Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

71 reviews

corabookworm's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

I need some time to process the ending of this book before I write a review, but for now, just know that Iron Widow is a powerful and vengeful story that absolutely blew my mind and I need the second book immediately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

andrewbenesh1's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Child death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

emmahe's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault

fatherprozac's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Pretty much scratched every itch for female rage and vengeance I've ever had. I felt the urge to scream my soul out along with Zetian at every turn and was always left satisfied. 

I loved the inclusion of a polyamorous triangle. I've never read a book with one before. Honestly, I also really loved that Zetian crushed her family (literally) in the end. I was so disappointed by the initial "be the bigger person" turn but it was SO perfect how it was really just used as a weapon against her. Sometimes the rotten family really does just have to pay for their behavior and/or passiveness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, and Colonisation

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia

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

kshertz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

I really love that the YA genre has embraced very different narratives than it has in the past. This is such an interesting dystopian future that still has some of the same strong holds of misogyny and tradition. I love that the iron widow is such a strong character and I love her character development. I do love the romance involved but I think it was not fully explored or developed in the way that I typically love. The ending was also meant to inspire me to read the rest but I feel like I’m satisfied with just reading the one book. I definitely think it’s an amazing book to read and I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it which is always going to get a four at least for me!!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War

mxdegroot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I'm a sucker for morally grey main characters, and this book excels in that.

This entire book breaks your brain in the best way possible. Just when you think you've figured something out of when a happy ending seems within reach, you're yanked back and thrown right back into the action. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel to come out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Racism, Torture, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

fraxisle's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

achtung_katie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Torture, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault