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leafhead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and War
pengintoppa's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Trafficking, and Colonisation
recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.spookylettuce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The pacing was some of the best I’ve ever had the fortune to read. The author has mentioned via social media that they’re audhd like me, and I think that’s makes Iron Widow so readable and well-paced. I also thoroughly enjoyed the world building, and I think its efficacy is related. After all, are some styles of effective world building not just well-timed and plot-relevant mini info dumps?
Content-wise, I knew going in I would love Iron Widow. I love Pacific Rim, and really enjoy reading fantasy books inspired by Chinese culture and history. I was also excited about the disability rep and
I love the characters and that they are not paragons of morality. If you’ve also been waiting for a fmc to unapologetically snap at the people/society that’s been treating her awfully, get ready for some catharsis.
I say all of this with the understanding that not all readers are homogeneous and while I LOVE Iron Widow, not everyone will. But if you’re like me and enjoy fantasy/sci-fi informed by Chinese culture and/or are an audhd reader, definitely give this book a shot!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Genocide and Sexual assault
discowing87's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
- 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
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
d3vilsw0lf's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
marswritesthings's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
moonsongsiren's review against another edition
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.
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
- 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
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
sleeping_roses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail