Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten by Xiran Jay Zhao

164 reviews

nusaybahjones's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The most intriguing part of this book was the political discourse and the gradual rebuilding of the empire they crumbled. Wu Zetian and Qin Zheng's relationship is the definition of "It's Complicated". The ending left me wanting to see how the rest of the series will close, and if their entire world, and perhaps the universe, will change for the better.

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schnaucl's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark tense fast-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

I thought this was a strong follow up to Iron Widow.

I definitely buy that Zheng's ideas about empowering workers and the redistribution of wealth were deliberately forgotten by historians (see also Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideas about class and how little people know about them).

But the concept of a worker focused revolution being started from the top down seems weird to me (and the text itself calls out the contradiction). While Zheng may want the workers empowered, there's certainly no suggestion that he wants to flatten society completely. He very much wants to be in charge of everything and everyone and I do have the sense he actually means it and it isn't just a way of controlling people who are the most likely to be able to challenge his power (although I don't doubt there's some of that, too).

The idea that people want to improve their own circumstances relative to people with more power but want to maintain their power over those with less power rings very true, as does the blindspots in seeing that's what's happening.

I appreciate that Zetian struggles with these things herself and has to remember that freedom to make choices means freedom to make choices that are not the choices that she would make.

I do question how quickly the revolution would take off, especially if it's imposed from the top down. I think people would be hesitant to act (much as they were in the first public punishments) for fear that they were being set up somehow. It's sort of like Trump promising he'll pay the legal bills of people who are violent against protesters at his rallies. Sure, buddy. Even if people believed Zheng meant what he said, I think a large number of people would feel like with changes that large he won't be allowed to stay in power or that those who had their private property taken from them will have long memories and will take their revenge at the first opportunity to punish those who moved against them. I feel like most people would probably take a wait and see approach.

It also suggests a lot people just need permission to become violent and taken vengeance and I'm not sure I buy that, either. Some people do, sure, but I think that's a small minority.

I was sorry we didn't get to see more of Di Renji. He seemed really interesting and a bit Holmesian and I would have liked to have spent more time with him, though it was pretty clear Zetian was going to end up killing him at some point.

I was also troubled by her lack of qualms about men having to be castrated to join her in battle. Yes, a big part of it has to do with gender identity but that seems to be the part she's focused on almost to the exclusion of the fact that they're being asked to undergo a form of mutilation not unlike the feet binding or amputation of a limb. And since they're both prisoners it isn't exactly a free choice. There are lifelong health consequences, which surely must have been understood. Granted, none of them are expected to live particularly long.

I like the underground queer culture, though as with everything else, I feel like there's a large risk in becoming more open and there doesn't seem to be much recognition on Zheng or Zetian that they may have made a lot of people targets that would be swiftly punished if they both died fighting the gods. I have no doubt that if that had happened all their changes would be swiftly rolled back, the people who backed them harshly punished and history rewritten.

I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

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missindyrose's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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: N/A

Content Warnings

ali_k0's review against another edition

This book is enrapturing. It is terrifying. It is a car crash you can't help but watch and a murder that freezes your blood while you cheer for the murderer. I would say I couldn't put it down, but that's untrue. I threw it on my couch and ran laps around my house from the adrenaline it caused me. I was screaming in the drive through for in-n-out beside my mom. I was reading every word between the fingers I covered my eyes with and pausing for breaths at every turned page. I was scared to start every chapter for fear of what lied before me. This was the most stressful inducing book with some of the most complex characters I ever read.

But I was also cheering, whooping with joy, crying from relief. I swooned at certain romantic lines (even when I was aware I *really* should not be, but Wu Zetian the women you ARE) and reveled at the characters vengeance.

The author stings along your hopes, crushing them in one hand while reviving them in the other. They twist your view of the world in so many knots your as unsure of every step as the characters. It was thrilling.

