Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

717 reviews

heather_harrison's review

adventurous challenging fast-paced

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

3.25

Read for: 
- if you like Pacific Rim 
- Alt-history 
- Asian, poly & bisexual rep 
- alt-world with little background

Skip for: 
-YA dystopia cliches 
- under developed main character
- a book about patriarchy that barely passes the Bechdel Test & has a 2D female MC who is “not like other other girls” and is blatantly misogynistic 
- expositional and tactless conversations 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Addiction, War, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Torture

sydneykaye's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of the first female emperor of China. very feminist and deals a lot with the patriarchy and violence against women

pretty good representation for a HEALTHY polyamorous relationship

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Death, Biphobia, Misogyny, Murder, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Physical abuse and Rape

SPOILER for why Li Shimin was imprisoned and explains the mentions of rape

Li Shimin murdered his brothers because they raped a girl

mossgoblins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Grief, Confinement, Death, Murder, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, War, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Body horror, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Rape

pengintoppa's review

adventurous tense

4.5

worldbuilding is interesting, i liked the 3 main characters. it was cool to read scifi set in china by a chinese author. some of the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, War, Misogyny, and Police brutality

Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, Colonisation, Body shaming, Trafficking, Racism, and Emotional abuse

recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.

betanine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• 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

3.0

Iron Widow reminds me of a collegiate level Hunger Games based on peoples who would make up modern China, holding on to traditions from the past. 

This is an emotional book that hits a number of cultural points throughout the book. I like books that make me think and illustrate a concept or make a point and this book does just that. This one wasn’t really for me due to the amount of anger experienced by the main character and the abuse that the main characters go through throughout the story. A number of times I thought about not finishing the book, but I was hoping for redemption after such darkness. 

The theme of this book is to illustrate the abuses and pain caused by a patriarchal rule that uses control and shame to maintain their rule. Initially, the main character sees the injustice women experience. She grows to see the abuse that boys who don’t agree with the patriarchal rule experience next. She sees how someone born to a rich and influential family can have it easier, this isn’t of the hook when they are different. Finally, she sees how people can hurt others even under the threat of the patriarchal rule to hurt others they care for. The book does a good job of illustrating the difference between polyamorous people and sexual promiscuity. Whether one subscribes to that type of relationship being acceptable or not, the distinction is there to see. 

This is the first of at least two and it ends with a cliffhanger ready to sitting right into the next installment.  Perhaps the redemption I’m looking for will be in the next book. I don’t know that I will read it. While I am sympathetic to the perspectives, it leaves me emotionally worn out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, Torture, Sexism, and Sexual content

kemrick19's review

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Violence, Addiction, Murder, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault

spookylettuce's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read Iron Widow in ~4h several years ago instead of writing a very important paper and loved it. I plan to re-read it as soon as I finish all the holds I have at my local library.
The pacing was some of the best I’ve ever had the fortune to read. The author has mentioned via social media that they’re audhd like me, and I think that’s makes Iron Widow so readable and well-paced. I also thoroughly enjoyed the world building, and I think its efficacy is related. After all, are some styles of effective world building not just well-timed and plot-relevant mini info dumps?
Content-wise, I knew going in I would love Iron Widow. I love Pacific Rim, and really enjoy reading fantasy books inspired by Chinese culture and history. I was also excited about the disability rep and

romance being  bi-polyamory instead of the very tired love triangle trope

. My expectations were high, which I always try to avoid since I feel like it can make my reading experience less enjoyable. I couldn’t help it with this book, but it was fine because it actually exceeded my expectations anyways.
I love the characters and that they are not paragons of morality. If you’ve also been waiting for a fmc to unapologetically snap at the people/society that’s been treating her awfully, get ready for some catharsis.
I say all of this with the understanding that not all readers are homogeneous and while I LOVE Iron Widow, not everyone will. But if you’re like me and enjoy fantasy/sci-fi informed by Chinese culture and/or are an audhd reader, definitely give this book a shot!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Genocide and Sexual assault

cfitz13's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, War, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Rape and Alcohol

discowing87's review

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely loved this book, probably gonna recommend it to everyone I know. I usually stray away from this genre because I don't particularly enjoy 1st person writing or romances but the romance here is developed in a believable way that feels so human that I was so invested in it working out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Mental illness, Death, War, Sexism, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Classism, Confinement, and Murder

charliesshit's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Classism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault