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.

I love an unhinged woman and men who will kneel before her. That is what is delivered in this read. This book has a story unlike any other I've read before, and it really pulls you in. Zhao created a world that was relatable enough to understand (patriarchy sucks!) while still building a fantasy world on top of it. I'm really excited for the series to continue! 3.5/5 stars

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!

Wu Zetian, a small town peasant, wants to avenge her sister who was killed as a concubine pilot for army of the Chrysallis fighters. Zetian joins the army as a concubine pilot, with the goal to murder the pilot who killed her sister. As she tries to do that, she learns more about the patriarchal society ideals and the powers that be. Will Wu Zetian survive?

This book was a rollercoaster, but in the best way. It was medium-fast paced, which I like in a book, but I didn’t rush through the book because I wanted to savour it. I found that Xiran Jay Zhao’s writing style was engaging and well thought out, especially for a debut novel. This book was weird, but fun, and the characters were really interesting. If you want badass feminist take on Chinese culture with a side of giant robots fighting each other, look no further.

Thanks to Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up.

This book was so beautiful. The Asian rep, the sci-fi world based in Chinese culture, it was just so well done. Wu Zeitan was a wonderful female protagonist. She is everything I’ve ever wanted in a female lead, strong willed and unapologetic. The plot was decently fast paced but did hit a few lulls at times. There is a ton of world building, so if that’s not your thing you may get bored. I personally enjoy a well developed world. Overall, I enjoyed this book. The diversity itself was too notch in this one.

This futuristic reimagined tale of Regnant Wu was a wild romp.

Zetian, an 18 year old girl living on the frontier, signs up to be a concubine with the single-minded goal of killing the pilot who murdered her sister. Zetian accomplishes this mission very quickly and, inadvertently, finds out she is more powerful than she has ever previously imagined. The world Zetian lives in operates on keeping women “in their place”, and they are not about to change that system no matter how much power Zetian can wield. However, they will not hesitate to set the odds against her by pairing her with Pilot Li Shimin, a violent and murderous boy.

Together Zetian and Li Shimin are coerced to join the war against the Hunduns, an invasive robot-like species that continues to attack their world. Zetian makes it her personal mission to find out the real reason girls are being oppressed and to stop more girls from being slaughtered in this war.

There’s a lot going on in this first book to a new fantasy series, but the author does a great job of presenting everything in digestible amounts of information.

According to the author, they followed in the footsteps of traditional Chinese writers and took a real historical figure (Regnant Wu), placed her in the future as a teen, and added fantasy to create this unique story.

I enjoyed all the LGBTQIA rep, disability rep, polyamory, gender discussions, and challenging the patriarchy and misogyny.

Zetian’s character is described as a bad ass, intrepid, ruthless, powerful and unforgiving youth, which is understandable given the world she inhabits, but she can come across as quite heartless and even narrow-minded at times.

The reader only gets a glimpse of this world and it is all from Zetian’s limited point of view. I am hoping that the world and its politics and the enemy “invaders” will be expanded upon in the second instalment. I noticed some similarities in this with the Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson. If you’re caught up on that series, you’ll probably notice the similarities too.

While I enjoyed this book for the most part, I wish certain aspects were explained a bit more. With all that said, I will definitely continue with the series and am excited to see where it goes.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the arc provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Iron Widow is described as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale with a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction! And if that doesn't intrigue you, then idk what will!

But omg! ZETIAN IS SO COOL!!!!! Actually, this entire book is super cool and morally gray and this book also has a polyamorous relationship!!! And that ending!!!!

Basically, everyone should at the very least, give this book a try!!

*3.5 stars
Thank you so much to netgalley and penguin random house for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Content warnings: murder, torture, mentions/threats of rape, femicide, abuse, alcohol addiction, gore, misogyny

I'm obsessed with the author's avatar videos on youtube, so when I found out they were coming out with a book this fall, I immediately added this to my tbr. This has been pitched as pacific rim meets the handmaids tale, and on that front, it definitely delivered. My biggest issue with this book is the writing. It felt very simplistic and relied a lot on telling rather than showing. It's very clear this is a debut novel, but I am excited to see the author improve in future works.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I was definitely a little confused at first, because we really don't get much background on the enemy species they are fighting, we are essentially just told that they invaded a long time ago and they're evil. However, right around halfway through, I was hooked and invested in the plot. The main character, Zetian was ruthless, and I cannot wait to see where she goes in the sequel. Immediately after finishing, I pulled up the wikipedia article about the real empress Wu Zetian, and her history is fascinating. I also enjoyed both love interests, though I would have preferred the romance to have a little more development. The ending of this book left me shocked, and I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Ultimately, if you are a sci-fi lover, I would definitely recommend you pick up this book!

When I first heard about Iron Widow back when it was announced, I was intrigued immediately because a) it's sci-fi with ancient china setting and customs, and b) it has poly-amorous relationship, which is something I've never seen in YA books. This book follows Wu Zetian, who offer herself as a concubine-pilot to avenge her older sister. After she accomplished that, instead of being executed like she'd expected, she found herself being paired-up with Li Shimin, who's the strongest pilot at that time. Unfortunately, due to Shimin's status as a convict and murderer--and also Zetian's status as an Iron Widow--they didn't get fame and fortune like other pilots. Throughout the book, we get to see them slowly but surely rise through the ranks, and try to accomplish Zetian's new and bigger goal: fight the injustice faced by women, especially concubine-pilots.

