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starklinqs 's review for:
Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So this book was pretty hard for me to rate. Character wise I’d give it a 4-4.5, plot wise a 2.5, writing wise a 3.5.
First for the characters: I just loved them! I think some could definitely benefit from being more fleshed out because I didn’t know much about them beyond their relationships - especially Yizhi. However, there is another book coming out, so I don’t mind as much since I’m assuming we’ll learn more about him moving forward. I had a lot of fun with our main character. Zetian is funny, angry, at times cruel, and an all around amazing character to read. And the main triad in general? I just loved them all so much. The open communication was absolutely refreshing, as was the casual representation - we have bi and polyamorous characters in a world that doesn’t accept this, but it’s still so very casually accepted for them. Some people may want more there, but I was honestly relieved at the lack of angst for their queerness and relationship. Alongside that the other rep - addiction, all Asian characters, disabled characters - were done with care, which I very much appreciated.
Where this book lost me at times was plot/writing. The world building felt very messy and convoluted at times, and there were moments I’d get confused, reread, and then just give up because I wasn’t going to get it. I’m still not certain about what exactly happened at certain points or why characters did XYZ, even if I got the basic plot. The writing was at times absolutely phenomenal, and then other times overly simplistic. When it came to descriptions, it was amazing. The book didn’t shy away from violence, which I loved. It puts you straight into the action and doesn’t shy away from the horrors the characters see. When it comes to the themes, however, I think the book takes an overly simplistic take. Zetian fights against the patriarchal system that women are trapped in, but she’s surrounded by men and the female characters around her aren’t provided the same grace and complexity that Zetian does. It often felt like Zetian would have a conversation with another female character and then it would go poorly and she would go go “:( I thought because she was a woman she’d be on my side but she’s not.” Seemed like if they didn’t agree with Zetian, there was no nuance provided on WHY they might disagree, if this is something they say to save themselves, if they’re actually being rebellious in other ways. If this is an intentional flaw for Zetian that will be explored in the next book then great! However for this book, it just felt like something that oversimplified the topic.
I hope in the next book that we get more nuance - but that being said I’m still excited for the next book! I’m not even very into YA anymore but I got very invested here, even moreso with the final few chapters. Even with the writing aspects I didn’t love, I saw a lot of potential (and this is apparently the author’s debut novel) and I love the main three characters a lot, so I’m excited to see what’s next.
First for the characters: I just loved them! I think some could definitely benefit from being more fleshed out because I didn’t know much about them beyond their relationships - especially Yizhi. However, there is another book coming out, so I don’t mind as much since I’m assuming we’ll learn more about him moving forward. I had a lot of fun with our main character. Zetian is funny, angry, at times cruel, and an all around amazing character to read. And the main triad in general? I just loved them all so much. The open communication was absolutely refreshing, as was the casual representation - we have bi and polyamorous characters in a world that doesn’t accept this, but it’s still so very casually accepted for them. Some people may want more there, but I was honestly relieved at the lack of angst for their queerness and relationship. Alongside that the other rep - addiction, all Asian characters, disabled characters - were done with care, which I very much appreciated.
Where this book lost me at times was plot/writing. The world building felt very messy and convoluted at times, and there were moments I’d get confused, reread, and then just give up because I wasn’t going to get it. I’m still not certain about what exactly happened at certain points or why characters did XYZ, even if I got the basic plot. The writing was at times absolutely phenomenal, and then other times overly simplistic. When it came to descriptions, it was amazing. The book didn’t shy away from violence, which I loved. It puts you straight into the action and doesn’t shy away from the horrors the characters see. When it comes to the themes, however, I think the book takes an overly simplistic take. Zetian fights against the patriarchal system that women are trapped in, but she’s surrounded by men and the female characters around her aren’t provided the same grace and complexity that Zetian does. It often felt like Zetian would have a conversation with another female character and then it would go poorly and she would go go “:( I thought because she was a woman she’d be on my side but she’s not.” Seemed like if they didn’t agree with Zetian, there was no nuance provided on WHY they might disagree, if this is something they say to save themselves, if they’re actually being rebellious in other ways. If this is an intentional flaw for Zetian that will be explored in the next book then great! However for this book, it just felt like something that oversimplified the topic.
I hope in the next book that we get more nuance - but that being said I’m still excited for the next book! I’m not even very into YA anymore but I got very invested here, even moreso with the final few chapters. Even with the writing aspects I didn’t love, I saw a lot of potential (and this is apparently the author’s debut novel) and I love the main three characters a lot, so I’m excited to see what’s next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape