Reviews with content warning for Torture - Iron Widow

I recognise many many flaws with this book, and yet... I found myself enjoying it a lot.

Mainly because good polyam rep is so hard to find, I'm willing to forgo a lot of other standards.

To quote a good movie: "It makes no damn sense. Compels me though."

Content Warnings

embersbooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I picked up this book but HOLY SHIT🤯 It blew my mind. It was such a huge undertaking of a book in that I feel like, while we could nitpick character arcs and plot rhythm, the scope of the book was, to me at least, very focused on the undertaking of exposing the evils of empire, and of the consequences of peoples and groups of peoples too long oppressed, and the way that systems of oppression harm EVERYONE.

I really appreciate the way Xiran captures this

especially in the way that men are shown to be being lied to, fooled, and used by the powers that be, too. Especially with them being ‘tributes’ once they reach a certain age. Also in the way that many of the male pilots don’t want to hurt their female co-pilots and yet do because they have bought the lies, but then also live with the guilt because they don’t realize the whole thing is totally rigged. It’s deep and feels so chillingly close to our own realities

.

While there’s SO much more to say about anti-colonialism/empire, sexism, gender based violence and oppression, and propaganda, this was a fantastic beginning. I feel like the soul of the book is Zetian fighting back for all those who can’t anymore, and to make sure that those to in future generations don’t face the same abuse, violence, and oppression that she and all those before have had to.

On a lighter note

MY THROUPLE BETTER MAKE IT DAMMIT!!! They’ve been through enough, I want them to rule the world as a throuple - Zetian, Yizhi, and Shimin just need to be okay at the end of this. 😭😭❤️‍🩹

I appreciate the stage that was set in this book, and I am simultaneously terrified and excited for book two, and to see the next level of these discussions.
I really haven’t properly captured this book because I am still processing it, and will be for some time to come. 10/10 would recommend. I will be tagging some content warnings below, although the author also provides them in the beginning of the book. Definitely read this one when you’re feeling stalwart because it’s some heavy themes but well handled and important. 🙌🏽
Okay, gonna go preorder Heavenly Tyrant now…😉

Content Warnings

fernanda_o's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

Content Warnings

hplreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

An incredible mecha war adventure. Inspired by Chinese historical figures and novels, Iron Widow takes a feminist lens to traditional gender roles and asks how would the military industrial complex use young people to their advantage in at times the cruelest and most inhumane ways.

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islayfraser's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-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

4.75

So good and so complex. It addresses so many issues relevant in Canada and other countries, right now and in the past. Intersectional feminism, queer and gender theory, characters of colour, this book has it all! It even addresses decolonization, which I (surprisingly, considering how colonial many fantasy works are) don't see much in fantasy literature!

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