterization might be some of the pilots and their partners, like Qieluo, but with the rapid pace and jam-packed storytelling, we hardly get to focus on them.
To be fair, I made it about halfway through the book before all of these problems really started to wear on me - I had hope in the first half that the plot would pick up and that I'd get to know the characters and the world better. My hopes were disappointed, but I was far enough in that I forced myself to finish it. The conclusion and epilogue did hook me, so I might try the next book in the series at some point, but I don't expect to be blown away.
Also, like, triple check the content warnings on this one, because it does get pretty dark and gruesome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Ableism and Child abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ranjanireviewsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
I AM SCREAMING. This book was, no IS, so amazing. It is the first book that made me not want to read the ending because then there would be no more. Spoiler I read the ending and love this book. I was screaming through out the ending, especially in part 4.
The plot, characters, the twists and turns, and everything in between is just so well done that I can't even begin to describe it. This book is not for the faint of heart or those who do not like morally grey characters. It covers some heavy topics and themes in ways that can seem extreme at times.
As main characters go we have Zetian who is unapologetically anger with the world she is in and the part she has to play as a women. She uses that anger to get vengeance and demand change. I related to her a lot with the anger and injustice as a women working in STEM. I face those issues daily in my workplace and have to shout and screaming to be heard and not talked over.
Some might say we are following an antagonistic, but I think we are just following a normal person who has been pushed to the edge thanks to injustice in their world. I think a lot of people can relate to that.
The plot was also not where or what I was expecting it to be when I started reading, and I'm so happy it wasn't as this is so much more. As it is a fast paced book it feels like things are happening all the time and a lot happens within these 400 pages, but not of it feels out of place, forced, or not giving enough attention.
From Zetian killing Yang Guang in part 1, which had me screaming and cheering especially at that "welcome to your nightmare" line. Gold. Pure fucking gold. The beautiful relationship and development between Zetian, Sima Yi, and Yizhi was so well written and felt so natural, and then the ending of part 3 and all of part 4. I just couldn't at Sima Yi's "death" and then the resurrection of Emperor Qin Zheng and really just all of part 4 had me screaming as I was reading. Pretty sure my neighbours think I've been murdered about four times now.
This book deserves all the praise and hype it is given and so much more. I will never hesitate to recommend people to read this book. If you are on the fence about it this is your message to read it. You will not regret it.
The plot, characters, the twists and turns, and everything in between is just so well done that I can't even begin to describe it. This book is not for the faint of heart or those who do not like morally grey characters. It covers some heavy topics and themes in ways that can seem extreme at times.
As main characters go we have Zetian who is unapologetically anger with the world she is in and the part she has to play as a women. She uses that anger to get vengeance and demand change. I related to her a lot with the anger and injustice as a women working in STEM. I face those issues daily in my workplace and have to shout and screaming to be heard and not talked over.
Some might say we are following an antagonistic, but I think we are just following a normal person who has been pushed to the edge thanks to injustice in their world. I think a lot of people can relate to that.
The plot was also not where or what I was expecting it to be when I started reading, and I'm so happy it wasn't as this is so much more. As it is a fast paced book it feels like things are happening all the time and a lot happens within these 400 pages, but not of it feels out of place, forced, or not giving enough attention.
This book deserves all the praise and hype it is given and so much more. I will never hesitate to recommend people to read this book. If you are on the fence about it this is your message to read it. You will not regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual violence and Kidnapping
lolajh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
5.0
Women going lowkey mad and killing men > zetian I love you fr
Honestly the best development I’ve seen of a heroine becoming an anti heroine. Zetian, a morally grey Chinese disabled woman rebels against her patriarchal society, having to prove her power throughly due to being a woman and doing it FLAWLESSLY whilst criticising the patriarchal and misogynistic society that also exists in the real world. Zetian proves to be so much more powerful than any man, asis every woman in this universe. Women in this story are so much stronger than men that they have to be used as a “battery” of chi to fuel men and make them stronger due to them being so much weaker naturally, which ends up killing the women, something that further fuels Zetian’s revenge of killing men due to her sister being one of the targets of this and being killed. Zetian’s power is soon recognised as a major threat, so is paired up with the strongest pilot to fight together in the war that is going on. Whilst Zetian is on her rampage, she ends up falling for the pilot she is paired with whilst still having feelings for her childhood friend back home. This love triangle is sorted out in best way by making them all polyamory The book also describes Zetian’s challenging of the roles and expectations of women, through how she wants to present herself and also her body not being the perfect, skinny figure that is idealised. All this challenges Zetian’s connection to her own womanhood. Just about everything good is in this book. Will definitely have to reread while waiting for the next in the series to come out.
Honestly the best development I’ve seen of a heroine becoming an anti heroine. Zetian, a morally grey Chinese disabled woman rebels against her patriarchal society, having to prove her power throughly due to being a woman and doing it FLAWLESSLY whilst criticising the patriarchal and misogynistic society that also exists in the real world. Zetian proves to be so much more powerful than any man, as
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail