A stunning debut that leaves you wanting more. Angry at a world that sees her as dispensable for her gender, angry at her family for their callous treatment of her and her older sister, and angry at the pilots of the giant mechas sacrificing girl after girl to move the giant machines and keep civilization safe, Zetian is on a quest to avenger her sister's murder. When she is unexpectedly found with a larger than normal amount of qi, she is paired with the most dangerous pilot, Li Shimin of the Vermilion Bird, otherwise known as the Iron Demon. Not ready to die just yet, Zetian finds herself an ally in Shimin and together they forge a path looking for answers while trying to win a war against alien invaders. The twist ending will leave you yelling in shock and eagerly awaiting book two.

This book was absolutely breathtaking! I couldn’t put it down! It handled feminism in an amazing way, showing how there are so many ways to take back autonomy from the patriarchy. I loved this book and definitely recommend it! Not only did it handle the meaning of feminism beautifully, but the world and the fantasy elements were so interesting and fun to read about.

This just didn’t end up being a book that interested me. When I first read the premise, I was very excited and invested, but getting into it made it clear that it just wasn’t for me. Hopefully it works for others out there!

Zetian is stone cold.

I get why so many people compare it to Pacific Rim when trying to describe the story, but Iron Widow is so much more. I started out seeing bits of books like Namina Forna's The Gilded Ones, Victoria Aveyard's The Red Queen, Sarah J. Maas' Kingdom of Ash, The Hunger Games' introduction ceremony, and even a little sprinkle of Voltron and the Marvel Universe's Illyana 'Magik' Rasputin.

I like the undercurrent of mystery that runs through the book, never hinting at the true ending. Cannot wait to read more in this series. I find myself saying this a lot these days, but we really do need more stories like this.

Iron Widow has so many elements that are just right. Awesome mechs, a badass heroine, a world with plentiful detail, and an explosive conclusion. Yet, a lot of those pieces felt disjointed throughout the story.

The book centers on the struggle between mecha aliens and the human pilots that fight them. While there is plenty of world building, I felt like the Hundun (mecha aliens) were never truly explained. I found a lot of their arrival/existence to be confusing and vague. That vague feeling continued in other aspects of the story (ex: they offer up some of the metal from the Hundun’s to the gods, but the logistics of the transactions were confusing/the political system/etc), making the flow jagged at times.

Zetian, the main character, is a badass. It’s no spoiler (since it’s in the synopsis) that she is on a quest for revenge (and succeeds) to kill the boy who was responsible for her sister’s death, but Zetian’s continual savagery at the unjust world around her was refreshing. There are some true gasp worthy moments throughout this story. Yet, Zetian wasn’t completely likeable. While her quest for justice felt vindicating, it didn’t leave a lot of opportunities for tender moments. Her anger occasionally leaned into the ‘preachy’ territory. Outside of her feminism, Zetian felt pretty flat, giving off the constant energy of angst and fury.

Lastly, I wished there had been more of the giant transforming mechs, the Chrysalises. A lot of the story is focused around the pilots themselves and less on intense action sequences. And since the supporting cast have less development than Zetian herself, parts of the story tended to drag. Yet, the ending though is an explosion of intense sequences and jaw dropping moments.
I will be picking up the sequel!

Empress Wu Zetian is a name you'll often come across in Asian history books, but Xiran Jay Zhao, in their debut novel, reimagines her as a teen who disguises herself as a concubine-pilot to pursue her personal revenge against Yang Guang, an esteemed pilot who caused her sister's death, all the while reclaiming her control as a woman in the misogynistic system prominent in Zhao's futuristic world inspired by Ancient China.

Often iterated as a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and Pacific Rim, Zhao weaves a gripping, brash story featuring an unapologetic, fierce, and unyielding heroine, whose pursuit for personal vengeance while dismantling a patriarchial system, is empowering and thrilling to witness. Zetian may come across as unlikable to some, but readers must understand that her anger and characterization are grounded from the societal barriers that shaped her life and molded her into someone who will fight to free herself from the shackles of a patriarchal society; that her anger and desperation stem from her personal experiences to which no other woman, child, or girl must suffer as much as she did. In the midst of it all, Zetian comes out as a compelling, morally-grey character in this fast-paced tale that Zhao carefully spunned with their own modern take on Chinese mythology, nuanced with an extensive world-building that's as magnificent as the main character.

All in all, Iron Widow is a breathtaking, thrilling debut novel that defies the norms of a typical YA book. With every page turned, Iron Widow will throw its readers into a journey of twists that will grip them with riveting action through an exhilarating, brutal tale of a brilliantly penned heroine whom you all need to steer clear of.

This book has clearly punched its way to one of my top favorite reads for this year and deserves a 4.5-star rating.

Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours and Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review as part of my book tour stop.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a young adult science fiction fantasy with a historical feel. The author of this series has made it clear though that this title is not historical or alternate history but set in a fantasy world that is inspired by Chinese history. There is also a different relationship involved that you don’t see often in young adult and that is a polyamorous one. It is not a love triangle but three characters all in a consenting relationship.

Trigger Warning for Iron Widow: Violence, Abuse, Thoughts of Suicide, Sexual Assault, Alcohol Addiction and Torture.

In Huaxia danger is always lurking so the city is protected by teams of pilots that man giant Chrysalises to keep out the danger. Each Chrysalis is piloted by a male and female duo but there is only one problem with this arrangement, the male pilot will siphon the very lifeforce from the female resulting in her death. At eighteen Zetian has offered herself to become one of the pilots but she has an underlying motive. Zetian’s older sister had gone down the same path only to lose her life even before she entered a Chrysalis so Zetian is determined to avenge her sister’s death and take out the male pilot before he kills her.

Sometimes when rating a story I really can’t give specific reasons behind my rating as it’s more of a feeling there was something not there with the book. However, with Iron Widow I knew exactly what path led me to rating this one at three and a half stars. The story began with a bang and it pulled me right in but the similarities to Pacific Rim were very apparent to me so that always has my rating drop a little as I love originality. But I was also thinking along the way that I’m not sure if I wasn’t already familiar with the concept of co-piloting in Pacific Rim if I would have understood what was going on in Iron Widow. This one felt to me as if it needed more world building with the scifi hows and whys. Then the third thing that I felt while reading was the fast pace backed off a bit in the middle of the book and I would have liked it to be more consistent. Overall though I really did enjoy what the author created even with the darker content of her fantasy world.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. If you're even slightly interested, like me you read the description and said, "Huh," then buy this book right now. Pre-order it if you must. I got an eARC, and I've just pre-ordered the hard copy.

The formatting in the Kindle copy put me off reading this book when I first got it because I was struggling a bit with the spacing being off. But then I really got into this book. And goddamn. This book was amazing. Zetian is kind of an unlikeable female lead at times but in the BEST way. She reminded me a little of Lada from And I Darken.

But the whole premise of this book was fabulous, and it was fabulously executed. And this is the only love triangle I ever want to see in the future!!!

Ok let me just start off by saying holy shit. Like i’m in shock the ending i-. This book exceeding my expectations and more. The plot is very fast paced and I was never bored. It did get confusing sometimes but I ended up figuring most of everything out. I fuckin stan Wu like she carried this book. Her character was badass, the stuff she did was crazy and honestly I give her creds because I know I would not have been able to do what she did/does. Also, this book includes a polyamorous couple and the way it was written was done really well. I do wish I saw more of Shimin and Yizhi’s side of the relationship develop more but it was still really good. Also, the romance was more of a subplot but I was fine with that because the plot was insane and overall very interesting on its own. I learned so much throughout this story and I loved it. I’d give this a 4.5/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this in exchange for an honest review!

