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fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
This book was a lot of fun and validating for me. Is like The Iron Widow was able to say how I feel about the patriarchy in the ways I wish I could. She’s the best hero! Looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gore, Kidnapping, Rape, War, Bullying, Drug use, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, and Suicide
walkie_check's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Torture, Sexual content, Racism, Classism, and Child death
Minor: Rape, Ableism, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, and Slavery
emoweaboo's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I support women's right but I mostly support women's wrongs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Addiction
daenarvelaryon1's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
2.5
I loved the idea of the story and Xiran Jay Zhao's smart marketing certainly sold me on the book. Unfortunately, I feel like the book did not live up to the hype on social media.
The writing style is a bit sloppy, unrefined and needs to be worked on. The dialogue was occassionally incredibly cringy. The message of the story could have been handled and presented in a better, subtler way. And don't even get me started on the ending (felt like the publisher basically forced the author into writing a sequel). Xiran also needs to start showing things instead of telling.
If I had to compare the story to an already existing work, it really felt like an average fanfiction from AO3 or Wattpad (I have no doubt that Xiran has experience with writing fanfiction and it shows in the book too). If that works for you, then you will very likely enjoy the story.
I really wanted to like this book because I love Xiran's content. Ultimately, it was a fun ride, but I would not recommend this book for someone looking for a high quality story.
The writing style is a bit sloppy, unrefined and needs to be worked on. The dialogue was occassionally incredibly cringy. The message of the story could have been handled and presented in a better, subtler way. And don't even get me started on the ending (felt like the publisher basically forced the author into writing a sequel). Xiran also needs to start showing things instead of telling.
If I had to compare the story to an already existing work, it really felt like an average fanfiction from AO3 or Wattpad (I have no doubt that Xiran has experience with writing fanfiction and it shows in the book too). If that works for you, then you will very likely enjoy the story.
I really wanted to like this book because I love Xiran's content. Ultimately, it was a fun ride, but I would not recommend this book for someone looking for a high quality story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Xenophobia, and Rape
sreddous's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
WOAH. This is some powerful, scary, super engaging stuff.
The first 1/3 is paced PERFECTLY. I blew through it fast because I was SO drawn in to the world and so anxious and so immersed in everything. The stakes are always high and terrifying. The way that the magic is described to us I also found to be well-paced and natural as the story went on. The romances might have been a liiiiittle rushed, BUT given everything these characters went through, I enjoyed them just fine and found them to be realistic enough. I am a SUCKER for all the communication and speaking out about wants and needs and boundaries too. Great stuff here!!!!!!!!
Overall though, a few things stopped this from being quite as good as it could have been, in my opinion: I think a little too often we lost the "we're doing this to save the girls who die!" plot. There's a point more than 2/3rds of the way in where Zetian rather suddenly realizes there might be a scandal, and that's what kicks off pretty much the wrapping-up of the plot -- where'd that come from? I feel like sometimes nearing the middle and the end, there wasn't enough buildup to some of the hard-hitting plot points, which is a shame because the first 1/3 of the book was SO ELECTRIFYING. The final battle stuff was a bit too fast since a lot of super interesting secrets were revealed, and I think if some of the stuff with the rich dad and such was cut in the middle, we would have had more room for stuff that was way more hard-hitting.
Additionally, we never really meet any of those girls -- even the sister just feels like a tool instead of any actual, fleshed-out people, and so it starts to feel too close to the "woman dies offscreen which inspires Hero to go on Their Journey" trope. It's a little jarring that in a book so centered on womens' suffering, Zetian only exchanges words with pretty much five other women in the entire book: two of them are just outright catty and mean and competitive with her because they're jealous that men like her, two of them are her mother and grandmother who are just as stuck in their traditions as anyone else, and the one who is kind to her isn't all she seems to be (without spoiling too much, not in a way that I thought actually led to a diverse cast of women with many valuable strengths and perspectives).
