Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

34 reviews

sundayfever's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Very engaging read. The force of the main characters' anger is very powerful. Beautiful fantasy universe based on Chinese history. Strong challenge to a society built on gender assumptions. One of my favorite books of the year! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Grief

macknificent's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

"In fact, I am what the worst kind of hope looks like. The kind that has driven group after group of girls here to be prettied into concubines. Families will point at me— this tamed, airbrushed image of me— to calm down their daughters about being sold to the army."


"One last thing,” I say over my shoulder, too quiet for my family to hear over the hovercraft churning. “Don’t think I’ve overlooked that you came to my house and almost foiled my plan, despite knowing how important it is to me. If you tip off the army in even the slightest way, I will kill myself when they lock me up, and then I will haunt you.”

What I Liked: The opening of the book was stellar! I felt like I was in the midst of a Gundam battle and somehow it had been turned into a novel! The world felt very full and the characters were complex, Wu Zetian's fury and follow through was glorious in the first portion of the book. I appreciated the constant call out of the patriarchy and how it was shown to affect every level of their world. 

What I Didn't Like: Once Wu Zetian achieved her initial objective it felt like the book lost its momentum and cohesiveness. In the second half of the book we jumped from gritty & dark to sappy & thoroughly YA with no warning, rhythm or purpose. As happens with many debuts, the ending felt rushed as we tried to wrap up a lot of loose ends and set up for the next book.

We never found out the story behind Gao Yizhi's tattoos!

I enjoyed this book immensely but there are issues with consistency and character cohesiveness that I hope are improved in the next book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and War

ramiel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and War

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Classism

sorcha_rosa's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

5.0

This book is exactly what people are saying. It's wonderful, it's great, please read it.
The themes it deals with: incred. The character work: stunning. The balance of dark and humorous: perfect.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Torture

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

smoothgoat's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse

madeleinemae05's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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

Devastating and I loved it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Murder

phibi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

I can't remember the last time I read a novel so voraciously. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and I adored the characters and their relationships. A truly unique premise and story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, and Grief

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

bookdevourer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

kipiekie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Moderate: Torture and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide

atlas_shruggs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

FUCK MY LIFE I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW PLEASE

2025 review:
Wow. Wow wow wow I love this book so much. The characters are all twisted, terrible people just trying to make their way in an equally terrible world and I love them so much. The Chrysalises are so cool and Zhao describes them in such a vivid way, you feel like you can reach into the page and touch them yourself. The characters, especially Zetian, are a wonderful mix of irritating as all hell and so gripping and enticing, you can't help but root for her. The romance is also amazing, I love watching it develop though the story along with the characters. I also really like the world building, some reviews have said it feels too vague but I felt that it fit well with Zetian's knowledge of the world as someone who hasn't really had any education at all. It's action packed and fast paced and I love it so much I'm a bit hung over now 🥲

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail