To be truthful I expected a lot from this book… and it was even better than imagined. It was so amazing!
The love triangle was so beautiful and the best part is that Zetian (the main character) doesn’t have to decide between her two love interests. I love how confident and strong Zetian is.
It was a really great book over all. I’m would definitely read this book again and would definitely recommend reading it if you like fantasy/sci-fi books.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review.

To begin with this book HAS THE DIVERSITY IM LOOKING FOR LIKE YESS BABES AS IT SHOULD. Tbh I did judge a book by its cover as much as the cover was beautiful I was worried I wasn’t going to like it cuz of the vibes I felt from it.

But I was wrong this book was BREATHTAKING. Felt like poetry to me. Fantasy just happens to be my thing and as much as I read anything else fantasy owns my soul.

The romance to me was… not so focused on but nonetheless I did enjoy it especially because I was to blinded by the MC powerful story in the book I was to blind to focus on the romance given.

3⭐️ unfortunately!

I had high hopes for this book, and it started off well, but then somewhere after the 50% mark things just went haywire off the rails! I was expecting more sci-fi and mech tech which there was some of, but overall I think the historical retellings overpowered the story.

The plot was shaping up well until it suddenly wasn’t, and I found myself asking- what is the point here? I thought this was going to be more about a pilot fighting outer forces or possibly taking control of her own fate by overthrowing a patriarchal government system, which it was sort of… until our MC got a weird power trip in the end that left me asking … what is her main motivation? What are her goals?

I loved the mech tech aspect of the world (would have liked to see more of it), the MC was alright, but I didn’t really like how the romances we’re built and sustained.

All this paired with the topsy-turvy ending left me with a dissatisfied feeling. Hopefully others enjoy this more than I did!

xx
-Christine

I LOVED this book! I am not going to lie I freaked out when i got approved and put it on the top of my TBR. The cover is stunning and this is one of those books I wish I could reread for the first time all over again. Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao in exchange for an honest review!

Iron Widow was unlike any book I’ve ever read before. The rich cultural elements paired with the sci-fi elements felt so refreshing and intriguing. There was so much promise with the premise, tropes, feminist agenda, and polyamorous relationship; however, it fell a little bit flat.

Set in a male-dominated world in China, women sign up to be concubine pilots who will eventually succumb to the forces of their male partners. Women are strongly urged to do so in order to bring their family extra income, which they inevitably exchange for their lives.

My biggest issue with Iron Widow was the number of plots going on simultaneously. We go on a journey with Zetian to find her sister’s killer. At the same time, she tries to uncover the truth that upholds their patriarchal society, tries mastering her mental strength, all while becoming a piece in a political scheme to trick the masses. Not to mention the major plot twist in the epilogue-all of which left my brain feeling a bit scrambled.

The beginning of this book was written so beautifully that I found myself crying at some of the harsh truths that women faced living in this male-dominated/women-hating society, especially in regards to the bound feet. Author Xiran Jay Zhao was clearly passionate and knowledgeable about what they wrote, which made the reading experience more immersive and meaningful. Some descriptive scenes took my breath away, and I could not fly through the chapters fast enough. However, I felt that some of the character writing was a little lackluster, and, at times, some characters acted entirely out of their role. The two love interests felt like an afterthought, succumbing to various other plots trying to simultaneously fight to be at the forefront. Zetian was one of the biggest disappointments to me. She had so much potential, but most of her actions felt rash, and she very much had “not like other girls” energy, which conflicted with her overall characterization.

Overall, this world was so cool, and there is so much potential there that I genuinely believe the next book will be so much better. I'm excited to see where this goes!

Trigger warnings: torture (graphic descriptions), sexual assault, mentions of rape, sexism, bound feet, thoughts of suicide, alcohol addiction, body shaming

Wow! Pacific Rim meets the Handmaiden’s tale in this stunning debut novel from Xiran Jay Zhou. ZETIAN/SHIMIN/YIZHI CHOSE FEMINISM!!!

I think I should start off with the fact that I do recommend this book, just for the fact that I NEED a book two! This book is extremely fast paced and engaging, and I would characterize it as plot driven. I think it’s the first book I have ever read that feels both historical fantasy and science fiction-y at the same time.

There are two main things that keep me from giving this book a 5 stars, as much as I would like to:
1. I felt pulled out of the narrative because of Zetain’s inner monologue. At times I felt like she was telling me how to think explicitly and it was not necessary considering her posture when facing many of the injustices she face don’t really “change”. Everything just affirms her beliefs.
2. The tone of the book went from young YA to adult fantasy at different points of the book and it seemed confused. Considering the adult themes and situations that the characters face I think this book would have been better as an adult fantasy/sci-fi rather than a YA.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is so awesome!

How awesome you ask? I’m a contemporary genre type reader trying to get out of a reading slump and this book got me out of it!

It’s that good! I love how adventurous, emotional, inspiring and reflective it is.

I love how the MC is willing to take risks no matter how the situation is.

I love this book so much! I love the way it was written. It’s amazing. She’s the character I want to be. I loved that she’s standing up for herself, destroying patriarchy and breaking down stereotypes. I loved the intensity of emotions, the pace of the story and how compelling it was. This is a new favorite!! I would highly recommend this book!

4.5🌟 2🌶

A huge thank you to Penguin Teen & NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

CW: abuse, violence, death, torture, attempted rape (no on page descriptions)

I can’t believe I got to read this masterpiece bc WOW that was such a ride! From start to finish, I felt so immersed in this world and I was surprised by how much I couldn’t put it down especially with how engaging the writing was and how entertaining the characters were. I loved this and this is definitely among my top faves this year!

Iron Widow was unapologetically feminist in the best ways! The main lead, Wu Zetian, was badass and just amazing! She’s strong in every sense and she was constantly self-aware of how wrongly she was being used and treated and that worked well with her ultimate goal. She also didn’t shy away from using her femininity as a source of her strength. I love that she constantly fought nail and tooth not only for her rights as a woman but for women of the present and future! She did get chaotic and aggressive at times but I like how she listened to those who around her and takes their opinion in consideration (but there’s no guarantee she’ll push through with it!)

The side characters especially Li Shimin and Yizhi were both so lovable! Getting to know them deeper and seeing their friendship with Zetian develop was just heartwarming! The polyamorous relationship they had was everything! I only ever read about throuples in NA romance novels so to see it in a Upper YA Sci-fi/Fantasy book was so refreshing! I really enjoyed the way their individual relationships progressed first then evolved to having the three of them together. Triangle really is the strongest shape!!

The concept of piloting, qi and the Chrysalis was so interesting! I realized that it was inspired by the boy-girl piloting idea from Darling in the Franxx which is just amazing, I’m intrigued to watch it soon! (I haven’t watched it but confirmed with my brother who has that the rules were similar to the ones in the book). I also really enjoyed the battle scenes, they were immersive and intense. I felt that the piloting scenes were similar to how the Paladdins in Voltron would pilot their Lions (If you haven’t watched the show, please do!) so I was having the best time reading each scene.

The Chinese elements including the history and traditions were so interesting! I’m quite familiar with stories with Chinese backgrounds (All thanks to MXTX’s works) so it was easy to have a feel of the world. Though some of the practices played well in backing up the narrative of how women are treated wrongly, the real strength women were capable of having and how they shouldn’t be underestimated.

The end really had me gasping out loud and wanting to read the next book ASAP.

Overall, this was easily one of the best books you’ll ever read this year! Xiran Jay Zhao, you are AMAZING. I highly recommend this if you love unapologetically strong feminists with not just one but TWO fascinating love interests with unforgettable stories!

Amazing. That’s what this book is. Described as cross of Pacific Rim and Handmaid’s Tale, is book is both empowering and heartbreaking. Fighting to not become a victim like countless others in the pilot/concubine world, a young woman breaks away from the man made traditions to fight her way to her own freedom and take control of her own destiny. This story was brilliant and so well written. Dark at times but necessary for the story. This is without a doubt a book that will stay with you long after you close its pages.

A huge thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this novel!

Iron Widow takes place in a world protected by strong qi-filled (a type of energy power based on the elements) pilots powering massive constructs that can be physically manipulated by qi and which are made from the dead husks of monstrous creatures roaming the planet. The world hosts a society which believe the female race to be living batteries that are to be drained. The 'sacrifice' is colored as admirable by highlighting it as necessary for the sake of their world. In enters Zetian.

The concept of this world was so original and fun, I was to express my envy over Zhao's explicit creativity. I loved the idea of the Chrysallises (the constructs powered by pilots) and the qi energy used and how everyone has a different level/amount of qi. It was fascinating. But while I loved the ideas building the foundation of this novel, I need a bit more than that to take a story to higher levels for me.

I think my lackluster reaction to this book (to my complete and unfortunate suprise) can be summed up to a lack of depth. While the ingredients were all present, the proportions were all a little light to the point of creating a sort of unseasonably dish. That's my best way to express it. Not bad at all! Decent, even! Completely edible and pleasant. But not as tasty as it COULD be. What is a single clove of garlic to an entire pot of spaghetti? What are ten chocolate chips and a half cup of sugar to a whole chocolate chip cookie recipe? That's how I felt throughout this book. The worldbuilding, the plot, the characters and their development, they all lacked a depth that would truly make me invested in the story. To me, plot didn't even feel like it had begun until the last 100 pages. The rest oddly made me reminisce on The Hunger Games and the exploitation the media in that world had on the tributes, as well as the manipulation Katniss in turn had on the media. Which can be a concise plot device, but not when that is the majority of the plot.

I think a little more time needs spent on each scene, on each interaction. Draw out the interactions between characters to grow feeling and connection between character and reader, enunciate each brutal action in a battle scene to emphasize the impact and what is at stake, draw out ruthless or gutwrenching moments for them to have maximum impact. Like I said, the ingredients are there. They just need to be seasoned.

Overall, I am battling myself between a 2.5 and 3 star rating. So not at all a bad read. The potential is THERE and I can taste it. Not to mention, the veeeery ending has me intrigued about their gods.

CWs: violence and abuse, graphic injury, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture

*NOTE:* These content warnings were written by the author and printed in the book

Listen, if you comp anything to Pacific Rim, I am going to read it. It's not a question. It is merely a matter of time.

And if you, like me, have been hungering for another high-octane, action-forward, epic SFF story about giant mechas that animate when their pilots ~have feelings~, then I can promise that you will not be disappointed with this book!

Iron Widow is an intense, immersive, imaginative series opener that draws inspiration and aesthetic from Chinese history and mythos while projecting it onto a futuristic landscape in which the world has been invaded by mecha aliens. It takes a skilled author to create such intricate and precise world-building where the historical elements feel immediate and purposeful without contradicting the technological futurism, and I think Xiran Jay Zhao walks that line in brilliant fashion.

This book operates on break-neck speed. It has absolutely no chill, and once you take off, you are strapped in there 'til the very end. I would describe the pacing of this book as "ruthless," because it is non-stop action and intrigue from front to back. There's a great balance of mecha battles, training sequences, romance, and so much more.

I would have to say that my favorite thing about this story is the main character, Zetian, who fearlessly offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to avenge her sister's death and ensure that no other girls are sacrificed to this inhumane piloting system. Zetian is one of the most self-aware characters I've ever read. She's very conscious of the systemic corruption that has a chokehold on her culture, her family, and her society, and she is not afraid to openly challenge or disregard societal norms completely. She knows that she exists to do more than just be in service of others—whether that be her family, her country, or her lovers—or to accept the expectations society has placed upon her at face value.

Her character is a powerful antithesis to the idea that Asian women must be weak, submissive, and serviceable (especially in order to appeal or defer to men) in order to have value in society. Zetian is not afraid to take risks, break the rules, weaponize her sexuality, or take down the most powerful men in Huaxia. She is not afraid to take the actions necessary in order to get what she wants, and to forcefully impose the reality that what she wants does in fact matter, simply by the fact of her existence. But she's still a well-balanced character. Even though she doesn't balk at violence, power plays, or treason, she's still human. She's emotional, she's thoughtful, she's uncertain and fearful at times. But she just doesn't let that fear hold her back, whether it's from speaking her mind or doing what needs to be done in order to wrest control back from her oppressors, violently if necessary.

The mechanics of the piloting system are also deeply fascinating to me. Not only is there an intimate mental and emotional connection happening between pilots as they channel their qi together, but the way that those mental bridges manifests as hidden inner worlds is also really interesting to read about. There's so many layers of intensity happening in any given battle scene, because there's what's happening outwardly with the mechas on the surface and then also an internal struggle happening within that mental space as the pilots vie for control, and seeing how Zetian navigates those mechanics only further ups the tension in those moments.

I also appreciate how the story openly challenges arbitrary binaries, especially those upheld by cultural and societal traditions. Not only do we see this within the piloting system, which quote-unquote "demands" the dominion of one "male" pilot over a subservient "female" pilot, but also within the polyamorous relationship at the forefront of the story.

Zetian openly questions gender and gender roles, saying that the idea of being "female" holds no integral meaning for her on a personal level, and she is not afraid to interrogate why the piloting system is set up the way that it is, and why it should stay that way when power cannot be defined by status or gender. The system itself is also predicated on the idea that only two people can pilot one mecha, and that one of those pilots must have more power and control over the other, with the "male" pilot always forcefully siphoning away the life-force of the "female" concubine-pilot. This system presupposes that power violently stolen from an unwillingly source is the most potent kind of power, whereas Zetian understands that power freely and consensually given is not only more sustainable, but has an infinitely more dynamic effect.

That concept is interrogated even further with the addition of Zetian's childhood friend, Yizhi, who she's been in love with since before the story begins. While the piloting system and society as a whole had impressed the "importance" of a monogamous two-person relationship, Zetian, Yizhi, and Li Shimin realize that this is a false choice. If they all feel connected to each other, strengthened and fulfilled by each other, and they consent to be together, then their relationship is stronger for it. And furthermore, the story celebrates that polyamorous relationship—both within the mechas and outside of them—in a nuanced way that shows polyamory in all its complexity, while refuting the stereotypes that reduce polyamory to a kink/fetish or even presuppose polyamory as being "inherently sexual" when it isn't.

All in all, Iron Widow is an epic, badass, thrilling debut that will absolutely put your through the wringer and take you on the ride of your life. In terms of commentary, action, and imagination, it's damn near unforgettable, and I would highly recommend it. My one note is that sometimes the fast pace can work against the story in the sense that a lot of things unfold quickly in a very short amount of time, which can sometimes leads to important details being brushed aside in favor of advancing the plot. The story rarely slows down to unpack how we get from Point A to Point B, but even with that said, I still think the fast pace is a plus.

I loved this first installment, and I'm absolutely dying to know what happens next! Xiran Jay Zhao is an absolute force to be reckoned with, and their vision of tearing down the patriarchy brings me so much validation and joy. I can already say with certainty that this series is going to go to some truly epic places.

If you are looking for a book with likable characters, this isn't it. Some people solve their problems by thinking rationally, or asking for help. Our MC solves problems with murder. I'm okay with that. So yes, our MC Zetian isn't a likable character, but I enjoyed her journey regardless. I already said this isn't an accurate historical portrayal, but I did read some things that as far as I'm aware were (are?) real parts of Chinese society, and society in general. I think the author did a great job of explaining the difficulties women face/have faced in society and within their own family. My own friend vents to me about her family difficulties often enough, and I recognized her in Zetian a lot (minus the murdering).

Anyway, the injustices made me mad, but the compliance displayed by women was even worse. I loved how Zetian refused to comply, and continuously questioned why things are the way they are. She doesn't believe for a second that women's inferior position is because it's the natural order. An added bonus is that this is also a very sex-positive book; something that I believe YA can use more. I think Zetian learns a lot about life in this book, and I liked that she is forced to sometimes admit that she's wrong (can't have too perfect characters). Her interactions with the other important characters, Shimin and Yizhi, were a lot of fun to read. They especially added a good sprinkling of humor to an otherwise very intense book.

My biggest gripe with this book is that I had a hard time really pointing out the plot. The book was never boring, so this isn't the biggest issue ever, but I felt like the characters kind of moved through the story with no clear goal. Zetian of course wants to find out why the pilot system is the way it is, but I felt like this only started to become important in the last third of the book.

In short, I enjoyed this book mainly because it forced me to think, and will likely float in my head for a while. Plus, I enjoyed reading about an MC that isn't trying her best to be good. Every now and then it's just a lot of fun to read about characters with a very small moral compass. Also the ending sets up the second book up nicely, so I already can't wait to read that.

<i>Iron Widow</i> not only questions patriarchal ideas, it murders them. There is no place for soft, gentle pondering of gender hierarchies in Zetian's world. She is prepared to kill everyone who doubts her worth. I loved how cut-throat our protagonist was without having to sacrifice her femininity. She's badass. Her character was hands down my favourite part of this book. Unless my favourite part was the concept...

This was such a cool worldbuilding experiment. A cruel, patriarchal future China-esque nation with mythology-inspired mech used to fight off the hostile "hundun". These giant robots are piloted by two people; the man typically sacrifices the woman to power up his qi and transform the robot. But Zetian has a plan to reshape the co-pilot system and destroy ideas of women's inferiority. This felt of course very inspired by Chinese history and culture as well as science fiction anime, video games, and other media. A lot of the terminology felt video game inspired to me and I loved it. This would make sure a cool game!

This is probably the first book I've read with a consensual, healthy, fair polyamorous relationship. It suits all the characters equally, jealousy is squashed, and they are all better for their partnership. The triangle is the strongest shape. It helps them defeat their enemies. The queer and poly representation makes this book worth reading on its own.

I hadn't heard of Xiran Jay Zhao until I picked this book up and went searching for fan art on the author's website/social media. Apparently, she's beloved online and a big deal and I now understand why! I'll certainly be following her from now on and waiting impatiently for the sequel to this phenomenal debut.
**Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc for review purposes! My thoughts are my own.**

<b>content warnings</b> for: objectification and dehumanizing of women, tense/abusive family relationships, attempted sexual assault, physical assault, death/murder, alcoholism/alcohol withdrawal, incarceration, torture, coercion and blackmailing,

Holy forking shirtballs. Iron Widow, Raybearer, and Lobizona really came out here to revolutionize YA. You love to see it. This is legit one of the best YA books I've ever read. It's as immersive as a video game. It's as swift as the raging river (sorry I couldn't help throwing in a Mulan reference but it's also true, the pacing is fast). Iron Widow demolishes the patriarchy, classism, and racism. The ending on this book? Staggering. There are a LOT of content warnings for this one. Readalikes include She Who Became the Sun, Gearbreakers, The First Sister.

Content + Trigger Warnings include: murder, death, torture, violence, gore, human sacrifices, thoughts of suicide, a lot of abuse (including domestic abuse and parental abuse), talk of sexual assault, extreme alcohol addiction, lots of consumption of alcohol, lots of depictions of blood, lots of depictions of trauma, depictions of depression, anxiety depictions and panic attacks, many mentions of needles, forced body modifications including footbinding and stolen organs, humiliation, misogyny and sexism, talk of disease, themes of colonization, and war themes
from Goodreads User @Meltotheany

Iron Widow has been a book that I've been looking forward to for quite a while. Immediately when I picked up this book, I was completely drawn into the anti-patriarchal rage in Wu Zetian. I found myself reading this slowly to savor the world, the rage, the respect between the main characters, it was all so compelling. This reimagining of Wu Zetian, the only woman emperor of China, with qi powered mechas was such a wonderful read. I highly recommend you add this book to your lists if you haven't already!

Quick Summary: Wu Zetian has one mission in life: to avenge the death of her Big Sister by murdering the man who murdered her. In order to do this, she volunteers to become a concubine pilot in a system where the female pilot nearly always dies from the mental strain. After she's called to action to pilot with the man who murdered Big Sister, she ends up getting her revenge in a way no one expected.

The truest success of Iron Widow is how seamlessly Xiran is able to transition from setting to setting so quickly while making sure to be easy to follow. It's truly a huge feat. The setting will go from the main world to the spirit world to another spirit world back to the main world but from a whole new perspective within a few pages, and it's so clearly defined and easy to follow that it's hard to get confused.

Iron Widow does an incredible job at balancing the different perspectives that come with being a woman in an intensely patriarchal society. The headline of this book is often about Zetian's rage against the patriarchy, but every woman in the book has vastly different experiences and different ways that they have learned to survive. Though that was hard to read, I adored how it offered different perspectives. There is no single way to experience any oppression and no single way to live in this world. Everyone experiences the world differently and this book showed so many different experiences so well.

Iron Widow is a gripping reimagining of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor of China, full of seething rage against the patriarchy. This reimagining gets insanely creative with its worldbuilding while maintaining easy-to-follow transitions and descriptions. It offers many different perspectives of how women survive an extremely oppressive patriarchal society but manages to stay cool and fun all at once.

I was really excited for Sci-Fi take on the infamous Wu Zetian, who was the de facto ruler of the Tang dynasty and the only female Emperor of China, so much so that I specifically asked to get an ARC of it. Iron Widow relies heavily on Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (which I thoroughly enjoyed, even if I was in the minority), so I thought I would really enjoy this! Unfortunately, I was more than a little let down.

Wu Zetian has been raised for one thing: to become a concubine for a pilot so that he can power the towering Chrysalises, made of precious spirit metal to combat the Hunduns. They are bug-like aliens who have taken over the planet and wiped out a whole city hundreds of years ago, driving the remaining humans back behind the Great Wall. It is a fate few survive, for the pilot's spirit pressure, or qi, obliterates the minds of the concubines. Zetian has already lost her Big Sister, but instead of a valiant death in the midst of a battle, she is murdered by a cruel pilot, one Zetian will do anything to get close to. When she is matched up with him something incredible happens -- it isn't Zetian who is killed but him. Her spirit pressure is enormous, so she can only match up with one pilot, Li Shimin, a convicted murderer who killed his family is still a prisoner despite his powerful qi.

Zetian is tired of being used and will stop at nothing to eradicate a system that views girls as nothing but kindling to fuel the boys' fire. With help of her friend Yizhi, and the eventual acceptance of Shimin, she strives to become the most powerful woman in all of Huaxia.

My main issue with this book was the writing. It was, for lack of a better word, amateur, bordering even on fanfic-y. Everything Zetian said was cool and witty and a perfect retort that left mouths hanging open and people cowering in fear. It was trying to be edgy and coming across as more cringe than anything else. I was very interested in the relationships between Shimin, Yizhi and Zetian, and the fact that they were in a polyamorous arrangement. I really liked that aspect and it was a breath of fresh air from the usual love triangle. Iron Widow takes a while to get going and ends on a massive, unsatisfying cliffhanger. I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel to this one, much to my disappointment!

4.75 stars!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC!
Any quotations I use are not finalized and may appear different in the published book.

TW: violence, abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault, sexual harassment, alcohol addiction, torture, grief, murder, sexism.

<i> 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. </i>

If I could describe this book in one word, it would be ruthless. Or maybe perseverance. Or maybe just absolutely and completely badass.
Iron Widow is relentlessly and unapologetically feminist in the truest sense of the word. Xiran Jay Zhao takes no prisoners and offers no patience in the face of misogyny. Iron Widow mercilessly rips off the bandages to reveal the vulgar and brutal cruelty that women have faced throughout history. Metaphor is often the greatest way to the truth and Iron Widow cuts a straight path right to the center of it.

Our main character, Zetian, is perhaps the bravest and most powerful heroine I have ever come across, constantly betting on herself in ways that the entire world refuses to. And recognizing her own strength despite being told she is anything but strong. She is the voice deep down inside of every single person who grew up socialized as a woman that just wants to scream and cry and tear the whole patriarchy down. She is the voice of that anger, of that pain, of that oppressed little girl who just wants to be heard. She is strength.

I also was so glad to have this serve as my first experience of reading about a polyamorous relationship, especially in a SFF book. So often, love triangles are used to divide the reader's attention, creating tension and forcing decisions upon the main characters and creating scenarios for the readers to choose. In true spirit of Zetian, Zhao refused to allow the precedents of the past define this book's future, and transformed the classic "love triangle" into a polyamorous relationship, used as a source of strength and power and rebellion, both for the characters and for the book. It functioned so much stronger than a love triangle ever would have.

<i>We were doomed from the beginning. The world will never forgive us for what we’ve each done, and there will always be those who will love to make us suffer. Not like we would’ve gained any respect by lying down and letting them do it.</i>

As for the world-building, it was absolutely remarkable and so well-balanced by the characters' growth. I easily latched onto the rules of this society and never felt lost as to the complexities of this world's politics and nuances despite it's intense sci-fi/fantasy setting. I could easily see the book's influences, used as a tool to amplify an original vision instead of holding it back. It also made me desperately want to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion for the first time in years.

Lastly, I just wanted to say that I loved this book. If this is one you're on the fence about buying, let this be your sign to tell you to go ahead and buy it. The fact that this is a debut is absolutely mind-boggling. I don't want to see a single book be called "feminist" if it isn't up to the level of this book. Wow, truly, wow.

<i>“You know what i think?” I say. “I think 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? You insecure men, you’re afraid. You can force us into compliance, but, deep down, you know you can’t force us to truly love and respect you. And without love and respect, there will always be a seed of hatred and resistance. Growing. Festering. Waiting.” </i>

I received an early copy of this from the publisher via Net Galley.

<i>Iron Widow</i> is an incredibly tense, innovative YA book that mashes together scifi kaiju and Chinese mythology with strident feminist themes, and it is daaaaark. Seriously, on the level of adult grimdark. I appreciate that the book has trigger warnings up front, because as good as this read is, it's not for everyone. It features protagonists who are most definitely not of the lawful good variety. They murder, straight-out vigilante style... but at the same time, everyone is written with such complexity and nuance, their actions are relatable.

Zetian is an 18-year-old girl who is expected to sacrifice herself for the good of the realm by essentially acting like a disposable battery for the male pilot of a massive kaiju. She has different plans. She knows the identity of the famous pilot who killed her Big Sister. She wants revenge. I won't give away any spoilers, but wow, this plot has plentiful twists and turns. I was surprised throughout. The well-written poly relationship was another big surprise, especially for a YA book.

I'm very curious about how this will develop as a series. The end nicely resolves the major plot issues, but wow, does it tantalize with what it leaves open.

I was only able to read a few chapters of this book. The formatting of the eBook on the kindle was miss aligned. there were spaces in the middle of sentences and paragraphs broken up. It made it very hard to read. My kindle is the only way that I can read eBooks as reading on a screen, like and iPad or phone will give me headaches.

What I did read, I thoroughly enjoyed. The concept of this book is so exciting and different. I am intrigued by the characters.. I have preordered this book and can't wait to read it in September when the book arrives on my doorstep. I can't wait to find out what happens to Li Shimin and Zetian. I feel as though I will be posting about this book often on my book Instagram account. . .

Non-obvious and obvious hiccups aside, Iron Widow has to be one of the best books I’ve read in 2021 and will continue to remain one of my favourite books of all time. Wu Zetian, the titular Iron Widow is everything I wish I had the guts to be and the blend of science fiction, Ancient China and Chinese culture is chef’s kiss. Despite numerous Asian-inspired fantasies, none have hit quite as hard with a realistic portrayal of Chinese culture. They are normally magical, fantastical and whimsical.

Writing this review and reading Iron Widow forced me to confront a lot of dark and negative thoughts about my life, and so many of them reflect the injustices that Wu Zetian and the women in her lives face. Iron Widow may be fiction but the lived reality of most Asian women are eerily similar. I almost didn’t want to include my life experiences and how I could relate to her brand of feminism, which plays strongly throughout the book.

Iron Widow is one of those books that I desperately wanted to read before it even hit the shelves, hype aside, I’ve been a huge fan of Xiran Jay Zhao from their Mulan video on Youtube, after being disappointed by the live-action film. So, I knew that they knew what they would walk the walk when it came to a novel featuring Wu Zetian.

When one of my Netgalley support groups announced that Iron Widow was a read now, I searched Netgalley high and low but was disappointed that despite being on both US and UK Netgalley, neither had it. Out of desperation, I scoured the internet for a publisher’s contact to find that Xiran Jay Zhao had posted an ARC request form on their Twitter and I was months too late. But, I gave it a shot anyway because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. And, weeks after forgetting I had dropped my details, I received a Netgalley approval email. And the joy I felt in that moment was surreal.

But being typical of me, I didn’t begin reading Iron Widow until the tour. And, I breezed through Iron Widow within a handful of days, it would have been one but I had to succumb to cursed sleep.

Plot, Prose and Pacing: Punchy Prose In A Predictable Plot

A blend between Pacific Rim-esque science fiction, East Asian mythology, and the Ancient China-inspired television dramas I consumed religiously as a child, there is nothing inherently unique in Iron Widow’s plot. A strong, sexy and all-powerful woman (think Aelin Galathynius/Celaena Sardothien) takes on and seeks change against the sexist, dangerous and disgusting men of her world who are determined to maintain the eons-old status quo while battling her inner demons, sordid past and society’s impression of her.

When Wu Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, she only has one goal in mind: to avenge her sister’s wrongful death by murdering the mecha pilot, a beloved national celebrity, who made it happen. But, when her plans go awry and she is strapped into the Chrysalis along with said pilot to battle the scourge of the land, the alien Hunduns, Zetian’s spirit pressure (a measure of mental power used in channelling qi) proves stronger than the pilot’s and she ends up killing him. Immediately, she is labelled an Iron Widow, a concubine-pilot who sacrifices male pilots in order to power the Chrysalis and is forced to pair up with Li Shimin, a dangerous criminal who committed patricide and is also Huaxia’s top Chrysalis pilot. But, Zetian refuses to play into the hands of misogynists pilots any more and attempts to kill Shimin but when the battle is over, they both emerge unscatched, declaring them a Balanced Match. And thus sets off a new and shaky partnership to right the wrongs they have been cursed with. Along with Zetian’s childhood sweetheart, Gao Yizhi, the three form an unlikely partnership for their survival as they delve deeper into the dark secrets of Chang’an and Huaxia.

There are a lot of elements in Iron Widow, making them blend indistinctly into one another. This is definitely a series that would benefit from a slow-burn of events, taking its time to develop and come together but unfortunately, we’ve got a very fast-paced and exciting story that throws punches as hard as Zetian fights. Zhao’s prose is direct and unforgiving; it doesn’t beat around the bushes and the pacing is tremendous, in an incredible, gripping way which all lends to a highly-plot driven story.

Below are just a few things I wish had been given more time or page space to develop:

- It’s hardly emphasised that Zetian is actually a criminal and treated like one, the distinction is almost no different than being a concubine-pilot and I cannot determine if this was deliberate.
- We’re often being told instead of shown that Zetian’s motivation for her actions is to stop more girls from being sacrificed as concubine-pilots. Things often diverge from this plot line and then reconvene in a convenient moment. I wish the book had taken more time to demonstrate this.
- The worldbuilding feels rather bare bones, barely going into more detail to help better paint the world and the location of the characters can be fairly confusing at times. I will delve further into this in the Worldbuilding section of this review
- While a main part of the story focuses on the action, the introduction of concubine-pilots means there’s a whole world of concubines and their inner life. It would have been a rather interesting detail to include to better humanise the women that Zetian wants to liberate. Instead, we are only introduced to a few rather mean and catty concubine-pilots. While this isn’t uncommon (if you’re familiar with shows like Yanxi Palace that focus on concubines’ lives), I would have liked to see a more diverse cast of women. (This is also a worldbuilding point but I felt it important to include here as it does overlap with the plot as we are introduced to other pilots who are Balanced Matches)
- The polyamorous triangle of Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi should be given more space to grow and develop. Instead, the relationships formed seemed almost insta-love save for the existing one between Yizhi and Zetian. Their surface-level emotions made me feel as if their friendships and romances weren’t utilised to their full potential.

Characters and Romances: Wu Zetian and Polyamory Take Centre Stage

Amongst a rather lacklustre and almost unmemorable cast, the three main characters, Wu Zetian, Gao Yizhi and Li Shimin stick out like sore thumbs. One of the things I dislike the most is when characters, no matter how miniscule, are introduced only to serve a singular purpose, leading them to have only one personality trait. Most of Iron Widow’s supporting cast are like this from the one-dimensional, evil cackling and figurative beard stroking villains, the bumbling fool but well-meaning mentors, the catty concubine-pilots to the meek, submissive mothers and wives, the only character who shows any semblance of being well-rounded in Wu Zetian. (Even Yizhi and Shimin feel terribly one-dimensional!)

Wu Zetian, despite her impulsiveness and lack of planning, is an easy character to root for. I would have liked to see the relationship with her sister deepened and explored further beyond the “I love her, she was the best person ever” sentiment that drives her vengefulness as she feels a little stabby at the moment. I also felt that at certain moments, her characterisation seems a little confused. Zetian tends to gasp almost girlishly or behave in a ditzy manner, in comparison to the tough-as-nails front she presents but that could be my preconceived notions of what I expect in a strong, female character as her reactions are merely human. However, it feels out of place enough that I notice it.

But what’s so well-written about Zetian is we know exactly what causes her pain, what she wants and what her motivations are. But, despite this, I’m not her biggest fan! She’s impulsive, acts without thinking, isn’t really much of a team player and I would go so far as to call Wu Zetian an anti-hero; there are a great number of things she does that I neither agree with nor would want a hero to do. But, she’s someone you’d definitely want to watch and I, for one, am morbidly engrossed with her every move!

I’d say that Zhao has written some fantastic and unique characters to support Zetian, even if they’re a little dull on page. But, Yizhi and Shimin lack any depth despite some attempts to present them as multifaceted, even though their characters are hardly cookie cutters!

Gao Yizhi, is presented as your intelligent, gentle, beautiful and almost god-like wuxia fantasy type boy with a gentle smile (I sort of pictured him as Xie Lan from Heaven’s Official Blessing) but he is much more than meets the eye. Li Shimin, on the other hand, is his opposite, presented as brash, rude, masculine (his description when we first met him reminded me very much of Harrison Bergeron, in both appearance and the sci-fi nods to it) in every way possible but ultimately, a sweet softie with depth.

But, ultimately that’s all we get from, as Zhao puts it, “her 2 boyfriends and her boyfriends are also boyfriends”. With a story as complex as this one wants to be, I would have loved a lot more depth in terms of characterisation for both Yizhi and Shimin who seem to be very surface-level characters compared to the depths we get from Zetian. I love a big moment when the “behind every man, there’s a woman” trope is reversed, I wished Yizhi and Shimin had more of their own ground to stand upon, considering this is a feminist book and I’m very done with feminist stories flipping tropes around instead of dismantling them.

One of the biggest selling points of Iron Widow is the polyamorous relationship between Zetian, Yizhi and Shimin. For a relationship type that is so taboo and Zhao’s boundary-breaking step to include it in a mainstream YA book, I was very excited to see how it would play out. They really took the typical love triangle and said, “Why choose? Let’s make them all fall in love!”

But alas, it was not meant to be. Their relationship can be summed in a single word: boring. It felt like Zhao fantasised this beautiful three-way relationship in their head but it did not translate onto paper. When we first meet Zetian, she harbours a massive crush on Yizhi but not the passionate kind, just a sweet love. And while her relationship with Shimin seems almost enemies-to-lovers, don’t be fooled. It’s not at all. For a split second there, Iron Widow introduced a fake marriage trope! I was over the moon, I absolutely love fake marriage tropes. But that soon fizzled out as well.

And within a few pages, they were all falling in love with each other so much so that it felt like insta-love. There was no tension! Where’s the push and pull of a relationship? Where’s the struggle, where’s the effort? It was frustrating that their romance fell so perfectly into place despite it being very fluffy and sweet. I’d hesitate to call it romantic; it made me happy but didn’t spark any sort of desire for them.

Worldbuilding: Perfectly Flawed

In a single word: phenomenal.

But, as I mentioned in previous sections, there are a lot of details about the world that are missing and while these don’t affect the plot (in my opinion), it would have definitely helped the immersiveness into a fantasy world that is a breath of fresh air. Below are just a few of the elements I felt made the reading experience feel a little flat:

Political System

We are barely introduced to the political system or the government of Chang’an and Huaxia. What we do know is that there are Sages who sit at the very top of the pyramid, followed by Central Command Committee who work for the Sages and oversee the Chrysalises and the pilots and then there are the local strategists, who are in charge of the local contingent of pilots and other soldiers. We do learn that there are seemingly omnipresent gods that communicate (whether exclusively or not, it is unclear) with the Sages. They bestow gifts of Chrysalis blueprints and other such technological guidance when sufficient Hundun corpses are presented to them.

We are also told that there are rural villages and tribes, collectively called Rongdi who are further split into different tribes and ethnicities. The people of Chang’an and Huaxia do not like the Rongdi tribes and often act in racist and prejudiced ways against them. But, we are not told much more.

Location

To be very honest, the locations of the characters and where they come from are pretty confusing to me. I cannot recall where Zetian is from, just that it is a rural village and her family used to be from the Hundun-conquered Zhou. A majority of the plot occurs in two places I am able to identify:

- The Great Wall, where the main and most powerful Chrysalises and pilots are stationed in case of a Hundun attack.
- Chang’an – the city in which Yizhi is from
Most of the time, the locations in which the characters are, are vaguely shaped in my mind. And the plot and action are so consuming I don’t notice the lack of details but as I try to recall them while writing this review, it’s all a blur.

Technology

While reading Iron Widow, I struggled to remember that it’s not fantasy but rather science fiction with elements of Ancient China and Chinese-presenting characters. That’s because beyond the Chrysalises, modern technology like elevators and aircrafts and modern weapons, there is quite little to indicate that there is much in the way of technology in Chang’an and Huaxia.

The main technology Iron Widow highlights is the Chrysalises. I absolutely love the idea that the Chrysalises are able to transform through multiple stages of forms, kind of like Pokémon or Digimon and I love that it is powered by qi which makes me laugh a little because of Disney’s 2020 retelling of Mulan and their horrendous depiction of qi. Iron Widow handles it phenomenally.

However, while I was initially picturing the kaijus from Pacific Rim, towards the end of the book, I finally realised that we don’t quite actually know how the technology of the Chrysalises work. For one, we don’t exactly know what the interior is really like save for the pilots’ seats. We also don’t know exactly how the qi powers the Chrysalises; we know it does and we know the mechanisms that extract qi, but we aren’t given insight into how it actually works.

As the book is told from Zetian’s perspective, this makes sense as she would be kept in the dark as well and the ending suggests that most of the explanation will come in the sequel. However, as it is the main part of the story, the Chrysalises’ function and mental space in which the pilots enter should have been explained.

Despite the above elements being essential to story-telling, especially in a science fiction setting, they are overshadowed by how beautifully Zhao incorporated the Ancient China and Chinese-inspired elements.

Ancient China and Chinese Culture

Within the first few pages of the book, as Zetian sets the stage for her upbringing, she is subjected to the absolutely inhumane and disgusting practice of foot binding where a young girl’s foot is broken and folded to create the desired and erotic lotus shape. The foot is continuously broken and bound throughout their lifetime. As the foot is broken and bound inside tight bindings, the flesh is often rotting and can be prone to infection; making it intensely painful for her to walk or run. Instead, she is forced to hobble around, which was seen to be incredibly erotic for men of that era.

Torturous customs and practices aside, I absolutely love how Iron Widow seamlessly weaves elements of Ancient China and Chinese culture from clothing, customs to mythology into its fabric. For example, the Chrysalises are all named after East Asian mythological creatures, particularly, the Chrysalis that Shimin and Zetian pilots is the Vermillion Bird. The language around Vermillion Bird vs Phoenix when it comes to Chinese mythology can be a little confusing as these two creatures are different but some sources also say they’re the same. In Iron Widow, I like to interpret the Vermillion Bird as a phoenix because it makes the meaning so much more poetic. In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is the symbol of the Empress and also Yin and Yang and it is so compelling in the Iron Widow context because Wu Zetian is based off China’s first and only female Emperor and Shimin and Zetian represent the Yin and Yang working together in harmony. Ah, it makes my heart sing!

There are a couple more elements fun to discuss such as the concubine and harem system typically accorded to the emperors of Ancient China and often, other high ranking officials, as well as the invasive purity checks required of these concubines. And other less invasive details such as the clothing Yizhi wears which I assume are similar to the hanfu and the soldiers lighting red lanterns into the sky in celebration. I would have liked to see a little more of the Chinese language used as well as foods (I only recall distinctly, one instance of porridge being served) which, to me, are the cornerstone of Chinese culture.

But, perhaps the most important element relayed so clearly in Iron Widow is the treatment of women in Ancient China and Chinese culture.

Themes: Feminism and The Asian Woman Lived Experience

[Redacted from NG review here as it is too lengthy and bears little relevance to the book - I detail my life experiences in relation to Wu Zetian. You can find it on the blog https://bforbookslut.wordpress.com/2021/08/25/ironwidow/)

Conclusion: Did I Enjoy It?

Iron Widow is a soothing balm to my soul despite its many flaws. It is so satisfying to see a strong, no shits given woman (with a sister, I might add!) take on the patriarchal values I live with every day, even though she’s in a giant mecha that is powered by qi and can transform into rather interesting animalistic and humanoid forms. Iron Widow is definitely written with a lot of heart, passion and soul; it practically leaps off the pages and I was dragged hook, line and sinker into Zetian’s world. I am so happy to share my thoughts and love for Iron Widow before its release and I cannot wait for everyone else to read it.

Finally, did I enjoy it? Yes, yes, I did.