I’ve never read a Mecha-type book before. I’ve never even sat through a movie like it. I know virtually nothing about the genre, but I absolutely LOVED Iron Widow. This was the first book in a very long time where my restless self actually sat still for hours at a time reading this because I needed to know what happened next.

I would like to note before going into my review that this is a very loose retelling of Empress Wu from Chinese history. Zhou has a comment on Goodreads where she states that she pulls situations and characters from different points in Chinese history and she knows these characters and events did not coincide with one another. She says outright that she was not going for accuracy. The characters are also only meant to loosely resemble the characters their based off of. I’m sure there will be some high-horse people who don’t see or care about Zhou’s comment that will strongly critique her inaccuracies.

An example of two of her figures she recreates is Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang. While most people who recognize their names (like myself) will probably associate these two with the Dynasty Warriors franchise, these people did actually exist. I grew up on these video games and read parts of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms to learn more of the history behind the characters (this was in the days before researching on the internet was convenient for me). My nerdy little heart was so excited to see Zhou incorporate these two characters into her story. I thought Zhuge Liang was perfect, but I don’t remember enough of Sima Yi to make a judgement. I just think how Zhou took these different points and figures in history to create her story is very creative and works very well.

Zhou’s depictions on the way women are treated (and have been treated either today or in history) made me sick. I was so disgusted reading about this cruel patriarchy. Unless a woman has an unusually hi qi level - which is close to never - every time a woman gets into a Chrysalis, the woman will die and immediately be replaced by another for the next time. Women are expendable in this world along with being suppressed in every other aspect of their life. We even learn in the first couple of chapters that Zetian’s grandmother broke her feet in half as a child because women are supposed to have small feet. Zetian has to hobble around everywhere on feet that are forever mangled because it’s more pleasing to men to have small feet. This book… this book made me so angry. But it also made Zetian angry and it made me love her character even more. Zetian sets out with one goal in mind: kill the bastard that murdered her sister. After that, she doesn’t care what happens to her - which makes her fearless. Sometimes characters like this can really get on my nerves because they usually come across as a “I don’t care about anyone else, I’m going to do what I want” type of person, but for Zetian it made so much sense and I was right there rooting for her. Everything Zetian does is in response to this extremely suppressive system and the injustice it dealt to women.

There is a bit of a love triangle between Zetian and two male characters. Now, usually I can’t stand stand love triangles - they can stay in the 2000’s. But, this is actually a poly relationship and I’ve never seen a YA book (never seen one in any book, but I know they have to be out there). It is such a unique concept and done very well. Plus, I love all three of the characters in the relationship. I wish we had seen this developed a little more, but I’m not disappointed in the least.

I have to admit, I didn’t quite understand how qi and Chrysalis’ work and how they work together, but I think this is more of a me problem than the author’s writing. I feel like they were explained decently well, but my brain just can’t absorb and understand it. It didn’t hinder my enjoyment of story - it was more of a “I don’t know how this works, but it’s freaking cool” reaction. This was just so different than what I’m used to reading, so it probably has to do with unfamiliarity with the genre. It’s possible that I will come to understand it better in the second book. Iron Widow isn’t even out yet, but I need the second book right now because I loved this so much and I need to know what happens to these characters.

4.5 ⭐
PG because it's a little sexy but mostly closed door?

~CW for violence, war, attempted murder and attempted rape~

Holy shit. Thank goodness there's a second book because the way this book ended, I am going to need more. I'm going to need more people to read this book just so I can talk about it with them.

So why should you read this book?
++Girl questioning gender norms in society
++Epic battle sequences with magic and giant ear machines and lots of cool things
++Misunderstood villain who's really a sensitive heartthrob
++inspired by Chinese history and legendary badass
++A throuple (yes, you read that right!)

And a couple things to know going into this book:
--Not a lot of world building and exposition in beginning of the story, making it a bit hard to follow in the beginning
--Lack of description of key fantasy elements adding to the confusion
--Will want to smash the patriarchy immediately after reading 😉

I would recommend this to anyone who likes new adult high fantasy like Furyborn or Red Queen.