Pacific Rim meets angry teen feminism is probably the best way I can describe this novel. Which, to be fair, is a pretty high compliment coming from me. The world that Zhao presents us with is lush, imaginative, and thoroughly addictive to read about; and the ideas and concepts they present carry this book over some minor pacing and awkward language problems.
In terms of plot, I was a little shocked that the beginning of Iron Widow opens from the perspective of the pilot the protagonist wants to kill, and it isn’t to give us insight on why she wants to kill him. In fact we don’t really learn much about Zetian, her relationship with her sister, or her personal motivations beyond thinking that their society is chaotically sexist (which it is) until about a quarter of the way through. This struck me as a little strange, because characters are thrust into life threatening situations before we, as a reader, are given the chance to understand or care about them. At times, this also caused an odd disconnect with the dialogue, where characters were being a little too open with each other, telling their life story, before you even got the sense they were anything but strangers.
Language-wise I think this might read a little younger than it is supposed to. However, I also kind of like the abrupt frankness of it because it mimics the unflinching honesty of Zetian’s character.
Overall, I would say that this is a great book for when you’re angry, or for when you want to be angry about something, because it is satisfying in that people die fairly brutally—especially those that deserve it. I would also say that Iron Widow is an exciting debut, and I’m curious where this author will go in the future.

calling it right now: this is the best young adult sci-fi of 2021. i loved being able to root for a protagonist as ruthless and yet sympathetic as zetian, and the final 10% of the book hit me like a two-ton truck. definitely looking forward to reading the sequel next year!

This will be posted on Fanbase Press closer to the publication date.

Zetian has always struggled to be the ideal of Chinese femininity. She loathes her useless bound feet and how her family values her brother, father, and grandfather over any of the women. When her older sister becomes a concubine to a war lord pilot and ends up dead Zetian’s rage focuses on the system of using young women to help fuel Chrysalises, giant robots that fight against strange alien creatures outside of human civilizations, and help young men obtain military fame. Her natural mental strength propels her to the highest concubine ranks, where she successfully overcomes her male partner while mind melded and earns the name Iron Widow, a concubine who kills any Chrysalis partner. How will the government react to Zetian’s intense abilities, and will she be punished for the crime of murdering a war hero? Can a young woman from the provinces rise to power in a society that prizes city-bred, educated men over everyone else? Only time will tell.
I was sold on the idea of Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow from the description of a mash up of Pacific Rim (giant robots whomping monsters) and The Handmaid’s Tale (dystopian world where the oppressed/women fight for recognition and agency). As I got further into the story, I felt rewarded as it blossomed into a complex world where the protagonists exemplified non-traditional romantic connections, challenged ingrained views on racism and addiction, and shattered the common portrayal of strong women needing to stand alone. Each plot development startled and awed me, and while Iron Widow is designed as a stand alone (so far), I can see the potential to continue Zetian’s meteoric rise to power (especially since she is loosely based on a female Chinese Tang Dynasty emperor, Wu Zetian).
I’ve noticed that many of the books I’ve read and appreciated this year (and last) focus on female rage becoming the focal point for transformation and claiming a degree of control. Zetian fits into this mold with her fierce desire to shake off the subservient female ideal with painfully beautiful bound feet and carefully groomed features. She’s not above using society’s expectations to score a place as a concubine, carefully hiding her weapons as harmless accessories, something no man would ever inspect carefully. Zetian never shies away from embracing her inner darkness as long as she advances towards a goal (first avenging her elder sister’s murder, later forging a new place for women in her world). Given her intensity it is no surprised that the men drawn into her orbit, Yizhi and Shimin, embody gentler characteristics and fragility. Neither would be characterized as overtly feminine, but they could not function as a triad without being open to a bond with each other as well as formidable Zetian. The development of how they complement and develop each other’s personalities and goals is less cinematic but just as important as the action.
At this point I’m sure someone is screaming at the computer screen wanting to know if I will discuss the promised giant robots, and yes, Virginia, there are mecha. The pilot/concubine pairings are used to fuel immense battle armors known as Chrysalises, which this version of China uses to defend its civilizations against the alien Hundun. Ironically, the “spirit metal” used to build each Chrysalis is composed of the exoskeletons of defeated Hundans. Human chi powers each robot, which is why both young men and women are screened for their primary and secondary chi strengths as well as base ability before being paired. Couples with strong compatibility may successfully transform their Chrysalis in battle into superior forms of the base creature i.e., turtle, fox, dragon, phoenix, etc. I would love to see this in animated form (I don’t think live action could capture the magic of this type of transformation even with current special effects).
Again, I’ve spent much of my review talking about my favorite aspects of Iron Widow and not the overall plot, but what’s the fun in knowing everything going in? There are mecha, a tough as nails country girl filled with existential rage, the two young men who both love and fear her in equal measure but want her to be happy, an unexplainable war with alien creatures, and a complex battle system set against the backdrop of an alternate history China. I’m not sure you can distill that down to a meaningful elevator pitch. If any of this sounds like your catnip pick up Iron Widow and experience the world through Zetian’s eyes. I couldn’t put it down, and I hope Xiran Jay Zhao has more stories to tell, be they in Zetian’s world or others.
5 Remote Emperor’s Tombs out of 5

