*Heavenly Tyrant* (Iron Widow, Book 2) by Xiran Jay Zhao is a thrilling continuation of the series, delivering even more action, political intrigue, and sharp social commentary. Picking up where *Iron Widow* left off, the novel delves deeper into the complexities of its fierce protagonist, Zetian, as she navigates the harsh and dangerous world of mecha battles, rebellion, and power struggles. Zhao’s signature blend of brutal world-building, feminist themes, and bold characters continues to captivate, offering a relentless pace and a narrative that doesn’t shy away from difficult questions about society, war, and justice. The stakes are higher, the emotional conflicts more intense, and the relationships more complicated. *Heavenly Tyrant* is a must-read for fans of the first book, as it expands the story’s depth while maintaining its electrifying energy.

An amazing follow-up to Iron Widow. Unsurprisingly and amazing discussion of power and gender. It was a long wait for this book, but I'm so excited to share it with readers in my community.

I love this author and am anxiously waiting to recommend this book to customers. It isn't a series that appealed to me on the surface, but the social issues and responses are perfect for readers who enjoy dystopian fantasy plot.

Heavenly Tyrant follows Zetian as she finds herself in the seat of power in Huaxia and has to share power with a dangerous man she can’t depose. The two have many different ideas about how they’re going to destroy the misogynist and corrupt system of their country. But Zetian has to work with him to take down their common enemy who holds one of Zetian’s loved ones hostage. With great political unrest undermining her at every turn, Zetian has figure out if she can find a way to be a fair and just ruler or succumb to ruling with fear and violence in her quest for vengeance.

Heavenly Tyrant picks up right where Iron Widow left off, which is such a relief after waiting so long for this sequel. Heavenly Tyrant is definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year and finally getting to read it was so exciting. It was so nice to be back in this world and getting to see more of it. The whole concept of this series is so unique and awesome. This sequel is definitely a much slower pace than Iron Widow, but I found I quite enjoyed the politics and the set-up this pacing builds up. There’s a lot of really important conversation that takes place that really mirrors our world.

Zetian is, as per usual, one of my favourite female main characters I’ve ever read. She’s so full of rage and vengeance while also having flaws and it just makes her such an enjoyable character to read about. I loved seeing her growth in this novel and I can’t wait to see where book three takes everything. I really enjoyed the introduction of Qin Zheng and thought he was a great addition to the story. His dynamic with Zetian was really interesting.

Overall, this is a really great sequel and if you loved Iron Widow, I’d obviously recommend checking this out! Can’t wait to see what happens in book three!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

After some quite drastic decisions, Zetian now finds herself with a lot of power in Huaxia. If not the most powerful person in Huaxia. However, those decisions showed her some dark secrets about her world that seem impossible to conquer. Those revelations are what force her to work with a dangerous man who helped her survive the previous battle.

As political unrest starts to take hold in Huaxia and revolution sparks throughout the country, Zetian has to figure out what side she is on. Can she become a good ruler or will she fall back on fear and violence?

Thanks to Tundra Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao! I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this book ever since reading Iron Widow back in 2021. For the most part, I’m happy to say that this sequel didn’t disappoint!

The pacing in this book is quite a bit slowed down from the first book, which I think was important for building the world and the revolution that Zetian ends up fighting for. There are a lot of parallels between the inequalities in Zetian’s world and the inequalities in our own. Zhao mentions in the end that this was purposeful; they really wanted to make capitalism the enemy. There were only a few moments where I felt like it was too focused on the politics and the explanations of why things had to change, but for the most part it was worked into the story well.

As with Iron Widow, a lot of this book is about the difference between the way girls and boys are treated. Zetian does make it her goal to change this for future generations, challenging other leaders in just accepting everything the way it was before. Zetian is still very angry in this book (understandably so), and that rage is definitely a focus of the overall story.

We get to meet some new characters in this one, and Zhao worked in some plot twists that make the story still feel exciting despite the slower pace. Even though I think this was originally supposed to be a duology, that ending makes it seem like there’s definitely going to be a third book.

If you’ve been eagerly anticipating this book like me, I hope it meets your expectations! I know it met mine.

I was excited to read this; I liked Iron Widow so much that we added 10 copies to our school collection for lit circles and book club. Book two in the series was a big no for me, unfortunately. I no longer liked the main character nor did I root for her. I hated the enemies to lovers plot.

I appreciate the ARC but did not enjoy this book.

I feel so bad, I DNF'd at 28%, beginning of Chapter 13. I believe I'm experiencing "Middle Book Syndrome" with this book. The soon to be released cover is absolutely stunning, but I feel that Zetian has lost her end game. From what I read, it feels rushed but not rushed... make sense? I understand that she needs to learn how to wield her new found power, but she doesn't have the same main goal as she did as in the beginning of the first book. Her main goal was to avenge her sister (which she did) and help all women, why did that change?? I know I will eventually come back to this book in the near future because I absolutely LOVED Iron Widow and knowing that this is not the absolute finished product of Heavenly Tyrant, things can definitely be different in the final copy. And if they are, then I truly hope that Zetian's main focus is found again and stuck with.
Also, book 1 started off so strong and the prologue for 2 was beautiful, I thought for sure we were jumping right back in to action packed dialogue, but to me it just seemed drab.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to release day. I am much obliged but I don't feel right leaving an actual rating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.75ish/5 stars.

That rating pained me to give, but this was kind of a let down compared to Iron Widow. Like, I still loved it and the concept, but also 90% of the plot twists and changes and conflicts and everything else I was just like ?!?!?!!? It also felt like I was just reading a manifesto...which is valid and I also love seeing it in new adult/upper YA.

Zetian does find herself in multiple situations, and I do think most of the time she reacts fairly given that a lot of them take away her autonomy or her decisions...but it almost felt repetitive at some point. The whole "gods" twist also expanded a lot of the world building, but it's lacking the solid foundation to make it a meaningful world building. Nothing has been resolved...which also makes sense since apparently there are MORE BOOKS? But also it was frustrating at the end once again.

Okay, look, it wasn't bad but I didn't devour it like I did Iron Widow...it just felt....muddy almost? I still think this is ground breaking literature though, especially in its persistent commentary and criticisms of society.

It’s probably going to take a while for me to fully organize my thoughts on this book but here’s a first pass: Xiran knows what they’re doing. There’s so much here that works, that is spectacular. The character work is particularly commendable. Zetian’s justification machine whirrs on as she gains more power and distances herself from the direct consequences and daily turnings of violent revolution. She’s a truly believable teen empress here, both full of rage and flaws that limit her effectiveness amidst a system that, while attempting to liberate the working class, has forgotten that women are a part of it. The action sequences are, once again, stellar at every turn. I loved the zooming out into the greater world of Huaxia and the universe beyond, and while our girl has a country to liberate a part of me certainly wouldn’t be mad about getting more time in space later!

Speaking of, THERE IS A BOOK THREE?! where and when, because I’m concerned and excited in equal measure.

Now for why I’m not making this a 5 star read for me:

I think some of the book’s impact was lost in its somewhat bloated middle. The pacing and plot progression of the first and last acts had me in a chokehold, but there was some pacing trouble and meandering between them that I think could have used an editor’s touch. From what I understand there was some breakdown in the author/editor working relationship, and I hate to say the book did suffer from it. Books aren’t the sole brain children of one person, but are scaffolded by an army, and I do feel that loss here. I understand the zoom out that was necessary to show the far-reaching repercussions of seizing power via essentially a military coup, but some of it felt…kind of like it was copy and pasted out of a zoomed out timeline of the rise and fall of other authoritarian regimes. Especially since the counter-revolutionary movement felt so fangless and ultimately like, non-essential compared to the false gods and hunduns.

I support this series and this author and will continue to do so. Will recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Things I already knew before reading:
(1) I have been waiting for this sequel since I read Iron Widow in December 2022. However, most fans have been waiting since September 2021( the month in which Book 1 was published). To say this sequel was eagerly anticipated is understating the feelings we have all been going through.
(2) Iron Widow was a 5-star read for me. Admittedly, it can be dangerous to do that to a series but I still stand by it.
(3)Zetian is an unapologetic and compelling female protagonist. I do compare many other female protagonists to her.
(4) I am not a sci-fi fantasy fan. This series is and I am digging it.


Things I know from reading this book
(1) A lot of my favourite authors have often stated book 2 in a series is challenging.
(2) Heavenly Tyrant is a lot more about the world-building and politics. A lot of dialogue about revolutions.
(3) I follow the author on TikTok and I heard their voice constantly as I was reading this book.

TW: VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, BODY HORROR, MASS MURDER, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS, DISCUSSIONS OF REPRODUCTIVE COERCION, Allusions TO CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, Miscarriage, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Sexual Assault, and Suicide.


Final Verdict: I am still in love with this series. Zetian certainly is put through the wringer in this one. I like the writing, the characters and the many conflicts that surround the book. I just wanted something more to happen. On the other hand, I will only really grow to appreciate Book 2 when I read Book 3. LOL! That's probably not the best way to describe it but it is what is coming to my mind now.


Expected Publication 24/12/24
Goodreads Review 07/12/24

**e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
I was SUPER excited to get an early copy of Heavenly Tyrant. I was in love with the Iron Widow and now I’m in love with the series! It did not disappoint! It’s a little slower-paced, with more focus on big-picture revolutions, but it still dives deep into those powerful conversations about feminism that made the first book so captivating and relatable.
I absolutely adored this sequel. It hit all the right notes. It slumped a bit in the middle, but the ending was so fast past. I sped through the last hundred pages in like a second, I could not put the book down! The only downside? I really thought this was going to be a duology, so now I have to wait for the next book to find out how it all ends! Bu, totally worth it! I’m already looking forward to rereading both Iron Widow and Heavenly Tyrant when the next book comes out.

*Heavenly Tyrant* (Iron Widow, Book 2) by Xiran Jay Zhao is an exhilarating continuation of the series, packed with high-stakes action, emotional depth, and unapologetic empowerment. The story picks up where the first book left off, with the protagonist, Zetian, confronting even greater challenges as she seeks vengeance and power in a brutal, war-torn world. Zhao’s world-building is rich and immersive, blending futuristic technology with Chinese mythology in a way that feels both original and compelling. The character development is stellar, with Zetian’s growth as both a leader and an individual central to the plot. The novel delves into themes of power, agency, and the cost of rebellion, exploring complex moral questions without shying away from their consequences. *Heavenly Tyrant* is bold, emotional, and relentless in its pacing, offering an unforgettable reading experience. Fans of the first book will be thoroughly captivated by this thrilling, action-packed sequel.

After flying through book one, I was both excited and weary to immediately jump into book two, knowing how long it's been since book one. A lot of what I enjoyed about book 1 definitely didn't feel like it was super present in book 2. And while I realize that book.2 is a 'filler' book for lack of better terms in a trilogy series, I was excited for this book to give me something to have me gripped to go into book 3.

I really do love the premise of this book, and the character growth really continues to grow with the characters in Heavenly Tyrant, especially with Wu Zetian, but I do feel like this book just didn't satisfy the high I was feeling after book one. With how political this book and its story is, a lot of the time it felt like the politics of it all overshadowed the rest of the story arcs so much to the point where I started getting bored towards the end of it.

All in all, it was still a good read, and I'm curious to see where book 3 lands us!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

4.5 stars!

Thank you to Xiran Jay Zhao and Tundra Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, unbiased review!

*Chefs kiss* The mess, the political intrigue, the betrayals, the twists, the DRAMA. While it's a lot different from Iron Widow I think people will like how much Heavenly Tyrant maintains and elevates the important themes of the book, as well as keeping all of the humor and wildness. God knows I'm going to be fighting for my life waiting for book 3.

