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,

I liked this, but was definitely not in love with it. I think this book will absolutely appeal and be enjoyed by so many people, especially those who like Pacific Rim, but it just isn't something I loved. Creativity was outstanding, like I can't think of anything else I've read, but it wasn't for me or I just wasn't in the mood for this book right now. I think if I reread it later I would like it more.

I really don't have a lot to say, I was bored and I don't really put any blame on the book for that. I just think like I said above that I wasn't in the mood for this right now. I want to pick it up again and see if I enjoy it more when I really want to read a Sci-FI

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.

Pilots channel their qi, life force, to activate their mecha to fight the Hunduns. To sustain during battles, male pilots draw on their own qi and sacrifice their concubine-pilot’s life by sucking up all of hers. Spirit pressure is another measurement of the pilot’s ability. It’s the level of force the pilot can use to channel their qi.

Qi and spirit metal are governed by the five subdivisions of yin and yang: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, with each person slightly more dominant in one. The usage of the five-element framework in Chinese culture is something I don’t see often in books. It added layers upon the dynamic between each pilot and concubine-pilot pair as well since each element does nourish and control another.

🔥 Gao Yizhi: son of the richest man in Huaxia
Don’t mistake his softness and sweetness for weakness. I believe Yizhi possesses a ruthless side of himself that we just haven’t seen yet. Although he worries for Wu Zetian, he doesn’t question her decisions and instead, supported her every single time. The tender moments he shared with Zetian showed just that. Yizhi is too good to be true, and I’m terrified of that.

🔥 Wu Zetian: frontier girl
To avenge her sister’s senseless death, Zetian enlisted to become Yang Guang’s concubine-pilot. Because of her gender, Zetian was barely treated well in her own home where her parents cared more about her brother, Dalang. This aspect is reminiscent of the olden days, and in some places in modern-day, when males are valued while women are belittled (重男轻女). Nobody ever truly cared about her feelings, and only treated Zetian as a commodity to be traded off at the highest market value. One way of doing that was breaking and binding Zetian’s feet into a perfect lotus shape.

Through Zetian and her family, readers know how the system is rigged against females. Consistently underestimated and undervalued, females are expected to be dainty, pretty, clean, and subservient. To families, a daughter married off is like water hurled out the door (嫁出去的女儿，泼出去的水). Women were drowned in pig cages (浸猪笼) after disgracing or dishonoring their families, oftentimes they are the victims but still received punishments.

Zetian’s a wild card. You just never know what she’ll do next. Her ballsy attitude and unpredictability scare everyone around her and it’s freaking amazing. In a society where females are looked down upon, Zetian proved to everyone that she isn’t beneath anyone or unworthy.

🔥 Li Shimin: death-row inmate
Nicknamed Iron Demon, Shimin powers the Vermilion Bird, the strongest Chrysalis in Huaxia, the only King class now. Shimin, who killed his father and brothers at 16-years-old, is half-Rongdi with a prisoner, 囚, tattoo on his face. His past haunts him frequently and relentlessly.

The first time they met was the moment they were paired up to fight against the Hunduns. Having the highest spirit pressure in two centuries, everyone had expected Shimin to overwhelm and sacrifice Zetian and they were (unpleasantly) surprised.

One might think Shimin, with his appearance and reputation, will be scary and intimidating but actually, he’s a teddy bear. He has moments of weakness and vulnerability that contrasted his physical looks. Oftentimes, Shimin’s thoughtful and quiet. He cares more than he let out to be.

In Iron Widow, Xiran Jay Zhao established the hierarchy of the mecha and, the history behind the creation of the Chrysalis and the fights against the Hunduns. If you thought that is all, you are wrong. The ending alludes to a wider agenda and a greater villain that we never ever saw coming.

If you’re familiar with Chinese legends, you might recognize the names, Zhuge Liang, Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang, Dugu QieLuo and YangJian, and Sun Wukong (Journey to the West). Transported into this science fiction world, these historical figures are brought to life as well, some to a greater extent than others, but still fascinating nonetheless.

Since I’ve never read any YA that centers on a polyamory relationship, it’s one of the elements of Iron Widow that I was excited to read. Yizhi and Zetian already had something going on since they’ve known each other for three years. Though Zetian and Shimin were forced together, his demeanor obliterated her expectations. Yizhi and Shimin were pulled together by an invisible string from the beginning. Not sure if I read too much into it knowing that it’s a three-way romance, but they were already comfortable with one another from the start.

I have no qualms about the book. Iron Widow enraptured me from the beginning till the end. The only time I stopped reading was because I had work to do. Wu Zetian’s punching through the suffocating system that subjugated women and crushing the society’s expectations of how a female should be. The world will expand in book two, and I’m desperate for it already.

Beautifully written with captivating story telling!! I will be telling everyone I know to buy it when it comes out!

This book is goooodddd. Like seriously good.. not oh I'm looking forward to the sequel good, but I NEED THE SEQUEL RIGHT NOW good.

Especially with that ending.

Though I had a good inkling of where it was going to go, it still didn't stop my jaw from dropping, my heart from pounding, my hope from flaring.. A sequel can be written in a couple of months right?

In all seriousness, I really loved this book. I read the first 50% in one night... which I rarely do. It ended up taking me longer for the second half not because I didn't feel compelled to read, but because my sleep was so messed up from the first half that I would pass out before I could get a few sentences in.

I giggled like a little school girl when the last "cough* leg of the triangle fell into place. I loved the characters, I loved the relationships. I really don't have any complaints about this book. I will say that I found the beginning confusing. It takes a bit to understand how the "mechs" work in this world, but once I grasped it, the imaginary it gave was amazing. The way some of the elements worked really reminded me of Avatar. I haven't see The Handmaiden yet (yes, I know its on my list of things to watch!), but if I were to describe this book to people I'd say it was Pac Rim x Avatar with a feminist kick to your face.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin House Random for the e-Arc!

Do I like sci-fi now??? I’m not going to summarize this book because you can read the blurb for that so I’m just going to start gushing now, okay? Okay. Wow I really loved this book, I only put it down over the course of the three days it took me to read it because I needed to sleep and fuel the capitalist society we live in, I mean work. While I don’t usually read young adult books anymore, and often find it hard to immerse myself into science fiction worlds, what Xiran Jay Zhao does in these 400 pages was just the right amount of everything for me. While this is definitely a plot driven book, I came to care about our three central characters so much to the point that I was crying at the 85% mark when what I had been waiting for finally happened (Thank you so much for that, Xiran.) I was going to give this book four stars because it did feel very YA to me and that’s just not something I typically read, but read the last 15% of this during a thunder storm and it set the scene for me so well that it got a star all of its own. I cannot wait to read the second book, and I need it like… now. I need more of my killer boy, my sweet boy, and my chaotic vengeance filled girl; Please and thank you.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me an arc of Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger and Content Warnings: Violence and abuse, foot-binding, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture

3.5/5

One sentence synopsis: In a story pitched as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale, Badass Wu Zetian goes on a quest to kill her older sister's murderer then goes on to become one of the most powerful co-pilots of these giant mechas called Chrysalises.

Overall thoughts: It was such a fun read. At the moment, I couldn't help but want to keep reading more; however, there were parts that got quite confusing and others that just fell flat.

What I liked:
- Xiran Jay Zhao's take on yin/yang, mechas, and issues & realities
- STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER !! we always love them especially if they stand up for themselves
- unique storytelling and perspective
- the stick it to the man attitude!!!
- I strongly dislike love triangles and i think it definitely has some potential with the poly rep
- fast paced! I read it in ~2 days when my usual reading time for a book nowadays is 4-7 days.
- epilogue piqued my interest so I may be reading book 2!

What I didn't like:
- world building: I got confused a bunch of times reading this book. I feel like the only reason I kinda understood the whole Chrysalis thing is because I watched Pacific Rim 7 years ago and can slightly remember how the pilots did their thing. With this being the first book of the series, you would think that there would be a bit more explanation to let readers unfamiliar with Pacific Rim clearly understand what's happening. Unfortunately, the politics, location, science, and army were not clearly explained and contributed to the confusion.
- the characters: I liked them but also I didn't — I feel like they lacked depth. Some of the interactions that happened felt forced and though I found the relationships sweet, they didn't flow so well. I wanted to get attached but I just didn't :(
- the writing: lots of telling, not a lot of showing. It was kinda choppy and didn't really go too deep into all the issues and intricacies of the story. There were also some scenes where they went from serious & formal words to very casual dialogue like "ugh," "guys," and "basically." This is just a peeve of mine in fantasy books so do with that what you will.

I had high hopes for this and I think this story has so much potential but it ultimately just fell flat for me. There definitely were enjoyable elements so I encourage others to read it themselves when it comes out.

While this draws on a few real characters in history, make no mistake, it is a Sci-Fy, Fantasy, Futuristic tale that touches on the place women still have in society. Second. Disposable.

And then it just dives right into giant fighting machines called Chrysalises, transforming robots that battle with mecha aliens that have almost destroyed everything. The pilots are boys. The girls or concubine pilots give of their life force and no one seems to care that they lose their lives.

Except 18 -year-old Zetian. She has plans of revenge after her sister died during one of these fights. She doesn’t use normal weapons. She takes on her pilot with her mind and is the only one returning. With a nickname. Iron Widow.

She has turned the tables on the boys and will now use them as ‘fuel’. They are afraid of her and what she can do. They try pairing her with the strongest male pilot in Huaxia. But Zetian has tasted the power and she likes it. Now her mission is to find out why only girls are being used and disposed of.

She is one of the strongest characters I have seen. She has had enough and is not taking it anymore. This is not my usual genre but I am very glad I read it. I felt empowered and ready to fight.

Well Done.

NetGalley/September 21st, 2021 by Penguin Teen

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is the first book in a new series. The book follows Zetian. She has offered herself as a concubine-pilot for the giant transforming robots known as Chrysalises. These must be piloted by a boy and a girl. The problem is the girls almost always die from the strain of helping the boys in battle. Zetian plans on being paired with the boy who killed her older sister who was also a concubine-pilot, so she can kill him in return. She gets her revenge by killing him in the psychic link the pilots must share. She reveals herself and is labeled Iron Widow, a female pilot who can drain the life of boys. She is much feared, but she also has much potential in the war against the enemy. She is paired with the most powerful and dangerous pilot Li Shimin. She is not afraid to use their combined power to continue to survive. Zetian vows to find out why the pilot system works in such a misogynistic way, and prevent more girls from dying for it.

I absolutely adore this book! Zetian is such a fierce heroine who values truth. I wish I could jump into reading book two right now!

This. This is what I came here for. I wanted a strong female character who was more than a plot device, and this book Delivered. She's bad, she's powerful, and she Gets Sh*t Done. She doesn't let Anyone get in her way and she's still So relateable. My feminine wrath felt fully expressed in this character.
I wanted a world that was more than the standard medieval Europe, and this book Delivered. Yes, take me to sci-fi China and show me a cultural revolution. I am So here for that.
I wanted a complicated but passionate romance, and boy did this book deliver in Suprising ways. I mean, hold onto your socks, this is Not your standard love triangle.
I couldn't put it down and I Immediately want to read the next one. What a triumph in YA format.

WOW! I'm completely blown away by this one. I wasn't sure what to expect. I've heard of 9 tales but was trying to wrap my head around these mind melds and these yin and yang mind battlefields. But the more we were thrown in, the more I understood. It reads like a movie, I can completely picture what's happening in my mind.

And what a story! I was completely sucked in! Once I started, I couldn't - no, wouldn't - stop until I got to the end. I can't believe I have to wait for book 2.

There is so much strength and anger in this story. So much frustration and a need to no longer be pushed down. It reached my very soul. I felt that rage, that need to fight back. I loved it. Such a great story.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.