I thought this book was absolutely phenomenal. I’m extremely excited to see where this goes next and I highly recommend this book.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me so captivated I loved every second of it. There is so much I want to talk about but all of it will lead to spoiler territory. What I can say is that all of the main characters felt like their own entities. I loved that all of them had more depth to them than what we first saw. There was also so much character growth over the novel. I love it when a character realizes that something in their life needs to change and then they change it. This book had that in spares and I can't wait to see where the author goes next.

The Iron Widow is the first novel in a series of the same name, written by Xiran Jay Zhao. This is one of those books that has been getting a lot of ink – and with good reason. I'm so happy to see it making so many different lists, and I hope that many readers get a chance to read it!

Huaxia depends on Chrysalises – giant transforming robots – to protect the Great Wall and the people within. Each mecha requires two pilots, a boy to take command and a girl to help take the strain. It is often the girls who pay the price.

Zetian knows this all too well. What started as a quest for revenge quickly turned into something else as power sweeps through her world. Now Zetian has had a taste for it, and she's never going to let go.

“He should be the Iron King, and I should be the Iron Queen. Yet Iron Demon and Iron Widow is all they'll let us be.”

Holy cow. If I could choose one a handful of books to read over and over again, you better believe that Iron Widow would make the list. This delightfully complex novel has so much to offer, and I'm just captivated by it all.

To say that I was blown away by Iron Widow would be the understatement of the century. Zetian is so very much my hero, as is Xiran Jay Zhao for creating this novel. It simultaneously tackles patriarchy, revenge plots, and a quest for power. And it does so with style.

Did I mention that there are giant mecha battling alien mecha? That's a thing I didn't know I needed in a setting such as this. It reminded me of a better thought-out version of Pacific Rim. I mean no offense to fans of the movie – as I myself am one. is just that good.

Honestly, the marketing pitch for Iron Widow is freaking amazing: "Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in a polyamorous reimagining of China's only female emperor." Um. Yes, please! I saw that description and knew that this book was one worth reading. I wasn't disappointed, let me tell you that much!

There aren't enough stars in the universe for Iron Widow. This book has stole my heart in its entirety. As someone obsessed with science fiction, with dystopian worlds and rebellious secrets, and of ambitious girls Iron Widow is my catnip. Inspired by the rise of the only female emperor in China, Iron Widow is an explosion of color, bloodshed, and screams. The world building is nuanced, detailed, and absolutely immersive. Amidst this world built on sexism, Iron Widow is fiercely feminist.

Fighting for Zetian's right of existence. Not only her immense power and potential, but her right to be flawed, nuanced, and full of ambition. An image that destabilizes not only everything in the world of Iron Widow, but also our world. I devoured Iron Widow in a matter of days to the point where I had to force myself to read other books, because I couldn't put this one down.

A story with a sister out for revenge, burning with a desire to demolish the patriarchy and prove that female energy is just as strong if not stronger than male energy is my kind of book.

Zhao has melded a favourite anime culture of mine - mechas or Gundams - even though she leans more towards Attack on Titan as the inspiration for her Chrysalises; the use of a dystopian world heavily influenced by dynastic China and blending alien influence upped my interest in this book and I wasn't disappointed.

The pace is quick as we leap right into the action and our Iron Widow is on the front lines with no warning and no flexibility in her plan. But she pivots well and is determined to not being a number or any pilot's rung to prestige and stardom. However, more than she knows keeps their world turning and as she uncovers the truth and reveals lies, she will have to do unspeakable things to achieve what she sees as justice.

Zhao does a great job of portraying the ramifications and abuse of the patriarchy and using the yin-yang principle to bring her world to life is brilliant. Not only must women be willing to fight but we need to learn the game and play it on the same field. And our main character is here to pull it all down from the inside.

Not only is this a story that focuses on the many ways in which women are used, subjugated, and expected to behave, we also see how good people can be driven to violence and punished for it, coping with grief using drugs, and the healing presence of a helping hand with a second chance.

The love affair that blooms across these pages is one that I am here for. Coming into one's own and acknowledging sexuality as it evolves was just wonderful and steamy as well to read.

