Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

517 reviews

lilyslibraryofdreams's review against another edition

Just lost interest and couldn’t really keep track of everything that had happened. It probably would have been 3 or 4 stars if I had the time to sit down and read it in a short period of time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, and Violence

cs172's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

danparrock's review against another edition

dark inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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

This was an incredible book that was basically written for people like me.

Pacific Rim meets Ancient China (the main character has bound feet), with a queer polyamorous relationship. Featuring  heavy misogyny and colonization. The ending had me reeling.

---

Content Warnings

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

the_frenchie_history_nerd's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• 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

What a great YA book. Definitely for older teens (15/16+), but an accessible read to all reading levels as long as they're old enough. It's a fast-paced, tense, dark and fun read for sci-fi/fantasy readers. Don't expect LOTR world building, but Xian Jay Zhao's first novel still defends itself pretty well on this front.

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!

---

Content Warnings

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.

kittykyryi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-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

WHAT THE FUCKKKKKK

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War

Minor: Rape

rim_eh's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.25

This book started off quite fast paced and I was instantly sucked in to the story of the main character. 

In a world run by money and propaganda, where women are viewed as disposable and less than, the heroine is pissed off and determined to be recognised as equal. Her mental fortitude and pragmatism is almost too strong to be believable considering her upbringing. 

The romance is closed door, if anyone was wondering.

The last part of the book felt more superficial or detached than the beginning and I had trouble getting in to it. 

I also discovered I’m not a huge fan of mecha (mega transformer machines fighting a war), but despite all that it was an entertaining enough story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Rape and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts

kymopolaya's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Gun violence and Rape

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

rolugomi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War

scripturient's review

dark reflective 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

4.25

That was one hell of a ride. It is unapologetic female rage, which I really enjoyed, it is inspired by Imperial China's only female Emperor, which is also super cool, and

it has a love triangle that resolves into a throuple which was AWESOME

. I don't ever want to read that in any other way.
I felt the ending was a bit rushed, almost as if there was no real resolution at hand, so we had to go for more broad angry violence, which felt a bit empty. But overall a great read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence