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eggcatsreads 's review for:

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
3.0

I actually agree with a lot of the negative reviews - poor characterization, world building, "feminist" but not really, mary-sue ish main lead, cheesy lines and dialogue that feels written by someone much younger. All in all, much more surface level than was advertised. 

The entire time it kind of felt like the unfairness of the world was shoved down my throat in such an unbelievable way I almost didn't even feel bad for the treatment of the main character - it was just Too Much. I read "The Hour of the Witch" which also had Extremely Sexist conditions and unfair situations but it was written, and how the main character reacted to them, in a much more realistic way. Here, however, the main character didn't even seem to have taken in an ounce of the only culture she's lived in just to have Contrary Opinions, when it stands to reason she'd believe a good portion of it and only start to question when exposed to some contrasting ones. 

I also wasn't impressed with the bi or poly rep since there was barely one scene for all 3 (instead they're just with the main character) and then in the next one (spoiler) half of them dies so it never happens again, all the while it feeling more like they just got together bc the main character wants them together, not bc they actually are attracted to each other. 

Also it just dumping you into what felt like emotionally the world building of the second book of a series (just naming characters and relationships like I'm supposed to know them, no explanation of the world just talking about like like I'm supposed to know what's going on) with no introduction wasn't the most pleasant start. 

And the characters felt more like caricatures than actual characters - the characters you're supposed to like have the Correct Opinions and the ones you don't are so vile you couldn't Possibly like them. All men are the worst people on earth except for these two who treat women with respect and acknowledge bodily autonomy. All women except this One Special One do what they're supposed to, but the Special One is so totally powerful and feminist. It was hard to relate to anyone on more than a surface level so I didn't even react when (spoiler) one of them died. No emotional impact. 

However it was an entertaining read and, taking away the idea it's supposed to be Super Feminist and Deep and kind of riffing on the fact that the book takes itself too seriously the entire time I read it - it was a fun read and I did enjoy it. It took less than a day to read and despite my complaints I never got to a point it was either too bad or too boring for me to want to continue.