ka_ke 's review for:

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

4.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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As a debut novel, Iron Widow gets the job done. It’s a good mix of sci-fi meets literary fiction. I felt that the first part was shorter than it could have been, while the other two parts were longer than they needed to be. I felt that some of the women’s rights pieces were either repetitive or preachy, and that is coming from someone who is actively watching the world turn against women and dying inside while it happens. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement