Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

65 reviews

tinysierra's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

“For eighteen years, my unibrow has saved me from being sold into a painful, terrifying death.
Today is the day I'm releasing it from its gracious service.”

Two words: Female Rage

Fast paced, short chapters, captivating.

I need more love triangles that are actual love triangles in media!!! Pleassssse! The loved they shared was beautiful.

"Where does jealousy come from, if not an insecurity that I'll lose you because of him? But that's not how it works, no matter how many people believe it so. You're not something to be kept or taken, and love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open. I mean, when you think about it, love is fueled mostly by compatibility. Whether two people make each other happy by being close. So it'd be pointless of me to resent Shimin. However compatible you are with him, it doesn't have anything to do with how compatible you are with me."

The epilogue had me shook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mossgoblins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

ancestrallizard's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

chanlo1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

ainadei's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

A very angry book. I loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

lemonwrlds's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mari1532's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

5.0

I had first heard about the author when I stumbled upon them scrolling Instagram one day. I was immediately in love with their content and put the audiobook on hold at my library. Due to the book’s popularity, I spent several months waiting. 

It was not only the author’s online content that intrigued me about their book. The descriptions I had read online described it as a science fiction book with loose references to China’s first Empress, Wu Zetian. 

After finally reading it I can safely say, that I adored this book. It is full of political intrigue, messy relationships, and glimmers of historical references. The way that Jay Zhao writes is enthralling and by providing the reader with guide posts about the characters’ motivations/feelings and leads you along with the growth and development of the character without explicitly telling you what is going on. For instance, when Zetian has a confrontation with another female pilot in the bath, I was able to feel the character’s confusion, rage, and compassion in the scene and through the dialogue I was able to understand why various characters reacted the way that they did. Each of their characters is deliciously complex and Jay Zhao’s writing is exceptional.

I liked that there was a polyamorous relationship rather than a love triangle. It was a completely natural development and it was great that there was no focus on the development in the book. The relationships simply evolved and that was just the way it was. 

There were several plot twists throughout the book that I did find unexpected and it made me want to keep reading. Jay Zhao’s plotting of this book was just exceptional and I am so excited for the next installment of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

himpersonal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-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? Yes

3.5

This book was a lot of fun and validating for me. It's like The Iron Widow was able to say how I feel about the patriarchy in the ways I wish I could. She’s the best hero! Looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

julessssss's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.25

honestly sad about this one, especially as I pre-ordered it back when it came out. I read most of it pretty quickly, but did not find myself enjoying it all that much and that got worse as I got further into the book.

I think it is fine and will I read the second book? maybe

the fantasy / sci-fi parts were great in my opinion, and I liked how complicated the world building, history, and such seemed to be.

I did not like any of the main characters that much though, and I do not think the relationship between Zetian and Shimin was developed enough for how they were acting, idk. I did not feel any compatibility for them, even when they were supposedly in a relationship. The polyam part though, I want to see more books with relationship dynamics like that.

also the "feminism" was overwhelming and a lot of what I have seen in other books before. I did not see much new or innovative in that respect and it got annoying very quickly.

I don't think it was badly written though and the plot seemed at least well thought-through.

idk overall it was fine, but not my favorite

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Domestic abuse

fragrant_stars's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Honestly I loved this book. I didn't love it.. as much as I wanted  to love it, if that makes sense. It did come off as a little "preachy" at some points-- like when the characters talk about how men aren't just animals who can't control their sexual urges-- but the book as a whole, I loved, and I also loved, loved, loved the ployamoury in it, and the characters, and the ending. I'd definitely recommend this to any and all my friends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Rape, and Murder