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valjeanval's review
- 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
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,
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.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Ableism, Alcoholism, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, War, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Addiction, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Child death, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Colonisation, Body shaming, Gore, Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, War, Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Torture
erstreetman's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Body shaming, Xenophobia, and War
sonatica's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
After reading and listening to mostly slow- to medium-paced stories for a long time, the intensity of the characters and storyline hit me hard in the most positive way.
Iron Widow is unapologetic and vengeful and so, so satisfying to me. The genre was new to me and I was afraid that I wouldn't like it, but I was so positively surprised.
If anyone is looking for a cozy read, this is not it. But if you're looking for a book with a powerful female character who is fed up with and takes action against an unjust system then this is it!
Spoiler Warning about the romantic sub plot:
(And also, finally an ACTUAL love triangle, instead of two people liking one person but not each other!!)
While I would've enjoyed more buildup to the relationship of Wu Zetian and Li Shimin personally (I couldn' quite follow at which point she actually developed feelings for him), I still ended up really enjoying the whole dynamic betweenall 3 of them!
And more Spoiler about the Ending and Epilogue:
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, and Confinement
Moderate: Grief, Sexual violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming and Colonisation
vael's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Abandonment, Grief, Colonisation, Classism, Confinement, Misogyny, Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, War, Genocide, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Self harm, and Fire/Fire injury
turrean's review against another edition
- 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
Listening to the audiobook added an extra depth to the story, since the names were pronounced correctly. I did find that some of the most violent scenes were really hard to get through.
Graphic: Body shaming, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Emotional abuse, Classism, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Sexism, Trafficking, and Death
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Vomit, War, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Torture, Bullying, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Genocide, Gore, Body horror, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Ableism, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
ionarachel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Alcohol, Violence, Addiction, Medical content, Body shaming, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Blood
richy_qu33r_readzz'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
4.25
Graphic: Trafficking, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, War, Murder, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexual violence
xx_salem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Alcohol, Classism, Murder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Addiction, Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death of parent