A review by olivyre
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Spoilers!

Initially this book had a huge shock factor over the treatment of girls. It was 100% a 5 star book for a good 200 pages, but once that wore off, it dropped a little as I found myself less invested. 

For a good while all the odds were stacked against her but when she got powerful there was significantly less things stopping her. She just won over and over in everything she did.

Gotta say though, I loved the first half so much and the latter half was still very good – just not to the same standard I think.

I understand that there are more books but I have liked to know more about the Hunduns because I really didn’t care if they lived or died.

I did like the take on a love triangle where it’s at first a boring choice for her between two guys but she doesn’t make the choice she takes both but with no lack of communication. They understand she can have room for multiple people. Then the guys like each other also and they are polyamorous. That bit was cool.

I really liked the concept, and the execution was pretty good. I just don’t care about the outcome as much as I probably should.

‘’People who refuse to break under any number of harsh strikes and any amount of loud words, but crumple as soon as someone touches us gently or speaks to us softly.’’