Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten by Xiran Jay Zhao

163 reviews

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous tense fast-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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YES YES YES  🙌🏻 an excellent sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Classism

hannah_is_reading's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark tense fast-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

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Absolutely wild in the best way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Moderate: Abortion

kestrelfire's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-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: No

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The world building and writing is really strong but all the politics is a lot to keep track of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture

nebulamarcus's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging informative inspiring tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This sequel does not disappoint and delves further into Huaxia than before. Even just a peek into the greater world outside the Great Walls and to the heavenly courts.

There is a lull mostly filled with political and society build up, things of which Zetian needed to know for her future plans, so the big action only comes sporadically. However the pay off of waiting is worth it for the ending cliffhanger. There's only so much more to come.

If you loved the expansive growth of the "Locked Tomb" series by Tamsyn Muir you'll love this series as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Blood

Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy

zeros_and_ones's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting

violetends's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional 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

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This was certainly a wild ride. A bit more heavy-handed than the first and definitely way more political. I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of the revolutionary efforts and once again felt like the characters aren't idealistic images to strive for but rather contemplations about these specific characters' behaviour within the conditions the plot confronts them with. And thus also explorations of specific types of theoretic PoVs if their proponents were to end up in this situation. (Looking at you, purely theory-driven type of masc communist who'd throw an angry tantrum if anyone suggests the inclusion of intersectional perspectives.) 

I was definitely taken aback by the not-romance subplot and I still don't know how to feel about it. Even though I have to say,

communism-adjacent revolutionary leader Qin Zheng suggesting "private property" as sexual safe word had me laughing out loud.

Unfortunately, the big revelation at the end felt quite predictable as with the first novel. Nevertheless, so much tension and high-paced fun! I really really hope there's going to be a third book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy

kal517's review against another edition

3.0

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, War

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation

Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault

blackknight4449's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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A modern retelling that combines mecha-anime and historical China in a thrilling manner. I did not put this down after I passed page 200. I have never identified more with the protagonist and the antagonist at the same time for WILDLY different reasons. I have too much to say and too little time to say it. Suffice to say that this book goes above and beyond other similar science fiction of its type. It should have won the Hugo Award.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse

juniperbranches's review against another edition

4.0

dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I LOVE that Zeitian maintained So much of her feminine rage. Loved how hateable but reasonable Qin Zheng was. I’m a big fan of sneaking conversations about power wealth and consent into a YA novel but comes off a little dry and educational in some spots. I can’t decide if I like where the author seems to be directing the series, but I like that scope they’ve given the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Classism

orion_allthoughts's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual content, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Dysphoria

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Abortion, Alcohol