Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

141 reviews

ajhling's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is not just gold tier, but platinum tier. It's such a great book that I have technically brought two copies of - the paperback (which I brought first) and the audio (which I brought so I can listen while driving or playing video games). I have all intentions of buying an E-Book version in the near future so I'll always have a copy on hand. 

This book has characters that are mostly grey at best, and down right evil at worst. Our protagonist is a ball of rage and is someone who would be seen as the villain in many works of fiction. I love it. Even her romantic partners are on the verge of being villains in other works of fiction. 

My favourite part besides the plot and our protagonist and her romantic partners, and the world as a whole?

The fact that there's no explicit sex scenes which have impregnated the publishing industry these days. Meaning you have a book that treats its readers like the older teens and adults that we are without having to worry about sex scenes because it's aimed towards an older teen, recent high school graduate age range, which apparently means sex most be included un the eyes of modern publishers.

I'm so hoping that the lack of explicit sex scenes continues onto the next book/s in the series (though even if they were present I'd still buy/read them anyway).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

devirtualized's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual content

bibim's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Death

Minor: Colonisation

bookishcori's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Colonisation

marsh_mall0w's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation

miniingrid's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

La historia tiene potencial y engancha. Pero me falta world building y un poco más de contexto.
El tono parece muy de fanfic adolescente. Y se lee casi de una sentada (a pesar de la cantidad de veces que he puesto los ojos en blanco).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

miggyfool's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

cristina_margarita's review against another edition

adventurous 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

I with always root for feminine rage so Zetian was someone who was easy to get behind. I really appreciated how her initial mission was over so quickly & so much of the book was her constantly pivoting & honestly going a little power mad. 

The relationship development was so amusing to me because as a reader it was fairly obvious where it was heading but the characters are so oblivious. 

I couldn’t answer a single question you asked me about the chrysalises or the war; but the vibes were excellent!! I look forward to the sequel & the author’s inevitable book about the French Revolution.

This book majorly gave the hunger games for me despite them being so different 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

audiem's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

Moderate: Xenophobia and Colonisation

Minor: Homophobia

nekoshka's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Body shaming and Rape