Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

308 reviews

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

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 ;)

ceruleanseas's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

sirpandacat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark

• 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, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Torture

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury

sadetanssija's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

I recognise many many flaws with this book, and yet... I found myself enjoying it a lot.

Mainly because good polyam rep is so hard to find, I'm willing to forgo a lot of other standards.

To quote a good movie: "It makes no damn sense. Compels me though."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Biphobia, Gun violence, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

jes42's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Hands down one of the best books I've ever read. The execution of the characters, world building, and plot devices tying into the themes of the book was near flawless. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

sofipitch's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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

3.0

I have very conflicted opinions on this one. If you really want them all you can find them here: https://www.tumblr.com/sofipitch/769508205964443648/i-finished-iron-widow-and-have-too-many-opinions?source=share

Tldr: Some of the didactic-ness of the book is annoying or poorly done but it's very earnest and self indulgent which is charming

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder

justagrlandherdog's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Torture, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

themdash's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Really wonderful concept and hints of incredible world-building, including a GREAT twist at the end… but it’s dragged down by uneven pacing, lack of detail, immature writing style, and jumps in characterization (Zetian’s feelings about Shimin seem to completely change overnight). I’ll continue the series, but can’t recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism