A review by saintyeehaw
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous 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

Pretty much scratched every itch for female rage and vengeance I've ever had. I felt the urge to scream my soul out along with Zetian at every turn and was always left satisfied. 

I loved the inclusion of a polyamorous triangle. I've never read a book with one before. Honestly, I also really loved that Zetian crushed her family (literally) in the end. I was so disappointed by the initial "be the bigger person" turn but it was SO perfect how it was really just used as a weapon against her. Sometimes the rotten family really does just have to pay for their behavior and/or passiveness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Ableism, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Colonisation, Homophobia, and Animal death