Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

427 reviews

standby907's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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

This book took me for a ride and I couldn't put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content

shadow_cat94's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Wow! I loved this book and immediately reserved my spot for Heavenly Tyrant at my library!

Wu Zetian is an angry and vengeful girl who is set out of fighting against her misogynistic society. Li Shimin is a sweet boy with a dark past who is just doing his best to survive in a world that doesn't want him to. Yihzi is a gentle boy with a restrictive father in a world of high expectations and different dreams.

Placing these three characters together in the way that they were made me so giddy, I just wanted to scream. There were so many twists including a major one in the epilogue!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

The military actively points loaded guns at the heads of the characters while threatening to shoot them for a good chunk of the book. If that is triggering for you, I can not recommend this book.

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

rjbedell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

“A primal scream of a book” is a very apt tagline, for better and for worse.  Zhao’s great achievement in Iron Widow is a raw, ferocious current of feminist rage, sustained by shocking plot twists and vivid action sequences.  Genuinely tender moments thread a surprising love arc through otherwise dark scenes.

However, for me the book was weighed down by excessive brutality, surprisingly immature dialogue, and at-times clumsy plot advancements.  The cruelty of the novel’s world makes it impossible not to root for the title character, yet the conclusion Zetian reaches as her revenge fantasy reaches its fever pitch —   “the world does not deserve my respect… kindness or compassion” — abandons speculative fiction’s potential to inspire.  From a serious standpoint, the story paints a grim portrait of a woman consumed by her own rage in a seemingly endless fight against injustice.  For readers able to take the book less seriously, it may provide a cathartic release valve in the form of a sensational, unpredictable bloodbath.

Reminded me strongly of The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

abbyschalupa's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

Dark sci-fi with a focus on destroying the patriarchy 

A good read. I loved the main character and the rage she carried with her. Going against the lies she’s been taught, she defines her own worth. The whole story, you watch her reclaim her power. I liked the romance and was invested in all 3 characters- they each had their own story and history. I cared about all of them. The dynamics between the 3 of them felt fresh. 

What I liked-
A fast paced, dark story about female rage and taking back your power. I loved watching the protagonist on her journey and use her voice. A found family in the midst of abusive biological family. A love triangle where each character loves, supports, and balances one another in their own way.

What I struggled with-
This was more of a personal thing, as where I was didn’t quite mesh with the book. There’s an emphasis on dark themes and while much isn’t grotesque, it’s present. The hunduns are the enemy in the war, yet there’s not enough description on what they actually are or what they look like. I had no idea how to picture them. For the war to be a central focus, it felt like a blatant missing piece to have scarcely any information about them. There’s a big twist at the end meant to shock you, and it felt a bit cheap. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content

Minor: Genocide and Rape

gippytwo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

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 ;)

aurora4847's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

Reread in audiobook form to prepare myself for reading the sequel Heavenly Tyrant. Iron Widow is just as incredible as I remember it being! I'm not a huge Scifi fan, but this blends futuristic tech and mecha battles so seamlessly with myth and magic that it's easy to forget. Zetian is the my favorite character ever for bloodthirsty female rage, and it doesn't hurt that Shimin and Yizhi are my favorite supportive male leads. The character arcs are brilliant, the stakes are just high enough, and the action sequences are so tense and fun. This book doesn't pull punches, so read with caution of course. But the ending is so satisfying and leaves you desperate for the continuation into Heavenly Tyrant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Rape, Sexual content, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

This book has very heavy topics and scenes, including misogyny, foot binding, death, war, colonisation, murder, torture, death of family members, sexual assault, ableism, racism, exploitation, and war. It is all handled well, and is worth it.

deemmoonlight's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Misogyny

ynysafalon'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Classism