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Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten by Xiran Jay Zhao

161 reviews

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Although this was one of the books I was highly anticipating the pacing ruined this one for me. I was bored during about 200 pages and I really wanted to like this. I don’t mind the worldbuilding and I understand why the story focused on politics but omg that could have been a lot shorter.  The last 100 pages got me interested again but I'm also annoyed with where the story and characters are going so I will try to keep my expectations low for the next book.

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challenging 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: Complicated

I have a lot of feelings about this one. I'll start by saying I didn't re-read Iron Widow before starting this one -- and, honestly, it might have made the differences even more stark.

I enjoyed Zetian's relationship with a few of the female characters in this novel, but feel like the feminine rage that I loved in IW was tempered in this one, aside from her sparring with Qin Zheng. 

I thought her grief over both Shiming and destruction of the Palace of Sages was pervasive, which felt genuine. 

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adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated

It took me a over a week to really start enjoying this book (partly because I was reading other books and partly because I had to get used to the world of Huaxia). Once I really started listening, I was hooked.

I gasped so many times in astonishment, laughed out loud, and stared at an imaginary audience like I was in The Office. I was stunned when the Epilogue came up because I was waiting to see what happened next.

This author does not back away from violence. It's done in a way that doesn't seem gratuitous and makes sense in the vicious world of Heavenly Tyrant. There were situations that I saw coming but were executed so well that it didn't deter from my enjoyment.

Where's book 3?!

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Xiran Jay Zhao is a master storyteller. A sequel every bit as good as the predecessor. I felt on the edge of my seat the whole time, twisted between so many emotions. 

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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slow-paced

this series wants to be the hunger games so bad it’s embarrassing 

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systemof6's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 48%

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

This was a good sequel but not without its flaws unfortunately. 

I enjoyed the action and relationship building, but then the last 100 pages were confusing and a bit problematic.

To start, I’m confused on why we destroyed Yizhi’s character and then switched it to oh he was doing the right thing all along!! It’s too late, you now made me deeply uncomfortable with how he violated Zeitian’s trust with her body which Qin Zheng also did by doing surgery on her feet to fix her disability (which now writing it down, as someone who’s disabled that’s actually quite fucked up), but I was rooting for a somewhat forbidden romance between Yizhi and Zeitian but it got destroyed.

Also, I thought we’d be saving Shimin but well, no he’s gone. He was only there to build up Zeitian’s character but it no longer felt emotionally charged because the whole Heavenly Court was confusing and weird and I was angry at Yizhi the whole time so I wasn’t rooting for the three to reunite and then it didn’t matter anyway!! Cause Shimin is dead and gone and Yizhi is a fucking dick so the relationship is dead!

I’m conflicted when it comes to Qin Zheng. Because he was stuck in a fake quarantine we didn’t see him do much aside from threaten Zeitian and be an Emperor. Then when they have sex (which is more graphic for YA) it didn’t feel like she was actually giving consent it felt like coercion so he could get what he wants. His entire character felt a bit wasted, but now he’s the villain I suppose after Zeitian stabbed him?? 

I don’t know I’ll still read book 3 when it releases but so far this wasn’t the strongest end to a story and the cliffhanger was okay. I do think if I didn’t re-read iron widow beforehand I would be rating it higher.

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

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