Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

194 reviews

julbel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

3.25

Intense experience of one young woman's struggle in a system that views her as no more than fuel for an endless war. 
The quick pace of the book does leave me wishing for more moments of quiet, which are few and brief, to get a sense of the characters outside of turmoil. Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi are compelling characters, with much potential for further development of depth (and hopefully *some* down time to figure out who they are when they aren't trying to overthrow the government). 
Looking forward to the continuation of this story in the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, War, Alcoholism, Torture, Child death, Classism, Death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

deckleeditproof's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

The beginning was tough to track but once I learned the lingo it was good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Alcoholism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Xenophobia

Minor: Classism and Genocide

max_audet's review against another edition

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

4.0

The world-building felt rushed, especially at the end with all the reveals. Nevertheless, the righteous rage, character developments, and overall themes made it an interesting and refreshing read.

I hope the next volume allows the author to solidify the worldbuilding and stabilize the pacing issue.

The blurb mentions that this is Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale, but in my opinion, it has much more in common with Darling in the Franxx than Pacific Rim. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Body horror

Minor: Rape

sarahasperger's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, War, Death, Grief, and Misogyny

Moderate: Confinement and Torture

tiddlerrr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

If you are neurospicy there is something about the way Xiran Jay Zhao writes that clicks in your brain. I opened this up one evening thinking I was going to read max two chapters, and then proceeded to not be able to put the book down until I finished it at 6am. I literally read this while eating dinner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Misogyny, Sexism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Sexual violence, Ableism, Torture, Physical abuse, and Classism

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.5

This book was a lot of fun and validating for me. Is like The Iron Widow was able to say how I feel about the patriarchy in the ways I wish I could. She’s the best hero! Looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gore, Kidnapping, Rape, War, Bullying, Drug use, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, and Suicide

angelfireeast24's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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

 A disabled queer feminist hero who took no shit and served endless power despite deep discrimination and injustice told within a sci-fi world of robots vs aliens. 5 stars Highly recommend reading 

It is an epic story of a world shaped by discrimination and sexism. A woman dares to change the world by refusing the horrible role society has assigned her. The world seems like one thing and quickly stands out as something altogether different. Nothing is as it appears. I was rooted in the story of Wu Zetian even as I sometimes had to look away and take a break from all the angst. Wu Zetian never stops fighting patriarchy and injustice. As the story develops, so do Wu Zetian's views on feminism and the characters around her. It goes hand in hand as her worldview changes throughout the book. I was supposed to be shocked and perhaps conflicted about a few things that happened by finding I was 100% behind our heroes. Near the end, twist after twist leaves me desperate for more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, War, Xenophobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Sexism, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Child abuse, and Body horror

pj99's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

Bloody spectacular, like inspecting an artwork the size of a soccer field with a magnifying glass!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, War, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Confinement

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

sapphic_necromancer's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Torture

fragrant_stars's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Honestly I loved this book. I didn't love it.. as much as I wanted  to love it, if that makes sense. It did come off as a little "preachy" at some points-- like when the characters talk about how men aren't just animals who can't control their sexual urges-- but the book as a whole, I loved, and I also loved, loved, loved the ployamoury in it, and the characters, and the ending. I'd definitely recommend this to any and all my friends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Death, Addiction, War, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Confinement, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Body horror

Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Classism, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Vomit, Ableism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Murder, Rape, and Child death