Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Iron Widow

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

713 reviews

rayne_styx48's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

lianaet's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

jaycenalyss's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

comaduff's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the only book ive reread in probably 3 or 4 years. I did it in preparation for Heavenly Tyrant. It was just as good the second time. I could write good things forever. I especially love the morally grey main character. Thats my favorite parts.

Main theme of the book:
I support women’s rights, but more importantly i support women’s wrongs!!!!

Content Warnings

jelkebooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

originally read in 2022

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?

Content Warnings

the_frenchie_history_nerd's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

skthind's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

i really liked this book! i loved the way it handled the mcs anger against the system and balanced it with empathy. the relationships were well written and i loved the polyamory. it got a bit fast for me in the end - i almost couldn't keep up with everything. did successfully make me VERY curious abt the sequel, though. also made me very curious abt empress wu - i may have to go read some nonfiction abt her now.

Content Warnings