Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

54 reviews

saucywench813's review

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A fun read but deeply flawed. Writing was a bit cringy at times. Felt like the book would have been better if it were in 3rd person instead of 1st because it doesn't really use it well imo.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Torture, and Sexism

Moderate: War, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse

mlllll's review

adventurous dark mysterious relaxing sad 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? No

4.25

I really enjoyed The Iron Widow. It was compelling enough to keep me entertained as a reader throughout the story and to entice me enough to read the sequel. I do think the latter half of the book is a bit rushed.

Someone else wrote how the writer didn't add any measurements of time so it's hard to fall in love with the relationships portrayed because you don't know how slow or fast they developed and I do agree with that criticism. If time measurements would have been given, it would have helped make the relationships more believable.

That said, Zhao manages to create really loveable characters who you want to root for even though they aren't the most morally just ones and as someone who usually sticks to the morally white ones, it was interesting to see how I loved the characters that weren't morally white.

 

Lastly, Zhao created an amazing love triangle, honestly. One that developed very naturally and, in my opinion, wasn't written in a fetishizing way, which is often the case when polyamory is involved, unfortunately. This was also the first YA novel or novel in general that I read that included a poly throuple because it's still really underrepresented, so a shout-out to the Zhao for including that as well. 

So all in all, this wasn't a perfect book but I did really enjoy the romance aspect of it, which I never in a million years thought I'd say about a "love triangle" cuz I hate those. The latter part was a bit too rushed but overall I loved, loved, loved the enormous fury that the main protagonist has. Is it a healthy way to cope ... I'll leave that  up to interpretation but as a woman, her fury is so recognizable. It's this all-consuming feeling sometimes that always has to be kept under lock and key but she lets it out instead. And I freaking loved it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Addiction, Sexual violence, Murder, Misogyny, War, Violence, and Genocide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Physical abuse, Genocide, and Death

aridette's review

adventurous dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Genocide, Abortion, Addiction, Antisemitism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Violence

andrewbenesh1's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, War, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Genocide, Colonisation, Death of parent, Child death, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Torture, Racism, and Murder

jjjreads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Confinement, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Rape, and Fatphobia

kalehouse's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

fast paced, hard to put down, reminiscent of hunger games in many ways. the writing was a little cheesy / clunky at times, but overall really enjoyed. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Racism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Colonisation, Classism, Sexism, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization

there are certainly some heavy themes, but it never feel gratuitous. everything helps situate the reader in the world our characters live in and to understand why our characters might behave in certain ways

akafrecks's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

"No, he's trying to worm into my mind and shackle me down with morals, so he can feel more comfortable about my existence. Too bad. I am exactly the kind of ice-blooded, rotten-hearted girl he fears I am. And I am fine with that. May he stay unsettled." I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!! It's such ass-kicking feminist ride based on a culture foreign from mine (which was such a huge added bonus). The world building was awesome, the premise intriguing, and the portrayal of polyamory done so tasteful you almost miss it. With one book, Zhao has become an auto-buy author for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, War, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Domestic abuse

cprimary's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Honestly not sure how I feel about this one. I agree with the most popular good reviews and the most popular bad reviews. I know I’ll be reading the next one though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Addiction, Violence, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, and Forced institutionalization

arachan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

A sucker punch of a book.  I had to space out my reading of this because Wu Zeitan is righteously furious at the misogyny, classicism and general oppression of her existence, all beautifully and immersively written.  It's hard to handle in addition to current events.

Cannot recommend highly enough.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, and Slavery

mssrquackers's review

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, War, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Gun violence