Iron Widow begins with an authors note- one that explains the concept, the idea of putting a fictional, historical queen as a central character in a futuristic science fiction, with characters from history peppered throughout, all as mecha pilots. It’s honest to goodness one of my favorite parts of the book, getting to see into Zhao’s mind and a little bit of the rage and love that came together to create Iron Widow.

The book did not disappoint. I found myself enraptured by the strong, complex persona of Wu Zetian, of her power and the secrets that lay behind her community. Even more than that, I loved the way she loved, without boundaries and without limits- that is to say, she was in a throuple, and it was so powerful I audibly gasped. I’m a big fan of the “resolving the love triangle by letting them all love each other” idea, so this really hit the spot for me.

There is no easy way to describe this book other than a freaking fun time. I’m gonna keep this review short, but end with a desperate plea: Read. This. Book.

“I’ve been told endless lies since I was born. That I was not kind enough, considerate enough, humble enough, honorable enough, pretty enough, pleasing enough. And that if I failed to meet the needs of those around me, I did not deserve to live.”

Holy hell, I don’t know how to articulate how much I ADORED this book!!! It’s definitely making it in my top 5 reads of 2021. This review may be a mess, but my thoughts are also a mess. So. Thanks NetGalley/Penguin Random House for a copy of the earc!

Zetian is one of the most badass characters I’ve had the pleasure to read about. She’s the kind of character who fucking PUSHES BACK against the men in her life and doesn’t let them steamroll her. The kind who doesn’t conform to what’s expected of her as a female. The kind who PROVES that women are not inferior to men. I got angry a lot reading this book—it’s hard not to when nearly all the men are misogynistic assholes who sacrifice women to preserve their masculinity with the lie that women are inherently weaker than men and are therefore expendable. But Zetian! She’s the the kind of MC I should have been able to read about as a teen. I love her so damn much, I can hardly contain it. Every time she opens her mouth to tear into someone, I’m mentally screaming “YES YES YES YES YES!!!!”

Of course, I can never understand the violent upbringing these characters experienced that shaped them (especially Zetian), but as someone who has always been treated as a woman, this book clobbered me. Especially when faced with the reactions of men in the book when Zetian doesn’t act the way they expect their women to act. She’s a bitch, a man-killer, selfish and ungrateful.

And while there wasn’t exactly a “found family” in this book, it did smash into our brains (yes, smash!) that just because they are your blood relative doesn’t mean you OWE them your love or respect even though they often act like you do. It’s a fucking POWERFUL message.

The character development was gorgeous! I loved learning new things about each of them, and how they formed bonds with each other.