This book absolutely floored me. A story about a young girl living in a world built for men, who takes charge despite everyone telling her she can't. I absolutely loved this book, and I cannot wait for it to come out so I can get a copy to have on my shelf! I am so excited to see where the story leads, and I look forward to the next one. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fiction/fantasy with a little bit of romance.

Throughout the last probably half or at least third of this book, one thought prevailed over all others: Wow. From all I’ve heard and read about Iron Widow, and Xiran Jay Zhao in general, I was super excited to read it—and in very few ways did it disappoint. With all its themes and content, it’s far from a light read, but it’s fun and intense and, despite its length, turned out to be a surprisingly brisk read for me.

I’ve seen a few complaints about the writing, but I really genuinely enjoyed Zhao’s writing style; the descriptions are often stunning and engaging, and few punches are pulled during intense action sequences, of which there are plenty. The intertwining politics are also handled with intrigue, as are quieter moments of downtime and breathing room. The dialogue is a little on-the-nose at times, but I’m admittedly a sucker for corniness, so I’m more fond of that than I imagine some people might be.

Worldbuilding with mecha tends to be very hit or miss, but Iron Widow falls somewhere in between. There’s a lot of interesting concepts present, especially with the seamless, compelling integration of Chinese culture—the use of a wuxing-based system as well as inspiration from the Four Symbols, various other iconic creatures, and huli jing tales were particularly cool. The inclusion of modern and even futuristic technology is also fun, and allows for quite a few powerful scenes. The Hunduns and Chrysalises are both handled super interestingly; the comparisons to Pacific Rim are definitely warranted, and I mean that in a very positive way. My main critique in this area is that a lot of the information is spaced out awkwardly, with some mechanics only being brought up the second they’re necessary, leading to a few deus ex machina situations. Conversely, there are a few lengthy walls of exposition where there probably shouldn’t be. Showing and telling are frequently at odds.

In general, the pacing can be shaky at times—overall, the novel is pretty fast-paced, but there are some moments that drag. This keeps the plot and characters from reaching their full potential, and as a result some moments lose their impact for lack of extensive development. Were the plot slowed down a bit and more breathing room allowed for, I think a lot of issues in this regard would be resolved, but as is there are definitely some clunky parts.

What primarily drives fiction for me is characters, and I quickly grew to like the major ones here. I do feel that they could have used a bit more depth and exploration—a thought that extends very much to many minor characters, whose motivations and personalities are often unclear and shallow—but what is there is interesting enough to stir investment. Zetian is harsh and angry and brutal and powerful in a way that’s super fascinating to read, but at her core she remains an eighteen-year-old girl. Yizhi and Shimin are both very likable too, and the established dynamic between Zetian and Yizhi as well as those developing between both of them and Shimin. There could have been a bit more buildup and development of those relationships, but I did like and root for what was there.

Minor characters, as mentioned, see the short end of the stick there; I feel that the minor women in particular could have been fleshed out better, considering the general themes and messages of the novel. I did end up liking a few minor characters, but ultimately many of them end up being defined by a couple of traits. Again, more time spent with them could really serve the overall plot and motifs well, but due to the lack of this, some twists and scenes fall flat.

As for Zetian’s disability, I generally enjoy how it’s portrayed—Zhao doesn’t shy away from the inconveniences and pains of mobility problems or debilitating injuries—but I don’t really love her being “freed” from it when piloting, nor that specific wording. There is some nuance in the portrayal, and I like that it’s shown that she has to rely on others and mobility aids for some things (which is far more liberating to me than the “you CAN do anything, just believe in yourself!” type of “inspiration” abled people spout sometimes), but the overall impression about being disabled—and specifically having impaired mobility—seems to be a negative one.

There are also some mixed messages about abuse and family obligations that I’m not a huge fan of, though that may be the point; morals and actions are muddled by this point in time, and some of the decisions Zetian makes in this regard are arguably challenged by the narrative. The irrationality and conflict of a teenage girl who has been harmed and traumatized by her family, too, is ostensibly a reasonable portrayal. That said, the handling on relationships as a whole is pretty decent—special notes go to the disavowing of jealousy and control in romantic relationships and the welcome push of love not being limited.

