Iron Widow has a solid premise and, unfortunately, not much else.

I wanted very badly to love this novel, as I enjoyed all of its comp titles and I like what I've seen of Xiran on twitter. But Iron Widow feels a bit like a first rough draft where the writer was just getting the general beats down and not overly paying attention to anything else such as the world building, characterization, or pacing, or even making certain the characters' dialogue doesn't sound exactly the same.

Even accounting for the fact that English isn't Xiran's first language and the differences in storytelling norms between English and Chinese, the writing simply isn't good. It's very blunt, and while maybe that was the point as the novel is entirely in Zetian's POV and she's not a subtle person, I can't be sure about that. We're given no time to really pause and reflect on certain scenes or emotions, which leaves it all feeling shallow. Even Zetian's relationship with her Big Sister, who's the entire driving force behind the events of the novel, barely gets any mention. We're told everything and shown nothing.

It really seems as if the author only had a few scenes crystal clear in their head but had no interest in building the rest of the novel around those scenes in a way that made sense. There are a few bits of the novel that really shine, while the rest are hastily put together and shoved to the side so the author could get to the stuff they actually cared about. I couldn't really tell you a thing about the worldbuilding except that it's a Chinese sci-fi world where boys and girls have to fight aliens called Hunduns, and the girls are basically batteries for the boys and die in the process of the fighting.

Which brings me to Zetian's story: I could not, in any way, believe her arc because it made no sense. Where she ends up at the end of the novel is unbelievable; at several points in the story, she should have been stopped simply because she's about as subtle as a trainwreck on a boat and, frankly, not entirely smart about her plots. Readers looking for a character who manages to play the game intelligently and with subtlety should look elsewhere, because that's very much not Zetian's style, and while I understand that's what Jay Zhao was going for, it doesn't work. At all.

In a way, I think Iron Widow would have benefited incredibly from not being a YA novel--being an adult novel focused on teenage characters instead--and having multiple POVs. Zetian is limited in a lot of ways (including physically--she has bound feet, though at times it seems like Jay Zhao forgot about that, given that it doesn't overly impact Zetian's ability to do things that much) and the middle drags because we can't see how other pieces are being moved, if they're being moved at all. Given how the novel was written, I sort of doubt it; the characters come in when they're needed, do what the plot/Zetian's characterization and arc require them to do, and then leave, as if they don't exist outside of their on-page appearances or have an impact on the world outside of them.

And now my final, biggest issue with the novel: For all that it touts itself as a feminist novel, and for all that Zetian claims she wants to save girls, neither Zetian nor the novel seem to actually like other girls that much. Zetian is a prickly person, so I get that she wouldn't get along with everyone, but the novel itself doesn't treat girls other than Zetian that well. There's a difference between your character having some internalized misogyny issues and the writing backing her up on it by having every female character she encounters either be an enemy or get killed by the end of the novel. I don't require Zetian to never have a bad word to say about other girls or for the novel not to have antagonistic relationships between them, but her scenes with other girls are so scant and overwhelmingly negative. If feminism means only One True Awesome Girl, it's not one I'm interested in.

I did like the way the mecha functions, and I like that the love triangle resolves itself into an actual poly relationship. I wish the rest of the novel had been as good as some of the scenes inside, but unfortunately, it wasn't.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 5 Stars

Wow. Wow, wow wow. This book came out of freaking nowhere and hit me like a TRUCK. I literally just finished and I’m trying to gather my wits as I write this review. This was pitched as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaids Tale, and I definitely can see and agree with the comparison. Just…wow. Maybe I should step a way for a moment because I’m honestly still shook as hell from the ending. I can genuinely see that I didn’t see it coming.

Okay, thoughts are semi-composed now and I think I can coherently write a review. First of all Zetian is the kind of MC I wish I’d been lucky enough to read as a teenager. She’s strong, fiercely loyal, and firm in her convictions. The way she grew over the course of the book was perfect because you could see how the relationships she was forming shaped her, but she stayed just as badass and determined.

This book has a polyamorous relationship and it was so incredibly well done. Honestly, once things came together, I couldn’t see the three of them interacting any other way. The way the author wrote them, they just fit.

The mix of history and futuristic sci-fi was incredibly well done, and I loved the dystopian vibes that the book provided. The mental realm and the magic was unique. It took me a while to fully grasp and I can honestly say that I think I have so much left to learn, but I never felt overwhelmed by it, instead I was curious and hungry for more information. I can’t wait to see how things progress in the next book after the whirlwind ending of this first book. Holy crap, I still can’t fully processed everything that happened.

Thank you NetGalley, author Xiran Jay Zhao and publishing companies Penguin Random House Canada and Penguin Teen for providing a copy of Iron Widow for me to review! I first heard about this book from the author on her Youtube channel and I have been looking forward to reading the book ever since her announcement. My expectations were blown away and I have raved about this book to so many of my friends after I finished. If you like sci-fi stories with strong female protagonists, feminism, queerness, and action themes then this book is for you!

