A review by therainbowshelf
Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This was intense and awesome! I loved seeing historic China reimagined in a sci-fi context with epic mechs. The characters are strong, as are their motives, and the world building is vivid. I also love that everything I wanted or predicted happened, from relationship development to two major twists toward the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Torture, Medical content, Murder, Slavery, Violence, War, and Xenophobia