All in all, Iron Widow has its flaws, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be eagerly looking forward to Xiran Jay Zhao’s future writing, especially the sequel.

As I tend to do lately, I went into this story completely blind. I didn’t really know what to expect and I was blown away by the story. It had a vibe of Hunger Games, the sibling love, the fighting against unfair civilization, a defiant strong female lead. This story is not a hunger games clone just had some similar vibes and I loved it.


We follow Zetian as she volunteers to be a concubine pilot in hopes of matching with her sisters murderer so she can kill him for it. What starts as a tale of personal revenge becomes a full on take down the patriarchy tale, and one that I’m quite curious how it will expand in further installments.


There is a lot of beautiful imagery, amazing representation (particularly bi/Pan polyamory) and a lot of heart.


However, the reason this ended up being 3 stars is because a lot of the politics and war did not feel super well explained to me. I didn’t fully understand the purpose of the war, or how the qi worked etc. Some of this may actually have been due to my kindle version being terribly formatted that it was harder to read than it should’ve been. But there is a lot of war plot that frankly went over my head.


Despite my occasional confusion I do think this is a fantastic story and worth checking out

TW: torture, attempted rape, violence

“This isn’t his victory. This is my temporary mercy.”

Wu Zetian has one goal: revenge.

I found Xiran Jay Zhao after their Mulan video went viral and after reading the blurb for Iron Widow, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. And oh my god, it was even more mind-blowingly awesome than I thought it would be. Iron Widow is marketed as Handmaid’s Tale meets Pacific Rim with Chinese historical figures. The premise reminded me a lot of Neon Genesis Evangelion but where the main character fights against misogyny and clears a bloody path to the top. This book is absolutely phenomenal. Wu Zetian sets out to kill the pilot who murdered her sister and emerges from the cockpit so giddy that she laughs in the faces of everyone watching. To punish and control her, the generals force her to pilot with Li Shimin, a dangerous criminal who is chained and muzzled into his pilot seat and has a mental power that has wiped out every girl he has partnered with. But Zetian is not about to be one of them. “I will not make myself small and crumple into a sad creature of fear that lives to please Li Shimin in hopes of earning his mercy.” Wu Zetian rides a wave of rage to take out all that stand in her way and carries the reader along with her. The raw emotion throughout the book was compelling and the bloody and violent vengeance was satisfying as more was revealed about what Zetian, Shimin, and countless others had endured due to the actions of people in positions of power. As Zetian gets closer to the truth she realizes that, “We can live for more. We can live for justice. Change. Vengeance. Power.”

I can’t believe I get to live in a time where this book exists. I love this book so much and I could hardly tear my eyes away from it to sleep. I had to take a break from reading for a few days afterward just to process the sheer awesomeness and the implications of the final chapters. I can’t wait for Zhao’s next book and I wish this book tidal waves of success!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. And thank you to Mx. Zhao for creating this masterpiece.

Iron Widow comes out September 21, 2021.

I was provided an e-arc to read for my unbiased review.

If you're into:
-fight for humanity
-morally gray characters
-polyamorous or love without boundaries
-a story that truly evolves throughout the course of the book and isn't easy to guess

You'll love this book.

"Be their nightmare."

This story is based in a futuristic yet somehow archaic form of China which is fighting off aliens who are invading. Wu Zetian is hell bent on revenge for the pilot that killed her sister. Forget anything else - that's what she wants.

The story was very fast paced for a majority of the book - especially when the fight scenes were involved. Around 60% the story slowed down a bit, mostly because of the lack of fight scenes. They added that extra adrenaline rush that just made you want to move forward.

Wu Zetian is a very strong-willed female with a very strong personality. However, she has her weaknesses that are pointed out throughout. I like that she was made human, with shades of gray rather then black & white. This book shows the inate drama in humans but also how simple ideology can be made to follow from the top down. Wu Zetian embodies women, minorities, and every type of class that has ever fought against injustices thrust upon us from the outside world.

I devoured this story quickly. I can't wait for the second in the duology.

Iron Widow has it all.

