Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten by Xiran Jay Zhao

68 reviews

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense 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

The politics of this book are so juicy, timely, and nuanced. But I was desperately missing the romance from the first book.
Hate sex with the emperor just doesn’t cut it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional tense 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

A well written book focusing on traversing individual relationships and political landscapes.

The main character Zetian is an obviously flawed character who has risen from commoner prisoner to empress and now has to deal with balancing the politics of her new position as well as her relationship with the new emperor, while trying to protect the two men she loves (a polyamourous relationship).

While her going into a relationship with the emperor was not something I particularly enjoyed, I can see how this was done for political necessity and comfort. However, I truly despised his character from the start and this opinion has not changed, while I can see how a character put of time may face difficulties, it gave me little to no sympathy towards him (Although I suspect we were never meant to like him). 

I would have been interested to see Zetian fighting against true gods but I am curious to see where the third book will go in terms of introducing an intergalactic landscape and the challenges that come with it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was hoping this would carry the energy of the predecessor novel but it needed to do a lot more set up. I do appreciate how our leading lady is still just as complicated and playing 4d chess while basically hopelessly outmatched by all the men around her.
It is set up to be at least a trilogy by the ending. I hope that the third book can regain the drive of Iron Widow while carrying any loose strings from Heavenly Tyrant. This IS a political intrigue novel- with exactly zero characters being wholly innocent. This is something some readers will find tiring.
I wish we had been able to spend more time with The Iron Widows, because the men were so ugh, ya know? But in a realistic 'yeah this is how a man grabbing for power is' way. 
I read this a chapter at a time over a long span and I recommend that or perhaps an audiobook edition. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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: No

What the actual fck was that 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Unfortunately a disappointing sequel to my first five star read in a year. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark tense medium-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark slow-paced
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

If you didn't like this book, sorry, but you just don't get it like I do. /j 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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