Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

591 reviews

dlxfuentes's review against another edition

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

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kaywhiteley's review

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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? Yes

4.5

Fuck. Literally insane. 

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littlestdread's review

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adventurous dark funny 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? No

5.0


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sadie_hawkins's review

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

4.75

if the writing wouldn't be so elite, this would be a 4 star read. 

my problem with this book started at the first chapter. unnecessarily long, drages, terrible first introduction. i ended up skipping lines.

after the second chapter... it only got better and better. i find the dark elements, scary enough to keep you tense but not grotesque. 

main character was interesting, i enjoyed being inside her mind and author succeded to gave her messages without making me feel like i was reading *inspiring pinterest quotes*. 

the only weak writing was the deliverance of li shimin's backstory. but i forgive that.

slowburn was very tastefully done. characters relationships to each other felt very realistic even though this book is single pov. 

my only other problem is.... the ending. in this point, problem can be me because i am not used to reading sci-fi. So the long war scene at the end... i think i ended up skipping a brunch. 

the real ending was *fine* but i really don't like ambiguous endings. the ending was probably predictable but still, deliverance was good so it didn't felt forced.

i will %100 re-read, since i finished it in less than 24 hours since it was too captivating. 

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rubyskies's review

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challenging 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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow. All I can say is I support women’s rights but also women’s wrongs. Excellent read, I devoured this. Lot to think about.

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astropova's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring 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

This was an incredible book! So gripping, the pacing was on point. The centering of female rage really resonated with me.

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pnorrell's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.25

Xiran Jay Zhao wows from the beginning with their talent for world building and politics, weaving a story that will have you feeling everything that the main character, Zeitan, feels, celebrating with her in her best moments, and weeping with her in her lowest, bringing everything to an ending that will leave you gasping for air, and wishing for more. 

I cannot wait to read more from Xiran Jay Zhao, and I'm looking forward to the release of the upcoming sequel, Heavenly Tyrant! 

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gaynidoking's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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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cnaccarato's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

5.0


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valjeanval's review

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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? Yes

4.0

Well, it was better than I thought it would be. As my book club has started talking more about the four doorways of reading (Character, Plot, Setting, Writing), I'm coming to realize more and more that without that Writing doorway, I just have a hard time getting into a book. 

This book is extremely cinematic in a way that if it was an anime or graphic novel where I could actually see the Chrysalises and watch the battle scenes, I'd probably be pretty into it. The ruthless female anti-hero is a trope that I'm glad is gaining more traction. In the romance aspects of the book,
the pro-poly anti-love triangle take is a great way to turn YA fiction on its head even if the Shimin/Yizhi romance didn't really get enough attention to feel at all believable.


So plot and character-wise, it's pretty good. The world-building is all right too. I think it's just the language including occasional modern phrases that feel so anachronistic to the setting that grated on me. The ending also was pretty abrupt and included so much new information that felt rushed to me. So I don't know. I think it's a good book that just wasn't really for me. It is a shame that it was disqualified in the Hugo debacle this year because as literature aimed at a young adult audience, I think it is making some very important moves and deserved that recognition.

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