Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

563 reviews

lbrn's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse

themdash's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Really wonderful concept and hints of incredible world-building, including a GREAT twist at the end… but it’s dragged down by uneven pacing, lack of detail, immature writing style, and jumps in characterization (Zetian’s feelings about Shimin seem to completely change overnight). I’ll continue the series, but can’t recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

hopeless_ash's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring sad 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? Yes

5.0

Didn’t write a review for this book upon my original read because I had just started tracking my books, but leaving one for my reread. Absolutely still a 5 star upon my reread. Genuinely one of my favorite books I have ever read. Such a great book that touches on so many important real world topics, I absolutely cannot wait for Heavenly Tyrant to finally be here!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

any_direction's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Colonisation

nettybear5's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Classism

katie0528's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.75

I couldn't put this book down! A blending of Chinese history/mythology with Voltron and Hunger Games style sci-fi elements led to a really unique story that still felt familiar to Western sci-fi fans. In a futuristic world bombarded by aliens known as Hundens, male/female pairs pilot giant mechs called Chrisalises. However, the females are concubines to their male counterparts in every sense, including using their life force to power the mechs. After Zetian's sister died as a pilot's concubine, she volunteers to become one as well to enact her revenge. She quickly becomes a powerful pilot in her own right, as an Iron Widow, and decides to enact revenge on the system that sees women as nothing more than objects.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Blood

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

3.25

The content of this is adult, but the writing style is YA for a majority of the book. The premise was completed within 100 pages, and I was never clear on Zetian's end goal after that (it was either short-term or vague). The pacing was too fast for me, and I wished we could ahve lingered on specific topics and experiences (i.e.: exploring gender identity). Because it was so fast, I wasn't fully attached to the relationships. However, I was angry when

Li Shimin "died" (thankfully it was a fake out)

. The last quarter of the book was strong because I finally believed in the brutality of Zetian (I kept comparing it to She Who Became the Sun and was disappointed). I was not expecting the twist at the end, and am not sure if I like it or not (it was WILD). Next book will tell me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

nikkimouse_16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Torture

kdegroote905's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

ixris's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

What if pac rim met the hunger games and starship troopers in a back parking lot and had a gender fist fight. 

Very fun. Top tier writing. I have one complaint and it's about how short-lived the best shape got to be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Child abuse and Chronic illness

Further cw for gavage and sequences where reality was deeply unclear.