I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I don't read very much YA, I really enjoyed this one. It plays with the love triangle trope that seems to be in every other YA novel and definitely gave it a different spin. The world is really incredible and the action is fast-paced. This book really never slows down for anything.

There is some violence and torture in this book that feels a little over the top. But it also shows the determination and lengths that the MC will go to. And the MC definitely has an agenda and an axe to grind. Her justifications are 100% understandable.

Overall, I did enjoy my time with this book! This is not just another dystopian YA novel. The author has some different takes on the normal tropes of the genre and the setting and characters felt very fresh to this American reader. Great to see a setting and world from a whole new perspective!

This was a really fun female rage book, and the twist at the ending shocked me. I loved the premise of characters piloting mechas and battling monsters, and the book delivered on that. I think the characters are a bit weaker, Wu Zetian is a very angry woman, which is understandable, but there isn't anything more to her goals beyond pure rage. I liked the unconventional romance, but Wu Zetian is self-absorbed, and as a result our understanding of the two men are limited. That being said, the point of the book is purely female rage, so the lack of character development didn't bother me much.

I actually liked this book more than I thought I would. I went in not really expecting much but I really enjoyed the book. The story seemed a little underdeveloped but the characters more than made up for that. There was a bit of romance but it seemed more of a subplot than part of the main plot itself. I enjoyed Zetian's character and how she didn't let anyone get in her way. I enjoyed how the book wrapped up and am keen to see what happens next..

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability 5o keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

Iron Widow by Xiran Zhao is an ambitious fusion of science fiction and historical elements, set in a reimagined Chinese history. The narrative follows Zetian, a young woman who becomes a concubine-pilot to avenge her sister's death, ultimately emerging as a powerful force against a repressive system.

While the concept is captivating and the world-building detailed, the execution can be inconsistent. The pacing fluctuates, with some plot points feeling hurried and others dragging. Zetian, though a strong and intriguing character, sometimes lacks the depth needed to make her fully relatable. The romantic subplot also feels somewhat contrived, detracting from the main storyline.

In summary, Iron Widow presents a unique and daring narrative but struggles with maintaining a steady flow and fully developed characters. It's an average read that might still attract those who enjoy stories with strong central characters.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Penguin Teen Canada for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

Oh man, why did I let this sit on my shelf and Netgalley shelf so long? One, I was waiting for the sequel but then it got lost a bit in the shuffle of so many shiny new fantasies. This is definitely one of those down with patriarchy, empowering women fantasy stories that everyone should read. It's labelled as futuristic but based on history but damn if women are still being treated like this in the future... I guess that makes me glad I didn't have kids!

I loved the blending of folklore and myth with fantastical futurism. The decriptions of the battles were vivid and immersive. My only criticism was that I wished Zetian was slightly more nuanced, it was a lot of angry, angry, angry. Also the ending was an ending but also kind of cliffhanger-y. So I am glad I waited til the sequel is out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC!
This one really had me with the synopsis and concept.
What I liked:
-The queer rep, with both bi rep and a poly relationship. This is the kind of thing I would have loved to have seen when I was more of the YA reading age, and I’m excited to see it more and more.
-The gender discussions here. Again, we love to see it. This book is filled with discussions that again, I’m so happy to be seeing in YA.
-The concept. I was so so thrilled at the idea of this, and I do think the broad strokes of this story are really cool in concept.

All that being said, this book overall just didn’t work for me. This might partially be an age thing - this book reads quite young. Not in content so much as writing style. While it handles really complex themes in a way I respect, the writing itself felt so surface level that I didn’t feel like we dug into those themes emotionally. It might have also been the first-person style that made this feel awkward, but there was a ton of telling the reader things rather than showing them. It felt like every emotion the MC had we were just told they were having, rather than being walked through their mind’s processes, and as a result the writing felt awkward and simplified to me, like we were being told only the most simplified end result of a thought a character had, and not shown the process and emotional journey they took to get there. This was the same for the dialogue, which left me with the feeling that everything was being rushed.

So, all told, the writing kept this one from really working for me personally, but again, I cannot stress enough how much I appreciated the concept, themes, and representation of this one, even if the execution wasn’t for me. If the concept is compelling to you, I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a go - I've outlined here my struggles with the prose and directness, but as prose preferences are so subjective, I could see this really working for someone else!!

I have... No words. The sequel coming out next month is a godsend because I think I'd die without knowing how this goes. The ending definitely has the buildup I want, and despite ther being some moments where I was mildly concerned for Zetian's sanity I'm so into this one. I was sold on the concept and then it just kept getting better and better.

I can't remember the last time I read a book that felt so brimming with life. I loved how much emotion shone through the writing - and not just love of the characters, but anger at the world, a sense of justice. I can't wait for the sequel.

I have literally never read a story like this. The plot was amazing, the setting was imaginative and beautiful. I could feel the rage of all the characters and was rooting from the beginning. I also LOVED THE ROMANCE!

Just finished an ARC of this book and it was EVERYTHING and more.

Strong female lead with 2 excellent supporting male characters/love interests.

Strong ending. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I’ll definitely be reading more!

Gorgeous prose, fantastic mythology and magic, engaging characters, and a great storyline! I definitely recommend!

I liked all the power and revenge Zetian gets. She is a powerful female showing her skills and the lengths she’ll go. While I loved those part, the Sy fi pacific ring parts were not to my tastes. There was a lot of that! Not a bad thing but just not for me.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for my #gofted copy

This was such a great book with an amazing, empowering leading character. This feels like the beginning of a villain origin story with touches of feminist ideals. I am excited to read what happens next!

I'm conflicted.

