Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

51 reviews

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.25

 If I had to summarize Iron Widow in one word, it would be rage!

This YA sci-fi blends futuristic mechas (think giant battling robots) with historical elements like foot binding and the systemic suppression of women. In this world, male and female pilots team up to steer these robots—but the male pilot can sacrifice the female if needed. So yes, there’s plenty to be angry about.

The female main character, who had her feet bound at a young age, experiences chronic pain and occasionally relies on a wheelchair. While there’s a love triangle, it’s quite tame, and the book leans heavily into its raw, emotional core.

I wished for more nuance, maturity, and backstory for the characters, but I’m hopeful the sequel (coming December 24, 2024) will deliver!

If you love fierce female leads and stories dripping with justified fury, this one’s for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence and Classism

ixris's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

4.5

What if pac rim met the hunger games and starship troopers in a back parking lot and had a gender fist fight. 

Very fun. Top tier writing. I have one complaint and it's about how short-lived the best shape got to be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Child abuse and Chronic illness

Further cw for gavage and sequences where reality was deeply unclear.

tinysierra's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

“For eighteen years, my unibrow has saved me from being sold into a painful, terrifying death.
Today is the day I'm releasing it from its gracious service.”

Two words: Female Rage

Fast paced, short chapters, captivating.

I need more love triangles that are actual love triangles in media!!! Pleassssse! The loved they shared was beautiful.

"Where does jealousy come from, if not an insecurity that I'll lose you because of him? But that's not how it works, no matter how many people believe it so. You're not something to be kept or taken, and love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open. I mean, when you think about it, love is fueled mostly by compatibility. Whether two people make each other happy by being close. So it'd be pointless of me to resent Shimin. However compatible you are with him, it doesn't have anything to do with how compatible you are with me."

The epilogue had me shook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

leafhead's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and War

sydneykaye's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of the first female emperor of China. very feminist and deals a lot with the patriarchy and violence against women

pretty good representation for a HEALTHY polyamorous relationship

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and War

Minor: Physical abuse and Rape

SPOILER for why Li Shimin was imprisoned and explains the mentions of rape

Li Shimin murdered his brothers because they raped a girl

sassyykassie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

i feel like this book has me with so much to digest. 
 love morally gray characters but this was next level.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, and Classism

bibliorama's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.0

Iron widow
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5 
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.

Overall - 3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

It's hard for me to say how someone else would handle these triggers as books don't typically get to me with triggering content. For what Iron Widow covers, it didn't feel overly graphic to me but that is very subjective. I would say this is better suited towards older young adults (16ish and above but that’s just my opinion)

chanlo1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

btheb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Chronic illness

amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Fun mix of fantasy and tech. Angry new adults wielding fury like a weapon in all its shapes. I DNFED (did not finish) this one back when it came out. GLAD I CAME BACK.

The only reason it wasn't a 5 star is the end felt rushed to me, but it's great!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail