Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

91 reviews

catperspective's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

0.5

So incredibly disappointed this book is marketed as feminist. Feminism isn’t about women also committing war crimes. The dialog is poorly written and the characters are cheesy in the worst way. I wish I DNF this book but it has such glowing reviews I figured it at least had a good ending: it did not. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sahayatee's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

wildflower_magic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book had me in a chokehold. It is a feminisism ICON. I fell hard for these characters and their mission. The world building is beautifully done and in a way that maintains the flow of the story rather than reading like a text book. I love the magic/chi power/spirit metal system. The main character is a fierce, passionate woman who doesn't just break glass ceilings, she shatters the whole building. I was enthralled with her plans the whole time. The ending is living rent free in my head and I absolutely HAVE to read the second book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

otakatoe3's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

happysoullovesyou's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Xiran, take my soul already.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

kfergy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

Very fun and interesting, a quick read. Can't wait for the next one! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, and Murder

rinku's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism

cyberhavok's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, and Blood

beckahh_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

This was fucking incredible. I didn't really know anything about this book going in, other than it was a booktok favorite. It is now in probably my top books I've ever read, and for sure top 5 of the year I think. The feminine rage was palpable through this entire book. It was fantastic. Highly recommend.

There's definitely a lot of horrible things in this book so definitely check trigger warnings, but it's so worth it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

dandelionsteph's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I know this is YA, but I was shocked that there was only swearing at about 134 pages in. I thought I'd be able to get through a whole YA book without it having any swearing. I always find swearing out of place, like a 14-year-old boy allowed to watch "grown-up" media going overboard and playing at being an adult. I've seen similar levels of brutality in lower age audiences without swearing (say, Animorphs of Wings of Fire).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

Minor: Body shaming and Pregnancy