Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Viúva de Ferro by Xiran Jay Zhao

133 reviews

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging medium-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? Yes

3.0

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about Iron Widow, so this review is subject to change. 

What I enjoyed:
-the ending was absolutely phenomenal, and it made me interested in continuing the series, despite my earlier hesitations 
-the combination of history(loose) in a sci-fi landscape 
-the polyamorous relationship( though I hope it’s expanded more in future books

What I felt was lacking 
- the character walks the fine line between powerful and difficult, which I thought was crossed a few times
-the plot felt a bit convulsed at times, with many things going on
-there was a bit of a lull in the middle before the final battle

All In all I do think this would appeal to fantasy lovers, and I would recommend picking it up if you are interested!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization

mantnam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

The main character  is relateably imperfect, headstrong, and angry about the horrendous injustices of her society. Anyone who likes Evangelion or Gundam should give this a try. I never got into wither show but I thought this book was great.

The book was inspired by a lot of real Chinese history and I loved feeling like I was learning while I read this amazing story. It inspired me to learn some more about real history in that region.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Torture, and War

Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gaslighting, Classism, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

blkbltchic's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I've been wanting to read this for a very long time. I really enjoy a completed love triangle no matter how brief the moment is. Based on the epilogue I'm wondering if there will be a sequel I haven't been keeping up in that regard. I loved all of the real world cultural details that were interwoven into this fantastical sci-fi story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Confinement, Colonisation, Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Torture, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Sexism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Rape

ratchetang's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Can be confusing if you have little knowledge of chinese culture and mythology or mecha genres. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Dysphoria, Genocide, Xenophobia, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual content, Body shaming, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Sexual assault, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

leafhead's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Violence, Classism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Ableism, Xenophobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War

pengintoppa's review against another edition

adventurous tense

4.5

worldbuilding is interesting, i liked the 3 main characters. it was cool to read scifi set in china by a chinese author. some of the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, War, Misogyny, and Police brutality

Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, Colonisation, Body shaming, Trafficking, Racism, and Emotional abuse

recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.

cfitz13's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Rape and Alcohol

cnaccarato's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Colonisation, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Addiction, Ableism, Death, Murder, War, Classism, Confinement, Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Slavery

gaymoonreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Addiction, Murder, Physical abuse, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Terminal illness

t_higgsreviews's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

5
CAWPILE = 9.07

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Sexism, Torture, Genocide, Addiction, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Alcoholism, and War

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Vomit

Minor: Pregnancy