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aurabora 's review for:
Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OK, did I think this was the pinnacle of literature? No. Did I have a fabulous time? Yes. I listened to the audiobook all in one day and the fast pace made it easy to keep on and find out what happens next.
I was definitely ready for a story featuring female rage and liked reading from the perspective of a sort of morally gray character. The added historical aspects of oppression against women lent credibility to the actions and reasoning and I found it interesting, if not heartbreaking, paired with a "futuristic" setting. The foot binding description was horrifying and unexpected and it's worse when you know it was real.
For the plot, it felt like all the millennial greatest hits that was designed to be wired straight into the nostalgia center of your brain. Transformers mecha suits & aliens? Check. Pokemon types and evolutions? Check. A "Hunger Games" fake couple dressing up & putting on a show & doing a propaganda tour? Also check. It just needed some magic wands or some shit to complete the set.
I also really appreciated the fact that the love triangle was an ACTUAL triangle and that the romance was allowed to develop in support of the plot with the battles. It was strictly closed door, so I even wanted more of it! That was the fun fluffy bits.
The ending did feel like it came about REAL quick and maybe didn't give the characters enough time to really allow for their quick switch to taking-over-the-world ambitions. But, I'm here for the "ARE WE THE BADDIES???" reveal at the end. You knew it was coming. There had to be colonizer themes in here somewhere, too!
I was definitely ready for a story featuring female rage and liked reading from the perspective of a sort of morally gray character. The added historical aspects of oppression against women lent credibility to the actions and reasoning and I found it interesting, if not heartbreaking, paired with a "futuristic" setting. The foot binding description was horrifying and unexpected and it's worse when you know it was real.
For the plot, it felt like all the millennial greatest hits that was designed to be wired straight into the nostalgia center of your brain. Transformers mecha suits & aliens? Check. Pokemon types and evolutions? Check. A "Hunger Games" fake couple dressing up & putting on a show & doing a propaganda tour? Also check. It just needed some magic wands or some shit to complete the set.
I also really appreciated the fact that the love triangle was an ACTUAL triangle and that the romance was allowed to develop in support of the plot with the battles. It was strictly closed door, so I even wanted more of it! That was the fun fluffy bits.
The ending did feel like it came about REAL quick and maybe didn't give the characters enough time to really allow for their quick switch to taking-over-the-world ambitions. But, I'm here for the "ARE WE THE BADDIES???" reveal at the end. You knew it was coming. There had to be colonizer themes in here somewhere, too!