Reviews tagging 'Death'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

561 reviews

smellymiche's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Death, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture

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

bkwrm1317's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Iron Widow was recommended to me back in 2021 when it was published, and it's been on my TBR since. I'm really glad that I elected to get back to this read. A great fit for readers who enjoy fiesty femme protags, switching gender roles, disability representation, tropes around toxic masculinity and patriarchal values, with fantasy and sci-fi elements. 

Mechas, Chinese history (?), and the life power of young women being leeched dry to fight aliens terrorizing the human race in the future. Our primary protag's initial goal is to avenge the death of her sister. Once she does this, her journey takes twists and turns that I didn't see coming. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, War, Ableism, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, and Classism

mathsha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Alcoholism, War, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Classism

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

jennn_3'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

So so good. I was wary in the prologue but the first chapter hooked me and I hated having to put this book down to take care of life.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, and War

Minor: Rape

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

kouya's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

I can't believe there were plot twists even on the last but one page

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Torture

Moderate: Xenophobia and Death

Minor: Rape and War

inthemoonlight's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, Alcoholism, Addiction, Misogyny, Death, Kidnapping, and Sexism

Minor: Colonisation and Rape

tokki_dokki's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I loved the worldbuilding a lot! Very cool, very very fun—the author is great at writing action scenes! I was also very thrilled about the poc and poly representation as well, but I wish the character relationships were a little more fleshed out.

Zetian was also a very interesting character to read. She was strong but she had her flaws, and I liked that. It felt very fitting for a YA protagonist. We find out a lot of darker aspects of their universe thanks to Zetian's character.

I enjoyed reading about her love interests as well, thought I do wish we had been given a little more insight into why/how they end up liking each other within such a short time frame. (Zetian and Yizhi's relationship was the most fleshed out, which I'm grateful for! They were lovely!)

I do think everything went a bit fast for my liking, but as there is a sequel coming, I have hope that the author may elaborate more on certain aspects of the plot or the relatuonships :) Overall, a very solid read, very action-packed and also diverse characters. Enjoyable ♥️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Addiction, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Rape