Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

639 reviews

katiemaps's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Torture and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

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.

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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

valiantrye's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

traciereads'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Xenophobia

microwavedonut's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

An intruiging and dark read, especially considering it’s in the YA genre. The fantasy elements are confusing and overwhelming at first, but allow yourself to just vibe with it because it’s not essential that you understand it all. The author is super intriguing and runs a cool YouTube channel (that’s how I heard about the book). It’s very bingeable!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Moderate: Murder and War

jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

This is one of the best books I have ever read.

I do want to clear something up, though:

I see a lot of people saying this book is about revolution. That is actually not true. What happens in the plot is a coup, not a revolution. Yes, the main character is fighting for the common people, but there is no people’s movement. It’s just a main character and a friend or two seizing power.

That being said:

This is a strong book both narratively and on the line level. Any critiques I have are extremely minimal, and often more to do with preference.

Some people are really critical of the main character. I doubt they’d be as critical if the main character was a man. Readers deserve a wide range of women and nonbinary characters, including those who are messy and ruthless.

I do wish we had gotten to see the not-YA version that existed, but I am glad this version exists so the story is more accessible to young people. Given the themes, characters, and situations, I just feel a more adult version would have made perfect sense.

I loved this book and highly recommend it! I am definitely going to read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

malecbanewood89's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Medical trauma

niki_minja's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

5.0

I have no words for this book it was…. Unique and beautiful and heartbreaking and I wanted to slap all the characters at some point in the story but OH MY GOD 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

It's been a while since a book grabbed my attention in such a way that I didn't want to put it down. Xiran has worked magic in this one. Zetian is a badass and this book left me feeling insanely pumped up. This is female rage. 👏 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, and War

bunnypunk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism