Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Viúva de Ferro by Xiran Jay Zhao

149 reviews

paulawind's review against another edition

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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book is an epitome of  “I support women’s rights but most importantly I support women’s wrongs” . Ultimate “good for her” novel.

Don’t get me wrong, Wu Zetian (inspired by actual Chinese empress) is objectively a morally dubious person but you can’t help to be impressed by how unapologetic she is. She will claw her way through misogyny, no matter the cost. Once again - good for her.

I’ve never read such aggressively feminist book, so full of female rage and I absolutely loved it. She sees the injustice and isn’t afraid to not only point it out but actively challenge and dismantle it. Would I like to meet her irl? No, she would most likely killed me, she’s not likeable but she doesn’t have to be.

This book was such a bizarre mixture of all the books/general media I consumed whilst a teenager it gave me a bit of a vertigo. We got Pacific Rim/any mecha anime giant robots fighting a war, Hunger Games discussion about power of media and public image, and a suspicion gnawing on my guts throughout the book about the Hunduns in a very Enders Game way. Xiran truly is one of us.

More of a side note but from now on I accept love triangles to only be resolved like the one here, period

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Torture, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, War, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Violence

justlilah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Wierd. Not bad…just wierd. Throughly entertained but feel mildly confused aftwards

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, War, Addiction, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture

solarel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I absolutely loved it. So rarely do I see that primal justice we crave when wrong has been done to us. So rarely do we see a woman allowed to be wrathful. 

Is it healthy? Probably not. Was it so so satisfying? Hell yes. 

I feel like this is what men must feel like after watching those war movies or something. God it feels powerful to read of Zeitan’s rise. 

That being said: I wish this was an adult book, not YA. It had potential to be more and go deeper. The romance line could have carried more weight if they had the ability to flesh it out more, beyond the YA label. Also the “girl” and “boy” phrasing felt juvenile. You’re 18 now, time to stop calling yourself a girl exclusively. And a man in his early 20s is not a boy. It was the only part I disliked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual assault, Biphobia, and Trafficking

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, Death, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Blood, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Rape, Body shaming, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Murder, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, and Addiction

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Sexism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Murder, Rape, War, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, and Addiction

brittshaw_p's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, War, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

magatsumandala's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

I think there was potential with the book! I like seeing women rise up against their oppressive societies, the idea of there being Chinese legends and folklore to that was also very exciting. The mecha system could've been very cool but unfortunately, the book fell flat.
 
There is a ton of misogyny in the book, like the actual writing part of it. Zetian's sister is just Stuffed into the Fridge and is essentially a Disposable Woman. The other women are viewed as unintelligent and antagonistic—which I really did not like, considering they live in a misogynistic society where they are brainwashed and prohibited from actual information about their bodies and such AND the fact that we are stronger together than we are alone.

Prose is clunky and awkward. Didn't like the fact that the only character flaw Zetian seemed to have was her disability because GUESS WHAT??? DISABILITIES ARE NOT CHARACTER FLAWS and it's both lazy and ableist when writers pose a character like that! Pacing was not very good. Plot and characters were lacking.  

3/5 on the entire premise, 1/5 on the actual work. I wonder if I would've thought differently if the publishers didn't meddle with XJZ's writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Gore

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Ableism, and Torture

Minor: Rape

kristynpittman's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Iron Widow had so many call backs to the stories we all love. It sprinkles in elements from The Hunger Games, Handmaids Tale, & even a dash of Power Rangers (IYKYK). But what really sets this apart is that Zetain is not some poor little girl with the hopes of the nation thrust upon her. She's not a Mockingjay that has to be manipulated into action. She's the damn Iron Widow. She doesn't give a FUCK about what her family wants, or even the boys that love her. She wants to show up at the capital and fucking rage against all the women-hating men in power until they stop. murdering. girls. 

As far as representation goes Zhao excels on two fronts. She was able to blend so many beautiful Chinese elements into this brand new sci-fi world. Also, I don't want to spoil anything but this is how you do a love triangle. A triangle is the strongest shape after all...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Confinement, Sexism, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Torture

thedisabledreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, War, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexism

klara42's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Alcoholism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Death, Gore, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing