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A review by lulaabees
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
one of the best things i've read this year. was not bored or disappointed by a single chapter in there (though the first chapter could've been better because it felt a little contrived). wish that yizhi got more developed because he still feels like a mystery in comparison to the two other leads, but i'm sure that xjz will address this in heavenly tyrant, which i'm eagerly anticipating.
zetian is the main draw of the book to me. she is such a cool character. she feels alive. i also love while, even though she sets herself apart, it's clearly said in the book that she is far from the only woman with a thirst for rebellion and vengeance. she's not "special" like that (would've been kind of the potential pitfall of having a mc like this), but she's amazing.
my only criticism of this book is really that the feminist commentary felt a little too on the nose sometimes, but since the barbie movie seemed revolutionary to a lot of people, that's probably just me.
zetian is the main draw of the book to me. she is such a cool character. she feels alive. i also love while, even though she sets herself apart, it's clearly said in the book that she is far from the only woman with a thirst for rebellion and vengeance. she's not "special" like that (would've been kind of the potential pitfall of having a mc like this), but she's amazing.
my only criticism of this book is really that the feminist commentary felt a little too on the nose sometimes, but since the barbie movie seemed revolutionary to a lot of people, that's probably just me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Gore and Sexual assault