Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

12 reviews

ratchetang's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Can be confusing if you have little knowledge of chinese culture and mythology or mecha genres. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and Dysphoria

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

hearkenheretic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Genocide, Homophobia, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent

pitchblackkoi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I love stuff where characters aren’t necessarily “good people.” This book delivers on this. Wu Zetian isn’t a “good” protagonist, but you understand why she is doing what she does in this book. Wrap it up in Chinese mythology and history (something I am by no means an expert in but find immensely fascinating and enjoy learning about) AND put giant robots in it and you have a book that hooks you from page one. The writing style in this book makes it a quick and easy read even as it also goes into some tough to read subjects. I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

miggyfool's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

maggdalene's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Dysphoria, and War

jjjreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Rape

ramiel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and War

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Classism

hayleyvem's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Classism

Minor: Genocide, Rape, and Colonisation

readingelli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

A fantastic debut. Well written, imaginative, had me hooked from the first page. I loved the overturn of classic tropes, such as

making a love triangle a polyamorous triad

. 
I am really interested to see where the author will take the next book, especially as Zetian is extremely femmephobic and rejects female companionship. Is this a product of the setting? Is it a product of their complicated feelings about their own gender? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Xenophobia and Medical content

ellariawrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, and Dysphoria

Minor: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Dysphoria