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pocketbotch 's review for:
Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Been waiting for a female protagonist like Zetian - she's unhesitating and in control. Says what she thinks and goes after what she wants. Super refreshing compared to the usual morass of indecision and passivity, even in books praised as super feminist. Ironically, I still wouldn't call this a super feminist book. Zetian is the only major female characters, and apparently no other woman she meets shares her depth of frustration with the patriarchal system. Shame. The villains were also just kind of there. Not well developed or particularly interesting. The writing feels very YA despite the dark tone and content - passable but not that impressive. Good book overall, but needed more rounds of editing.
I don't care for polyamory but it wasn't really a major part of the book. When I saw the LGBT tag, I hoped that meant sapphic, but alas. On the bright side, I've now read my first true love triangle. Not sure how I feel about the plot twist.