Iron Widow is the beginning book within a new series, where we follow a young girl called Zetian who offers herself to be a concubine-pilot in order to assassinate a male pilot who killed her sister. In killing him, she uses a psychic link to do so, allowing her to leave the cockpit unscathed and thus declared an "Iron Widow" - a feared female pilot. The story then follows on from this.

I was really excited to see the authors take on this sci-fi fantasy tale where we see our characters having to fight against these aliens in order to save the world. However I would describe Zhao's writing style as frankly thoughtless.

Throughout the entire novel, there are several conflicts which are not explained at all. Neither is the technology thats being used to fight in these conflicts. After finishing this book, I was left with so many questions surrounding the world politics as this was also not explained.

A lot of people seem to love the main character, however I found Zetian and all the other characters to be incredibly surface level. They all remind me of the cast from Throne of Glass, where we are told a lot about them but not shown. The romance was instalove which is my least favourite trope and just was completely unrealistic. Although the poly rep was nice to see, all relationships were rushed.

No character building, no world building, underdeveloped sci-fi elements- frankly a let down!

a solid, solid debut! i love the author's voice, the moral-gray-ness of the main character, and the inclusion of the poly trio! it was something extremely unique, and very anime-esque as well. i especially loved watching the main character's development through the story, and the way she reacted to the society around her.

The whole Iron Widow experience felt like being on the biggest, baddest and loopiest rollercoaster in the world. The constants twists and turns and loops pretty much gave me whiplash the entire time, there was literally never a dull moment while devouring this book. I appreciated how fast-paced the whole thing was, if I hadn’t suffered a book slump half-way through this, it would’ve been so easy to get through it in a day or two (but alas). However, the high speed of its pace is one of the things that prevented it from reaching its full potential as a fully decked out Sci-fi novel.

There were a lot of things I loved about Iron Widow but there are also aspects of it that I found lacking, which I feel can be remedied in the second book. There were moments that honestly felt very The Hunger Games-y for me (minus the battle royale-style death matches), particularly the scenes wherein Zetian and Shimin had to campaign to rally for people’s support and the whole flamboyance of their dressing up and dramatics. And that’s one of the issues I had with Iron Widow: it relies too much on shock-value to distract the reader from looking too deeply into its lack of depth.

As much as I liked Zetian as an MC (which I really did), I felt that her agenda lacked cohesiveness and proper building to make her more convincing. Her anger at the patriarchy is 100% justified, while foot-binding is no longer done in current times, there’s still an underlying bias towards sons and male familial figures now; and her need to topple, dismantle and destroy it is absolutely bad-ass (it was especially fascinating seeing not just toxic masculinity, but the reality that women tend to be pitted against one another by men/authority figures). However, how this anger came about, where it came from and how it grew to complete hatred wasn’t touched upon, which was the missing piece in completing Zetian’s character. (Xiran Jay Zhao tried too hard into making Zetian “not your typical girl” without giving us the hows and whys.)

One of the things that drew me to reading Iron Widow was the promise of a poly relationship, I’ve personally never been a big fan of love triangles because 1) I either get second lead syndrome or 2) just want the three of them to end up together. And you do get the best of both worlds in this book. I just wish we’d gotten to see the romance develop more between the three, it was kind of surprising how quickly Shimin and Yizhi got together and in turn, got with Zetian as well. I think that the relationship between them could have benefitted from a POV from either men (seeing as this book was written in TPP, it could’ve been done).

This was definitely more of a plot-driven book than anything else, Xiran Jay Zhao gives highlight to the battle sequences and odes to mythical Chinese beasts in the form of Chrysalises, which I have to say, were incredibly detailed and the whole co-pilot system, while crude, was fascinating. Comping this book to Pacific Rim, except a bit more brutal, was the right move. Though I will say, ever since seeing the Shang-chi film, I couldn’t help imagining the Hunduns as Morris, which made them less threatening and more aww-worthy.

Iron Widow, all in all, was a great reading experienc, it just lacked certain aspects to it that could’ve made it better, more convincing. And after that crazy af ending (which the author gets plus points for because holy crap, did NOT see that coming), I will definitely be picking up book 2 and hoping for the best.

What do you get when you combine the Handmaidens Tale with Pacific Rim? A wild insane ride. I literally stayed up half the night reading this book and could not put it down. The twists and the turns and the political intrigue and action all combined to make for an insane experience that you just go along with. Cannot wait for the next one and will absolutely be following this author. Explosive debut!