The best thing from Iron Widow is definitely the plot. It's been a while since I read fast-paced book like this, so it's no surprise that I manage to finish this book in 3 days (which is fast by my standard). Truth to be told, sci-fi wasn't my favorite genre ever since I often have difficult time picturing the technology and such, but I'm happy to say that it wasn't the case with Iron Widow. Xiran manages to constantly surprise me with twists, from the beginning to the last page (which made me more excited for book 2! I can't wait!!). Combining all that with historical facts and figures made this book much more interesting.

All in all, Iron Widow is a refreshing and twisty book that combine the 'future' and the 'past'. You definitely won't want to miss this book!

I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada.

A woman decides to seek vengeance for her dead sister and to challenge the oppressive system through which women are sacrificed to power the mecha pilots fighting the constant alien invasion. The battles invoke a feeling of Neon Genesis Evangelion or Pacific Rim.

This propulsive and subversive story is a powerful tale of female rage and burning down the patriarchy. Each step takes the story to places unexpected yet fitting. It is an emotional roller-coaster that moves with urgency.

Sadly the battles feel rushed, almost an after thought. What should be savored, giant robots slaying alien hordes, often ends as soon as it begins. Even the final battle feels lacking despite its huge scope. Similarly, the ending moves so fast it doesn't have time to properly explore what happened.

I don't mean to suggest anyone should skip Iron Widow, unless your primary interest is in the action. Despite its shortcomings, it is a satisfying and memorable journey. There are bursts of memorable rage-filled writing. Just don't come for the giant robot battles alone.

2.5 STARS

In Huaxia, a war is fought against the Hunduns via giant transforming robots. These robots are piloted by a pair of teens (one boy, one girl), but the girl almost always ends up dead after the battle. Sapped of all their Qi, their lifeforce.

Months after her sister's death at the hands of one of these male pilots, Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot. Her family is excited she is finally conforming to society's notions of how woman should behave, but little do they know she has other plans. Zetian plans to kill the man responsible for murdering her sister. Things escalate quickly, as Zetian is thrown into battle with this pilot just hours after being chosen to be his co-pilot. During this first battle, Zetian kills him through the psychic link that connects the co-pilots in the Chrysalis. After the battle, she emerges with his dead body, immediately being coined as the Iron Widow.

To punish her, as well as try to tame her, the council pairs her up with the most imposing and deplorable male pilot, Li Shimin. No woman has ever survived a battle with Shimin, but Zetian will not be tamed so easily. Her initial mission was a success, now she must figure out why woman are being held back in the pilot seat.


I had such strong hopes for this book. I mean a strong female heroine who is trying to topple the patriarchy? SIGN ME UP! This, along with the influence of Chinese culture and inspiration from real historical figures from Chinese history made this one of my most anticipated reads of this fall. Unfortunately, the storytelling fell flat.

The first twenty percent of this book was absolute perfection. The buildup to Zetian becoming the Iron Widow and the framing of her life story really wowed me. I felt immersed in this fantasy story and really could feel the restraints on the women of this society. Then, everything was on fire. The plot jumped from storyline to storyline with no real resolution. One second the characters would be worried about x, and the next second z was happening.

The worldbuilding was nearly non-existent by this point as well. I tried my best to keep up with all the elemental qi signs (earth, fire, water, and metal) and what each person could do with that specialized sign, BUT NOTHING MADE SENSE. Zetian would explain that 'oh yes they can do a because they are a water sign!' and I would sit there thinking "Wait, what?" There needed to be more explanation into this, as well as how the qi is measured. At one point Zetian had x qi strength and then after two battles she had about fifteen times that qi strength. HOW DOES ONE GAIN QI? Is it training? Is it from battles? Make it make sense!

Another part of the book that I was intrigued to read about was the poly relationship in this book. I had noticed Xiran Jay Zhao mention in their tweets was that this book takes the boring love triangle and flips it on it's head. That's right, the love triangle is indeed a true triangle. The trio is all in love with each other and in a polyamorous relationship (FMM). I was so excited to read about this, but the relationships fell flat as well. I felt no connection between any of them. It felt as if Zhao added this as an afterthought and I think this book really would have benefitted from deeper character interactions. I needed to be shown their feelings, but they were explicitly told to the reader. There was a lot of showing, not telling in this book.

Finally, Zetian seemed to have one personality trait and that trait was "chaos"! It is absolutely amazing to see a strong woman character, but she had no depth to her. One second she's sad over her sister's death and is trying to avenge her and then once that's done, it's as if she forgot she had a sister? This happens many times throughout the book. She will be fighting one thing and then BAM! It's as if she has one focus and that is to cause chaos everywhere she can. Which again, is amazing, but give me more than one dimension to her personality!


Overall, I think this book could have been much better had it been a trilogy. This first book in the series easily could have been three with the amount of plot and lack of worldbuilding and character relationships. From there, the author could have continued onto the series, making it 4-6 books total. The epilogue of this book sets it up nicely for a second book, and while I did not enjoy this book I may be willing to give the second one a chance. This book left me with many questions and very little answers and my hope is that the writing and plot will improve in book two.


TW: In depth depictions/explanations of the process of footbinding, alcoholism, misogyny, torture, violence, sexism, suicidal thoughts, emotional abuse, physical abuse, addiction, gore, domestic abuse, medical trauma, death, and mentions of rape.

WARNING- I may have missed some TWs. Please proceed with caution.