Compelling character? Check. Gut-wrenching fight scenes? Check. Righteous fury? Check.

From the moment I heard the premise of this book last year, I knew I needed to read it. I was not let down in the slightest. All these characters have my heart, and I am anxious to know what happens to them in book two.

Zhao's writing packs a punch and often took my breath away.

The poly/queer representation in this book is especially meaningful and eloquently written. Clearly by someone for who this is a philosophical truth, not a fetish.

Can't wait to read more of Wu Zetian and her bois burning down a broken system.

There aren’t really words i can use to put exactly how I’m feeling here. The ending was honesty not quite what I expected, the final chapters had me glued to the page so thoroughly. That being said, this is an amazing book and the perfect beginning to a series I’m sure is going to be fantastic.

It’s a wonderful blend of sci-fi and history with the wildest but most fascinating storytelling. Wu Zetian isn’t exactly fearless but she is entirely willing to do whatever is necessary to bring down her society’s expectations of her, and largely women in general. She has the best support in Yizhi and Shimin, who are both entirely willing to stand right at her side while battling their own demons. It’s enthralling, at times hilarious and romantic, and just so good.

Holy crazy awesome!!! Zetian, born a girl therefore meant to be a sacrifice to the war effort with her spiritual energy to the pilots of the famous Chrysalis’. After the death of her Big Sister however she’s plans her revenge on the pilot that killed her, once she is successful in that attempt she is labeled the infamous Iron Widow. Paired once again with a male pilot, the Iron Demon, they have to work together to win the war and save themselves.

This is so action packed and Zetian is a firecracker! I love her spark and her passion and her determination. She’s not timid ever and for that I admire her.

Yeah, so this was just fantastic. I love Wu Zietan, and how (rightfully) angry she is, and I love her relationship with her two boys. The polyamory in this book was very lovely, and I very much liked how the triad developed.

And I just love the way this novel deals with the notions of a patriarchal society, and the terrible grief it can cause, not only to the women of society but the way men have to conform to it as well. Moreover, the absolute anger and just exasperation one feels when you actually examine the world around you and realize how ridiculous it all is. This book is just so angry and I love it. My only gripe is that I had a little trouble getting to the story to begin, and the world is so complex that sometimes I struggled to follow along... Other than that I am so incredibly excited for the sequel, and I am so sad I have to wait for it.

This one just ultimately fell flat for me. After investing enough time to get about 40% through the book, I decided to DNF it because the story simply was not going in a direction in which to continue to engage me. I gave two stars simply because of the time I did invest into the book.

If you need a female lead that is a badass this is the one for you. No dull moment and you get both?? Love the mention of trigger warnings and you definitely check this one out. Phenomenal

4.5 stars - This was truly a wild read and I loved it. Wu Zeitan is a terrible person I have ever read from and I loved her. Xiran Jay Zhao promised bloodshed and violence and she fucking delivered baby! Zeitan is a young girl filled with anger at her society and her family and she is determined to create a reckoning. Every attempt made to destroyed literally made her stronger. I loved the discussions on feminism. While yes, there were times where the themes were spelled out for readers, I still really loved them and how they reflected in the way Zeitan processes her trauma and acts on it. This character really felt like a breath of fresh air. The world building was fascinating and not convoluted at all. I think the Crysalises (the mecha-robots the teenagers operate) were very easy to imagine. One problem I did have with the novel however was the writing during the action scenes - I think they were just a little too fast paced for my liking and made it hard to follow along sometimes. But other than that, this book was absolute perfection and I adored it.

ALSO - CAN WE SCREAM ABOUT THE POLYAMOROUS RELATIONSHIP YET??? BECAUSE I AM STILL FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT!!

Holy WOW.

I don't even know where to begin with this. Iron Widow was such an incredible futuristic sci-fi mash-up of all my favorites. It reminded me of a mash between Darling in the Franxx and Evangelion, two of animes I am a huge fan of. This futuristic twist really allowed me to use my imagination and take inspiration from some of my favorite animes. I was glued to the pages with this story and I cannot recommend it enough.

Hopefully, my brain will work better later so I can come back and edit this review.

FIVE STARS!

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao for my honest review!