Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 20%. It is not a bad book, and I was definitely still interested in where it was going. However, I could not keep up with what was happening. I was unable to picture anything or keep up with the terms. I think it's because I have recently realized that I am not a fantasy reader.

This book is so satisfying. I want to read ten more of it, like when you find your new favourite food, and eat it every day for a week.

*I did add this to my Goodreads, but I cannot seem to gather the link to place it below.

This was AMAZING! Truly one of the best books I've read in a long time. The pace was nonstop; the main character, Zetian, was unforgiving and vicious; and the twist at the end was so unexpected that it left me wanting the sequel immediately.

The author created such a vivid world that was so immersive and detailed that it felt like a real place. The world-building was so well done, and the characters were all dynamic and interesting.

I have nothing but praise for this book, and Xiran Jay Zhao deserves all the accolades for their writing. I can't wait to see what else they do!

The first thing I'm going to say about this book is that I cannot believe it took me so long to pick it up. It's been on my shelf since 2021 (I received it in my second-ever Illumicrate box), and yet I didn't pick it up until the very end of 2022, at the urging of several good friends of mine. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Iron Widow has all sorts of great things: feminism, battle robots, characters with dubious morals, queer representation, revenge, sarcasm, Chinese historical references, and more. Often dark but never bleak, this is a page-turner that you don't want to miss.

This was everything I didn't realize I needed in a book: a fast-paced blend of sci-fi action, incisive commentary on the patriarchy and gender roles, an intricately crafted futuristic world inspired by historical China (specifically, the rise of China's only female emperor), and a wonderfully supportive polyamorous relationship. There was drama, there was humor, there was a ton of questionable morality, there were vivid-but-not-overdone battle sequences...really, this one had it all. The plot flowed smoothly, never dragging, but never skimming where detail was needed either. I should probably note, this book is classified as YA, but it is definitely on the older end of that age range; note the applicable trigger/content warnings and proceed accordingly. (As an aside, I wouldn't have minded if this one was aged up to adult to really go all-in on its more awful components, but that's just a personal preference thing, not a criticism!)

I can't even pick a favorite character. Zetian, the feisty pilot dead-set on revenge with an "I can make him worse" mentality? An absolute icon. Yizhi, the Soft Boy wealthy scholar who fiercely loves Zetian? This boy deserves all the hugs. And Shimin, the Broody Boy full of righteous anger and secret depths? Phenomenal. All of them have spectacular development throughout, with confrontation of their own respective weaknesses and strengths and traumas, some pointed introspection (aided by a very literal exploration of each other's mental landscapes while piloting their battle robots), and an undercurrent of reluctant-but-genuine love for each other even in the face of an awful world.

And within those characters, there's plenty of diverse rep in this book: Chinese main characters, three of whom are in a poly relationship (MMF). This is just the second time I've read a book with a poly MC, and I'm glad to see that sort of relationship being normalized in more fictional stories (including a lovely metaphor here about how a triangle is the most stable shape). There is disability rep, too: Zetian has chronic pain and walks with a cane as a result of having her feet bound as a child, and Shimin struggles with alcoholism. While I can't speak to the accuracy of it (my chronic pain is very different), it is still great to see.

The closest thing I have to a complaint about this book is what a wild ending it had, because waiting for the sequel is absolutely killing me. The sheer number of twists in the final pages (especially the epilogue) was borderline unhinged, and yet, in the context of the story--particularly the historical narrative the story is based on--it made quite a lot of sense.

Final side note: if you haven't seen Xiran Jay Zhao's author bio and photo from the jacket of this book, look it up (it's the one with the cow onesie). I aspire to be half as cool as they are someday.

Now, enough of my yammering. Just go gather your rage about gender roles and read this spectacular book!

This was a lot of fun for me! There are mecha shaped like creatures from Chinese mythology, aliens throwing themselves against a Great Wall that must be battled, and a very angry girl who wants to burn it all down. I liked Zetian although she isn't going to be for everyone. She is full of rage, just done with everything, and plans to make everyone rue the day. But she has reasons: the society she is in regularly sacrifices girls so that boys will be more powerful in battle, she limps every day on bound feet that can never heal, and her family finds her valueless and only good for the money she can bring them. She rejects love from a privileged and gentle boy to get revenge, only seeing love as another trap.

Naturally this fire allows Zetian to be more successful than anyone planned in helping to pilot the mecha that battle against the alien Hunduns. She is paired with the most frightening pilot of all. She's got to figure out where the true power lies in this world so that she can defeat it all while her life is in danger.

This did not feel like a YA book to me- there's no theme of self-discovery or independence because Zetian is already there. She knows and accepts herself and dares to trust no one. It's a dark and angry book. It moves quickly and doesn't spend a lot of time on reflection. There were a couple of twists that it was fairly easy to see coming, but they were in service of the conflict that has been set up for the next book. I'll definitely read it to see if the author can stick the landing.