I recommend this one. It's a good book and everyone should read. Of course I would love to have this book in my bookstore.

Described as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale, Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow (Penguin Random House, September 21st 2021) is a must-read blend of Chinese history and science fiction that also combines compelling writing with an original plot.

Although the plot of this YA novel is complex and has many twists and turns, this is a book worth sticking with! In Huxia, boys pair with girls (known as concubines) to pilot the giant shape-shifting robots (known as Chrysalises) that Huxia uses to defend their land and the Great Wall from the aliens who regularly attack and attempt to gain grown. Mentally connected to the robots, the boys use their spirit energy and the spirit energy of the girls to power them. However, the girls regularly die from the experience, and are often expected to.

The novel follows 18-year-old Zetian, who volunteers to be a concubine pilot in an effort to assassinate one of the top male pilots who was responsible for her sister’s death. When Zetian kills the man through unexpected means—by overpowering him in the Chrysalis and destroying him through their psychic link, she is labelled an Iron Widow, a dangerously powerful female pilot who flips the gender binary of the Chrysalises. She is able to sacrifice boys in order to pilot the robot, not girls. When Huxia’s military pairs her with Li Shimin as a way to discipline her incredible and unnerving power, Zetian struggles to maintain the power she refuses to relinquish now that she has encountered it. A story of survival, strength, and queer power, Zetian works to counter the misogyny of the pilot system to keep more girls from being unnecessarily sacrificed.

While this novel is complicated in its premise, it is also fun, immersive, and represents a fascinating blend of historical fact and science fiction. Xiran Jay Zhao’s world building is excellent and happens almost without the reader noticing. The setting arrives in the text as an immediate and stunning picture of a world where women are second-class, and where one person refutes that designation through her power and iron will. The world is also presented as a place where extraordinary things are possible, and there is an undercurrent of hope in the text primarily visible in Zetian’s character.

As a non-binary author, Zhao’s representation of queer characters is crucial to the novel’s structure. At its core, beyond its important representation of Chinese characters and people of colour, the novel is an exploration of the complex systems that uphold and perpetuate gender binaries, and a celebration of the bold people who oppose them through living authentically. The novel features bisexual main characters and a polyamorous relationship. Not only is this representation important in literature, but it is especially significant in a YA novel like this one. I personally found the characters’ identities and relationships to be enjoyable, authentic, and eye-opening.

Overall, Iron Widow is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I think it is an innovative, exhilarating, and totally original novel with authentic queer characters and an important message. I highly recommend!

Please visit Xiran Jay Zhao on Twitter and put Iron Widow on your TBR on Goodreads.

Content Warnings: Trauma, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical violence, substance abuse.

We are seeing a new star! Iron Widow is a book that everyone will not forget after a read. It's a f-word marvelous thing. It's brilliant debut! I wish the sequel to be as this one.

This book is a breath of fresh air, and believe me, you are not ready for it. I mean, seriously - it has everything. Asian-rep, a completely independent sci-fi world inspired by Chinese history, a classic YA triangle that ends in a healthy polyamorous relationship, a beautiful cover, and most of all, the last time the patriarchy can enjoy their insultingly pitiful gender roles.


Well done, the author deserves a round of applause.


Wu Zetian, our protagonist, is such a good female character. The fate of her sister, who had been sacrificed in order to help power a machine called a Chrysalis (strictly male run, might I add,) fuels a lot of Zetian’s rage and motive throughout the book. So, she signs up to be a concubine pilot in order to avenge her sister and slit the pilot who had been running the Chrysalis’ throat. Much to the government’s displeasure, things don’t go quite as planned, and she manages to take control of the Chrysalis and get out of the attack with opposing mecha aliens alive.


She becomes the new Iron Widow, paired with the Iron Demon Li Shimin - the strongest pilot alive - in order to help fight the war and hopefully turn things around. While she’s at it, she uncovers many secrets withheld from the public and shocking twists that could turn the fate of the world around.


Zetian is so strong-willed and an absolute badass, if I do say so myself. She bends to no one - just like her qi, am I right - and she actually has a mind of her own. I do want to mention that it did seem a bit in-your-face at the beginning, as if she was trying too hard to be a badass. Don't get me wrong, I still loved how feminist oriented she was, but towards the middle and end, it flowed more naturally and I was able to appreciate her as a character so much more.


