Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

60 reviews

niliii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

honestly i really enjoyed the entire book but the ending threw me for a loop....

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Medical trauma

phantasmfiend's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Classism

ender24's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

DAMN.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sarahuwu's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.25

Loved the concept. This is Zhao’s debut novel and it shows. Feels deus ex-y in parts. I wanted to like Wu Zetian because she genuinely deserves to be angry, but at times she moves from “highly motivated vengeful protagonist” to being an asshole for no reason. The power trip at the end reminded me of the end of game of thrones and not in a good way.

Bonus points for a gay kiss and polyamory, shock at how a queer author would get so supremely close to a bury your gays trope

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

miggyfool's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

maximumhonesty's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

Não sei nem por onde começar MUITO BOM. Finalmente um triângulo amoroso que é de fato um triângulo. Personagens complexos, humanos que cativam. Eu terminei o livro completamente apaixonado pelos personagens, e o final quebrou meu coração. Como alguém trans tenho a sensação que o descontentamento da protagonista com sua posição como mulher é mais que apenas insatisfação com o machismo, muitas menções indiretas que podem ser lidas como não binariedade. Também amei o relacionamento bicentrado, mal posso esperar pela continuação.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

smg's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

ging090803's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I love a “everyone has to die” type of book and this one didn’t disappoint. 
Even though, the middle was kinda long with all the blabla politic and all, I really loved it anyway. 
The end was amazing. The mains are badass and I really liked how the throuple didn’t feel forced. Everything was “too” natural, it just happened. 
I loved the end

I love the god complex and her being unbothered by her mass murdering.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

shelvesofivy'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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Vomit

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, and Toxic relationship

alicelalicon's review against another edition

Likely will start over another time with the ebook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence