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A review by orcamagicka
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OUTSTANDING! JAW DROPPING!
Marathoned this in 2 days listening to the audiobook and I had the time of my life! So fast paced with incredible twists and turns. So many things I loved I can’t begin to list them all!
- a love triangle turned polyamorous relationship (“the triangle is the strongest shape” after all...)
- complex, fascinating, yet easy to digest world building inspired by Ancient Chinese history and myth
- insane mecha fights reminiscent of Attack on Titan and Pacific Rim
- inclusive discussions on the politics of gender, what it means to identify as a man or woman (or both/neither!), sexuality and consent, and how misogyny and the patriarchy is also tied to homophobia
- clever use of the philosophical concept Yin and Yang to describe how nature (nor ourselves) is not always binary or black/white. Despite seeming like opposing entities, there is always a bit of Yin within Yang, and Yang within Yin.
- intense, teeth shattering, blood thirsting, burning RAGE against the patriarchy. Justice and freedom have never been achieved by kneeling to your oppressor.
- lovable characters including the secretly soft masculine “bad boy”, a pretty boy rich twink, and a power hungry murderous heroine
- CORRUPTION ARCS! Morally gray characters! Anti-hero’s!
- an absolute BAD! ASS! main character with a hunger for blood, power, vengeance, and freedom. Imagine if you mixed Eren Jeager with Azula.
I rarely give a book a 5 star rating. I thought this would be a 4.75 max, but then that ending sealed the deal. So much went down I’m barely processing it all... Seriously, read this amazing novel and support the author’s YouTube channel!
Marathoned this in 2 days listening to the audiobook and I had the time of my life! So fast paced with incredible twists and turns. So many things I loved I can’t begin to list them all!
- a love triangle turned polyamorous relationship (“the triangle is the strongest shape” after all...)
- complex, fascinating, yet easy to digest world building inspired by Ancient Chinese history and myth
- insane mecha fights reminiscent of Attack on Titan and Pacific Rim
- inclusive discussions on the politics of gender, what it means to identify as a man or woman (or both/neither!), sexuality and consent, and how misogyny and the patriarchy is also tied to homophobia
- clever use of the philosophical concept Yin and Yang to describe how nature (nor ourselves) is not always binary or black/white. Despite seeming like opposing entities, there is always a bit of Yin within Yang, and Yang within Yin.
- intense, teeth shattering, blood thirsting, burning RAGE against the patriarchy. Justice and freedom have never been achieved by kneeling to your oppressor.
- lovable characters including the secretly soft masculine “bad boy”, a pretty boy rich twink, and a power hungry murderous heroine
- CORRUPTION ARCS! Morally gray characters! Anti-hero’s!
- an absolute BAD! ASS! main character with a hunger for blood, power, vengeance, and freedom. Imagine if you mixed Eren Jeager with Azula.
I rarely give a book a 5 star rating. I thought this would be a 4.75 max, but then that ending sealed the deal. So much went down I’m barely processing it all... Seriously, read this amazing novel and support the author’s YouTube channel!