I hadn't realized how much I've missed books that make me feel this way until I read Heavenly Tyrant. They are rare and brilliant and this is at the height of them. We had to wait a long time for the sequel to Iron Widow because of the industry, but this book is a testament to how good things are worth waiting for, and how revolution relies not just on violence, but the voices of artists to carry it.

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jes42's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense 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

This book was a different journey from the first, dealing with the consequences of overthrowing an entire system. It's a difficult concept to capture, and this book does it brilliantly. The only reason I gave this .25 less stars than iron widow is simply because I am still reeling from the enormity of what this book captures.

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bree_h_reads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Of course, as if there was ever any doubt, Xiran Jay Zhao comes back with an absolutely AMAZING book and the perfect sequel to Iron Widow. There is such a clear growth in their skill and ability as an author and they clearly put the work in to make sure they really understood the topics this book would be tackling.

Zetain’s growth in this book I think is the best part. Looking back on the first book, she was clearly very isolated even with Yizhi and Shimin at her side. Watching her grow a support network not just for her, but other women was just such a treat. It really felt like she came into her own in this book. All the side characters in the novel were such a treat, especially the women Zetain befriended. I also think her ever-evolving relationships with the men in her life were fascinating. Watching her relationship with Yizhi shift, knowing it will never be the same was the perfect storm of emotions. I really do think it was a close race between her relationship with Yizhi and her relationship with Zheng. I won’t give away too much, but I would love to study those two and their toxic mess under a microscope.

The world felt just as vibrant and complex as the first book, if not more. I think this is especially where all the work put into research for this book really shines. There’s clearly so much thought put into how Zetain and Zheng’s government take over would work and what the hindrances would be. I also like that not everyone immediately falls in line and the variety to beliefs and opinions on what should be done. It remains a constant struggle for power and control, so many changes so quickly lead to those previously in power trying to spread chaos and regain control by forcing those beneath back to fighting each other. It was just so clear that a lot of work had been put into considering how this all would work.

I really think this skill with the expansion of the world and the people in it suits the themes. Which is clearly the intent. It really breaks down the movement Zheng and Zetain are trying to bring to light and put in charge, and exactly how it’s been oppressed for so long. The ideas behind it are explained so well and then going from that to the series’ feminist messaging was perfect. Seeing how it takes a community, building support networks, and that you can’t rely just on yourself was PERFECT. I think this is an extremely topical and relevant book to the current age we’re in and what to expect to see in the coming years.

Overall a seriously amazing book. I haven’t been able to shut up about it to my friends since I finished it and I’ve been begging all of them to read the series with me. I don’t have the words to really convey how amazing it was.

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velvetyaverage's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My expectations were high going into Heavenly Tyrant and even then they have been exceeded. Just like Iron Widow, the book grabs you by the throat from the first page and refuses to let go. Time and the outside world cease to exist when reading this book. And yet, we have a slower pacing that allows the reader to sink more into the world and fleshes that world out. The prose has only gotten better and vivid imagery burns into the brain. The characters are complex; one minute you hate them, one minute you love them. All minutes are wonderfully conflicting. Genuinely I am quite shocked at how much Heavenly Tyrant has improved upon Iron Widow and I will spend every waking moment waiting for this third book. I feel like the last 72 hours have been a glorious fever dream and I’m struggling with coming up for air. Incredible book.

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campbellsrambles_'s review against another edition

3.5

adventurous tense medium-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

I am so disappointed. I LOVED Iron Widow.

At first, I was really surprised when I saw it categorized as Young Adult. As I read it, I disagreed with the YA designation. Unfortunately, the main protagonist acts like the stereotypical YA main character who is so strong, rebellious, etc., but they lack depth or nuance.

I liked how the book focused on challenging capitalism, but some parts were too obvious - the reader is hit over the head with it. Additionally, the pacing was all over the place. I found the book's first half to be quite slow, then the last 1/4 covers SO MANY THINGS.

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