Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

133 reviews

cs172's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

comaduff's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the only book ive reread in probably 3 or 4 years. I did it in preparation for Heavenly Tyrant. It was just as good the second time. I could write good things forever. I especially love the morally grey main character. Thats my favorite parts. 

Main theme of the book:
I support women’s rights, but more importantly i support women’s wrongs!!!!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mirandyli's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

This was an incredible book that was basically written for people like me.
Pacific Rim meets Ancient China (the main character has bound feet), with a queer polyamorous relationship. Featuring  heavy misogyny and colonization. The ending had me reeling.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

the_frenchie_history_nerd's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.25

What a great YA book. Definitely for older teens (15/16+), but an accessible read to all reading levels as long as they're old enough. It's a fast-paced, tense, dark and fun read for sci-fi/fantasy readers. Don't expect LOTR world building, but Xian Jay Zhao's first novel still defends itself pretty well on this front.

Iron Widow's characters definitely aren't good people, but they're still loveable in some sort of twisted way. Zetian is a villainous figure that you're probably gonna learn to love despite her cruel nature. 

This book is just as good on a second read, and I can't wait to start Heavenly Tyrant!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

enbyaddams's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? No

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

thebooksanctum's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

Just incredible, once again! The conversations around patriarchal societies and extreme sexism, the Pacific Rim vibes, it's all incredible and perfect to me!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

islayfraser's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

So good and so complex. It addresses so many issues relevant in Canada and other countries, right now and in the past. Intersectional feminism, queer and gender theory, characters of colour, this book has it all! It even addresses decolonization, which I (surprisingly, considering how colonial many fantasy works are) don't see much in fantasy literature!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

evann140's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ixris's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny 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

4.5

What if pac rim met the hunger games and starship troopers in a back parking lot and had a gender fist fight. 

Very fun. Top tier writing. I have one complaint and it's about how short-lived the best shape got to be. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

catperspective's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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

0.5

So incredibly disappointed this book is marketed as feminist. Feminism isn’t about women also committing war crimes. The dialog is poorly written and the characters are cheesy in the worst way. I wish I DNF this book but it has such glowing reviews I figured it at least had a good ending: it did not. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings