So this review is going to be scattered, because Iron Widow absolutely ruined my ability to summarize anything and has just left me shouting: OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!

Let’s give this a try:

With a tagline like ‘Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid’s Tale,’ you know you’re in for a story. Iron Widow meets the expectations of this tag line and then BLOWS IT OUT OF THE FREAKING WATER.

Zetian, our heroine, is full of rage that fuels her every calculated decision. Her drive is shameless, fearless, and it is ravenous and she refuses to let anything, even her own body’s limits get in her way. Beside her are not one, but two complex and fascinating young men who both stand uniquely on their own, but then also form my favourite love triangle style of all time - a poly love triangle!!

Also, the imagery is absolutely outstanding, so much thought about meanings are put into these pages, but also Zhao knows when they just want to keep things absolutely freaking epic and it just makes this whole book unputdownable! I can so very easily see this becoming an animated feature or series - please, can we get one? I would be so very over the moon!

This book will make you angry, this book will make you question your views - it demands your attention and holds it to the last page. To put it simply: I am in love with this book.

And can we talk about this cover??? This cover is a WORK OF ART.

I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on this book! Iron Widow, Zetian, and Xiran Jay Zhao are going to make so many waves and I can’t wait to see it!

(I will add though, - part of me wishes we could have gotten to see the 18+ version of this story. This story does exactly what it wants and needs to for the YA age range, but I can only just imagine the fearless gut punches this story and author could have delivered?? One can dream!)
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Content‌ ‌warnings‌ ‌for‌ sexual assault, misogny, murder, torture, addiction, suicidal thoughts, & death
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*Thank‌ ‌you‌ Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen, ‌and‌ ‌NetGalley‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Iron Widow is described as "Pacific Rim meets The Handsmaid's Tale" and those influences are evidently apparent. As a lover of anime and video games, I was sold solely on the premise of giant mechs fighting each other. The premise is super unique, and it works really well. I love how it has the same warnings as a Handmaid's Tale only told in a fresh, new way. Every time a battle began, I almost felt the adrenaline start to burn along with the main characters. The chapters are quick, and the pacing is good. Which lends itself well to the plot and world.

That being said, for me personally, this felt a little too traditionally YA for me. Anyone who reads the genre will see the familiar character tropes and story arcs. It's done well, but with such a great premise, I was hoping for a little more from the characters and the world-building. That being said, I did appreciate the fresh take on the fan-favorite love triangle. If you're looking for some quick sci-fi in between reads, Iron Widow is a great choice!

HOLY this book was SO fun. I don't think I've had this much fun reading in a really long time. Mecha Wu Zetian (a real life Chinese empress) in a re-imagined history was such a weird combo, but it worked in all the best ways possible. Props to the author for creating such a magical world. I loved the fast-paced, action-packed, story. The characters are so great in their own right. Zetian's' re-imaging is so badass too, which is fitting of her real life story. I personally also love that the romance didn't have a lot of back and forth (this usually drives me crazy). I appreciated how well balanced the relationship between the MCs have been. Anyways, I loved it. It's a perfectly fun and exciting read. 10/10 would recommend!

Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book!

-5 stars-

I thought that this book was absolutely phenomenal. I beg everyone to read it because it is such a desired experience I was looking for in the YA genre. Whenever I had the thoughts of “Ugh, I wish the main character would just do this instead of what’s ‘the right thing to do,’ but they won’t because that’s just not how YA books go,” THEY DID IT. The way that sexism is handled in this book is so well done compared to what I feel like a lot of YA fantasy books deal with when fighting against some sort of patriarchy. A lot of books put on a facade that the main character is a strong woman and fighting sexism, but the more you look into it, the more surface level it appears. With this book, you see the main character develop as she unlearns the sexist gender roles ingrained in her mind by her family in order to succeed and bring justice to Huaxia.
This book follows Zetian, a girl whose family is going to sell her to the war effort to receive a monetary reward. Enlistment is a nearly certain death sentence because they are forced to co-pilot a mech-like giant animal thing called a chrysalis. These are powered by qi where the male pilot is much stronger than women resulting in their deaths. Zetian is determined to get revenge on the pilot responsible for her big sister’s death, but to do that, she has to survive a battle she is fully expected to die in. When she manages her revenge, she is named an Iron Widow and is paired with the most powerful pilot in the army, the Iron Demon, who is responsible for the murder of his own family.
I have to mention that this book also has bisexual and polyamorous representation. Polyamorous relationships are something I feel is almost never represented in the fantasy genre, and especially in YA fantasy. I was so happy to see that actually represented in this novel rather than getting my hopes up and then making it a love triangle or something.
There is also a plot twist at the end that will leave you hooked and ready for the next book. Sadly now I have to wait a super long time for the second book because the first one isn’t even out yet ahhhh. As evidence of how good I found this book, within seconds of finishing it, I went and impulse pre-ordered a physical copy. I genuinely have no criticisms about this book. Everything felt well-rounded and meaningful as well as being fast-paced and attention-grabbing.

I don't even know where to start with this review. This story sucked me right in and did not let go until the very end. This story is simple and complex all at the same time. We meet a young woman willing to sacrifice herself in order to avenge her sister's death but I think it' was also a way for her to show the other young women a way to rebel. To throw the patriarchy for a loop.

Zetian also has two love interests in this book. Which some people may not be comfortable with but wasn't a problem for me. I actually loved that having a third partner in their relationship gave the pilots a way to bridge their bond and strengthen it.

Check out the author's website for artwork inspired by the characters. My favorite is Shimin with his wings cupping Zetian's face.

Eighteen-year-old Zetian has a plan. She plans to volunteer to be a concubine-pilot to the very man responsible for her sister's death. She's chosen by him and almost immediately she gets her vengeance. She killed him through the psychic link they share through the Chrysalis. and somehow emerges unscathed. Now she is known as the Iron Widow.

Her strength leaves the army strategists and sages unnerved. So she is paired with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot. She has no plans to cower to her new pilot or the men in charge. In fact, she wants to find a way to stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

3.5 stars
The concept of this book is so cool. Mecha pilots and Chinese history?! Yes, please! I love so many aspects of this book because they were just different from other books. I appreciate the feminist themes of breaking free from an oppressive system and creating a true love triangle where all three person are involved romantically with each other. And of course the mecha robots being controlled via yin and yang qi is epic!

There are, however, two bigger problems I had with the book. First is the world-building. While some aspects are epic, there are a lot of aspects that come across as confusing or unexplained. The story rushes from event to event and there isn’t a lot of explanation of how the Chrysalis and Hunduns work or why they’re fighting in the first place. I wouldn’t have cared that much except the ending throws a huge wrench in the story and I felt completely blindsided by it because I had no idea what was going on. Some elements had been briefly mentioned before the end, but it wasn’t given near enough attention for that kind of twist.

Second, as much as I admire the themes of taking down the patriarchy and identifying a woman’s true worth, I’m not on board with the way the protagonist, Zentian, handles a lot of her reactions. I understand seeking revenge is the focal point for the plot, but at times, she goes a step too far and it didn’t sit well with me. Even the ending didn’t give room for Zentian’s character to become more likeable or to show her growth over the course of the book. She also goes on and on about supporting women throughout the novel and then all her relationships with other female characters are steeped in girl hate. It’s definitely a bold choice to have a protagonist that leans more toward a villain arc than the typical hero arc, but I’m not sure what kind of message that is trying to get across to readers.

Despite these issues, I would still recommend this book to fans of Pacific Rim or readers wanting more stories focused on gender roles and taking down the patriarchy with queer and Asian representation.

I found the very concept of this fascinating - a Pacific Rim style concept (two drivers, one mech), combined with a bit of Evangelion-esque biological horror once we see the mech in action, and the use of meridians and qi, concepts found in Chinese mythology/fantasy stories. All of that, combined with a very strong condemnation of a style of patriarchy most usually depicted in historical Chinese dramas (concubinage, the low status of women, footbinding), some Hunger Games style condemnation of the haves vs the have nots all set in story that is a very loose adaptation of the life of Wu Zetian, the woman to declared herself Emperor in Tang Dynasty China happening in a post-apocalyptic world where mechs are fighting aliens.

Just by reading this very loose summary you can tell that there is a lot happening in this book. It's wild, loud, inventive and goes in a lot of unexpected directions, with a final reveal that has you very curious about what will happen next. I don't know if the style is quite to my taste, but it was definitely a fresh new voice which I appreciated reading this story I don't know very well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an advanced copy of this to review! This was one of my most anticipated fall releases, and I am so glad to say that it lived up to the hype. I absolutely loved this book, and can't wait until my physical copy arrives in the mail!

Right from the beginning, Zhao isn't afraid to shy away from difficult topics. A lot of the points that Zetian makes about feminism and the way society treats girls can apply to our society as well. Zhao also drew on a lot of Chinese history for this book; you can tell in the world building and all the small details that she includes. I was fascinated by this world, with the mix of technology and history.

And the characters! Zetian doesn't take no for an answer, and is willing to do what it takes to bring equality to the world. Also there's a polyamorous relationship! Instead of having a love triangle, basically they all fall in love with each other. It feels so natural in the way this world is built, and each of the characters brings something different to the relationship. Wu Zetian, Li Shimin, and Gao Yizhi have great chemistry, and I want to see more from all three of them in the future!

There are so many layers to this story, and it's one that I can't wait to dive into again. I'm sure there are things I missed the first time around, and will definitely have to catch them in a second read!

**Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Penguin Teen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**

About a year ago, I stumbled across a YouTube video in which the creator was explaining all of the cultural missteps that went into making Disney's remake of Mulan. The creator of that video was entertaining and smart and was able to concisely and clearly explain her point of view. When she mentioned at the end of the video that she had a book coming out, I added it to Goodreads. Of course, that book ended up being Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow and I was so happy when I saw it on NetGalley!

This book is exactly what I want from a Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel. I am shocked this is a debut novel and cannot wait to see more of Zhao's work if her first go-around is this high quality. The characters are all well-rounded, but the heroine is unapologetically feminist and willing to go to whatever lengths to meet her goals. I love to see an ambitious woman who isn't going to bow down to society because they tell her to. Wu Zetian is a badass and I hope there will be more like her in the years to come.

I also enjoyed that this was a true love triangle and not one where the girl has to make a decision between the two boys. I've never seen a polyamorous relationship in any novel, so that was an interesting twist. The two boys in question are a tough looking cinnamon roll and a cinnamon roll looking baddie, which I'm here for! The subversion of expectations is a big thing in this book and I liked that it kept me on my toes.

As for the plot, it was giving me major Full Metal Panic! vibes or Transformers/Power Rangers vibes (without the 80s cheesiness) mixed with a little bit of the Hunger Games and The Grace Year or The Handmaid's Tale. The world building was great. The description of the mechas (called Chrysallises here), how they work, how qi works, how it's measured, how the types express themselves physically and the diagram of traits and which power is strong or weak against another show how well thought out and planned this book is. It was incredibly well executed and explained so that the reader is immersed early on and not having to constantly question what's happening. I loved it. I am SO glad there's a sequel to this book because I want to spend more time in Zhao's world with Zetian and her friends.

Obviously, this is a 5/5 stars. It is very likely going to make my top 3 books of this year. It was Sci-Fi/Fantasy perfection. Go preorder it now!

This story about Zetian, a poor girl who becomes a mecha pilot was terrific. The setting is another planet; the humans are constantly at war with another species, the Hunduns. The humans have created Chrysalises, giant mecha that are powered by a young woman’s qi and piloted by a young man. The problem with this arrangement is that the young women, known as concubine pilots, are often drained of their qi in battle and killed. This is not a problem for the government or the population, as women are seen as expendable, stupid, meek, and born to be used by men.
A large number of women are fooled into becoming concubine pilots, and main character Zetian’s elder sister was a victim of this setup. Zetian vows revenge on the responsible pilot, and joins the program, and almost immediately is thrust into battle in a Chrysalis with the pilot.
Emerging triumphant from her Chrysalis and her first battle, her dead pilot in her arms, Zetian is thrilled to have achieved her revenge.
The higher ups aren’t so thrilled, as Zetian isn’t the meek little creature they need her to be, and consequently, she’s assigned to the pilot Li Shimin, a convict.
At the same time, the young man who befriended her before she left her village to become a concubine pilot, Yizhi, renters her life, and becomes entangled with the training and politics of the pilot program, as well as Zetian’s and Li Shimin’s lives.

How Zetian and Li work through the many government and pilot program lies, and their own preconceptions, biases and hatreds is wonderful. Equally wonderful is how Zetian and her friend Yizhi grow closer, even as Yizhi and Li Shimin grow closer also. The characters make tentative, believable moves towards trusting each other, and the author draws a nice balance amongst the trio, resulting in a lovely respect, warmth, support and attraction grows amongst them.
The misogyny is thick throughout every interaction Zetian has with the other pilots and the program trainers and heads; almost all the men Zetian encounters are different gradations of horrible, but thank goodness for the two lovely guys she trains and fights with: Yizhi and Li Shimin.
The story ends with some pretty big revelations and damn! I have to know what happens next!
If I had to summarize this story, I'd have to say this: it's ferocious, furious and fantastic!
4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for a review.

IRON WIDOW by Xiran Jay Zhao is one of my favorite books of this year. The representation in this series starter is off the charts from polyamory to a diverse cast and the lush history interwoven.

Wu Zeitan is one fierce and formidable protagonist who I was rooting for the entire time. Growing up in an unjust society that favors women less and uses girls as an energy drain for the male pilots, Zeitan’s push against the status quo with her larger-than-life personality and take-no-bullshit attitude is at once refreshing and thought-provoking.

There was never a slow moment in this book and I was flipping the pages as fast I could, devouring Zhao’s words. I wish I had this book as a teen it would have been life-changing and empowering and I know that teens today are going to find Zeitan and Shimin memorable characters that they will follow to the very last page.

Zhao has a lifelong reader in me.

I'll admit to being biased: You really had me at "Pacific Rim." This is the first time I've ever read a mecha novel (though I understand more exist) and wow, this blew me away. I adored the protagonist, who was driven and feral, and her relationship with the two very different men in her life who are, understandably, in awe of her. This also might be the first polyamorous novel I've ever read, and I think it pulled it off wonderfully. The last minute twist at the end was so exciting, and I'm terribly eager to read the next installment in the duology.

Iron Widow is a captivating debut from Xiran Jay Zhao. I starting following Zhao after her insightful tweets about the live-action Mulan movie, finding her both knowledgeable and insightful. Her first book did not disappoint. Zhao creates a full and immersive world. It's a page-turner from start to finish. I can't wait to see Zhao writes next.

My co-host wrote a more in-depth review on our blog: https://thegeekywaffle.com/home/2021/7/27/book-review-iron-widow-weaves-disparate-concepts-together-to-form-a-compelling-whole

This was feminist fantasy at it's best. A totally unique and exciting story that hooked you from the very first page. Zhao weaves an intricate tale full of history and myth mixed with a heaping dose of sci-fi trills. Wu Zetian was so morally gray and yet highly relatable. The author does a fantastic job of dropping feminist truths that will resonate with so many women. I’m ready for more.

This is my favorite book. Full stop.

When someone asks me that fateful question, I will now have an answer: "Iron Widow" by Xiran Jay Zhao, which I read in less than 12 hours because I simply could not put it down.

Described as "The Handmaid's Tale" meets "Pacific Rim," this book meets every expectation and then exceeds them. Queer and feminist, this book rages against anyone and anything that has ever told you that you don't belong because of who you are.

Each page is filled with the quick wit of our main character, Zetian, which also barely disguises the fury she feels. It was liberating to read a female who had a chance to be powerful, strong, and feminine all at once — and at times, for her to question her femininity, and what that difference between "male" and "female" really is.

Not to mention our two leading men, who are both beautifully summed up by Zetian as "my sweet boy, my killer boy." No apologies are ever made for the way they are or how they live outside society's expectations. In short, Zhao's characterizations are perfect.

Drawing from Chinese traditions, Zhao creates one of the most fascinating Sci-Fi's I've ever read, mixing qi magic, science, and secrets in an intoxicating setting. I won't go too deeply into the lore, but every morsel Zhao gives the readers just makes this world more intriguing.

If you want a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, laughing at dialogue and chapter titles, and crying, "Iron Widow" should be at the top of your TBR. And yes, it will make you audibly gasp out loud — SEVERAL times. Iykyk.

I will be immediately buying this book upon my release and then will continue to scream about it probably the next two hundred years.

If the synopsis or the phrase "mech battles powered by polyamory to bring down a misogynistic death harem" intrigues you then you should go read this book as soon as you can. I love the whole thing, from the world to the plot to the characters, this is amazing on its own and I’m really excited for more. It's well-paced, brilliantly written, and just a damn good story.

The setting is vibrant, I love the main characters and the interplay between them. The slow burn between the three main characters is subtle but unmistakable, they have different dynamics between each pairing and it just fits so well. I appreciate that Zetian never loses her laser focus on what matters: burning this misogynist system down.

Zetian has bound feet and it matters to the narrative, affecting the way she moves through the world, literally, as well as being one more way that her society has oppressed her for her gender. Sometimes she walks, though according to her the last time "walk" was appropriate to describe her motion was right before her feet were broken and bound, the verb she uses is "totter". She's occasionally carried or in a wheelchair, but more often she has a cane. There's a consistent awareness of her mobility or lack of it and how that affects her daily existence. Piloting a mecha is the only time she's awake and not in pain from her feet, but it's also not positioned as a permanent solution. It's thematically appropriate, explored throughout the text in a nuanced way, and makes her one of very few protagonists I can think of who begin their story with a mobility issue but no plotline about a cure of any kind.

I loved this and I wish the sequel were available immediately.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin RandomHouse Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. As I read an ARC, the quotes I use may not appear as written in the final book.

“I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance.”

Iron Widow takes place in a future world influenced by traditional Chinese culture, where warrior pilots (teenage boys) use GIANT MECH SUITS to protect the land from alien threats. Unfortunately, a lot of young women die along the way, used up like human batteries to power the suits. Wu Zetian, our protagonist (inspired by the only female Chinese emperor), loses her sister to this cycle and decides she is entirely done with this mess. Her path to vengeance includes a lot of righteous anger, violence, and scheming (also a love triangle that ends with everyone happy).

It’s a good read. I don’t exactly want to call it fun because of its more graphic content (TWs for just about everything) but despite all the terrible things that happen in the book, there’s something so cathartic about seeing Zetian and Shimin pushing through it and making the people who caused the pain pay. The love triangle is also very sweet (or as sweet as something can be amongst all the murder) and, again, for a book full of violence, it also had some very sweet messages about love.

The advertisement connects this book to The Handmaid’s Tale and Pacific Rim, both of which are apt comparisons, but it also reminded a lot of The Hunger Games in a good way. Zetian is a very different person from Katniss, but this too is the story of a girl forced into a system that the government uses to sacrifice children, but who manages through her own strength and cunning to strike back at the government that sought to have her killed.

There’s really only one thing I didn’t like that may be addressed before publication, but I’m not sure. Most of the dialogue is in a style that isn’t quite formal, but doesn’t dip into modern slang. Yes, many of the characters are teenagers, but they’re teenagers in this world steeped in strict hierarchies and rules, so it’s a little jarring when a character (not even always a teenager) drops a really modern feeling piece of language. Just a little thing, but it took me out of the flow of the story each time it happened and it happened enough that I feel the need to mention it.

To end on a high note-
Not to spoil anything, but the story ends on a cliff hanger and boy howdy am I ready for the sequel. Truly, duologies are the superior form of fiction.

On their Twitter (which is hilarious btw, go follow) Xiran Jay Zhao describes Iron Widow as, "400 pages of female rage," which is exactly what I expected, exactly what I wanted, and exactly what I got. From start to finish I was completely taken by Zetian's mission, the battle mechanics behind the giant mechas, and the brilliant way Zhao blended Chinese history and culture throughout. Also, all the mains are hot.

This was so unbelievably good!!! I've said this a thousand times but there is something so thrilling about a book living up to your expectations and beyond. Zetian was fury incarnate and I LIVED FOR IT. There was no calming her down, no controlling her, and no excuse worth her suffering and the suffering of those near and dear to her. She refused to accept her world's injustices and actively fought the powers that be with everything in her, mind and body. I absolutely loved her and her companions: Li Shimin and one I won't name since they aren't mentioned in the original premise (and their.....dynamic....( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). The world itself was fascinating. I love love love when authors take their history and blend it into their narratives. It's wonderful seeing such appreciation for culture reimagined, and Zhao did such a great job here. And the battle sequences???? At some point I had to stop trying to read the book outside because my jaw would not close and I was tired of fighting for my life trying to keep the flies out. Everything was so...visual. I truly felt like I was watching an episode of Code Geass or something equally thrilling. The chaos of it all, the high stakes, the desperation and drive taking place inside the cockpit and out on the battlefield...Zhao you absolute legend. As a huge anime nerd, history nerd, women taking names and kicking ass nerd...this was everything I could have wanted. And THE DISABILITY REP???????? I AM Y E L L I N G.

!!! mild spoilers here!!!

Y'all, my intentions were not for this to devolve into a rambling mess but....this book rendered me a rambling mess. I tried. Iron Widow was a love letter to many things. Chinese history, anime, dramatic earth shattering boss battles, feminism, and disability representation. My one gripe is that I would have loved to see the throuple have more time to develop and truly come into their own but the stakes were high as hell and many of the circumstances were not ideal AT ALL, so I could see why things seemed rushed when it came together. Perhaps expect more of the beginnings of a polyamorous relationship instead of something as established as you might hope for, and the possibility of growth will definitely quench some of that thirst. Maybe in book two? ;) Regardless, this was a banger. It is truly for the most part all I could have asked for and more and I absolutely cannot wait to see this brilliant world expanded upon in what's sure to be a phenomenal continuation. Oh, the yearning I have for this book to be in my hands...

Shoutout to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for my copy, and to Zhao for a fantastic read! Iron Widow drops September 21, 2021! Mark your calendars, friends! Here's hoping your experience will be as fun as mine was!

CONTENT WARNINGS: discussions of rape, honor killings, human sacrifice, gore, torture, abusive relationships, child abuse, genocide, alcoholism, symptoms of withdrawal, suicidal thoughts and actions

Have you ever thought to yourself, what if a character like Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender was thrust into a world of Chinese mythology with glowing qi energy and giant mecha machines? Well, look no further because Iron Widow is exactly that intensely feminist YA sci-fi story you didn’t know you needed. Described as a Pacific Rim x The Handmaid’s Tale blend, Wu Zetian enlists in a piloting-system that killed her sister and will do anything to get her revenge, including burning the world to the ground.

Never have I read such a ruthless protagonist and several times I was screaming at reading Zetian’s badass lines! She has such a ferocious drive to maintain her agency and challenges gender roles at every turn. There’s also positive bisexual and poly representation which I really loved. I definitely enjoyed this read and highly recommend it!

I. Loved. This. Book!! First of all, tell me that cover art is not epic! This book is sci-fi, but with some inspirations pulled from Chinese history (such as foot binding and Empress Wu). Zetian is sick and tired of the patriarchy and wants it dismantled in the worst way. All her life she has been treated as a second-class citizen (by society & her family) & she’s fighting back, baby! GIRL POWER! I love the way that she decided to embrace her newfound notoriety after killing her first pilot. She just leaned into it and was like “well, if they’re all going to think I’m evil and conniving, then I better work with that” 😁 And she knows how to get things done! The background love story in this book is a love triangle, but not in the way that you might think. They are poly, meaning she has two boyfriends and the boyfriends are also boyfriends. The book is listed as YA, but even if that is not a genre you normally read don’t let it scare you away from this book – the book definitely reads as much more adult than YA. Seriously people, read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Canada for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.