*Thank you to the publicist at Penguin Teen/Penguin Random House Canada for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I am broken, confused, completely and utterly shocked. In a good way. I had pretty low expectations for this book since I don't read sci-fi too often anymore,(fantasy books have basically taken over my life) but I was so captivated! Iron Widow is set in a futuristic type world at war with alien creatures called the Hunduns. Their defense is made up of Chrysalis's, giant robotic war machines, piloted by both a male and female, where the male's mind has complete control of the Chrysalis. Though they won most of the battles, it was often at the cost of the female pilots life. When Zetian's sister is killed, she offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to the man responsible, so she can assassinate him before he hurts any more girls. But when plans go awry, she is forced into a Chrysalis with him before she has the chance to strike, and her chance of surviving the battle is nearly impossible, but... the impossible happens.

To start off, I just want to say that I absolutely love the characters! It's so rare to find a story where the MC's of the book feel more like villains! Well, not completely, but they definitely had their villainess/psychopathic qualities. For example, Zetian is depicted as this wild, almost maniacal character; we could tell from the beginning when she killed her sister's killer. It was both shocking and hilarious to read the thoughts running through her head. Despite all the hate, prejudice, and sexism that she—as a woman—receives, she is so strong and capable, which I loved as a quality to this book. I also realized about halfway through that there was a polyamory relationship in the story. Now, I am not against that at all, but I had never read anything like it before so it surprised me, but I thought it was super cute!

In the first chapter, I was a little bit skeptical in the sense that it felt like Zhao was pushing information at us in a way that seemed forced and it was just a very elementary way of writing. I also noticed she seemed to have skipped/skimmed the explanation of the Hunduns because I was honestly a little confused with the whole conflict. I felt like she just placed us directly midway through this century long war with very minimal information about the opposing side. Even so, it got so much better.

I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait at least a whole year before the second book comes out. I can't even completely process what happened! There was one character that died(not going to tell you who 'cause it's a major spoiler) and I felt like it completely came out of nowhere! I know, it defiantly hints that they will be revived in the next book, but their "death" still didn't sit right with me. There is just so much that Zhao dropped on us in that last chapter and so I need the next one!!! Anyway, do yourself a favor and read it!

I picked up Iron Widow because I was intrigued by the premise and the cover. What’s not to love about Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale? A whole lot it turns out.
Our main character Zetian is a poor girl in a lower-class family. Her lot in life is to be married off or sacrificed as fuel for the Chrysalises (the giant mechas) that boys pilot to fight other mechanical aliens. After her sister is killed while being used by a famous pilot, Zetian offers herself up as sacrificial fuel in order to kill the pilot in revenge. When Zetian succeeds, it reveals a talent for piloting the mechas that forces her into military bondage.
Again, the idea was interesting, and double so set against the possible backdrop of ancient Chinese politics, but the writing and pacing did not hold up. Zetian is an 18 year old girl, who while clever enough and strong enough to pull of an assassination, still speaks and thinks like a 6 year old. Some of the conversations between characters seemed frank to the part of artlessness as well as melodramatic. The side characters have no depth at all, and even Zetian seems to lack a personality, much of the time. YA writing does not have to be flat – just think of Graceling by Kristin Cashore, which is simple in grade-level terms but profound in depth. Iron Widow lacks both the clarity of narrative and the clarity of writing. Even the possible love triangle- which, again, had so much potential- was not enough to keep me invested in the story. It reads very much like a first draft, the ending was not believable, and it was difficult to get through. 1.5 stars, and unfortunately would not recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where to start? Iron Widow is my favorite book of 2021. I started it one Monday afternoon when I got home and stopped at 70% around midnight. I had work early in the morning, and I still considered finishing it.
Reading Iron Widow was a thrill that made me way too happy, and finishing it was like waking up disoriented from a dream.
That was months ago. It took me forever to write this review because the book is so good that I simply don’t have the words. And I can’t just scream “I love it! You should buy it!” and be done with it. I must write something coherent, at least. There are better reviews out there, smarter and deeper, more eloquent and meaningful. But if you’re reading this one, I hope I can show you how good this book is and why it deserves your time.

But why is it so great? Let’s start with my girl, Wu Zetian. Her sister was killed by a pilot in a system in which girls are frequently sacrificed so boys can use mechas to fight aliens. Now Zetian is out for revenge, even if that means bringing the whole thing down. She burns with righteous anger against her family, against the guy who killed her sister, and against the system that tries to kill her. She’s the embodiment of feminine wrath. After an entire life of oppression and abuse, Zetian fights back.
Then there’s my boys: Li Shimin, the bad boy with a tragic past, and Yizhi, the soft boy who is also extremely wealthy. Who will Zetian choose? Well, both, because this love triangle is resolved in the only way a love triangle should: they all get together.
It’s Zetian’s thirst for revenge and her fight for survival that drive the plot. Those in power are not happy that a girl killed a pilot. They want her dead, but they also need her as a pilot to fight the Hundun constantly trying to invade. Zetian and Li Shimin must navigate both intrigue and assassination attempts in the military if they want to make it out alive.
This world is heavily inspired by Chinese history and culture, beautifully woven with futuristic elements like giant robots and alien invasions. Each detail is revealed subtly but meaningfully. We see the poor frontier families and the lavish capital parties; the national heroes and the girls who’d do anything to marry them; the weight of the past and the surprises of the future.
Most of all, Iron Widow is a raw, angry, and brilliant exploration of misogyny, gender and power. There’s more to fighting monsters than what it seems.

WHAT. A. DEBUT. I literally have to scream about that before I proceed with any sort of review. I just cannot wrap my head around this being a debut novel. Amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley, Xiran, and Penguin Teen for an advance copy of Iron Widow.

Set in a futuristic dystopia where society battles mechanical aliens by piloting giant robots, one young woman is about to challenge and change everything society thinks they know about females. You see, male pilots use female pilots as concubines to use their energy oftentimes ending in the death of the female pilot. It is seen as a great honor for the pilots to sacrifice for their land and in turn the families of the lost are very-well compensated.

Zeitan is an 18 year old girl who signs up to become a concubine…but not for the honor or money her family will receive. Instead, she wishes to seek vengeance for the death of her sister, assuming that she will die in the process. However, she successfully murders her sisters co-pilot and returns from the battle in one piece earning her the title of Iron Widow, something that may have been done in the past but is not common knowledge. Her energy is astronomical and she is paired with someone equally as vicious and powerful as she is.

The more Zeitan learns about the military, the more she begins to question everything. Are women really the weaker sex or are they just conditioned to believe that?


There is a lot of physical and mental abuse in this story, naturally due to its subject matter, but it’s also a really powerful story about one woman breaking out of the role that women in her society are brought up to follow – be quiet, obey, and serve.

One thing that I liked a lot about Zeitan was that she was never not confident in her plan. She knew it was dangerous and “crazy” and a suicide mission but she was determined to make her voice known and did not care about the consequences. And when her suicide mission turned out to be a success she just kept powering forward and pushing for answers. It’s rare to see any character start strong and stay strong, let alone a female character in a fantasy story.

There is also a love-triangle(ish) turned polyamory, which is a first for me to see in YA fantasy. We get to see an unconventional relationship outside of the ones we see regularly. Xiran managed to write a lot of emotion and romance without putting too much detail on the page and it worked really well.

It’s historically-inspired by the only female empress that China has seen, set in the future, and deals with topics (on an exaggerated scale) that women today face.

The only downfall is that there wasn’t as much world-building as I would’ve liked, however, knowing that it is book one, I would guess that we will see more of the world in the next installment. It sounds fascinating and I’d like to see it explored much more.

Marketed as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale, Iron Widow lives up to every ounce of what is promised with those comps. It is rich in historical Chinese history with a healthy dose of sci-fi and fantasy elements, giving it a fresh twist. Sci-fi has always been a difficult genre for me, but Xiran has written a spectacle that is easy to read and a wild ride from start to finish.

At its core, Iron Widow is a badass, feminist story about vengeance, glory, and what it means to take charge of your own destiny. While some readers may not be able to personally relate to the cultures described, most will relate in at least a small way to the treatment women receive at the hands of society. Women of all cultures are subject to misogyny, objectification, and treated like they are “less” than men - which simply not true. This book is a love letter to anyone who has been oppressed by their society and culture.

Zetian is a calculating and lethal character focused on achieving her goals, even if it means her death. For readers who love anti-heroes and morally grey main characters who do not shy away from conflict, she is everything you could ask for. With every move and every thought Zetian has, she is unflinchingly scheming a way she can bring society to its knees.

Li Shimin is, on the surface, very similar to Zetian, forced to serve in a system he abhors. Their partnership and common goals feel very natural given their similar pasts, and providing Zetian with a strong ally of the opposite sex worked well to balance her understandable hatred for men in power.

On the opposite end, we have Zetian's childhood friend, Gao Yizhi. His character is quite the opposite of both Zetian and Shimin and can be described as loyal, trusting, intelligent, and somewhat soft (in a good way).

One of the things that stands out in this book is the polyamorous couple it features. Personally, this is the first YA book I’ve ever read with polyamorous representation and it was so beautiful to see it! Since Iron Widow breaks many molds, it seems like a natural inclusion to also stretch boundaries and social norms with the main romance as well.

Overall, this was a stunning debut that left me reeling from the incredible world building, the god-complex anti-heroes, and the burning of the patriarchy from the ground up. Xiran Jay Zhao will undoubtedly leave their mark with this book, and I cannot wait for the sequel to arrive!

I really had no idea what to expect going into this “mecha science fiction” book, but I am so glad I read Iron Widow because it blew me away!

The author describes this book as “Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale reimagining of the rise of the only female emperor in Chinese history” but I am not familiar with any of that (although I am definitely going to do some research on China’s only female emperor).

The best way I can describe Iron Widow is The Hunger Games meets Transformers set in a futuristic world with elements of Chinese culture, history, and mythology.

Huaxia is at war with the Hunduns, the mecha aliens that are trying to invade Huaxia’s side of the Great Wall. The girls of Huaxia are sent to serve in the war as concubine-pilots. The male pilots operate giant transforming robots, called Chrysalises, in their battles with the Hunduns, but the Chrysalises require the qi (life force) of a male and a female. Everyone knows that the girls are really sacrifices because they often die when the male pilot, heralded as a hero, sucks up all of his concubine’s qi during battle. Enter Zeitan, who is out for vengeance and becomes a female force to be reckoned with.

The phenomenal and intricate world building, epic battle scenes, and exhilarating plot line made this book unputdownable! I found the entire concept of giant transforming robots battling mecha aliens absolutely fascinating, and the historical, cultural, and mythological Chinese elements were seamlessly woven into this futuristic story. Through the amazing characters, the author examines the way society views gender roles, appearances, relationships, and good vs. evil. What is right and what is wrong? Who is really the monster?

I really loved the three main characters - Wu Zeitan, Gao Yizhi, Li Shimin - and the relationship that develops between them. Zeitan is a poor peasant girl, Yizhi is a well-educated rich boy, and Shimin is a convicted murderer turned top pilot. They are all strong and stand up for what they believe in, and they work together toward their shared goal of smashing the patriarchy. Zeitan is my favorite though, and I love everything she represents!

Zeitan is fierce, strong, clever, and courageous, and she will stop at nothing until she avenges her big sister’s death and the senseless deaths of all the concubine pilots who came before her. Like all females in this society, her feet were bound at a young age to make her more attractive to men, and she is constantly in pain due to her mutilated feet. But, she will not let the pain stand in her way. She will not bow down to the oppressive men, will not conform to misogynistic societal expectations and gender norms, and will not be shamed into submission. They will try to break her spirit, but her qi is too strong for them. She is truly heroic and inspiring!

“Wu Zeitan, 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.” - Yizhi

I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, or YA books, or if you’re just looking for something different! I’m already anxiously awaiting the sequel!

Thank you very much Penguin Random House Canada and Penguin Teen for gifting me with an eARC through NetGalley!

There was so much to love about this story. This debut novel by Xiran Jay Zhau blew away all my expectations. I fell in love with the premise of this book the moment I read the synopsis for it. Zetian is wanting revenge for her sisters death in a world where men and women pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. The only down fall is the girls often die from the mental strain.

The world building of this story was wonderfully done. I felt as though the fantasy world was painted with such amazing detail with the imagery that was used. The world in which this story is set felt whole, and very captivating.

The characters are relatable, and easy to root for. They are all incredibly strong people that have a soft part of themselves that only certain people get to see. I couldn't get enough of them. I loved how the romance within this story started as what felt like a love triangle to being a polyamorous relationship. It's become a romance trope that I have come to love ever since one of my favorite urban fantasy novels did the same thing with three characters in a love triangle.

Thank you NetGalley and PenguinTeenCanda for the arc of this novel.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Iron Widow by Xian Jay Zhao in exchange for an honest review. This was a beautifully written book. A whole new alternative world was created with ideas based on advanced mechanical technology. I felt like it was a cross between Pacific Rim and The Hunger Games, if only women were sacrificed. An 18 year old girl turns their whole system on its head when instead of being sacrificed to power the machine with her qi, she kills the male pilot instead. I loved the storyline and the characters in this book, very relevant to our time.

Full review: https://fictionfixerreads.wordpress.com/2021/09/21/iron-widow-arc-review/

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a feminist wildfire of a book that rages against the toxicity of patriarchal oppression. It shows how difficult it is to navigate the world as a woman–not just physically but emotionally and mentally too. It shows how patriarchal oppression is systemic and how men (and women) can unwillingly (or willingly) play a part in perpetuating patriarchal views, and how we can challenge said views.

It demands attention with its remarkable, daring characters, and shows a relationship that is complex, nuanced, balanced, and shows why these characters are compelling.

It dares its readers to think bigger with its fantastical, mecha-inspired world, and immerses them in prose so vivid that I could paint a clear picture of each mecha described.

Overall, Iron Widow is fascinating, fiery debut full of feminist fury that left a twist ending so mind-boggling that I’m already scrambling to get ready for book 2.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

Iron Widow is the first book in a new YA sci-fi series by Xiran Jay Zhao- great for fans of Mecha!

All she wanted was to avenge her sister’s death, but she got so much more. Zetian is a female Chrysalis pilot, who recently learned she’s stronger than she believes (and stronger than men are comfortable). When she is paired with Li Shimin, a male pilot meant to tame her unnerving mental strength, she uses the opportunity to uncover the truth behind the misogynistic pilot system.

Iron Widow is fast-paced from the first page; Zetian’s determination and command in the face of discrimination is exhilarating and inspiring. You can’t help but feel a sense of pride in how she stands up for herself. She is quick-witted and strong: an excellent role model for YA readers. Zhao expertly depicts the importance of Zetian’s courage and bravery in uncovering an unjust system without romanticizing her hardship.

Additionally, this book contains some of the most authentic and empathetic representations of gender and sexuality I’ve ever encountered in the sci-fi genre. Not only is there a polyamorous relationship, but there are multiple discussions highlighting the fluidity of gender and sexuality.

My only critique is that the romance of novel overpowers the story in a few spots. I appreciate that I’m learning about the complexity of the characters’ relationships, but I was occasionally left feeling “lost in the sauce.” This is mainly a matter of personal preference, as I prefer less romance in books. But, if you prefer a romance subplot in your books, you’ll love this part!

Overall, Iron Widow is a wonderful debut by Xiran Jay Zhao, and I’ll definitely read Book Two next year!

Content warnings: suicide ideation, mention of sexual assault, alcohol addiction

4.0/5.0

Wu Zetian is a young woman from a small village in Huaxia. She is put into an impossible position when her sister is sent to be a concubine in the war against the Hunduns and dies before she ever makes it to the battlefield. Her death means the family does not get the payout that they would have received if she had died in battle. Zetian decides that she must volunteer as a concubine and find out what happened to her sister. This one decision sets a chain of events into motion that no one can stop no matter how they try.

Gao Yizhi is the son of the richest man in Huaxia. He loves Zetian and would marry her but his position makes it unlikely it could ever happen. He does not want Zetian to volunteer as a concubine because he knows she is likely to die in service to Huaxia. He decides to support her in the only way he can think of and that one decision sets a chain of events into motion that no one can stop no matter how they try.

Li Shimin is a Chrysalis pilot for the Huaxia military. He is the highest-ranking Chrysalis pilot in all of Huaxia. To the legions of viewers watching the battles, he seems to be on top of the world. His world is not what it seems. He is a convicted murderer that was conscripted into service. He is feared by all around him because he has proven to be such a good fighter. He lets Zetian see the real person behind the persona and that one decision sets a chain of events into motion that no one can stop no matter how they try.

I honestly went into reading this story with no expectations at all. I liked the description and thought the concept was interesting. Honestly, I really loved the cover, too. When I first started reading, the characters didn't connect with me. I kept wanting something more. More exciting. More obvious. Just more but I couldn't define it. Well, as the story progressed, I got more. The beginning of this story is a slow build. There is a lot of world-building that must take place so readers have to be patient to get their payoffs. And boy do the payoffs come! I don't want to give away any of the twists and turns because they all grow naturally from the story.

I like Zetian because she's observant. Yes, she is hot-headed and sometimes does or says stupid things but there's always a reason at that moment for her to have that reaction. When she gets a minute to think, that's when she gets dangerous. I like Yizhi because he isn't what he seems at first (I don't consider that a spoiler because I thought it was obvious fairly quickly that he had depths). He is a planner and a doer. His willingness to listen to Zetian and to do something to help her makes him likable. Shimin is a bit more of a challenge. The author quickly established that he was not what Zetian thought he was when they first met. I feel like readers only got part of his story and are missing important details even though the author gave a lot of background detail about him. I feel like there will be more in book 2 of the series. There are a lot of side characters. Not all of them are important to the conclusion of the story but they all help the three main characters push it along. For example, readers have to understand the story of Yang Guang and Big Sister (Zetian's older sister) in order to embrace Zetian's motivations.

What didn't I like? In books like this with big battle scenes, I often find it difficult to form a clear picture in my mind of all the moving parts. This book was a particular challenge because the fight scenes involve Chrysalis and Hunduns and I had trouble forming solid images in my mind of each type. I also got a little annoyed at the end when I discovered there was a cliffhanger. Oh, how I hate cliffhangers! Now I have to wait to see how that's wrapped up with a nice little bow.

If you like high fantasy, give this book a try. It's well written and creative. There is a romance as part of the story but it is not the story in any way. There is a "women are held down" element to this story but it is not the main focus of the story. I'm interested to see where the author goes with that in book 2 since I don't feel like it's been handled yet.

Content warning: graphic foot binding and other mentions of bodily harm; familial abuse; abuse of power

I’m just gonna say it: I love revenge. Like seriously, 😍 justice-fulfilling revenge. If that vengeance narrative is led by a confident woman who makes the world better by a stabby stab here or there, you can sign me up! Which is why when I heard the premise of Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow late in 2020, my levels of excitement and anticipation hit their peaks.

Funnily enough, looking forward to this book is counter to the emotional detachment that Iron Widow’s main character, Zeitan, feels for herself or those around her. As we start the book, Zeitan looks forward to one thing only, her impending conscription into her world’s mecha-based military. Far from patriotic, Zeitan has one mission in mind: kill the army’s golden boy just like he murdered her older sister. Of course, once she gets on the inside, she finds that achieving her primary objective is not enough. Deciding that she must make the world better for all women who have faced similar levels of familial and national mistreatment wherein patriarchal values uphold brutal measures of foot binding, domestic violence, and no real freedoms for those assigned female at birth. Zeitan quells her distaste for the system by trying to work within it to keep young women from being murdered without remorse in the brutal mecha conditions they are forced to endure. To do this, she must make alliances with the most unlikely of people: those who already benefit from this deadly world order.

Overall, I found the general and romantic plots of this story satisfying and was happy to find many similarities between Zeitan and one of my favorite vengeful female characters from the past decade, Emily Van Camp’s character from ABC’s Revenge. Zeitan, like Emily, initially seeks revenge for an injustice that has a significant impact on her family and finds herself adjusting various aspects of her plan based on the levels of new information gathered along the way. Both characters court death with a level of daring that comes not from feeling invincible but from knowing exactly what they have to live for in that moment. Where Emily has a love hinge to Zeitan’s true love triangle—talk about things we like to see!—their relationships with the two love interests have similar levels of engagement, circumstance, and intensity. If this show appeals to you, I guarantee you’ll enjoy this book. In fact, the main misgivings I had while reading Iron Widow had nothing to do with plot, character arc, or relationships.

I expected this book to be one that I could not put down, and because of my high expectations was disappointed to find myself doing exactly that. The pacing at the start of the book is understandably slow as it tries to acquaint the reader with the world’s qi energy and world building aspects. Sadly, this world building didn’t stick well in my brain but I was compelled to read further without fully grasping any explanation between the merits or collaborative power of the different qis or the backstory about the mecha. This led to a very confusing final act, where some of this information becomes important to the story. However, the insights that Zeitan has on society were sources of great enjoyment for me with considerations like the one below keeping me interested in her journey:

“…this whole concept of women being docile and obedient is nothing but wishful thinking. Or why would you put so much effort into lying to us? Into crippling our bodies? Into coercing us with made-up morals you claim are sacred?”

If you, like me, have an inner misandrist who you love to feed narratives of women’s empowerment and victory over patriarchal and hypocritical societies, or are just a fan of vengeful drama, this is a book for you.

everyone i know was singing praises of the book and i was hoping i'd love it as much. i did. the book was as stunning as the cover ( which i was admiring for the longest time. ) the relationships were so well thought out and developed and the book was so full of adventure and fun. it's definately one of the best fantasy books i've read in a whileee.

*full more detailed review to come*

After reading Gearbreakers (and being a bit disappointed by it), I was eager to try another YA novel about mechas and East Asian protagonists bringing down oppressive systems. Unfortunately, Iron Widow encountered many of the same pitfalls as Gearbreakers.

First, I was hooked by the first 20% or so of the novel. Zetian was so angry, but her anger was clearly honed at the patriarchy and its perpetrators. Her narration was witty and sarcastic, poking fun at everything from her unibrow to misogynistic elders and ancestors. It also balanced well with the grimness that pervaded the rest of the introductory chapters, so Zetian becoming a concubine-pilot seemed like an intentional opportunity rather than merely a death sentence. The historical details were also incredibly specific and deeply researched. I know nothing about this time period in China’s history, yet as I read, I digested information on scholar-bureaucrats and rice terraces with ease.

At the same time, other aspects of Zetian’s world begged for further exploration. For example, I was thrown by Zetian’s conviction in her feminism because hardly anyone around her shared her sentiments. Due to her stringent patriarchal environment, I had to wonder where she learned to view the structures around her as morally reprehensible. I think it would be natural if Zetian’s older sister had somehow nurtured her progressive attitude before her death, which would also explain Zetian’s closeness to her sister (though even Big Sister’s importance fades as the plot progresses). The entire concubine and pilot-training process also felt hazy to me. Zetian and Shimin are not an ordinary pairing, so they did not follow an ordinary training path, which I still would have liked to see occur in the background, maybe as a benchmark for juxtaposition. In general, besides select mealtimes, it felt like Zetian and Shimin were isolated from their peers, even though the pilot system played a fundamental role in their world.

The ending, though, ensnared my attention again. That twist alone makes me eager for Iron Widow’s sequel, and, like Zetian, it reoriented what I thought I knew about her world. Despite some hiccups in the novel, I was never tired by Zetian’s relentless, unapologetic ferocity, and I want to know where it will take her next.

This story totally hooked me. Zetian was truly the epitome of a badass protagonist and her story was so moving. The discussions of gender norms were done in a really nuanced way and added to the sheer anger I felt throughout the story. Shimin and Yizhi were excellent partners to Zetian and the combination of the three and how they all interacted made their stories that much more impactful. The grip these characters had on me is astounding. The concept of chrysalises were fascinating as well and the intersection of misogyny and robots was so cool to read. Iron Widow was such an exciting and important addition to science fiction.

“A Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale reimagining of the rise of the only female emperor in Chinese history”

Well, you’ve sold me right there. The premise is too bizarre to play badly—it needed some serious skill to manage that ambitious genre mashup, and it delivers! It would have been easy for this story to land awkwardly, but it sticks the landing perfectly. A tangential thought: I was listening to an interview with Jonathan Sims last year (just before the release of his book Thirteen Storeys), and he was talking about how well received one of the chapters in the book was, featuring a ghostly child haunting an apartment complex and he started talking about how that almost felt like cheating—it’s not hard to make a ghost child properly creepy and he was more proud of times where he was able to evoke horror out of something that wasn’t innately horrifying. Anyways, that’s the the long way around to my point, which is that Xiran Jay Zhao showed off some serious writing skills here, because while figures and themes from Chinese history don’t just naturally scream that they are ready-made for a futuristic mecha-fighter sci-fi adaptation, boy does she manage to make you want more of that exact flavor of unexpected thing.

This book is at turns extremely dark, heavy on the vengeance and struggles against misogyny, but it also features a lot of humor (look, when she changed the nine-tailed fox’s tail lances into guns I laughed so hard; point for efficiency and being just a bit silly).

I think this is an example of exactly why people should write the books they themselves would want to read. We need more people making unusual genre and thematic mashups. It’s books like this one that help revitalize the field of SF lit.

Also!! Like three cheers for a morally grey female character who isn’t just some faceless irredeemable villain. We need more well done morally grey characters in fiction, especially ones that aren’t just broody white dudes. Wu Zetian’s actions always have a motive behind them, even whe they don’t have a moral leg to stand on. She has goals and ambition and unbelievable willpower and when she wants something, she works to become strong enough that not only can she get what she wants, she’s strong enough to keep it.

