Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

150 reviews

justmys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

I enjoyed the world the story took place in. The premise and intrigue but I wish there had been more of it.
Everything happens so fast and so easily (???) that it just felt...like watching a movie adaptation of a novel?
I didn't like the main character. I wanted to.

But every time she opened her mouth I cringed at her. She was not the cold genius she I thought she was. She was manipulated and easily played and only accomplished what she did because of the men around her. She never did anything herself.

If there's another book set in the same world I'll read it. It's an easy read and a decent idea for a story. I just hope we get to delve further in and read a novel instead of watching the YA movie version.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

bek_p87's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-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

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, as futuristic sci-fi fantasy set in a fictionalised China isn't really a genre I've read before, but I loved it! Bi, poly, and disabled rep, and an exploration of the absurdity of patriarchal values and the power of female rage, plus an interesting story, kept me engaged - and the twist at the very end was unexpected despite subtle foreshadowing. I can't wait for book two!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Blood

themiscyra_anna's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

goodevening77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

It surprised me from the start as I went in for the poly representation and was not expecting traumatising backstory about

feet

. It was one of those books where you think they’re gonna tie of a loose end but another just grows and it was a bit hard to keep up with at the end. However, I loved that for once there was a poly relationship that wasn’t just in my head. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

rachelsinabook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

literally perfect in every way and i need 3-5 business days to recover from the heartbreak 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Body shaming and Death

Minor: Blood

ufollowbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

a bit of mary sue fanfic kind of vibe, but in a good way 

 

what a book! traditions from our world intertwined with technology you cannot fathom properly, sprinkled with female rage, political intrigues, surprisingly great romance, and, of course, brilliant writing. 

 

basically, it's "labour" by paris paloma, but in a book form. 

 

i already knew that there's a polyamory done right - it was the main reason i added this book to my tbr in all honesty - as well as disability rep, but damn! it was amazing and seeing a badass wheelchair user made my heart go "wheee" 🫶🏻 

 

it's definitely a very fast paced book, and an intense one, too. a lot of violence happening, but it never is just for the sake if violence, as it often happens with male-written fantasy. and yes, it felt much more like fantasy to me than as sci-fi, though there are element of it for sure. maybe because sci-fi to me is more about space and aliens, and there are little of that! 😅 

 

the ending felt a but rushed, and i can actually understand the motivation behind the way things end. discussing the ending in detail and with spoilers:

yes it's not very thought through and a lot of decisions are made here and now, but that's how the whole book is! Zetian is young, and emotional (in the best way possible!), and she has a lot of power for literally the first time in her life. she doesn't play the nuanced game, she never did - she comes in hot and does things the way she sees fit, without compromises. taking over control of the golden dragon and planning to overtake the country is very much in her character, so you're either ok with it or not. can't wait to read the second book to see how it all will be addressed!

 

the romance is... well. it's m/f/m triangle, but the proper one, where everyone is queer. gender identity is also mentioned, but the book did felt a bit too cis and straight to me, with only the main throuple being part of the lgbtq+ community. it didn't worsen the story, but looking back it was, indeed, a bit odd. on the other side, this also highlights once again that Zetian is different from people around her - and her partners are, too. overall, the romance is a pretty big part of the storyline.

 

❗️ beware, there will be a second book, and the story ends on a BIG cliffhanger! so if you're not ready to commit to thus - wait until 30th of april, 2024, when "Heavenly Tyrant" comes out. 

 

to summarise, a great book, which i can definitely recommend to those who like intense, fast-paced fantasy with elements of sci-fi and historical basis 

 

8/10 ⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Colonisation

msradiosilence's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

fe_aye's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a ride from start to finish. A heck of a first novel. I love that Wu Zetian doesn’t have to be good, she doesn’t take the traditional ‘to do good things you must be good all the time’ bs route. She manages to make her own way against everything telling her otherwise. Solid book, would recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

helfire124's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Great book! Couldn't put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

blackberryjambaby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, War, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail