Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Iron Widow

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

400 reviews

merlynnefae's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and it made me want to learn more about the history that the book is based off of. I enjoyed the strong female representation and resilience of the main character and her refusing to give in and that she kept her morals throughout the book. However at the same time, I feel like there is character development both with her and several of the other characters while she's still remains true to her roots. So good character development while staying true to themselves.

I'm also not a big fan of mech stories, but this held my interest throughout and I found myself wanting to continue this story and find out what happened.

Please do rig to your warnings before reading this book. But overall I did enjoy.

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jaded_bambee's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-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

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bookishmk's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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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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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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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mirandyli's review against another edition

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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.

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deshibornbideshe's review against another edition

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dark hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Themes/Topics/Attributes: dismantling the heteropatriarchy in an ultra-heteropatriarchal world, dystopian industrial future, class commentary, trauma-informed character development, exploited/prisoner labor

Have patience with our protagonist who is young, highly traumatized, and has every right to be as indignant

and vengeful

as she wants to be when she has had no community at her back for so long, under conditions that most of us reading this book could only ever imagine but that many of us can certainly at least begin to relate to. Zetian is scrappy and clever and cunning, and she deserves to survive. She deserves to thrive in a world that she has been told cannot exist. I see that world for her and her companions, and they've begun to see it too.

They have a difficult and still traumatic jouney ahead of them. I hope they emerge victorious in each other's arms.

This is a story of navigating trauma, power, and injustice. This is a story of daring to have hope and begin the messy work of making it a reality.

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rim_eh's review against another edition

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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.

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kymopolaya's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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rolugomi's review against another edition

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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

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