Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

456 reviews

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

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

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

zoeluh's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.5

I LOVE a morally grey, vengeful, murderous main character, especially a vengeful, murderous girl. As a survivor, Zetian’s rage and refusal to be forgiving speaks to me in an unvarnished and beautiful way. I love that she isn’t made to be forgiving, kind, or redeemable. She is fueled by anger, and beneath that by love for those suffering injustice, and that’s what makes her so powerful and relatable. I also like that although this isn’t historical fiction, it draws on so many aspects of real Chinese history, and highlights the discrimination of Chinese ethnic minorities. The descriptions of foot-binding stuck with me as well as someone whose ancestors had bound feet. Zetian’s rage was not arbitrary, it draws on very real injustices and deep, ancestral anger, making this a powerful novel that speaks to the darker parts of the heart. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder

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

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

imchelsi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War

kenyoncannotread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual assault

candiemarsh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I am OBSESSED with this book. I am a nerd for Chinese mythology and spiritualism, and this book included a lot of those aspects. The story was so vividly described, I could visualise the scenes in my head. I loved how the characters' weaved around each other, and the story progression was quite seamless and timely. I would have preferred for this not to be a YA book, tbough; would have loved more details on the chemistry Zetian had with the other characters she meets along her journey. Absolutely cannot wait for the sequel "Heavenly Tyrant" to be out in April 2024!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Gaslighting

ara02's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement, Death, and Sexual harassment

jmermelstein14's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Violence, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

alex_salamander's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, and Grief