Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

14 reviews

schnaucl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really liked it and I'm looking forward to the next one.  

I'm ignorant of the historical background, and the author says in the beginning it's not really an alternate history although it sounds like it's partly inspired by a historical figure. 

It's definitely based on a culture that's different from my own (I don't mean the internal and external misogyny).  I'm talking about the yin/yang and five elements of the magic system.    I briefly wondered why you couldn't have pilots of the same gender for example, then realized that the yin/yang balance was the explanation. 

The world Zhao created is interesting and I'm really looking forward to learning more.  

I was a little bit distracted in the beginning by a couple of word choices (ached where pained was the word I would have expected, for example) but it only happened a few times and I got over it.

The description of how Wu's feet were crushed was brutal.   I remember seeing pictures and x-rays of a woman's bound feet in a course in college and it was horrifying.  I'm glad it wasn't just mentioned at the beginning and then never raised an issue again.   It makes sense that it would be something Wu constantly thinks about since it would obviously impact her daily living.

I did wonder about the "gods" even before the end.  For one thing it's interesting that no one seems to pray for an individual thing (e.g. not to be sold as a pilot concubine or to do well in battle or even just to make pain stop.  Maybe it's because they have proof gods are real and they don't really interfere on that level or maybe that's just another cultural difference).  I really want to know what they use the husks for.  Presumably the "gods" are in fact, other humans, maybe from a more advanced society. 

I liked the triad of Wu, Yizhi and Shimin and I liked that there didn't seem to be jealousy once they all got to know each other, just love.  

Shimin was a really interesting character and I liked that Wu slowly got to see more of who he really was.   The idea that he was a beautiful artist was a nice (and tragic) touch.   I'm really sorry he died.  Given that this is a science-fiction book and we don't really know the rules, I don't know if he can actually be brought back or not but I have a feeling he wouldn't be the same even if he could be.  But it's hard to know what the cultural/religious/psychological impact of such a thing would be. 

I was glad we got to see some some boys who objected to the sacrifice of girl pilots.  I think Wu thinks that revealing the truth about the pilot seats will spark a change but I don't think that's right (and given the world Zhao created, my guess is they don't believe it either).  There's a lot riding on the status quo.  Boys are more prized than girls, selling girls as concubine pilots brings in money to further advance boys.  Boys presumably carry on the family name in a way that girls don't.   I think it will certainly spark some people (of all genders) to revolt but I don't think society-wide reform is going to happen overnight.  And if the knowledge that in fact they are the invaders on the planet becomes public knowledge that may cause things to be upended even more quickly.   Of course, that raises all kinds of questions.  It doesn't sound like the population was aware there were other populated planets which has all kinds of implications, as does the fact that it seems like Hunden are sentient and can communicate verbally as well as through feelings (something that so far has been ignored but presumably will play a role later on).   I'm also curious about Yizhi's tattoos.

Interesting world, interesting characters.   More please!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent

arttichokedipp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

5.0

First book of the year, first 5-star of the year.

This is everything. Everything I find wrong with YA, gone. Everything I dislike about fantasy, gone. Everything I dislike about scifi, gone. Only the good parts remain and it is so, SO good.

Particularly, for those who have negative feelings about love triangles, never fear.

I hate love triangles because things would be so easy if they ended in polyamory half the time that it would cut the book in half. This one? THIS ONE DOES. Not only does the girl get with both guys, who are totally cool with that, but they get together as well. The triangle is the strongest shape, as you'll see.

My only complaint is there's a sort of "bury your gays" situation, but I'm hoping based on the epilogue that it's not permanent.

10/10, I'm so glad I stumbled upon their YouTube videos and decided to pick up their book when it came out.

(Edited because I messed up their pronouns. So sorry!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, and Xenophobia

Minor: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Trafficking, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

There is allusion to intersexism, in that it's rumoured that intersex people may exist but they're not taught about and the narrator speculates on how they may be mistreated for being born different.

boxalligators's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Animal death, Biphobia, Rape, and Colonisation

Rep: Polyamorous relationship POC characters Bisexual main characters

karambit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment