TW: mental abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, rape (mentioned), attempted rape, torture, imprisonment

Wow, this book was such an insane ride! Iron Widow is the debut novel of Xiran Jay Zhao and is a sci-fi story inspired by Chinese history. It's very action packed and fast paced, I didn't find a lull at all in fact I couldn't put it down! It definitely has Pacific Rim vibes (Charlie Hunnam...yum! Highly recommended) with how the alien robots are piloted by humans who control the robots with their minds.

Zetian, our main character, was really viscous and I actually liked that about her, she didn't take any shit from anyone. Shimin was such a sweet cinnamon roll of a man, I really just wanted to hug him and never let go. Yizhi was sweet as well but I have a tendency to favor the underdog, the traumatized, the ones with dark pasts. but boy what a surprise those three pulled on me. I did not read any blurbs before cracking this book and when I couldn't tell who Zetian was going to end up with I feared we'd be stuck in a love triangle and I really don't care for those. But SURPRISE! Polyamorous relationship activated! You never see that in YA so I was really surprised and really applaud Zhao for taking that risk.

Although I loved this book I want to be realistic about a few things. This is a debut novel and it kind of reads of as one. The writing is a bit juvenile, there are several times where words like "duh" are used in dialogue which always made me pause involuntarily. While the whole premise of the story is amazing the actual reasons why things are happening or why things (political system, alien controversy, etc.) are the way they are isn't really explained. But the story is so entertaining that you don't really realize any of these things at first.

Overall though the world Zhao built was amazing, I'm really looking forward to the sequel of Iron Widow because this first one ended on a cliffhanger and I was so devastated by what happened. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada and Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Review: Sadly Disappointed

Rep: LGBTQIA+ rep, Asian rep, polyamory

TW: alcoholism, sexual assault, torture, violence, feminicide

Marketed as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale, this feminist SFF story was lacking in a lot of ways.

The Pros: What Worked For Me

This was my first time reading a novel with a polyamorous relationship and I was LIVING for it! It’s such a fresh take on the typical YA romance.
Shimin was a decently developed character, with a complex past and motivation.
The ending recaptured my interest with its fast pace.

The Cons: What I Didn’t Like

The major problem in this novel is the lack of thought behind motivations. Everything is grossly simplified and readers are just told to accept it blindly. I wanted more depth from the story and from all of the characters.
Zetian annoyed me because she was so one-dimensional, and yet, we were supposed to root for her. She had a prickly personality and almost no redeeming qualities.
The worldbuilding was almost non-existent. We never find out why things are the way they are, or how things even work. If you are familiar with Pacific Rim, then you will see many commonalities but again, there is no real structure to this world.
The romance was a let-down because it was very insta-love; the MC goes from hate to love very quickly and I never found the attraction between any of the characters believable.
The writing style was extremely juvenile and really needed some editing.

Clearly, this novel had some issues. Honestly, I think it needs more editing and more development on all levels. It has the potential to be amazing, and the ending has me really excited for the sequel. But for now, I have to give this 2/5 stars.

Iron Widow, a story inspired by Chinese history, involves giant mecha battles against alien-like creatures, a powerful and strong-willed girl named Zetian fighting patriarchy, set in a futuristic scifi world. The premise of the book really captivated me, and the concepts of the giant mechas plus the inspiration of it from The Handmaid's Tale really drew me in. I really enjoyed the themes that this book is built on and tries to address, and the many conflicts the characters themselves had to go through such as family conflicts, budding love, and the gender roles that they were expected to fulfill. However, I felt that the world-building and politics could've been better explained. And I also had issues with the plot itself, as it felt all over the place. Nevertheless, overall, I enjoyed this unique book.

DRC provided by Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: queer polyamorous Chinese-coded protagonist, queer polyamorous Chinese-coded secondary characters, Chinese-coded secondary and tertiary characters.

Content Warning: death, violence, sexism, mention of colourism, verbal and physical abuse, maiming, misogyny, mention of spousal abuse, mentions of rape, torture, colonialism.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is the first astounding instalment in the Iron Widow duology, set in a Chinese-inspired futuristic world where humans have to battle extra-terrestrial creatures called Hundun, which have invaded their lands ages before, by piloting gargantuan mecha, morphing entities with different abilities and weaknesses depending on their type.

Wu Zetian is a girl of humble origins whose family lives in the frontier of the Huaxia empire. After her older sister’s death at the hands of a famous pilot, she decides to take her revenge by enlisting to become his concubine. This decision will generate a ripple effect she could have never imagined.

Every single time I read a book as glorious as Iron Widow, my tongue is tied, I cannot find the words to express myself and I am left with basically a blank page as a review. Probably, if I had months and months of time to only think about this, I would come up with something that could actually be close to describe the greatness of this literary work. At this time, I am speechless and in awe of what Iron Widow is, a feminist science-fiction masterpiece that if it was not already on your radar, it better be, now.

Banally, my favourite part was the polyamorous relationship between the amazing force of nature that is our protagonist Zetian, the gentlest of boys Yizhi (who makes me think about that scene in Taken, in which Liam Neeson talks on the phone with his daughter’s kidnappers, threatening them if they hurt her), and Shimin, a boy repeatedly beaten by life. Their relationship and its balance was one of most compelling parts of this novel.

Iron Widow is an exciting new addition to the literary world that dismantles gender expectations and roles, which I am still thinking about even days after finishing it.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao was a fun and action-packed read set in a dystopia type setting where women are habitually sacrificed in the war against the alien race, the Hunduns.

What I liked about this book:
- A strong female character
- Portrays a polyamorous relationship. I, for one, tend to dislike love triangles, but I didn't mind this where the characters are not pitted against each other, but rather all care for one another
- Depiction of Chinese culture, mythology, and some historical practices

What I didn't love:
- I thought the magic system was convoluted and not clearly explained
- Zetian's thoughts and actions were chaotic. She would think one thing and then the next paragraph change her mind and think the exact opposite.
- Along that same line, the development. It was very action and plot focused and as such, the character development (and relationship development!) was all over the place. Progression that would have been better developed over the course of the book happened in a matter of paragraphs. I think the author tried to cram too much in and it ultimately hurt the book.
- The dialogue and writing felt very juvenile. This is a YA book, so maybe I'm just the wrong audience, but at the same time, I've read plenty of YA books that still had mature writing and dialogue
- I wish I better understood Zetian's beliefs and how they were formed. Given who her role models were, it's hard to understand how she became such a bad ass feminist (and apparently the only one).
- So much happens at the end that it doesn't feel fully developed.

Regardless of all my critiques, this was a fun and fast read. Unfortunately (and again, maybe I'm just not the right audience for this) I need more in my books than just plot and action. So many of the ratings on this book have been high though, so I have no doubt it will find a loving fan base.

Overall rating 4.5

This book was described as Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid's Tale in a blend of Chinese history meets mecha science fiction. Absolutely apt comparisons! This is a world in which a women's value is solely defined by their willingness to sacrifice themselves to the war efforts by becoming concubine-pilots. Knowing it is highly unlikely they will survive, their only honor is derived from sacrificing their bodies and minds to their male pilot counterparts in order to defeat the mecha-alien invaders, the Hundun.

Other comparisons I found myself making: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Gundam. and Blade Runner. (just other imagery and worlds that sprang to mind as I was diving into this world.)

The way the author writes reminds me of an artist. They use such lush imagery and description in detailing out this world that I can't help but think of them physically painting this picture. I was both mesmerized and horrified by some of the descriptions. (I had visceral reactions to the descriptions of the foot-binding ritual and the first time Zetian was forcefully encased in the armor during her first battle).

Revenge
Anguish
Rage
Purpose
Guilt
Sacrifice

I felt it all!!

The main characters were phenomenal! Zetian, Yizhi, and Shimin. Zetian's rage and unwavering determination to question the status quo. Yizhi's devotion and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure Zetian and Shimin stay safe. Shimin's honorable heart and desire to right the wrongs of his past. - I loved the relationships- I loved the balance that the three of them brought to each other. "The triangle is the strongest shape."

I truly enjoyed this book!! The only thing that really stopped me from giving it a full 5 stars was the chaotic pacing of the story (at times). There were many times it felt so inconsistent- moments that would be really fleshed out and well developed only to then jump immediately into major moments with no real mention of how they got to that point.

But I. Cannot. Wait. For the continuation of this story. The ending left me breathless- I need to know what happens next!

Remaining questions: What is the meaning behind the imagery and the repeated use of the butterfly as a metaphor throughout the story?

Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for sending me an ARC via netgalley.
5/5 stars
This book was incredible! I loved it. I loved the characters, the world, and the plot. The writing style was easy to follow, flowed really well, and everything was vivid and descriptive and I felt completely immersed in this world.
Zetian is our main character, and she wants revenge on the pilot who murdered Big Sister. In order to get revenge, Zetian enlists as a concubine pilot. In this world, women are taught that they are weaker and lesser than men. The pilot system needs two people to work, one man and one woman, but the girls don’t usually make it back from the battles. The male pilots use up all the girls qi and the girls are essentially sacrifices. Zetian signs up for this sacrifice to give herself access and opportunity for revenge.
However, her revenge doesn’t turn out quite how she thought it would. When she takes control of the Chrysalis (the machines that are piloted) and kills the male pilot, she is labeled an Iron Widow. With the men now afraid of her, Zetian is assigned to partner with Li Shimin who is the strongest pilot. The partnership between Zetian and Shimin developed at a nice pace, and I loved Shimin’s character! He was strong and brutal, but he also showed kindness and gentleness that defied everything that he was told he was. He was a good balance to Zetian, even though they were both ruthless in some of their pursuits.
Zetian was such a strong and determined character. I was rooting for her in her journey to destroy the gender based systems. I was also rooting for her relationships with Shimin and Yizhi. The triad relationship in the book was really sweet, and I liked how it worked out.
The battle scenes were fun and intense, and that ending was just a rollercoaster of emotion! The tension and the pacing felt like they were both amped all the way up, and I was flipping through the pages really quickly.
If you’re looking for an intense sci-fi read with a strong female character, I’d highly recommend picking up Iron Widow.

Zetian is my hero.

She is a badass, kicks ass, takes no shit, kind of person and I am obsessed with her.

From start to finish, I was in awe of Zetian and everything she did and can do. From her confidence, to her power, to her ability to basically singlehandedly smash the patriarchy. This girl is not someone to mess with, but I want to be her friend!

This world that Xiran has built is amazing. We have spirit energy that can power machines to fight aliens. We have amazing imagery in and out of the mind. Though this is a patriarchy, and women are basically powerless, Zetian fights back with everything she has. And it starts with getting revenge for her sister.

No joke, I am obsessed with this book. I cannot fathom a world where I didn't get to read this, because this is an instant favorite of mine. The history, the battle scenes, the romance, the feminism - this book took me on a wild ride and I'm not mad about it.

Though I'm still screaming from the ending.

The characters were amazing - at least, the three main characters. Along with Zetian, we have Shimin and Yizhi. Yizhi is a friend Zetian made in secret, because he's the son of a very rich, very powerful man and Zetian is the daughter of peasants. But, even with their class differences, the two become friends. Yizhi is a man I would want to marry. Respectful, kind, attentive, caring, I mean what more could a woman want??

Then we have Shimin, Zetian's co-pilot. While a murderer, Shimin is the most gentle, kind person I have ever met. Literally and figuratively. His protectiveness over Zetian made me weep it was so sweet and genuine. I couldn't decide who I wanted Zetian to be with more: Yizhi or Shimin!

The romance was so good, but the star of the show is Zetian. Her power is unprecedented and what she does with her power is insane. There are a lot of things in place to prevent her from being a powerful person, but Zetian works past those barriers, with the help of her friends, and does the most unthinkable things. One thing that I really admired her for, was her persistence and ability to keep moving forward: literally.

In this world, foot binding is still an accepted and encouraged practice. If you don't know what foot binding is, I don't recommend you look up pictures, it's pretty grotesque. But it simple terms (because I'm not an expert, nor do I claim to know everything about it) it's the process of breaking the bones in a woman's foot in order to basically wrap it under itself to make it smaller in size. It's a horrifically painful process and leaves the woman permanently disabled and in pain for the rest of her life.

Aka - break your foot and smush all the bones to make the foot as small as possible. Then be forced to walk on it for the rest of your life. It's horrible.

And poor Zetian has to live with it.

I could not, and don't want to, imagine having to walk on two broken and misshapen feet. Zetian is an insanely impressive person and I just can't get over how much I am in awe of her. She's a fierce, angry, bloodthirsty woman who wants to watch the world burn so she can rebuild it herself. A fucking icon.

I seriously cannot wait for the next book and will be shoving this book into my friend's hands until the end of time. I didn't even go into how amazing the magic of this world is, all run by qi, but if I keep gushing this review is going to be never ending. It's probably too long already lol

Anyways, READ THIS BOOK. Seriously. Preorder it. Trek over to your local bookstore or library. Beg them to have it in stock. Read it. Force your friends to read it.

You're welcome!

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for giving me the chance to read and review this Physical/E-ARC. This review will be posted to Goodreads, Instagram, My Blog, and Various Shops (Amazon Canada/Barnes & Noble/ Indigo Canada).

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

What I loved:

- I loved the M/C in this book. I thought Zetian was a strong protagonist. She incorporated, in this book, an even stronger narration. Her voice brought the world of Huaxia to life. The misogynistic society she lived in was believable and well described.
-I enjoyed the blend of history with the futuristic sci-fi element.
-I was 100% for the romance in this book! The relationship she had with both Li Shimin and Yizhi was also nicely fleshed out. I loved Yizhi's beliefs on love. This book was also the first time I read a novel featuring a polyamory relationship. It is something that I hope we see more of in YA/NA.

What I didn't love:

-It took me a while, but I did grasp the concept of the mental realm in this book. However, I had a hard time with the robotic fights. Please note, I was reading a physical arc -- so things could have changed/been edited by the time of publication. During my read-through, I desired more descriptions of the action sequences and the robots themselves.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I'm curious to see how book two will unfold in Zhao's universe.

In order to combat the alien hoard beyond the Great Wall, humanity must use giant mechas called Chrysalises that require both yin and yang energy to pilot them. However, unless the two pilots’ spirits are perfectly balanced and in sync, the female pilot’s mind can be overwhelmed, leaving her as a dead husk. Zetian’s sister was one of these causalities, so she enlists to become a pilot in the hopes of an avenging her and overturning the system from the inside.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao blends sci-fi and fantasy in a futuristic retelling of China’s only female emperor’s rise to power, inspired by Darling in the Franxx.

I was really excited to read this book since I adore the author’s video essays. However, I have mixed feelings now that I’ve finished the book itself.

Let’s start with what I loved.

First off, I thought it was really interesting that the magic system is based off of Chinese mythology and medicine. For instance, characters have abilities depending on which of the five elements of qigong—wood, fire, earth, metal or water—that they have the strongest affinity toward. Also, Chrysalises operate based on the idea of yin and yang and the legend of jian—the one-eyed, one-winged bird that must find a mate in order to fly. (Yes, in case you’re wondering, this is the same bird also referenced in Darling in the Franxx.)

There are really cool core concepts in this book. However, I feel that the story unfortunately gets dragged down by shoddy writing. For instance, both the dialogue and Zeitan’s internal dialogue feels extremely juvenile and out of place at times.

Also, I want to point out that this is an extremely faced-paced book, and this comes as a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s jampacked with alien stomping and punching and characters shooting energy lasers from their eyes.

However, as entertaining as this is, I feel like that nearly non-stop action comes at the cost of characters’ relationship development. This is especially true for the polyamorous love triangle in the book. While Shimin and Zeitan have plenty of quality time together and their relationship progressed naturally, I feel like Yizhi presents the weakest side of the triangle. His connection with Shimin felt incredibly rushed and, moving forward, I do wish we get more flashbacks between Zeitan and Yizhi in order to make their undying love more convincing.

Overall, Iron Widow is a fun but flawed mecha romp.

Overall: I can not wait for the sequel for this one to come out, but can we get more relationships like this in the meanwhile.

Pros:
Writing Style. Xiran Jay Zhao’s style made me want to know what was going to happen next.
History-Sci-Fi Twist. Yall know I love a good sci-fi but mix it with the only female Chinese emperor…it makes for a compelling story.

Cons:
Plot. There are some plot points that feel like they drag.

2.5 stars.

iron widow is a feminist story at its core, spotlighting a twist on the only female chinese empress in history, wu zetian, set in a sci-fi world with characters who are only inspired by historical figures from across chinese history.

despite not the relatively-not-high rating, there are some aspects i really enjoyed while reading this epic book! i loved the themes of feminism and rebellion against societal expectations in order to crush the patriarchy under giant mechas, all blended in with compelling chinese mythology. the world was so cool with the mechas and aliens and all, and the story was so action-packed and easy, fast and fun to follow! my favorite part of it all? li shimin. my adopted child. let me not go on a tangent about my soft murder boys enthusiasm rn, but yes. what a cinnamon roll. he definitely made this book more tolerable.

other than that, i'm out. i'm here all day for feminist takes and twists but... as much as i enjoyed zetian's arc in fighting to avenge her sister and swatting away the male-dominated world in this book, it wasn't the most realistic thing <spoiler>to read on her rise to power by declaring herself empress out of nowhere</spoiler>. maybe that was more to blame the writing for (which wasn't .. the best thing i've ever read), but i just feel like this story would be more fitting storytelling for a comic book or something. there was no depth to anything, which would be fine if i wasn't expecting much. maybe i would've been more convinced if there were more politics? more to wu zetian than her recklessness and sharp tongue (which annoyed me) and more intelligence? less than JUST unhinged attitude and sharp tongue for no reason?

also this book has blatant "the chosen one" trope; zetian's qi level is 5 times more than that of the other girls and it grows throughout the book. the book doesn't even acknowledge the other girls who are "less fortunate" with lower qi levels. they're just cast aside, forgotten and NOT chosen, adding this irrelevant layer to society because this isn't about them, right? this is about wu zetian and her striving to feminism. (i hope you can sense my sarcasm. anyway.)

so in conclusion, this book has a great premise, less than great execution to follow it up with, mostly due to lack of depth and meaning. but you know what else it has that's greatest than all? li shimin.

content warning: gore, murder, torture, mentions of rape, threats of rape, misogyny, femicide, suicide ideation, abuse, alcohol addiction.

— digital arc provided by penguin teen via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I really loved this. It has all of the feminist power it promises plus a really great world, story and cast of characters.

Zetian is an awesome main character. She's well developed and has clear motivation for her place in the story. She ends up in a bit of a love triangle but doesn't let it define her or stop her as is often the case in YA books. She's a morally grey badass and it's wonderful to behold. In so many YA books, the main (especially female) character ends up being a leader or important because of a matter of circumstance or even by accident. Zetian volunteers to be a concubine to take one man and does have a bit of a matter of circumstance where it gets to be more than just one man but still, she's not a reluctant hero, she embraces it even when it seems everyone is turned against her.

Shimin and Yizhi are great characters in their own right and well developed and used. I liked how different they were and how not stereotypical love triangle their relationship was. Really the entire cast of characters were incredibly well done, I hated some and loved others right along with Zetain.

The sci-fi portion of this book was also really cool. I think sci-fi is the best genre to put it in but really the technology is there but it doesn't dig into the science behind it. The idea of Chrysalises and the Hundun was really interesting and described in a way that was really easy to picture exactly what the author intended but still didn't feel info-dumpy or drag on.

The Chinese setting and culture portions were also done really well. It's definitely an important part of the story but manages to compliment the rest of the story rather than overpowering it. The ying and the yang is a thread throughout the whole book. Chinese culture and mythology is not something I know much about and also not something I have a huge interest in, but it was done such that it made sense and wasn't so all encompassing that it felt like a Chinese culture lesson.

This book seems to be getting marketed as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaids Tale. Now, I don't know much about Pacific Rim but I did read The Handmaids Tale and I didn't love it so that almost scared me away. This is like The Handmaids Tale in the best possible way. It has a similar gender narrative but it actually has a plot. It actually gave me more Hunger Games vibes with a stronger main character and fighting against patriarchy instead of an overall dictator.

Overall, I really loved this and would have immediately started reading the next one if it was out. I highly recommend it.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure what I think about this book. I really love the story line and the premise of this book. How girls volunteer to sacrifice themselves as a concubine pilot to assist the male pilot in order to save their world. The story follows an 18 year old girl, Zetian, who vows to kill the pilot who took her sisters life. It has a very Handsmaid Tale feel to it where girls are just used as property and are submissive to the males. This book has a lot of old world Chinese traditions but is also futuristic at the same time.
I really liked the characters. Especially the three main characters who form a poly relationship towards the end of the story. They find out they all need each other in order to succeed in their mission to over throw their leaders.

This is a story of revenge and I liked how the wrongs were righted but there is still some questions left unanswered so hopefully book 2 will answer those. The book has a lot of action and the whole psychic power between the two pilots is very interesting.

The only suggestion I have would be to fix the world building aspect of the book. I did become confused with the piloting and how that worked with the qi. It became complicating so I kind of started skimming over those parts.

I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

This story is piloted by Zetian: an angry girl, a fierce girl, a girl dedicated to vengeance. I don't know if this is weird, but her fury was kind of... cathartic? Zetian is harsh because she needs to be, violent because she chooses to be. After man after man, system after system tries to kick her down, she fights to survive. To win.

We first see Zetian preparing for her role as a concubine-pilot in the mecha Chrysalis army, a position she never wanted. She takes it on as a means to an end. Yes, she will likely die in battle as so many girls have before her, her mind consumed by her male partner as a matter of course, but if she is clever and strikes fast, she will kill her sister's murderer. One plot leads to another, and Zetian finds herself in a position to bargain for power. If she can play her cards just right, maybe no girl will ever be forced to enter a Chrysalis and die for mankind ever again.

There's so much to love about this book. I'm picky about fight scenes, and these sizzled with intensity. Fast and meaningful action, visually striking descriptions, and clearly described science fiction elements made these the cinematic mecha battles of my dreams. The tension spills over into every aspect of the story, which made me stressed and eager for more at the same time. The writing is beautiful even as it cuts deep and draws you further into the darkness. Whether it was emotional turmoil, futuristic settings, or outlandish high fashion, the descriptions sprang from the page in multidimensional glory.

The themes of this story are so powerful. It's about eviscerating the arbitrary stranglehold of the patriarchy, about deconstructing gender roles, and about fighting back to take what will never be given. Queer identities are central to the story, as well. Our three leading characters form a polyamorous relationship and all lend their unique strengths to a powerful (actual) love triangle.

The cliffhanger left me in SHAMBLES. Thanks to Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out 9/21.

2.5 ⭐️

I have zero knowledge of Chinese history and culture, but I find everything about them very interesting. I found the cover and title of this book beautiful and because I want to read more authors that I haven't read I decided to go for this read. When I saw that it was for request I didn't hesitate to order it and I was very happy to be approved. But unfortunately it has not been what I expected, the characters have lacked depth, they fall short, especially in that there is no reason or explanation that placed me in why certain things. Inclusion and representation will always be something I like to find in books, although here I find it hard to understand polygamy, but that is something very personal but I respect it in others.
Unfortunately for me it has not been a reading that I enjoyed as I expected, but do not be guided by me, I have seen very good reviews where it has liked a lot, so I recommend reading it and form your own opinion.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Until the next reading ;)

I love the dynamic between the three main characters and how they figure out how the fit with each other along the way. Such a interesting world.

Iron Widow is an excellent debut. It somehow combines a 'smash the patriarchy' theme with a love triangle and mecha battles. The beginning and end are sensational, both pivoting in ways I wasn't expecting. There were a few plot points in the middle that didn't quite land for me, unfortunately, causing me to lose momentum in my read. If not for this then it would have been an easy five stars for me.

Despite the synopsis clearly setting out that Zetian succeeds in her quest for revenge, I had expected this plot point to take up more of the narrative. Instead, this is dispensed with relatively quickly and the bulk of the story deals with Zetian as an ‘Iron Widow’. Whilst the surface of the story is mechas vs monsters, it’s safe to say you don’t need to be a mecha junky to enjoy it. The core of the story is definitely the characters.

The story focuses on Zetian and her two romantic options, Li Shimin and Yizhi. All three characters are interesting in their own right, but Zetian carries the show. Her drive first for revenge and then for equality, in the face of a relentlessly misogynistic war effort, is powerful. Li Shimin is not too far behind. We also have some colourful side-characters which the author manages to make memorable without excessive time being spent on them.

Speaking of misogyny, it would be hard to discuss Iron Widow without mentioning it. It is the driving message in the story, and some aspects are hard to stomach (like the foot-binding). The book also has some other darker themes. It’s not for the faint of heart.

The love triangle is done well, and ends in a satisfying manner, but it still dragged a bit through the middle. There is little to no steam in the story, although interesting to note that an earlier version was basically X-rated (according to the author).

I found the prose to be very strong, with a lot of memorable turns of phrase. It was tough to cut it down to a manageable number, but I’ve tried:

“For eighteen years, my unibrow has saved me from being sold into a painful, terrifying death. Today is the day I’m releasing it from its gracious service.”

“So this is it. This is happening. The thing my family has only ever spoken of as the utmost crime. The surrender of what is supposedly “the most precious gift” I could give to a boy. At least I’ll find out what the big deal is before I kill us both.”

“What I have learned through this madness is that you can absolutely solve your problems by throwing money at them. If you can’t, you probably don’t have enough money for that particular problem.”

“You cannot appease someone into loving or respecting you.”

“I don’t know if it’s more sad or harrowing that she’s been crushed into dust by marriage, yet is ecstatic to see the same hammer swing toward me.”

“Redemption story, they said? There will be no redemption. It is not me who is wrong. It’s everyone else.”

“That kind of guy, they called him. That kind of girl, they called me. Well. Here we are. Meeting expectations.”

Rating: 4.25 / 5

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Iron Widow by a Xiran Jay Zhao is the first in what I believe is supposed to be a duology (but I could be wrong).
This book was so, so, so good, and so hard at the same time. Zetian is so raw and angry and vengeful and I adored the heck out of her.
If you like your books full of wrathful feminist rage, strike down the patriarchy, tear its throat out and burn everything to the ground, you’ll love this book.
Zetian lives in a world where they are at war with the Hunduns, a type of mecha alien, that invaded their world. The humans of the world created Chrysalises, giant transforming robots used to battle the Hunduns. Pilot pairs, a female and male, sit in the Chrysalis, but the females often die from mental strain in battle. Families offer up their daughters to the cause in exchange for money and prestige if their daughter has a strong enough Qi and can balance out her male partner (doesn’t happen that often). Zetian lost her older sister in such a way and offers herself to become a concubine-pilot so that she can murder the pilot who took her sister from the world.
When Zetian gets her chance for revenge she not only takes it but is surprised to come out of it alive and labeled an Iron Widow, a female pilot who sacrifices the male pilot instead of the other way around. Paired with Li Shimin, one of the current top pilots with a sordid back history that makes people loathe him while making him necessary to the war effort, Zetian refuses to bow and be brought down. She will use everything she has to get revenge for all the girls sacrificed to the cause and get answers for why things work the way they do.
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The ending of this book almost had me screaming, I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop and had even had pretty good expectations of what that shoe was, it did and I was right. The second shoe that dropped though was not at all the shoe I had anticipated and blew my mind, I need book two ASAP.

I love this book. It's raw and angry and unflinching in its intensity. I fell in love with this story and this incredible world that took my breath away.

Books so rarely live up to their taglines, this one exceeded my expectations. Pacific Rim meets The Handmaids Tale is accurate and yet doesn't do this story justice. It was a stunning read.

The characters and the badass female lead that blew me away were epic. I loved every moment with these characters as we got to peel back new layers and learn more about them.