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humblebee20's review
5.0
A whirlwind of a book that I devoured in less than a week. While there were somethings I didn't love, I found myself head over heels for this book. I found myself desperately trying to find something similar. I'm not a huge mecha fan and yet this book made it work and had me invested from the first fight. The alluring concept is what really sold the book for me, and Zhao is a master at not letting things get too mushy or too much action without purpose. Everytime I thought things were slowing down, there was something crazy in the next chapter. I'm not a huge romance person and seeing a poly relationship was something that I found to be incredible, especially for a young adult novel. It's always nice to see more than just a cis-het relationship because boy and girl are there, so they must kiss. The characters have purpose and while they can be a little over the top at some points, the world is over the top to compensate and in an engaging way. Some of the prose felt a little amateur and I will admit some lines made me cringe a little, but the story more than made up for it all. The disability awareness through the foot binding of the main character was another excellent detail that never gets pushed to the side. Her feet are bound, and that means she can never walk properly. Most authors would never dare make a character with a disability that can't easily be fixed, especially for the main character. It was a breath of fresh air. My only qualms were the prose as previously mentioned and the one character who does have a fridge wife, but that's about it. A fun sci-fi read with a character who acyually gets stuff done, and isn't afraid of getting their hands dirty.
sjones13's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
hannahhbic's review
5.0
Edit 2/9/22: I will sincerely never shut up about this book. It deserves everything.
Holy forking shirtballs. Iron Widow, [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082], and [b:Lobizona|51179882|Lobizona (Wolves of No World, #1)|Romina Garber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571242220l/51179882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72729786] really came out here to revolutionize YA. You love to see it. This is legit one of the best YA books I've ever read. It's as immersive as a video game. It's as swift as a coursing river (sorry I couldn't help throwing in a Mulan reference but it's also true, the pacing is fast). Iron Widow demolishes the patriarchy, classism, and racism. The ending on this book? Staggering. There are a LOT of content warnings for this one. Readalikes include [b:She Who Became the Sun|48727813|She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1)|Shelley Parker-Chan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625048838l/48727813._SY75_.jpg|74086825], [b:Gearbreakers|54017833|Gearbreakers (Gearbreakers, #1)|Zoe Hana Mikuta|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600090651l/54017833._SY75_.jpg|73693444], [b:The First Sister|52378525|The First Sister (The First Sister Trilogy, #1)|Linden A. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584211465l/52378525._SY75_.jpg|71431861].
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content + Trigger Warnings include: murder, death, torture, violence, gore, human sacrifices, thoughts of suicide, a lot of abuse (including domestic abuse and parental abuse), talk of sexual assault, extreme alcohol addiction, lots of consumption of alcohol, lots of depictions of blood, lots of depictions of trauma, depictions of depression, anxiety depictions and panic attacks, many mentions of needles, forced body modifications including footbinding and stolen organs, humiliation, misogyny and sexism, talk of disease, themes of colonization, and war themes (from Goodreads User @Meltotheany)
Holy forking shirtballs. Iron Widow, [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082], and [b:Lobizona|51179882|Lobizona (Wolves of No World, #1)|Romina Garber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571242220l/51179882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72729786] really came out here to revolutionize YA. You love to see it. This is legit one of the best YA books I've ever read. It's as immersive as a video game. It's as swift as a coursing river (sorry I couldn't help throwing in a Mulan reference but it's also true, the pacing is fast). Iron Widow demolishes the patriarchy, classism, and racism. The ending on this book? Staggering. There are a LOT of content warnings for this one. Readalikes include [b:She Who Became the Sun|48727813|She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1)|Shelley Parker-Chan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625048838l/48727813._SY75_.jpg|74086825], [b:Gearbreakers|54017833|Gearbreakers (Gearbreakers, #1)|Zoe Hana Mikuta|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600090651l/54017833._SY75_.jpg|73693444], [b:The First Sister|52378525|The First Sister (The First Sister Trilogy, #1)|Linden A. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584211465l/52378525._SY75_.jpg|71431861].
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content + Trigger Warnings include: murder, death, torture, violence, gore, human sacrifices, thoughts of suicide, a lot of abuse (including domestic abuse and parental abuse), talk of sexual assault, extreme alcohol addiction, lots of consumption of alcohol, lots of depictions of blood, lots of depictions of trauma, depictions of depression, anxiety depictions and panic attacks, many mentions of needles, forced body modifications including footbinding and stolen organs, humiliation, misogyny and sexism, talk of disease, themes of colonization, and war themes (from Goodreads User @Meltotheany)
mmmicah's review
5.0
Look, I'm not normally a very emotional reader, but the last 100 pages had me SCREAMING at the book. That ending feels illegal in the best way possible.
1000/10 easily one of my all time favorites, definitely recommend.
P.S. It has a trouple of chaotic murder goblins, and the main character is a raging feminist and will fight anything that makes the mistake to cross her, if that isn't enough to hook you into the book IDK what to tell you.
P.P.S. Also I need a movie adaptation in my life.
1000/10 easily one of my all time favorites, definitely recommend.
P.S. It has a trouple of chaotic murder goblins, and the main character is a raging feminist and will fight anything that makes the mistake to cross her, if that isn't enough to hook you into the book IDK what to tell you.
P.P.S. Also I need a movie adaptation in my life.
tatyanavogt's review
5.0
Soooooooooooo this was FIRE! The only thing wrong with this book is that I have to wait for the sequel! Love the representation, the conversations and commentary being had, LOVE the whole love situation, I just love it all! Can't wait to see what happens in the next one!
charlieanne313's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75