I'll start with what I liked.
My main issue with a lot of fantasy/sci-fi is that it can be veeeeeery long and slow, with lots of exposition. That's why I haven't read that many lately, I don't have much free time to read and when the novel is nearly 500 pages,I can get a bit put off. It wasn't the case with Iron Widow. It was super fast paced, lots of action and conflict. It definitely gets you hooked front start to finish!

I haven't watched Pacific Rim but I'm guessing the Chrysalis and the wasteland description of what is beyond the wall are inspired by it. I really enjoyed the Chrysalis and how they were a vessel for the pilots to fight. The different shapes and classes, the different elements and how they affect the appearance of the mechas.

The highlight of Iron Widow for me is Li Shimin. His character is so complex and interesting. The guilt he carries is so immense, it shows in his actions. He is a broken boy, fighting for survival in a world that would sacrifice him in any way they can.

What I wasn't a fan of.
The severe lack of world-building and the convoluted way we get exposed to tidbits of it, was terrible. I get that since Zetian is in the dark about a lot of stuff and since we follow her pov, we're also left in the dark, but I feel that so much more could have been done to make the worldbuilding richer. The Chrysalis test, what does it consist of, what is the criteria. Everything feels very random, and things are the way they are just because we're told they are, it's frustrating.

The Hunduns are never described in detail, we're told they're rotound and their size but no further description is given, which is disappointing. I would have also liked to have more vivid descriptions of Chrysalis that aren't the Vermillion.

This book would have benefited from flashbacks of some sort. We get told how much Big Sister means to Zetian but we get nothing about why? How close were they? Big Sister is the catalyst and as the reader, I still don't know why. The same happens with Zetian's relationship with Yizhi. It felt like it came out of nowhere. I know we're told it doesn't but I need more because I honestly can't understand why Yizhi loves Zetian, unless he got to meet a very different Zetian than we do.

We know very little about Zetian's family other than "they're horrible people". Again, I think some flashbacks and more details about their life would have made me care more about them and Zetian.
I'm also confused how a family that is supposedly scum of the earth poor (because no one seems to work in that family) decides it's a good idea to break their daughters feet when keeping the feet from infecting would have been expensive. How it is realistic that Zetian got lotus feet and survived even tho she is dirt poor, yet Xiuying, who comes from a farmers family doesn't. They're both poor. One could argue Zetian's family was hoping to sell their daughters but the odds of them surviving the healing process was so low, they would have had to have a bunch of daughters and hope a couple survived to make a buck out of them.

The poly relationship felt unbalanced. It felt like Yizhi and Shimin were there to pander to Zetian's desires and demands. She used them as she wished, gaslit them and bullied them, especially Shimin. In theory it could have worked, if Zetian saw them as equals, which she never did. Also, Zetian's treatment of Shimin when he was clearly suffering because of his addiction was beyond disgusting.

I love morally grey characters but I didn't feel that Zetian accomplished that. She was truly a horrible to other women while supposedly fighting for feminism and against the patriarchal government. She was horrible to the two boys she supposedly loved. I honestly couldn't find one redeeming quality in her yet we're supposed to root for her. If she was meant to be a villain maybe I would have felt different, but it was clearly not the case.

I won't even say anything about the feminism, or lack there of.

Overall, this read was very disappointing. I loved the premise and was so excited to start because of how well loved this book is, but it fell short of my expectations. I do plan on reading the sequel as I want to know what happens to my boy.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is an imaginative reimagining of Chinese history that blends sci-fi with feminist themes. The story follows Zetian, a fiercely determined girl who, fueled by vengeance, becomes a pilot in a brutal system that sacrifices young women to empower men in battle. Her rise as the feared "Iron Widow" disrupts a profoundly patriarchal society, and the novel critiques gender roles and societal oppression.

The book tackles gender dynamics head-on. The way women are treated as disposable resources for the war effort is a powerful metaphor for real-world gender inequalities. Zhao doesn't shy away from violence and hard truths, making the stakes real and urgent.

At times, certain elements of the book seemed rushed to me, such as Zetian’s transformation from a rural girl to an almost invincible force. Similarly, I found her polyamorous relationship refreshing for its diversity; however, I felt it lacked development and emotional backing to make it feel completely realistic.

Iron Widow is a fierce and unapologetic debut that will resonate with readers hungry for strong female leads and fresh, daring narratives. It shines in its ambition, though it must fully deliver on the depth and nuance its premise promises. Fans of fast-paced action, social commentary, and rebellious heroines will find a lot to enjoy here, even if some elements leave room for improvement.

Music to enjoy while reading:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Lorde
Soft Power - Ladytron
you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish
A New Society - Meg Myers
Power is Power - SZA & The Weeknd
Femininomenon - Chappell Roan

This book was exactly what you hope it to be. The romance was a compliment to the story and did not outshine the overall message. The insight to female treatment, drawn from history and weaved into the fictional story was done beautifully. Highly recommend this book.

This was such an amazing read. I love stories that weave history and fantasy together. A strong female character that I loved cheering for, and politics that make me want to rage along with her. Definitely going to be a book I recommend and also keep on my reread shelf.

Xiran Jay Zhao is a force. Their work is absolutely stellar and I am in awe of their work. The pacing of this book and the characterization here are phenomenal. A real page-turner that leaves audiences wanting more. I appreciate the ferocity and vulnerability of the characters. I definitely recommend this work to anyone.

A must-read, brilliant story of feminine rage, robotic symbiotic chrysalises, epic battles, social commentary, incredible world building and questions about humanity and its role in evolution, destruction and survival (nature vs science vs humans). I loved every second of this book. If you love a good, thought provoking, message driven, character based novel then you have to read this one immediately.