Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - 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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nocturna_of_space's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

2.0

Does Iron Widow pass the Bechdel test? Pretty sure no....

A main character that wants to watch the world burn can work but it didn't work here. Zetian lacks any kind of empathy to an almost comical degree. She just kills everyone with no regard for any extenuating circumstances around their actions. I almost thought she might change but then she kills the parents of children that are being held hostage and then kills her whole family in short order. Her whole reason for wanting to kill the dude at the start of the book is because her big sister was killed by him. Fair enough, but like.... she doesn't have a name. The big sister who's so important to Zetian has no name except 'big sister.'
I honestly thought Shimin and Yizhi had a better love story than Zetian with either of them. And I think that's mostly due to the idea that they maybe had some conversations off-screen or something. I really wanted to like the love story in this book. Especially as a poly person. But my god... there was no soul in it and almost no chemistry between Zetian and either of the boys.
Zetian is really just... not like other girls I guess...
I will be looking up what happens to Shimin and Yizhi. I hope they live happily together for the rest of their lives. Also 2 stars for the inclusion of the boy you torture someone with and the boy who makes you welcomes you home with pastries afterwards. Even I have to admit that was great.

If you liked this book, all the power to you. It just wasn't my thing. Which is sad, because I really thought it would be.

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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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queermothman's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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rayne_styx48's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

One of the more entertaining fantasy books I’ve read. The characters and story is compelling and once I started I couldn’t stop. While it didn’t earn a 5 star from me, I think I would read this again.

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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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jaycenalyss's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad 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

4.5

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