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apollinares 's review for:
Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't love YA, but nonbinary creatives have to support one another, so I'm reading Xiran Jay Zhao.
If you like the fast pacing, first person (angsty) narratives, and imagination-defying plot twists that YA dystopian lit is typically full of, I wholeheartedly recommend this. I don't know what I expected - it just isn't for me.
The worldbuilding felt solid enough, but flimsy at the same time; maybe I'm used to a slower pace. Maybe the audiobook didn't do it justice and I needed the appendices and maps the paper copy had; still, I found aspects of the adaptation fascinating.
Wu Zetian isn't the usual type of protagonist I like reading about; she's ruthless and edgy and traumatised and none of that goes away when she meets the love interest. She's well written, just not the kind I'd endure another book about.
If you like the fast pacing, first person (angsty) narratives, and imagination-defying plot twists that YA dystopian lit is typically full of, I wholeheartedly recommend this. I don't know what I expected - it just isn't for me.
The worldbuilding felt solid enough, but flimsy at the same time; maybe I'm used to a slower pace. Maybe the audiobook didn't do it justice and I needed the appendices and maps the paper copy had; still, I found aspects of the adaptation fascinating.
Wu Zetian isn't the usual type of protagonist I like reading about; she's ruthless and edgy and traumatised and none of that goes away when she meets the love interest. She's well written, just not the kind I'd endure another book about.