“There’s no such thing as karma, or, if it does exist, it sure doesn’t give a shit about people like me. Some of us were born to be used and discarded. We can’t afford to simply go along with the flow of life, because nothing in this world has been created, built, or set up in our favor. If we want something, we have to push back against everything around us and take it by force.”

A couple chapters in I did a little googling of the author and found her absolutely perfect YouTube channel. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this book to check it out. She did two really cool in depth videos on the historical figure Wu Zetian, as well as quite a few videos on the cultural and historical inaccuracy themes in a lot of popular western movies and tv shows that feature Chinese characters or themes.



These are the content warnings at the head of the book and I recommend you take them serious, because there are some extremely heavy themes around suicide and bodily autonomy in this book:

“Content warnings: book contains scenes of violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture.”

Although this took me a bit of time to get into, this was super intense and a load of fun! There are some wonderful characters and intricate world-building which I absolutely enjoyed. Would highly recommend picking this one up.

I haven't had a book grip me like this in a very long time. IRON WIDOW is a fiery debut that doesn't shy away from any of its inspirations— with a delightfully over-the-top, power-hungry anti-hero for a main character doing anything and everything to dismantle a rotten misogynist power system with nothing sugarcoated or shied away from, this book was a delight from start to finish.

Set in a futuristic sci-fi world where the last dregs of humanity face a constant onslaught from giant creatures called Hunduns, the people's last hope to fend them off is celebrity pilots; recruited based on their spirit pressure to pilot husks of the Hunduns called Chysalises. The stars are the men who pilot them, and more often than not their female concubine pilots die from the strain. Wu Zetian, whose sister fell victim to one such pilot, has had enough of this system and pulls up to exact her revenge— except she finds it in a very unexpected way.

Xiran Jay Zhao has crafted a rich, brutal world, and I loved every fast-paced second of this novel. Was it a little ridiculous in places? Sure, but in the exact same way Pacific Rim was, which is a movie I adore. I felt a full range of emotions both during and after reading, and while I want to stay away from gushing about the love interests since I don't want them to overshadow the amazing world, plot, and characters, it's impossible to say anything about Iron Widow without getting into Shimin and Yizhi. Softest of villains, most vicious of poets, the love triangle that turns into a poly triangle (!!!!) was EVERYTHING to me. I loved all three of them so much, I can't even put it into proper words.

In conclusion: I needed the sequel yesterday and I will not shut up until it's here. This is one of the debuts you definitely don't want to miss this year. If you want an unrelenting power-hungry heroine, a vicious story that doesn't stop digging and asking questions, and fun mecha battles, you are sure to adore IRON WIDOW as much as I did.

❧ 4.5 ★

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

EXCUSE ME. I NEED BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR IT NOW?? This was absolutely incredible! Easily going into one of my best books of the year.

Even as a debut, this book is one of the best I've ever read. The world building was absolutely sublime. From the very first page I was swept into this world Huaxia. The descriptions, the whole concept, the plot, the characters- all of it was so beautifully woven between stellar prose that really makes this book a standout. Zetian is one of the most BA female protagonists I've ever had the pleasure to read. Her strength throughout the entire book combined with those mental moments of vulnerability was such a realistic blend that made her so relatable. The tie in of history with a fantasy/sci-fi story was also incredibly well done. I didn't think there was a dull moment within the entire story. It started with a bang and an allure that pulled you in. The characters, plot and the writing kept you flipping page after page as you read further and further into the book.

I can not get enough of Zetian. She is incredible. Her ability to be so resilient, strong yet still have the heart to try, to care even after everything she's been through was so wonderful to see. I also loved the complexity of Li Shimin. Honestly, in general all the characters were so fantastically done. But those two are really the standouts from me. I loved the bisexual rep, the polyamory (that's where it seems where it's headed), the history it's inspired by and the Pacific Rim influences. This is one book you won't want to miss!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author. I had so much fun reading this book!

For those who do not like to read long reviews here are bullet points:
--> Inspired by Chinese history
--> Feminist energy overpowering misogyny
--> Love triangle that ends with a polyamorous relationship (M/M/F)
--> There is revenge, war, and some torture

From the first line to the very last sentence I was completely engaged in the plot. We follow Zetian, MC, as she goes against the role society (MEN) has mapped out for her. Along for the journey are two of the most loveable characters, who were fully prepared to help Zetian check off her hit list.
I can’t wait for the second book in this series!!