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cs172's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
lianaet's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War
reviewsandreadathons's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, and Alcohol
comaduff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Main theme of the book:
I support women’s rights, but more importantly i support women’s wrongs!!!!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Blood, and Medical trauma
jelkebooks's review against another edition
- 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
REREAD 2025
It's been a while since I first read this book so before getting into Heavenly Tyrant I just knew I had to reread it to be able to recall the plot properly. I also just wanted to reread it because I remembered absolutely LOVING it the first time around. I can very gladly say that didn't change this second time around. I somehow might even love it more than the first time I read it. This book is just so incredibly good.
Books with a very gendered society at the centre of its plot always seem interesting to me. However, I think those stories often get stuck within their own binaries, and therefore don't end up reaching their full potential for me. That really isn't the case with Iron Widow. I love how this book discusses gender, and even though it is mainly focussed on the women in this world being treated unfairly, it does leave discussions open outside of the male/female binary. It feels so natural for these characters that are already questioning the world's docterines to not be stuck within the gender binary. On top of that this also goes outside of the straight focussed view the world might want the characters to stay in. Again, the discussions around sexuality just felt so natural within it all. I just love how it all was executed.
I also just adore Zetian. She is just such an interesting and compelling main character. She isn't perfect. Far from it in fact. Sometimes her actions can feel very frustrating as an outsider but her growth throughout this book is just phenomenal. I loved getting to see her grow throughout the entire book. However, from the start she's just so headstrong, and so badass. I fucking love her. The two love interests are also such great characters. They are both very different characters, but really in sync with Zetian as well. I'm so glad Xiran Jay Zhao went for the poly route, because as an actual love triangle this would have been impossible for me to pick. Even just the relationship between the two guys is PEAK. They all 3 have such different relationships with each other, which are all so interesting and well developed as well and their overall dynamic between the 3 of them also just gave me life.
We also, of course, have an incredible plot. I think Xiran Jay Zhao really just thought out this world so well and everything just feels airthight. Anything that raised questions for me within the book ended up playing into things before the book ended, and overall I just thought it was all really well executed. The plot was very fast-paced and really had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The different twists and reveals were also just really well done, and the last one in particular (if you know, you know) had me absolutely GAGGED even the second time around. I absolutely can't wait to see all of this play out even more in book two. So excuse me while I go read that right fucking now. Like truly, how did I survive without the sequel immediately on hands the first time around?
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault
danparrock's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
Minor: Colonisation
mirandyli's review against another edition
- 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
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
read_yuu_wrote_yuu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
the_frenchie_history_nerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Iron Widow's characters definitely aren't good people, but they're still loveable in some sort of twisted way. Zetian is a villainous figure that you're probably gonna learn to love despite her cruel nature.
This book is just as good on a second read, and I can't wait to start Heavenly Tyrant!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, and Classism
Dark subjects treated with respect throughout the book, but the author does not shy away from talking about a brutal, deeply flawed and violent society.theprinceofdenmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, and Colonisation