Firstly, I love the nuance of this addition to the series. We love a burn-it-all-down revolution but the times of greatest turmoil in history aren't usually during revolutions, but afterwards when all of the sects are fighting to fill the power vacuum. In that was this kind of reminds me of Mistborn where, great, you defeated the big evil guy but the big evil guy had a lot of friends and maintained a lot of structure and maybe the politics of said evil guy and the guy (gender-neutral in this case) you want to replace him with are a little more complicated than you thought. It's all a horrible mess, and therefore wildly entertaining. I love the characters so much, especially still Wu Zetian just knocking complex characterization out of the park. Yizhi is unsurprisingly a little more complicated as hinted by the first book, although I wish we got more of him. Qin Zheng is a very interesting addition character-wise, and I loved his arc but even moreso I'm curious to see how other people will respond to it. I can't say much about the plot or world-building without spoilers but I can tell you that I ate it all up. It's a little slower and more distinct-feeling at points, but the payoff is really satisfying.

That is, until the next cliffhanger.

Happy reading!

I am frustrated with this sequel. Much of what I loved about the Iron Widow is missing from this book. Wu Zetian has become Empress, but at what cost? Li Shimin is all but dead, Yizhi has left her to play politician and Emperor Qin Zheng has effectively become her captor and only champion in a Huaxia on the verge of political and economic revolution.

It doesn’t satisfy my soul. I loved Wu Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi and their collective teamwork for challenging the status quo in book 1. This book was sold to me as a lot of political action and I don’t have problems understanding the politics or what they are supposed to make me feel- but it’s done with a complete lack of nuance. It argues political theory for like 80% of the book and it honestly just became so grating that by the plot got picked back up at the end of the book I just didn’t care anymore. It just a manifesto and it was exhausting.

Heavenly Tyrant is a great follow-up to Iron Widow. Building on the political and human side of the world where the first built on the heavy sci-fi and fantasy elements. It brings more depth to beloved characters and the twists were perfectly worked out.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the early copy !!!

This was an absolutely stunning follow-up to Iron Widow. Albeit, the first half was slower paced but filled to the brim with political intrigue as Zetian adjusts to the position of Empress she literally threw herself into. But once the court politics settle and the action ramps up, Xiran takes action from the first novel and dials it even more intensely. The ending had me genuinely so stunned that I scrolled through the final pages on my Kindle open-mouthed, jaw on the floor.

Heavenly Tyrant is undoubtedly a fabulous sequel to Iron Widow that somehow managed to surpass my high expectations. I shall be eagerly awaiting Xiran's next project :)

This sequel exceeded all my expectations, and honestly, I couldn’t put it down! Zetian’s journey picks up with even higher stakes, and I found myself completely absorbed in the complex world of Huaxia. What stood out to me most was how the author brilliantly blends political intrigue with emotional depth, especially when it comes to the struggle for power. Zetian’s fight for control, against both external enemies and her own instincts, felt raw and real.

The feminist perspective in this book was powerful. Empress Wu, despite being the most powerful woman in the land, constantly faces the challenge of not being able to access true power. It was heartbreaking to watch, but incredibly inspiring to see her find her moments of agency and strength. This exploration of women’s roles in a patriarchal system really hit home for me, and I think it’s something many people can relate to.

I also loved how the author delves deeper into Zetian’s relationships with other women, which adds so much richness to the story. The dynamic between her and Qin Zheng was both intense and heartbreaking—seeing them struggle to trust each other while working together was fascinating.

The plot was full of twists, and I couldn’t stop turning pages to see what would happen next. I’m so excited for the next book in the series—this one has truly set a high bar!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If Iron Widow was setting up the world and the stakes, Heavenly Tyrant is giving you the deeper political machinations in the world and I LOVED it! It felt quite different from the first installment, but well worth the wait! It's a smidge slower in pacing, but it needs to be. You need to feel every moment!

All of Huaxia knew that Wu Zetian was utterly merciless and absolutely dripping with the qi needed to power a giant battle mech, but no one expected her to track down the legendary emperor Qin Zheng, awaken him from cryosleep, and use his dragon mech to literally smash the patriarchy. The duo are a match made in hell, and their special brand of ruthlessness is just what Huaxia needs if it's going to become an egalitarian society. Zetian battles reactionaries, revolutionaries, her husband, and the gods themselves, but overall there is more political scheming and less action than book one.