Really enjoyed this book I could not put it down. I definitely would recommend this book to other people

One of my personal failings is that I tend to find mechas utterly ridiculous. And yet. And yet. I came to Iron Widow for the escapism and polyamory and feminist rage, and I stayed for the sheer audacity and vengeful murder.
This book is the genetically engineered gen Z child of the most ostentatious mecha anime on the web, The Hunger Games at its most anti-established and media-critical peak, and classic patriarchal sci-fi dystopias like The Handmaid’s Tale. It was cringey and magnificent. It was messy and indulgent and is definitely not for everyone, but it’s also a raw, wild shriek that could be rage or could be laughter, and was probably often both, and I could not help but love it for that. Whether it’s a ride for you or not, Iron Widow will certainly blaze through the world of YA in flaming glory.

This book is astonishingly good. I adored the lore and legend worldbuilding the author has created. I can't wait to read what else she writes!

A fun book about giant fighting machines that draws loose inspiration from Chinese history and anime. Wu Zetian is a fun and extremely unhinged main character. It's action-packed with intense battles, both physical and spiritual, and reads as love letter to Chinese mythology and history with a heavy anime mecha influence.

Iron Widow is brilliant m! I was completely blown away by the world-building and aspects of both old and futuristic values and beliefs from aching and the world the futuristic melding of modern war through physic battles. It was fantastic dark gritty and beautiful. I truly highly recommend it!

Iron Widow is an incredible story about female strength, overcoming your fears/society's expectations of you, and finding your true self.

In Iron Widow we are following a young girl who lives in a society where females are expected to do one of two things - marry and become a mother OR become a "female pilot" that is essentially used as fuel in the battle machinery and die. Everyone is complacent to this even Zetian's family who already lost a daughter.

Zetian however is not satisfied with her options, so she volunteers herself as a female pilot in order to exact revenge on the male pilot who killed her sister.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I think that the characters interacted so beautifully together and I enjoyed the romance. I think it was just the right amount of romance for the action within the story to balance it all out. However, regardless of romance - I do wish we had gotten more "getting to know each other" scenes or the "build" to the romance. It did feel a tad like it came out of nowhere.

I cannot wait for the sequel and look forward to what we will see next.

I went into this book not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised! Once I got into it, I finished it in 2 days. I liked most of the protagonists and loved how the main character took back power over herself and her future, and also got revenge for everything that was taken from her and done to her. However, she was a little too morally grey for my liking. I understand wanting to do bad things to those that hurt you, but by the end, the lust for power got a little over the top. I still highly enjoyed reading and would recommend this to those that are interested in a different type of YA sci-fi book.

Xiran Jay Zhao's 'Iron Widow' was one of my favourite reads from last year, and I am still thinking about it. The world-building, characters and lore were excellent and wonderfully written, and it was a book that I couldn't (and didn't) want to put down.

I am super excited about the next book in the series and looking forward to a re-read of 'Iron Widow' before book two releases!

I like the mix of futuristic meets Chinese history meets girl power. I love that Zetian is hell bent on avenging her sister's death and has no qualms completing the task. I also love that she vacillates between wanting to protect her family and not caring about what happens to them. I am looking forward to reading Heavenly Tyrant, book #2 in the Iron Widow series (currently set to release August 2023) so that I can see what Zetian does next.

Overall, an entertaining story and I highly recommend.

Love, obsessed inspired. After reading this via netgalley I bought a physical copy to share with friends and display in my collection. Very immersive, almost visual reading experience. Thank you for the chance to read !

I LOVED THIS ONE.

my goodness what a wild ride.

I really enjoyed the characters, world, and honestly everything about it!

I couldn’t put it down!

This book crushed me in all of the best ways, for one thing I am so happy to see a poly relationship in a YA book, I am also so happy to know that this is not a stand a lone, because the ending wrecked me and I could not handle it ending the way it did if I didn't know there would be more. This was hands down one of my favorite reads of the year.

This book is soo tumblr lol.

Likes:
- how absolutely unhinged the three main characters are
- look I'm all for a good struggle over right/wrong, but sometimes having a character be totally chill with murder is fresh
- a super powerful dude who murdered his family? I knew he'd be depicted as hot and tragic and i was RIGHT
- I had a general idea of the twist, but what actually happened was a bit of a surprise
- the use of media/technology felt super natural and modern!

Dislikes:
- this book wasn't objectively good. The characters were one dimensional, their perspectives and beliefs just seemed "feminist!" without much thought about WHY they believed those things, and the second half of the book seemed a lot slower, bogged down by "girl power" lines every other paragraph

Overall, definitely enjoyable.

Wow! This book has such a combination of familiarity and complete originality that I don't think I've ever seen before. I love that Zetian is a character that doesn't back off and follows through no matter what. I'm really excited to see what happens in the sequel.

I think I prefer the concept of this much more than the execution. There are some things that didn't sit right as I was reading it.

I felt like the whole message was a bit lost in character inconsistency, and then it was there it kind of beat you over the head with it. Odd pacing didn't do this story any favors either. We have this really cool science fiction world with robots and yet it never felt fully fleshed out. We could use more sci-fi ya and I wish I could say this was a hit for me. I think if it was a poly romance relying solely on the Pacific Rim vibes.....let's be honest, it was more than a vibe, this would have been better. I think trying to mesh that world with a Handmaid's Tale style just really muddled the whole story and execution.

I truly wish I loved this because the cover for book two is incredible. I have seen a lot of positive reviews for this one, so maybe it just wasn't a book for me.