Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Viúva de Ferro by Xiran Jay Zhao

235 reviews

d3vilsw0lf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I can't believe I waited this long to read Iron Widow! The female rage and defiance against a world meant to cage, Wu Zetian is fearsome and determined and refuses to let anyone stop her. 
The hints of the ending and how well it sets up Heavenly Tyrant, I can't wait for it to release. It will definitely be a read same day as publication for book 2. 
If you haven't picked this up yet or are only thinking about it, don't think anymore and just read! Both the book and Xiran J y Zhao are deserving of a HUGO award and so much more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

moonsongsiren's review against another edition

I was going to write a much more in depth review of this book, but seeing how i dnf’d at 174 pages i don’t think i’m fully qualified to do so. i went into this book with high expectations, and was prepared for an exciting and compelling story. i was not met with such a story. 
the main character is not complex, she is unlikable, and incredibly misogynistic to the girls around her. her love interests at the point i stopped reading were.. mediocre. she is poor “representation” if you can even call her that, but i understand and appreciate that this book was written with a LOT of heart and a LOT of effort was put into it. But that does not make a good story. 
What was truly the last straw for me was the main character forcing herself upon one of her love interests (does not, at any point ask him for consent, and he even tells her to stop and wait and she does not comply). To me, that sends the exact opposite message that the book was trying to send. 
Over all, EXTREMELY disappointing. i would not recommend this to anyone, there is simply too much it is lacking. but for a debut novel that was clearly a loved passion project, it serves that purpose. 
it is self indulgent for the author, it has a very bare bones emotion that drives the story, and it barely scratches the surface of the message it WANTS to convey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lyr1cal's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

auntquinoa's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

The plot in this book is a marvel, especially from chapter 39 to the end (excluding the epilogue). I’m impressed by the world building and surreal sci-fi depiction. 
The character development is was makes this book somewhat immature. The protagonists internal voice is repetitive and doesn’t question her own biases while holding every person around them to theirs (

which is her undoing in the aforementioned epilogue

). There is ZERO character development in any of the main characters - a striking decision. They never question themselves while trying to wade through very complicated dynamics. At times the dialogue is just downright cringy (page 331 especially). 
I read the acknowledgements and understand this book flipped between adult and YA. The faults of the book lie entirely in that indecision by the agent/author/publisher. This is a dark, dark book. Concubine and slavery depictions require nuance which YA doesn’t typically have. The darkness, violence and downright gore do not enmesh well with the immature dispositions of the characters of all ages. It made the book very hard to read without laughing, cringing, or becoming frustrated. 
Overall a very bizarre read that somehow still kept me hooked. You must read it for yourself to decide. Does that make it a complete success??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

griminycricket's review against another edition

challenging 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

orchidforever's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

I loved this book till the epilogue. I think I ranted for a bit at my husband. But I also know it’s set up for the next book but man. I’m mad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Genocide and Sexual violence

It’s a war book. No explicit sexual acts in writing.

gaynidoking's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, and Racism

cnaccarato's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

chanlo1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

agoldstarforyou's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail