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A review by carriepond
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I feel so sad that I really just did not like Iron Widow. I was very excited about it because, if you list the themes in this book, the topics it covers, and even generally outline the gist of the plot, all that sounds amazing, perfect, 10,000 stars.
Unfortunately, there were too many things that dampened my reading experience. There was so much telling and not showing in the story and nearly all of the world-building was done through info dumps or convenient asides thrust in right before whatever point was necessary to further the plot. Zhao creates a world so horrible that it is easy to understand Zetian's rage, but honestly, there is no real explanation as to why she is one of the only people in the whole world who isn't blind to the problems of the system-- how did she, a sheltered rural girl whose family had no means for her to access information different than the norms of the crappy society have this fulsome critique of the entire pilot system almost instantly? It would have been a more gratifying reading experience to have her, for example, start out with seeds of doubt and this motivation to avenge her sister and then watch that rage build and build as she learned more about the unjust system at play. Also, the two male characters were just blah, pointless, who cares. And Zetian, despite vehemently critiquing the misogyny of the world she's in really treats every woman with whom she interacts like shit (though I suppose she treats most people like shit), which doesn't feel like an intentional choice because Zetian is never shown reckoning with her own complicity in these sexist, violent systems.
There were some really cool ideas and themes in this book; unfortunately, the execution just didn't work for me. There are so many people with opinions I hold in high regard who really liked this one, so your mileage certainly may vary.
Unfortunately, there were too many things that dampened my reading experience. There was so much telling and not showing in the story and nearly all of the world-building was done through info dumps or convenient asides thrust in right before whatever point was necessary to further the plot. Zhao creates a world so horrible that it is easy to understand Zetian's rage, but honestly, there is no real explanation as to why she is one of the only people in the whole world who isn't blind to the problems of the system-- how did she, a sheltered rural girl whose family had no means for her to access information different than the norms of the crappy society have this fulsome critique of the entire pilot system almost instantly? It would have been a more gratifying reading experience to have her, for example, start out with seeds of doubt and this motivation to avenge her sister and then watch that rage build and build as she learned more about the unjust system at play. Also, the two male characters were just blah, pointless, who cares. And Zetian, despite vehemently critiquing the misogyny of the world she's in really treats every woman with whom she interacts like shit (though I suppose she treats most people like shit), which doesn't feel like an intentional choice because Zetian is never shown reckoning with her own complicity in these sexist, violent systems.
There were some really cool ideas and themes in this book; unfortunately, the execution just didn't work for me. There are so many people with opinions I hold in high regard who really liked this one, so your mileage certainly may vary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Murder, and War