Still, this is super. freaking. cool. It's bold and brave and awesome. I feel like this book will give people an OUTLET to be angry, and that's pretty dang valuable. Definitely interested in anything else this author writes.
(Content warning: body horror, mentions of sexual violence, substance abuse)
The first 1/3 is paced PERFECTLY. I blew through it fast because I was SO drawn in to the world and so anxious and so immersed in everything. The stakes are always high and terrifying. The way that the magic is described to us I also found to be well-paced and natural as the story went on. The romances might have been a liiiiittle rushed, BUT given everything these characters went through, I enjoyed them just fine and found them to be realistic enough. I am a SUCKER for all the communication and speaking out about wants and needs and boundaries too. Great stuff here!!!!!!!!
Overall though, a few things stopped this from being quite as good as it could have been, in my opinion: I think a little too often we lost the "we're doing this to save the girls who die!" plot. There's a point more than 2/3rds of the way in where Zetian rather suddenly realizes there might be a scandal, and that's what kicks off pretty much the wrapping-up of the plot -- where'd that come from? I feel like sometimes nearing the middle and the end, there wasn't enough buildup to some of the hard-hitting plot points, which is a shame because the first 1/3 of the book was SO ELECTRIFYING. The final battle stuff was a bit too fast since a lot of super interesting secrets were revealed, and I think if some of the stuff with the rich dad and such was cut in the middle, we would have had more room for stuff that was way more hard-hitting.
Additionally, we never really meet any of those girls -- even the sister just feels like a tool instead of any actual, fleshed-out people, and so it starts to feel too close to the "woman dies offscreen which inspires Hero to go on Their Journey" trope. It's a little jarring that in a book so centered on womens' suffering, Zetian only exchanges words with pretty much five other women in the entire book: two of them are just outright catty and mean and competitive with her because they're jealous that men like her, two of them are her mother and grandmother who are just as stuck in their traditions as anyone else, and the one who is kind to her isn't all she seems to be (without spoiling too much, not in a way that I thought actually led to a diverse cast of women with many valuable strengths and perspectives).
Still, this is super. freaking. cool. It's bold and brave and awesome. I feel like this book will give people an OUTLET to be angry, and that's pretty dang valuable. Definitely interested in anything else this author writes.
(Content warning: body horror, mentions of sexual violence, substance abuse)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Drug use
Minor: Sexual violence
uraveragelesbianreader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
This book is like a roller coaster. Every high leads to a dizzying low and when it's over far sooner than you expected your hair is in your face, your latest meal in your throat, you can't tell left from right up from down and swear that there was no reason the final drop needed to be that big. When my close friend recommended this book she said that it 'reads a bit like a first draft' and that may be the best way to sum up my criticism for this book. Some of the scenes feel hasty and almost like you're watching them at 1.5x speed. However I do not actually fully blame the author for this as I think this books popularity on tiktok rushed them into keeping a strict release schedule when it could've benefited from a little more polishing. All that being said this book doesnt read like a 'written for tiktok' book and I didnt often find myself cringing at scenes or wishing that a scene would just be over already. I think the way this book is marketed does it a disservice. Wu is not a 'morally grey' protagonist. She does things that are objectively morally wrong BUT justifiable in her circumstances. It is very much a 'good for her' moment whenever she lashes, out but she is by no means morally grey and thats okay. Had she been marketed to me this way I think I would have read this book sooner and not let it rot on my TBR for nearly 3 months. On the note of incorrect marketing, I often see this book marketed as queer and although that is not WRONG it does require further nuance. This book is written by a queer author and all of the 3 main characters are bisexual however only MLM romance is explored explicitly and only very briefly. This is completely fine, fits the narrative and I dont feel further inclusion of queerness would add to or hurt the story I just want people reading this book to have realistically set expectations. On the note of romance it was skilfully done. Seeing someone so beautifully perfect a genuine enemies to lovers story line AND a friends to lovers story line was wonderfully refreshing and the polyamory element was exciting. Everyone always says that they want a genuine love triangle (all 3 involved in love with one another) and this is exactly what this book gives you. My personal advice is to go into this book as blind as possible and block out the time to read it all in one sitting because as it mentioned earlier IT IS FAST. I read it across 3 days and ended up having to reread at least a chapter every time I started again, if you prefer slow burn and careful delicate world and character building, this is not the book for you. That is however not to say that I think the pace hurt the story, I think a slow pace would feel out of place for a book like this. The pace serves the narrative wonderfully and is skilfully used by the author. This book feels like a scream written down on paper it is a violent rage against the qualms of the female experience and it is wonderful. As someone who typically shys away from scifi I would read a million sci-fi books if they were done half as tactfully as this one. The world building is gripping and the power system is easy to understand but somehow not simple or boring. The duelling threats facing the main character adds multiple layers of tension that at times feel like more could be done with but are not underutilised by any means underused. I would recommend this book to those bored by typical sci-fi, looking for a unique take on historical tales and fantasy readers wishing to branch out their taste. I am already waiting to preorder the second book and I cannot wait to see what is done with this series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, War, Sexual violence, Sexism, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
starship_olympus's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
Honestly FUCK every other YA book, Xiran I fuck wit YOU
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, War, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Violence, Torture, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Drug use
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
phantasmaboo's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
Iron Widow follows the story of Wu Zetian, who lives in a futuristic society after an attack on humanity. Her world is constantly under threat from the invading species, and to combat them, they have developed a pilot system in which male pilots consume the life energy of their female co-pilots. Zetian enlists after a pilot kills her system, seeking revenge against not only the man himself, but the system that enabled him.
In a harrowing tale that examines the victimization of women within a patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhou creates a fantastical world that is somehow not too dissimilar from our own. Zetian’s (and other women’s) experiences are highly relatable to today’s world. This books holds no punches as she channels her grief, sadness, and rage into each of her actions to take down the society she lives in.
Overall, I gave this book five stars. Zhou was ferociously brave in her writing and I see this book as the type to advance the genre. I hope more authors and publishers take note, and perhaps begin to write from the “villain’s” point of view, incorporate other perspectives and cultures, and include LGBTQIA+ and different relationship structures. Finally, I love that the book pulled heavily from Chinese culture. It added a layer and perspective not often seen in Western books. I can confidently say I have not read a book like this before, and I cannot wait for Zhou’s next novel.
However, I would be remiss to not mention Zhou’s own warning. This book contains torture, sexual assault (not graphic), body shaming, and body mutilation. Please make sure to check Zhou’s warning before reading, as I can see this text being very triggering.
In a harrowing tale that examines the victimization of women within a patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhou creates a fantastical world that is somehow not too dissimilar from our own. Zetian’s (and other women’s) experiences are highly relatable to today’s world. This books holds no punches as she channels her grief, sadness, and rage into each of her actions to take down the society she lives in.
Overall, I gave this book five stars. Zhou was ferociously brave in her writing and I see this book as the type to advance the genre. I hope more authors and publishers take note, and perhaps begin to write from the “villain’s” point of view, incorporate other perspectives and cultures, and include LGBTQIA+ and different relationship structures. Finally, I love that the book pulled heavily from Chinese culture. It added a layer and perspective not often seen in Western books. I can confidently say I have not read a book like this before, and I cannot wait for Zhou’s next novel.
However, I would be remiss to not mention Zhou’s own warning. This book contains torture, sexual assault (not graphic), body shaming, and body mutilation. Please make sure to check Zhou’s warning before reading, as I can see this text being very triggering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Torture, Body shaming, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, War, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
karmuno's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
4.25
This book fucking shreds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Drug use, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and War
flare_ice8's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Torture, Trafficking, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Body horror, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content