I love how she was driven by her revenge, anger, and bitterness towards the oppressive patriarchy and gender roles forced onto her by society.


Edit: As I've thought about it more and discussing it with others, I've come to the conclusion that the feminism was very in your face. Zetian wasn't a good person at all, and while she could be consider badass from some standpoints, I don't think "feminist icon" is the right word to describe her. I don't actually like the way the feminism was portrayed in this book, and I don't even know if it can really be called feminism.


Oh, and basic YA love triangle who? We don’t know her.


Instead of conforming to the typical laid out form of any typical YA story, this book takes a spin and ends up with a poly relationship rather than a ~love triangle~. To quote the author, “Zetian has 2 boyfriends and her boyfriends are also boyfriends.” It was absolutely delightful and refreshing to read about this romance, and I’d love to see more of it in future books.


The plot was very fast-paced, but it did feel slightly uneven to me. There were some parts that went so unbelievably fast it was impossible to put down, but there were other parts where I felt dragged and I had a hard time finding motivation to pick it up.


The world-building needed work. There were a lot of complicated terms thrown around and it was lowkey confusing at first, but once you got a clearer idea of what was going on, we still had no idea how to picture anything. It needed more description. I had no idea what anything looked like, and I couldn't even imagine the war in my head. The Hunduns' physical attributes weren't described at all, for example. It was hard to have any image of what was going on.


There’s quite a lot of info-dumping at the beginning, which wasn’t explained very well, but as the story progressed, everything became much clearer. It was easier to read and understand everything, so that aspect definitely improved.


Edit: I forgot to add that the writing definitely wasn’t the best, and it annoyed me a lot because of the inconsistencies. It's not my kind of writing style for sure.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book! While it had its flaws, as any book does, I loved the themes of female empowerment and diversity, and would highly recommend that everyone read it. I would like to mention that after thinking about it more, I wonder if I would like it as much upon reread. I should definitely reread it sometime.


3.5 stars.

This book simply astounded me…

I am not much one for gore or violence in books, but I knew this was going to have some of that going in and so I made it through. I honestly was mesmerised by the way that Zetian handled the situations she faced. She was so unapologetic and fierce and it was frankly refreshing to read about a character like that. I also thought all of the other characters were amazing, each with poignant developmental arcs and I loved the relationship.

All in all, I can see that this is a story that needed to be told. This author has created a unique world and they are definitely an amazing new talent in the industry! I can’t wait to read the sequel!

Realistically a 3.6 or 3.7 out of 5 stars.

-Noticed a few details that didn't really make sense (i.e. drones & other high-tech devices everywhere, but radio signals are needed for communication) but this didn't really take away from my enjoyment of the book.

-Great lead character and supporting cast. However, secondary cast was all men. The women were almost non-existent, and those we did hear about were all weak, bad or boring. The protagonist cannot be the only "enlightened" female in all the land. More female or non-binary characters and nuanced POVs necessary.

-Some really amazing, evocative imagery at points.

-Loved the unapologetic romance/sex.

-Fun ending.

4.5/5 rounded up
What can I possibly say to do this book justice? I feel like I have to give a book 5 stars when a book is smarter than I am, and this book is smarter than me. I struggle sometimes with sci-fi to understand the concepts of the world and how machinery and such works, and while I got a good grip of it, there were most likely things that were over my head that I missed, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything super vital. Zetian is the perfect anti-heroine, so full of fury and hell-bent on making the patriarchal system that killed her sister pay. There's a fury that laces this entire story that I was absolutely living for, one that is relentless in its excoriation of patriarchal systems and the people and institutions that keep it in place, a system that devalues women and treats them as property. This was one of those books where I found a quote I loved every five seconds. Zhao's writing style and their sense of plotting is unparalleled, and keeps the reader flipping pages because it just builds and builds. I feel as though this is mostly sci-fi but there's magic and fantasy elements to it as well, so this book is one that transcends genre. And then consider the fact that this is a debut. It's truly a stunning book. Vengeance, romance, morally grey and compelling characters, forced proximity, this book has it all. IRON WIDOW is a furious tale about one girl burning down the systems meant to hold her back and takes back the power she would be denied

I loved Iron Widow so much. It's brutal and unapologetic and so all-around glorious. One of my favorite reads of 2021!

