Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

60 reviews

dragonbornsandwaffles's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Death, Colonisation, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, Genocide, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, War, and Violence

Moderate: Child death

louiseriddles's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Could not stop reading. This book moves very fast and really grips you. I was feeling like this was more a 3.5-4 star book in the middle, but the ending really surprised me.

The best stuff: Strong women characters, intricate plot based on deceptions, strong voice of the main character, bisexual representation, strong social commentary on gender roles, abusive family dynamics, and celebrity culture

My only problems with the book were world-building issues around the role of women in their society. I don't know anything about Chinese culture so I'm not sure which parts were inspired by that. It was hard to tell when Zeitan's actions were outrageous to her society, or allowed due to her fame. HOWEVER it mirrored the real world's misogyny and double standards for women, so it felt very real. 
Few other characters in this book were women. Most were either part of Zeitan's abusive family or very catty and hostile. While this book has great feminist themes, unfortunately it lacks multiple well developed women characters.
Finally, and this is simply personal preference, it did the thing of the main character falling in love with a violent person because they're misunderstood. The relationship makes sense, and aforementioned love interest has many underlying issues. But I don't like the trope of guy beating up other people as a romantic gesture. It's more complicated than that, but it was a tad annoying.

Finally this book is very dark, and discusses a lot of misogynistic issues(virginity tests, footbinding,  rape), as well as death, murder, and torture. 

Overall, great book, loved the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Alcoholism, Torture, War, Misogyny, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts

le3713's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Wow! I was sucked into this story as soon as I oriented myself to the world. Those with more knowledge of Chinese history would probably pick up on elements more quickly than I did. The ending left me desperate for the sequel. This one will stay with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Child death, Violence, Alcoholism, and War

Moderate: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse

schmidi's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Ending felt a bit rushed
Great themes (feminism, rape-culture, toxic masculinity, polyamorous relationship)
Dystopia

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Sexism

athlen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Racism, Death of parent, Child death, and Torture

Moderate: Rape

miss__manga__'s review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Not a perfect read but a great one. I think some of the repeated ideas (mcs ranting) could have been tightened and condensed to make more room for world building and the poly relationship. I feel like a lot was done off screen in that regard. 

Saw the end coming to a degree, but not the ultimatum. 

Contains some iconic and hilarious lines. Looking forward to the sequel. Li Shimin supremacy!

Do not understand the tattoos of one of the love interests. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Torture

Minor: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Addiction, Death, Body shaming, and Cursing

cloudyfran's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Child abuse

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Rape

corabookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I need some time to process the ending of this book before I write a review, but for now, just know that Iron Widow is a powerful and vengeful story that absolutely blew my mind and I need the second book immediately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Murder, War, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

andrewbenesh1's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, War, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Genocide, Colonisation, Death of parent, Child death, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Torture, Racism, and Murder

emmahe's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Death, War, Blood, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and Child death

Minor: Sexual assault