Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Viúva de Ferro by Xiran Jay Zhao

366 reviews

imchelsi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Torture, War, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Alcoholism

kenyoncannotread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual assault

candiemarsh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I am OBSESSED with this book. I am a nerd for Chinese mythology and spiritualism, and this book included a lot of those aspects. The story was so vividly described, I could visualise the scenes in my head. I loved how the characters' weaved around each other, and the story progression was quite seamless and timely. I would have preferred for this not to be a YA book, tbough; would have loved more details on the chemistry Zetian had with the other characters she meets along her journey. Absolutely cannot wait for the sequel "Heavenly Tyrant" to be out in April 2024!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Alcoholism, and Addiction

ara02's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Death

jmermelstein14's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Violence, Body horror, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

alex_salamander's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, War, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Fatphobia, Grief, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Ableism, Body shaming, Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Bullying

cherry_lake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

What a ride!! Omg I haven’t read a book like that in so long. Dynamic, unapologetic story of vengeance, power, love and war. It was like watching an anime. While this book is not highly detailed in its world building, it is sooo evocative and exciting, and it’s the first in a series so I’m actually so pleased with the amount of world building!! Can’t wait for more. Thank you Xiran Jay Zhao! 

If you’re wondering if you should read it… if you are tired of watered down dystopian YA novels, moralizing characters, mind NUMBING gender stereotypes (I’m including the stereotypes of the characters who are supposedly breaking the stereotypes as well!!), pussyfooting romance plot lines that are too afraid to commit — then this you might really love.

Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is phenomenal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body horror, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

kallispell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Alcoholism

stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition

4.0

loved the characters, the dynamics, everything

i didn't really get what exactly the hunduns were. i don't even remember there being a physical description for them. also the emperor stuff i didn't really get. maybe that's my fault, or maybe it wasn't written clearly enough.

still, the epilogue, though rushed, sets itself up so that you want to read the sequel and it seems the next books would be more interesting

also this is like a much watered down version of the poppy war

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, War, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

xoemax's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Classism

Minor: Colonisation