Spectacular to say the least! I adored Zhao's charismatic prose and Zu Weitan's magnetic voice in the midst of incredibly well described mecha battles and a stunning love triangle (the strongest shape, after all!)

This book was awesome! If you like fighting robots, feminism, and/or a great blend of science fiction and fantasy set in China, this is the book for you! I loved one of the main characters, Zetian. She displays such fierceness and rebellion against oppressive societal standards for women. Her two supporting main characters were both supportive and strong in independent ways which was highly refreshing, especially in young adult fantasy. Please please give this book a read!

I have not read any ya books that feature a poly relationship and I was pleasantly surprised by this relationship. I loved it. Wu Zetian is my favorite, need more books featuring her. The world-building in this book is great. It's weird I felt like nothing about this book was bad, I loved it all.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4445821455

A sci-fi novel that keeps getting described as "Pacific Rim + The Handmaid's Tale" and, yes, that works, but it's much closer in feel to Pacific Rim's "let's do this because it would be cool!" vibe, and not so much Handmaid's Tale more serious analysis of structural patriarchy.

In a world where aliens are constantly invading and only giant robots can protect humanity, Wu Zetian (yes, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zetian">that Wu Zetian</a>. Or, I guess, an AU version of her, but the reference is extrememly deliberate) is chosen to pilot one of said robots. They can only be controlled by male/female pairs, and while the male pilots become famous war heroes, the female pilots (called "concubines") tend to die in battle, quickly forgotten and replaced over. Zetian is out for revenge for her sister's death, but when Zetian doesn't die in battle but instead proves herself to be unignorably powerful, she decides to take the whole system down. Her allies are Li Shimin, a violent illiterate barbarian male pilot, and Gao Yizhi, a gentle scholar from the richest family in the country. Together, they are... actually not a love triangle! No, people, we have canon M/M/F!! I LOVE IT.

Don't look to <i>Iron Widow</i> for subtle, intricate plotting, but if you want to eat popcorn and cheer on a heroine who schemes, murders, and destroys her way into power, this is the book for you. And for me! Because sometimes that is exactly what I want. My one complaint is that I thought it was a standalone, but it's actually the first in a series (trilogy? Not sure). Write more standalones, authors!

While the concept was interesting, there was a serious lack of attention paid to the world as a whole. Everything felt big, yet so incredibly vague. There was also the issue of characterization itself. I wanted to care about the main character, but despite that, I found her to be a better antagonist than protagonist. I’d almost have preferred she be presented as a full on villain.

The bigger issue at play was the writing. It was repetitive, and at times, oddly meta? And not in a charming way. There’s a lot of promise here, but mostly it feels like a ragged book.

Thank you, NetGalley for an early copy for an honest review. This was one of my most anticipated book of the year. This book was so fantastic and cannot wait for the second book. I really enjoyed the characters and the world-building. Iron Widow is a Chinese-inspired story that captured me from beginning to end and truly couldn't get enough of it. The character development was amazing and the female lead was incredible. Each character was relatable and loved each and every single of them. The ending was totally unexpected and caught me off guard. I appreciate that in a book, where I can't predict the ending. I love the romance even though there wasn't much, but overall amazing story. Some of my favorite quotes are:
“You’ve been living a dream for long enough!” I yell at the cameras between bursts of maniacal laughter, raising my arms. “Welcome to your nightmare!”
“Men want us so badly for our bodies, yet hate us so much for our minds.”
"This world does not deserve my respect. It is not worthy of my kindness or compassion."
"All right, let me make this clear: Wu Zetian, you inspire me. Whenever I lose hope that the world can change, I remember you. I remember how you fight for what you want, no matter what anyone says, no matter what stands in your way." He draws me into his arms and murmurs into my hair. "You're my polar star. I'll go wherever you guide me."

This is one of the most phenomenal and exciting books I've read in a long time. The main character, Zetian, is such a fascinating character to share headspace with. She pushes the in-world understood boundaries in any way she sees fit, and instead of breaking herself against those unyielding boundaries, she shatters them with her own force of will. I truly cannot wait for the sequel to this book. These characters will live rent free in my head for a long, long time.

Truly not for me. We've got a Girlboss on our hands here who cannot be stopped. Everyone else is an idiot. I'd recommend it to people because I know everyone else likes it, but it was not. For. Me.