This book was brutal and violent and I am here for it!! The battles were so interesting to read about. Can I have my own Chrysalis?

ALSO, this is the poly romance/triad I’ve been DREAMING of ever since I read TID. I’m just so HAPPY about it.

I’m going to be thinking about this book for a LONG time. I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!!!

content warnings: feet binding, misogyny/sexism, war, gore, murder, alcoholism, suicide ideation, mentions of rape

If anyone has asked me about my most anticipated books of 2021, Iron Widow has been one of the first I mentioned without a doubt. I’ve been excited about this book for what feels like centuries. When I first heard about it I immediately added it to my list, and my excitement only grew as I followed Zhao on Twitter and saw their youtube uploads examining Mulan (2020) and other Chinese-inspired media.

Pitched as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale as well as inspired by Darling and the Franxx, Iron Widow is set in a world that is a mix of Chinese history and science fiction. Wu Zetian is intent on joining the army as a concubine to one of the best fighters in the mecha army so that she can kill him as she believes he killed her sister. However, she unexpectedly murders him through the mecha’s psychic link and is labeled the Iron Widow. The army decides to pair her with another pilot who is known for murdering his family, and Zetian thinks this is the end for her.

Like I said, this was one of my most hyped reads, and I am just so thankful that I got to read it early and know that I was right to be excited. Iron Widow is a wild ride from start to finish and I was hooked from the word go. It is super fast-paced but never feels out of control, which works perfectly for my brain at the moment, to the point where I read it in about 3 days.

I think this is the first book I’ve read outside of romance that featured polyamory. And after this, I would absolutely love to read more because when that throuple became complete my heart just soared. I am actually a fan of love triangles but a throuple is just so elevated because then you don’t have to have someone heartbroken, everyone’s happy, including me. The three characters involved just had the best chemistry with each other and I just want to reread their scenes right now because they were so damn good.

The society in this book is super interesting as it is futuristic but also so backwards when it comes to human rights. Women are sacrificed in these big mecha fights and forced into having their feet bound. I felt like Zhao dealt with this aspect of the novel so well and I look forward to how they will deal with this further in book 2. The feet binding mentions were a bit graphic though, so be aware of that because I really struggle with the thought of foot binding and it made me feel quite ill.

All 3 of our main characters have such strong voices and personalities that came across perfectly on paper. They’re also so well developed that they feel like actual people. Zetian is learning more about how sexist the world she lives in is and trying to fight for that but also wants power and isn’t scared to get blood on her hands. And honestly, I love that for her she’s my favourite kind of morally grey character. Shimin seems like a scary guy to start but Zetian and the reader quickly discover that he is in fact a golden retriever in murderer’s clothing… which is probably the weirdest sentence I’ve ever written. And Yizhi is a sweet cinnamon roll who is also happy to take advantage of his rich family background to elevate Zetian. They are all victims of the world they have grown up in, which makes a lot of their decisions questionable but understandable at the same time.

Also, I would recommend you check out the thread of art that Zhao has comissioned because it’s all incredible.

I just want everyone to read and love this book because I sure did. I know the author had a tough start getting this book a publisher and I do not get it because it’s truly fantastic. The wait for book 2 is going to kill me off honestly!

