Reviews tagging 'Death'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

651 reviews

lyr1cal's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Body horror, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual assault

sleeping_roses's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

She actually did a proper love triangle! Not just an angle like most other 'love triangle' books. Also I love the way all 3 main characters complement an contrast one another.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Violence, Physical abuse, Addiction, Murder, Misogyny, Alcoholism, War, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Sexism, and Torture

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts

natraf_reads's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

5.0

This was one of the easiest five stars I’ve ever given. I was OBSESSED with this book from start to finish!! I could not get enough. From the first page I was hooked!! Exceptionally written, I would absolutely recommend this book!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence, War, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism, Death, War, Physical abuse, Addiction, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery

Foot binding, forced sex work

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

I listened to 5 hours of this over 12 hour audiobook, and I came to realize that I was bored. When given an opportunity to listen to the book or do anything else, I repeatedly rather listen to music or hear nothing. The premise of Pacific Rim meets Handmaid's Tale is a little intriguing. Sci-fi like Pacific Rim is not the kind of story I gravitate towards, but the Handmaid's Tale aspect of it sparked my interest. Despite an interesting premise, the action did not deliver. With as exciting as the world is presented, there should probably be more world building and/or action than all the constant spoken/ thought narration that we're given. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

auntquinoa's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

The plot in this book is a marvel, especially from chapter 39 to the end (excluding the epilogue). I’m impressed by the world building and surreal sci-fi depiction. 
The character development is was makes this book somewhat immature. The protagonists internal voice is repetitive and doesn’t question her own biases while holding every person around their to theirs (which is her undoing in the aforementioned epilogue). There is ZERO character development in any of the main characters - a striking decision. They never question themselves while trying to wade through very complicated dynamics. At times the dialogue is just downright cringy (page 331 especially). 
I read the acknowledgements and understand this book flipped between adult and YA. The faults of the book lie entirely in that indecision by the agent/author/publisher. This is a dark, dark book. Concubine and slavery depictions require nuance which YA doesn’t typically have. The darkness, violence and downright gore do not enmesh well with the immature dispositions of the characters of all ages. It made the book very hard to read without laughing, cringing, or becoming frustrated. 
Overall a very bizarre read that somehow still kept me hooked. You must read it for yourself to decide. Does that make it a complete success??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gore, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and War

escape_to_reality's review

adventurous challenging dark informative reflective

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

4.0

This book has been on my TBR for a while and I'm happy I picked it up. It has an intense story that feels new and exciting, with characters that are very well developed. The relationships are not super deep, the focus is on the plot, which I liked.

Allowing Zetian to be absolutely unhinged was amazing, that she broke the mold so thoroughly. The plot twist of the hunduns being the original habitants of the planet is something I'm excited to see develop on coming books <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Racism, War, Misogyny, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Minor: Fatphobia and Rape

moonysraccoons's review

dark emotional funny inspiring tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, and War

Minor: Sexual content

the_vegan_bookworm's review

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Sexism, Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Death, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Gore

Moderate: Sexual content

griminycricket's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

jnobrien21's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.

I was told there was a twist, but I didn't expect it to be in the epilogue! Can't wait for the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual violence, and Drug abuse

Minor: Murder and Suicidal thoughts