Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Iron Widow

I loved this book so much! Finally, a book that is brave enough to not back down. It both lays out the experience of and defies the horrible nature of patriarchy and the brutal treatment of women and girls. Thank you to Xiran Jay Zhao for making this book exist. Will be one of my favorite reads ever. The plot and world building is fascinating but what I enjoyed most was the perspective of the main character, their thoughts and actions. Vengeance is satisfying.

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kathigh86's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

If you want to read a book that grabs you by the throat then rips you to shreds and rubs salt in the wound, I recommend this book.

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maybe_its_me's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

I did not expect the twist at the very end! It was a good kind of unexpected surprise—it was foreshadowed/related to information already presented in the book, but not the information I expected.

I did not see the gods contact to Zetian about their ultimatum of “do as we say or lose everything” coming out of the ‘history’ given by the government! I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually were gods or were some variant of a colonizing & terraforming human government. And Li Shimin’s death broke my heart! He just started to love himself and accept love from Zetian and Yizhi.

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aliyas_encanto's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

WHAT WAS THAT EPILOGUE?! Good thing I'm 5 seconds away from reading the sequel, what a whirlwind.... (more coherent review to come)

Alright, after much time to process I am ready to give a more coherent review: Zetian is angry. And, in a world that willingly sacrifices young girls against their will for the sake of battle with alien life-forms, I can understand why. The life a girl growing up in a country that values women as lesser than livestock, Zetian seeks revenge for the murder of her older sister. However her spirit is so strong that she is given a second chance as the Iron Widow, a female deemed strong enough to pilot a Chrysalis. The world-building leaves the reader curious about the seemingly dystopian landscape and the questionable rules set in place. It was a heavy story that, although the anger was justified the pride did not allow for true satisfaction of enemy defeats. Zetian is really one of the more complex characters I grew to enjoy, and I am curious how her character will grow in book 2. This is a heavy book, so please check content warnings before engaging.

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artemismoon057's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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lianaet's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

This book feels a bit blunt with the themes but it gets the point across - and is a lot of fun being an anime if it was a book. I feel there could have been more build up of the relationships but I appreciate the fast nature of the pacing didn't leave a lot of time for that and it is kind of more a secondary plot.

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yoanneke's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

In various ways it's all I could ever want in a fantasy novel. Cool setting, kick-ass main character,

two boyfriends who just so happen to be into each other as well.

But there were still some parts I could not entirely get into like the

mech fights. I did like the take on them, but somehow every time those fights happened I kind of zoned out and I can't really put my finger on why.

Also feel like some of the pacing was a bit off in parts. However, I will definitely be picking up heavenly tyrant as well.

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