Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

108 reviews

mirandyli's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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

4.75

This was an incredible book that was basically written for people like me.

Pacific Rim meets Ancient China (the main character has bound feet), with a queer polyamorous relationship. Featuring  heavy misogyny and colonization. The ending had me reeling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

inirac's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

enbyaddams's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

silverphoenix817's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Did a re-read before reading the sequel. ALL THE STARS, ALL THE TIME, I love this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Torture, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism

oiwb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

I found myself wanting more of most things - more world building, more character building. The major plot points were there but getting from point a to point b was a bit awkward. Plot twist at the end was predictable, but it was a fun read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, War, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia and Infidelity

thebooksanctum's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

Just incredible, once again! The conversations around patriarchal societies and extreme sexism, the Pacific Rim vibes, it's all incredible and perfect to me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ella_rose31's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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

5.0

So good I had to read it twice to prepare for the next book! Amazing story and such a great read to get out of a slump for sci-fi lovers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Blood

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, and Rape

dalek_caan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

If I could give this book more than five stars I would. What an incredible read. Not a moment was wasted in telling this story, I was absolutely hanging onto every moment. It touches on so many different themes of struggle and trauma and identity and love in a beautifully woven together and explored story. I can't wait for the next book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War

rizky's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

 Re-read before reading Heavenly Tyrant

I had forgotten SO MUCH, especially the final act, so this was another wild ride.

Not a lengthy review, but just the crux of my thoughts/feelings: this book has flaws - it is a debut, and noticably so. My main concern is a lack of subtely (Zhao spells the political implications out quite explicitly) and slightly convoluted worlbuilding. At same time, the story and characters are absolutely worth it (at least to me) (all the feelings I felt, damn).
I definitely recommend Iron Widow to anyone who enjoys female rage, morally dubious characters, and poly romance.

Excited to start reading Heavenly Tyrant! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual violence and Trafficking

twihard_librarian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I sat down to read a couple chapters of this book and I accidentally stayed up all night reading it. Totally worth it. Great characters, interesting plots, feminine rage, supportive friendships, giant robots, vengeance, and a great conclusion to the first book of the series. This book has a bit of spiciness between certain characters which I did not expect but was delighted by in such an intense and blood-thirsty story. Read only if you want to have a great time but head the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent

Sexy and compelling romantic relationship between all three of the main characters! Forget love triangles, this is a love triad...and you know what they say, the triangle is the strongest of the shapes ;)