I am in LOVE! I'm lowkey mad that I received an ARC because now I have to wait a year for the sequel...
This is a perfect mashup of sci-fi and fantasy elements with the qi but also the idea of aliens and advanced technology. I admit that I did see that last twist coming but you know what? It makes me want to pick up the sequel. I served it's purpose!
A lot of what Zetian was feeling and saying about the persecution of females (no, not women, females specifically) really resonates with me and with what we've been suffering for the past few millennia. I've highlighted sooo many passages that just struck a cord with me.
Anyway, 100% recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and a badass feminist main character. Also check out Xiran Jay Zhao's website! She's posted fan art, face claims, memes, etc.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. The whole concept felt entirely new and, of course, I was drawn to it. When I first started the book, I didn’t understand a single thing. I always wondered why the world of Iron Widow was so misogynist. I wish I could know now. Because I don’t. Even after a whole book, I don’t know a single thing about the political system of Zetian’s world, and it truly annoys me. Not only did it make me confused throughout the book, but I just wanted to DNF it right away. It was truly painful to read. Too much new concepts, not enough explanations.
Then, let’s talk about the main character, Wu Zetian. Her only personality is her feminism. And I am glad, soooo glad that we get another badass woman as a main character, but I wish the author had put more depth to Zetian. Because other than being a feminist, Zetian had no personality traits. She was often annoying, thinking in a way that made my blood boil. I couldn’t understand (and I still can’t) how Zetian became a feminist in such a misogynistic world. We know little about her past, about how she grew up, and about why, suddenly, she aspired to free all the concubines held captive by the men. That’s why I simply couldn’t connect with her, for she seemed like a character, and not living person.

4.5 stars

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Iron Widow series. I got an eGalley of this book to review through NetGalley.

Thoughts: Welcome to an amazing science fiction world of giant robots and the men who are honored to pilot them. The twist is that the men must have a woman co-pilot to pull energy from in order to control these giants; the women have no choice in this and are often sacrificed as their life force is sucked away. This is a fast-paced, crazy world, with amazing characters. All the characters in here are vicious and a bit grey moral-wise...and I loved them all for it.

I waffled a bit between 4 and 5 stars for this one. The reason I hesitate to give this 5 stars is that the writing and dialogue feel really awkward at times. The characters don't sound natural speaking to each other and sometimes descriptions are a bit jarring as well.

The other small quibble I have is that I think this would have made a better adult book. It is fine as a young adult read but I feel like a lot of the viciousness here was tamped down. The author does comment at the end that a lot of the "darkness" in this book was tempered to make it an appropriate YA novel. I wish that she hadn't done that and just went full-out with the viciousness and darkness to make this an amazing adult sci-fi read. The way things were neutered is incredibly noticeable.

Those complaints aside, this was an amazing read that was hard to put down. I can't wait to see where the story goes next. I love these characters; they embrace their more evil and vicious natures to do good, save people, and destroy a corrupt system. The tone to this story is amazing and I really enjoyed it a ton

My Summary (4.5/5): Overall this was an amazing idea, had amazing world-building, was incredibly fast-paced, and featured a fantastic cast of characters. My main complaint is at times that dialogue between characters feels very jarring and awkward. Some of the descriptions are also awkward and hard to follow. Despite those quibbles I really did love this and am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Fun facts time!

Fun fact #1: Whenever I read a book and I get the feeling that I'm going to stay up late reading it, I buy sweets. About twenty pages into Iron Widow, I ordered an entire pie from my local restaurant via Doordash.

Fun fact #2: I love pie

Fun fact #3: I had three pieces


Thank you, NetGalley for the e-galley!

Iron Widow pairs a bunch of great things together, smooshing them into one big ball of awesome. Pacific Rim is always a good comp title and assures that I will 1. preorder book 2. request it on Netgalley or Edelweiss 3. join every book tour I can to promote said book 4. Preorder one for a friend 5. scream

All that being said, when I first got wind of this book, I took the scoreboard of my most anticipated 2021 reads and wrote in block letter IRON WIDOW FTW and scooted it right to #1. It'll probably stay there for the rest of the year. I'm betting some pie on it.

You see the synopsis, so you get the gist. Zetian is mad. Like, MAD. Her Big Sister died while in service to Huaxia, and she wants nothing more in her life than to enlist as a concubine to copilot the giant Chrysalises and get her revenge on the pilot who took her sister away. She lives in a world where women are devalued, used up as sacrifices to the boys to help defeat the aliens beyond the Great Wall, and looked like nothing but vessels for children and for the pleasure of men.

