Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Iron Widow - Seele in Ketten by Xiran Jay Zhao

70 reviews

linblythe_pub22's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, War

Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Classism

keyaunnalb's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Classism

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault

lilybear3's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Xiran Jay Zhao rapidly became one of my favorite authors.  I am also Chinese American and I have learned so much about my heritage and culture from them.  I'm a fan of their writing and social media presence.  They are vocally Pro-Palestine and speak out on other global issues.

We've waited so long for the sequel (the author talks about why that was on their social media) and it's finally here!  It's filled with action, mechas, complex power struggles, political action, revolution, destroying the patriarchy, and eating the rich.  

The exposition was great and engaging.  I was immediately sucked in.  Even in parts where it got heavily political, I was still into it because I agree with the author's stance on politics and our need for a revolution.  Qin Zheng was a great addition to the cast.  He's a formidable opponent/ally to Zetian and the power struggle between them is interesting.  In the times that it read as a manifesto, it took me out of the story a bit.  I wanted it to be more integrated in the story and I think readers who kind of get these concepts and ideas would have an easier time absorbing and thinking about them.  I think a lot of the scenes were necessary and interesting, like

going to Shimin's old home

.  However, I also felt like this book was too long.  While I don't read books longer than 350 pages often, I think the book could've been shorter without sacrificing the plot or message.

They kind of lost me in the last 75 pages.  I was honestly a little confused about the setting and the things they encounter.  While it is a sci-fi, I felt like it broke my mind a bit and challenged what I thought, but that was happening to Zetian so I experienced what she did.  I don't mind the ending, I wasn't sure how it was going to wrap up anyways.  BUT we got a lovely "To be continued" so Zetian story continues!!!

I like the first book more, but this was still a strong sequel!  I'm still waiting and hoping for a screen adaptation because seeing this story visually come to life would be incredible.

Make sure you check the author's social media and website to make the author's amendment to page 434.  Right after the line,

"It's YOUR turn," the author would like to change the next lines to, "We can sculpt anything out of spirit metal. I could even FEEL through it. We can make this work." The author wants to make it crystal clear that Qin Zheng is getting pegged.  We stan.

You can download and print the amendment from their website.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault

acovington's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny 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

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I was sooooooo excited to get my hands on this book, and it did not disappoint!!
Zetian continued to live up a morally gray character I can enjoy. I also really enjoyed the nuance the author gave what an active economic revolution could be in a fantasy setting.
15/10 recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy/sci-fi and an extremely morally gray cast!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault

sadhbh2525's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark 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: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, Abortion, Pregnancy

bevlovesbooks's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

lil_rumblebee's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic

b3ck3tt's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual harassment, War

Moderate: Torture, Murder, Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

ender24's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Abortion

Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy

pjs99's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark funny tense 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

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Love love love, "delightful to read" wouldn't be accurate, but I certainly enjoyed every dangerous turn.
After months of laughing at people describing this book as polical (bro did you even read the first one), I do actually see why this one gets called that (it's still silly).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, War

Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism

For those concerned about the sexual tags, I shall contextualise with very minor spoilers

there is a lot of zetian feeling coerced into sexual situations, but she is always consciously considering if it's better to go along (pretending she wants it), or pushing away. Personally I'd consider these sexual violence BC she is forced by her situation to consider things this way but I think rape would be a bit strong, as the pov of her describing still gives the impression of her consent, however limited it my be. Very different to the scene in the first books when Yizhi saves her from the pilots in he night.