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helfire124's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Alcohol, War, Violence, Alcoholism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Addiction, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, Misogyny, Ableism, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual harassment, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
michmoo's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Also the entire book - what?!? My brain does not have the capacity to fully comprehend all of the many insane things that were happening throughout this book. Amazing.
I am a fan of how this book handled the (actual) love triangle too - it is the strongest shape!
Also, I do love a main character that can just be unapologetically murderous. Yes, kill and enact revenge upon everyone who has wronged you baby, go!
Highly recommend.
Graphic: Genocide, War, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Gore, Murder, Violence, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content and Colonisation
ender24's review
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Classism, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gaslighting, Genocide, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, War, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, War, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Trafficking, Addiction, Violence, Child death, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief and Xenophobia
fromthefoxhole's review
- 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
In Huaxia, women hope for one of two fates - marriage or to be a concubine-pilot for one of the male Chrysalis (think Pacific Rim style mech suit) pilots. After losing her Big Sister to the hands of one such pilot, Zetian has concocted a plan to avenge her sister's death by infiltrating the pilot system and killing the man responsible. Generally, women are expected to die from the mental strain of the co-piloting, but Zetian refuses to give up quite easily. Instead, she winds up utilizing their co-pilot neural link to murder him, becoming the Iron Widow.
Rather than freeing her, this feat results in her being paired with Shimin, the strongest Chrysalis pilot in Huaxia - who also murdered his father and brothers. As they begrudgingly work together, they uncover each other's past and develop a partnership. Alongside their friendship, though, they find more corruption than Zetian could have ever imagined.
I won't lie, the first chapter really didn't grab me. I didn't understand a lot of the world-specific language, but oh my god, it's so worth it to work past that. Iron Widow is a masterclass in continuous world building, slowly unfurling the history of Huaxia and Zetian like the first blossoms of spring. I've had other 5 star reads this month, and reading this makes me want to retroactively downgrade them, or petition Amazon for a higher option.
Zetian is DELIGHTFUL, so full of righteous fury and grief, and she's stunningly clever. She's brash and unrefined, and I'm obsessed with her. Her desperation to fix the misogyny and mistreatment of young girls in her society is so admirable. Honestly, even though she's ending the book kind of unhinged, I would probably trust her anyway.
The romance element is refreshing, avoiding the traditional YA love triangle in favor of a thoughtful portrayal of polyamory.
The writing is captivating, straddling the line between Chinese history and its futuristic setting. Zhao is incredibly effective at touching all of the reader's senses, so I really felt like I could see the entire book come to life around me.
TL; DR - YES, it really is that good.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Death of parent, Confinement, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit
miggyfool's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Colonisation, Confinement, Drug abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Slavery, and War
audiem's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Sexual harassment, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, War, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Ableism, Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Colonisation and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia
emburke's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Torture, War, Violence, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Rape, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Biphobia
puffins57's review
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Addiction, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Body shaming
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
ali_k0's review
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Racism, Vomit, Colonisation, and Body shaming