Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

219 reviews

vael's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad 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

---

Content Warnings

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

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

Brutal, dark, and riveting; a narrative of distilled feminine rage. 

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

mari1532's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I had first heard about the author when I stumbled upon them scrolling Instagram one day. I was immediately in love with their content and put the audiobook on hold at my library. Due to the book’s popularity, I spent several months waiting. 

It was not only the author’s online content that intrigued me about their book. The descriptions I had read online described it as a science fiction book with loose references to China’s first Empress, Wu Zetian. 

After finally reading it I can safely say, that I adored this book. It is full of political intrigue, messy relationships, and glimmers of historical references. The way that Jay Zhao writes is enthralling and by providing the reader with guide posts about the characters’ motivations/feelings and leads you along with the growth and development of the character without explicitly telling you what is going on. For instance, when Zetian has a confrontation with another female pilot in the bath, I was able to feel the character’s confusion, rage, and compassion in the scene and through the dialogue I was able to understand why various characters reacted the way that they did. Each of their characters is deliciously complex and Jay Zhao’s writing is exceptional.

I liked that there was a polyamorous relationship rather than a love triangle. It was a completely natural development and it was great that there was no focus on the development in the book. The relationships simply evolved and that was just the way it was. 

There were several plot twists throughout the book that I did find unexpected and it made me want to keep reading. Jay Zhao’s plotting of this book was just exceptional and I am so excited for the next installment of the series. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Confinement, Grief, Gaslighting, War, Death, Addiction, Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, and Forced institutionalization

nhollie's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The plot is interesting and the world building is vibrant, but the way that gender/sexism/women taking back their power is described in the book reminds me so deeply of being on Tumblr in 2014. And I think in the way that talking back against the gender stereotypes of Wu Zeitan’s world and our own, her character becomes flattened and loses complexity. The world building also gets sort of flat and the Chrysalis tech/training gets zoomed through. The best way I can put it is I would have liked to see more nuance — but I’m interested enough in the world and characters to check out the sequel when it comes out and Zhao’s future novels.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Sexism, and War

hales_writes's review against another edition

I really wanted to like and finish this book. But the (totally justified) mc's rage and painful descriptions of foot binding lead to me putting the book down. I think the story itself was great, I may try again in the future.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Suicidal thoughts

laurenthebibliofile's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

Stepped outside of my comfort zone with this one a little bit. What initially drew me to the book was the retelling of Chinese history. What initially made me wary was the science fiction aspect of the story. Well…i shouldn’t have been wary. Once you start reading this all of those aspects make sense. This was such an easy read. Zetian is a strong independent woman who is out for revenge. The government is sacrificing women in the name of war and Zetian has had enough, especially after her sister becomes one of the victims. She is a complete badass. This story was a roller coaster ride that i was only partially prepared to be on. Xiran did an amazing job twining history into a futuristic world. They are a fantastic storyteller and I am really looking forward to the second one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, War, and Body horror

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Murder, Child abuse, and Death

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Body horror

Minor: Rape

divydes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Body horror

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault

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. 

---

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