Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

86 reviews

philippmk's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This book was brutal from beginning to end. I love a ruthless protagonist and Zetian development throughout this story makes absolute sense. She, and most other characters, were deeply engaging and I felt that I could understand every choice she made, even if I wouldn't have made them myself.
 

What confused me a little was how often I had seen this book come up in LGBT+ book lists. While three of our main characters are bisexual and I enjoyed the fleeting polyamory, the queerness of these characters really is a very minor part of the book. That is not to say their queerness isn't valid, but you sholdn't expect a groundbreaking queer romance going into this book — this is not that kind of story.
This was also a book I was told to expect a twist in. Though there was one twist early on in the story (unless you read the text in the book jacket), I was glad to see more throughout the book. And yet, one final twist was revealed literally on the second-to-last page, the lateness of which made it feel like an afterthought.
 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Minor: Biphobia and Domestic abuse

prettiestwhistles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, and Medical content

marleywrites's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

“LONG LIVE THE IRON WIDOW!”

I am writing this directly after reading the ending via audiobook and when I say I didn’t see it coming…. I mean it!!

This book is so angry and visceral and raw. Almost everything about it screams rage and pain being released. But at the same time there are soft and tender moments, raw in a different way. 

I love that they’re polyamorous. That was awesome and very well done in my opinion.

I am frustrated with the ending because I have to wait until 2023 for the sequel. But I’m eager to see where the next book takes them and how certain things will resolve. 

I will say I appreciated the disability representation as well as Zetain used a wheelchair and it was a normal thing that nobody really questioned. The discussion of alcoholism was okay as well. I think it was a realistic take on the situation and then when “more stuff” is revealed you understand better why Shimin reacts that way to alcohol. 

Overall, this book was possibly one of the weirdest books I’ve read but in the best way. I’m not really a frequent flyer with sci-fi and I wasn’t expecting the story to be how it was but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the audiobook narrator and had a great time listening to the narration. I cheered for Zetian multiple times. 

“WELCOME TO YOUR NIGHTMARE!!”

Great story. Looking forward to the sequel! 5/5 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Confinement, Sexism, and Sexual content

cattheteawitchfairy's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

This book was INCREDIBLE.

Firstly the writing style was impeccable and although the text fell into some cliche moments it was a book that you will get fully absorbed into. The description and detail is precise and well crafted.

The story itself is a very interesting one with twists and turns at every corner. Many things I didn’t see coming; especially the ending!! (I’m writing this review about 3 minutes after finishing as I’m so filled with adrenaline!) 

A very dark (so be careful with triggers etc) fantasy/sci-fi read with a fabulous premise and wonderful execution. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

alphabetmafiamember's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism

chaylattes's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Grief

jjjreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Rape

writer_a_fox's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent

ka_ke's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

As a debut novel, Iron Widow gets the job done. It’s a good mix of sci-fi meets literary fiction. I felt that the first part was shorter than it could have been, while the other two parts were longer than they needed to be. I felt that some of the women’s rights pieces were either repetitive or preachy, and that is coming from someone who is actively watching the world turn against women and dying inside while it happens. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement

mssrquackers's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Gun violence, Rape, and Forced institutionalization