Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

239 reviews

kristenityyy's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Grief, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Gun violence

d3vilsw0lf's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad 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

I can't believe I waited this long to read Iron Widow! The female rage and defiance against a world meant to cage, Wu Zetian is fearsome and determined and refuses to let anyone stop her. 
The hints of the ending and how well it sets up Heavenly Tyrant, I can't wait for it to release. It will definitely be a read same day as publication for book 2. 
If you haven't picked this up yet or are only thinking about it, don't think anymore and just read! Both the book and Xiran J y Zhao are deserving of a HUGO award and so much more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, and Torture

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape

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

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

ancestrallizard's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

This feminist retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian was everything. It makes you really think about misogyny, gender-based violence, and binary gender roles in such an interesting and action-packed way.

You’ll find yourself furious throughout the book with how many times women’s pain, suffering and lives are seen as necessary sacrifice zones for the “good” of society. I especially loved Wu Zeitan’s badasss spirit, thirst for justice & the poly romance 🔥

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, War, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Death, Blood, and Alcoholism

orchidforever's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

I loved this book till the epilogue. I think I ranted for a bit at my husband. But I also know it’s set up for the next book but man. I’m mad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Genocide and Sexual violence

It’s a war book. No explicit sexual acts in writing.

kittara's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, War, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

astropova's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Sexual assault

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Grief