Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

391 reviews

justamy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Confinement, Body horror, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Medical content, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Grief

Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

blkbltchic's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

I've been wanting to read this for a very long time. I really enjoy a completed love triangle no matter how brief the moment is. Based on the epilogue I'm wondering if there will be a sequel I haven't been keeping up in that regard. I loved all of the real world cultural details that were interwoven into this fantastical sci-fi story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Confinement, Colonisation, Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Torture, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Sexism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Rape

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-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

3.5

It was massively entertaining (and cringe at points too) and fast but at the same time you can't carry a whole book on just edgelord antics lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Violence, War, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Rape

beckahh_i's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

This was fucking incredible. I didn't really know anything about this book going in, other than it was a booktok favorite. It is now in probably my top books I've ever read, and for sure top 5 of the year I think. The feminine rage was palpable through this entire book. It was fantastic. Highly recommend.

There's definitely a lot of horrible things in this book so definitely check trigger warnings, but it's so worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Torture

Moderate: Blood, Death, Alcohol, Confinement, Alcoholism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

nwordsmith's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.75

This book had me on the edge of my seat for the entire read. I could hardly put it down. The world building was impeccable. The characters were complex and layered. I loved getting to know the world through Zetian’s admittedly warped perspective. Though her self justification sometimes got out of hand, I loved her rage and dogged determination. This was a stunning reimagining of a historical figure in a far off future world. I couldn’t get enough. Towards the end, I was convinced there would be no way to set up for a series but Xiran Jay Zhao brought it right back around. I cannot wait to read the next book and learn more about the world and characters and hopefully get some answers about the gods and Hundans. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

eap5790's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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: War, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Slavery

ratchetang's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Can be confusing if you have little knowledge of chinese culture and mythology or mecha genres. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Dysphoria, Genocide, Xenophobia, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual content, Body shaming, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Sexual assault, Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

sassyykassie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

4.0

i feel like this book has me with so much to digest. 
 love morally gray characters but this was next level.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Death, Gore, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Body horror

mossgoblins's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Grief, Confinement, Death, Murder, Torture, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Violence, War, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Body horror, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Rape

pengintoppa's review against another edition

adventurous tense

4.5

worldbuilding is interesting, i liked the 3 main characters. it was cool to read scifi set in china by a chinese author. some of the messaging felt a little heavy-handed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexism, War, Misogyny, and Police brutality

Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, Colonisation, Body shaming, Trafficking, Racism, and Emotional abuse

recurring mention/description of the long-term crippling effects of footbinding. the racism/xenophobia is directed at non-han chinese ethnic groups. sexism/misogyny is a lot of the driving force of most of the plot.