If you want to stir emotions in me, either put me into a world where misogyny is king or give me sick kids fall in love. We don't have sick kids in love, but we do have a protagonist who takes no prisoners and does well on the promise of revenge. Soon, homegirl is paired up with one of the most dangerous pilots, Li Shimin, and showcased as his One Perfect Match which is a duo who can both pilot their machines without the woman dying. That's putting it into simple terms.

This book is anything but simple.

Zetian holds onto her anger and uses it well. She wants to reshape the world and show them that women have value and that they are more than sacrifices. She is no stranger to being put down by men, and she uses it to her advantage. I mean, she's a queen from the very beginning of the book.

Pushing on!

Okay, so we do have what first appeared to be a love triangle. BUT rest assured, it is NOT what it looks like. She has the hearts of two men who support her in very different ways. They lend her strength, and she does the same. It's a very reciprocated relationship and I loved every single second of it. I won't get into too much since I want you guys to be equally surprised and delighted.

THIS WORLD is unlike anything I've ever read, or seen, or listened to. I got a sense of Pacific Rim, yes, but there are also some Power Rangers mixed with Pokemon mixed with Neon Genesis Evangelion mixed with everything I love in the world. I cannot stress this enough. This powerhouse of a book just assaulted me with its perfection. Where are the special editions? WHERE ARE THEY??

I don't know, you guys. I'm exhausted. The sugar high from that pie kept me up way too late. I gained two pounds. I have severe depression over never being able to write anything like this ever in my entire life. This review is not eloquent (are my reviews ever eloquent?) and I'm leaving out a lot that you don't need to know right now (unless you read other reviews) because this book is like the biggest Christmas present ever.

Again, thank you to NetGalley, and add me on Insta @celiamcmahonreads

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

Once I dove into this Chinese-inspired world of mechas with Wu Zetian at the helm, I didn't want it to end. Zetian is the feminist protagonist YA—and all of us—needs. This world is so set against her and other females, yet she keeps pushing against the males in her life who are intent on metaphorically (sometimes) beating her down into a pulp, forcing her to stop her mind from thinking and her body from freedom.

There is a semi-descriptive scene about Zetian's foot-binding *shudders* However, I think this physical disfiguration of her feet hooks into so many other parts of the story, least of all the foot-binding that was seen in Chinese culture. How can one run when they can barely walk? I think it is also important to note that Zetian uses a wheelchair through a good portion of the book!

I loved the mechas aspect (and these images from Xiran's twitter really help me to visualize them; see below!). Even without the visual aids—for example, the White Tiger—Xiran builds this world so well that its intricacies are not too difficult to follow. The mechas and piloting system were amazing channels to funnel the rage of Wu Zetian and spotlight the horrific misogyny against women that is seen too often.

On another note, the same mechas and sci-fi world creates a highly entertaining story full of twists and battle scenes that will leave you breathless. I also thought that the mental landscape pilots share were so interesting—because the two are linked, each other's memories are sometimes shared with the other party.

I can't talk about IRON WIDOW without talking about the poly power trio either (Zetian, Li Shimin, and Gao YIzhi)! Please, this boy Shimin, I cannot express all of my love for him (and his glasses!!). I found this romantic relationship refreshing, especially since IRON WIDOW is labeled as YA (which I agree with considering character age and voice). And, you know, this is a true "love triangle," which Zetian has said, is the strongest shape after all.

The poly relationship gives readers something to think about, particularly the relationships Zetian has with Shimin and Yizhi respectively. As Yizhi mentioned, Zetian loving him does not decrease her feelings for Shimin, nor vice versa.

IRON WIDOW also cuts into how the media has a role in creating celebrities. Even in the world of IRON WIDOW, pilots fighting in the war against the Hunduns are also there for entertainment value. For the media companies, the most important part is capturing the public's attention with these "celebrities," whether you love or hate them.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend IRON WIDOW! You truly do not want to miss this force of a novel.