Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

43 reviews

mothman19's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

saucywench813's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A fun read but deeply flawed. Writing was a bit cringy at times. Felt like the book would have been better if it were in 3rd person instead of 1st because it doesn't really use it well imo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Murder, and War

Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault

miss__manga__'s review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

Not a perfect read but a great one. I think some of the repeated ideas (mcs ranting) could have been tightened and condensed to make more room for world building and the poly relationship. I feel like a lot was done off screen in that regard. 

Saw the end coming to a degree, but not the ultimatum. 

Contains some iconic and hilarious lines. Looking forward to the sequel. Li Shimin supremacy!

Do not understand the tattoos of one of the love interests. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

fuguefire's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I really liked this book! I thought the main character was very compelling. Reading the reviews, it is understandable how people could want a little more fleshing-out of her personal character, but personally, I felt like I completely understood her motives and emotions. More importantly, she did what I as the audience needed her to do--

which was kill all those a**holes

. To enjoy this book, you really have to support women's rights AND women's wrongs.
As a poly person myself, I was over the moon to finally get a poly relationship in a fantasy novel! I will say, I wish there was a little bit better communication in the relationship, but I feel like this can be forgiven because this seems to be an action-first book, and the romance aspect is not even really second in line of importance here. 
All-in-all, I am so excited to read the next book in the series. I will be recommending this book to my friends, and can't wait to hear what they think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Rape, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

alphabetmafiamember's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia

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

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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

astressedmarshmallow's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

The ending has left me in shock and wanting a sequel sooooo badly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

zeppelinnyx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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

4.5

4.50

I very much enjoyed this book, even the second time through. I’m very much anticipating the sequel. The polyamorous romance almost makes me sad that I can’t get that kind of relationship dynamic in mainstream media. Zetian is such an amazing protagonist. It’s refreshing to see a justifiably unhinged female (non-binary?) lead. The pacing is a bit fast, but then the ending is even more so, which makes it feel rushed. 

Quality of Writing: 9/10
Pacing: 8/10
Plot Development: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 10/10
Ease of Reading: 10/10
Ending: 7/10

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Kidnapping and Classism

Minor: Homophobia

purplelake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Abandonment