The strong female protagonist that I dearly support and root for is Wu Zetian, and she is the second daughter in a strongly patriarchal and traditional Chinese family. The story starts after her older sister gets sold to the army to become a concubine-pilot for a high-level pilot called Yang Guang and her sister dies after the battle. Pilots are soldiers that drive huge robot machines called Chrysalis that are powered by the pilot (all males) and the concubine-pilot's (all females) Qi to fight enemies called Hundun. The army and all of society see concubine-pilot's as essential sacrifices for the war but Wu Zetian sees it as murder. Armed with anger and the need for vengeance, Wu Zetian joins the army as a concubine-pilot but she's not going to go down alone.

I love Wu Zetian's drive, her ability to thrive in chaos, her constant mission to fight for feminism & equality, and her growth as a worthy pilot herself. She doesn't back away from hard choices, doesn't squirm at violence and blood, and can get pretty cold-hearted when it comes to killing and torture. At the same time, she has a soft spot for protecting vulnerable girls and she is capable of romantic love with both genders (so she's not a sociopath yay).

But as much as I support Wu Zetian and her badassery, my favorite character is actually Gao Yizhi. I like his loyalty, steadfastness, and personality. His sexual fluidity was a surprise to me since we don't really know that much about him other than being told he was bi and polyamorous. I feel like the reveal was pretty sudden since the book's setting was so conservative and heteronormative. I hope to learn more about Yizhi in the next book!

Overall I really liked reading the book, I feel like the story is very unique, and I would highly recommend it! Also, I want to mention that I love the Chinese culture and themes in the book and how there were Easter Eggs throughout like mentioning Sun Wukong. It's so fun to see all the lore integrated into a modern sci-fi story. I can't wait for the second book!

Like the promo copy says, it’s like Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale, inspired by Chinese history. There’s torture in this book and references to sexual assault. It centers on Xetian Wu, a rural girl fueled by rage and revenge. There's giant robots, murder, intrigue, and patriarchy smashing, I started reading it one evening and nearly stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish it, but convinced myself to do the sensible thing and go to sleep. But it was a close thing. Also, there’s a poly triad in it, which I was not expecting in a teen/ya novel. The one drawback is that it will clearly have a sequel or be a trilogy and there will necessarily be a wait before finding out what happens next.

I loved it. Go read it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You’re going to want to snap up a copy of Iron Widow, ASAP. It’s unlike any other YA SFF I’ve read before - feels like a turning point in the genre. What’s more, it’s wickedly entertaining and deliciously binge-worthy. Definitely up there in my top 5 (of 200+) reads from 2021 so far!

This book was EVERYTHING a YA fantasy should be. I devoured Iron Widow in just a couple sittings, so intrigued by Zetian. I loved how this book expertly combined fantasy/sci-fi elements with a retelling of the rise of China's first empress. It was chock full of feminist firepower, polyamorous and LGBTQ+ rep, and Chinese mythology and history featuring Qi-powered robots. Also, this book's ending was absolutely mindblowing and had me ready for book #2 already. Additionally, this book does a great job of being a sci-fi, without too much science jargon that it's overwhelming for readers who don't typically stray into sci-fi. I'd say the worldbuilding and characters lend well to fantasy, despite the robots and futuristic tech.

*I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book is a smash.

Think The Wrath and the Dawn meets Mobile Suit Gundam. It's a satisfying scifi/fantasy with strong Chinese historical and mythological roots. It's fresh, fun, and feminist. It feels like a timeless addition to the genre and everything in a book that I didn't know I needed, I love the characters, and in some cases, love to hate the characters.

I'm sad that I got this as an arc because that means I have to wait the longest amount of time for the sequel. It's a well-rounded fantasy that shouldn't scare off those that tend to be overwhelmed by the genre. It's a big book but the pacing is so well done that you don't ever feel bogged down. It's such a satisfying read, but craft-wise it's an absolute testament.

This book will punch you in the gut and you'll thank the author.

I think that's all I can say about this book without ruining it. Do yourself a favor and do not sleep on this one.

This book was amazing. A futuristic sci-fi retelling of the only female emperor of China, Iron Widow took an already fascinating story and elevated it even further. Zhao wove together a fantastic narrative that sprinkled in pieces of the world that set up the climactic ending perfectly.

Iron Widow combined this sci-fi setting with giant mechas fighting to protect their provinces with the heartbreaking reality of the role of women in China from the past. Touching on the practice of foot binding and the dangers of purity it was difficult at times to read the experiences that the characters went through but I thought that Zhao did a wonderful job at expressing the harm of a patriarchal society. Wu Zetian is our main character, and she volunteers to be a concubine to a pilot of one of the Chrysalises (the mechas) in order to avenge her sister who died after also volunteering. It was heart wrenching to read this depiction of women and their throwaway status in this society. I'm glad that Zetian was such a strong and bitter person. She often ran on spiteful fumes and yet it accomplished her so much. I loved her as a main character and I look forward to seeing what else she is capable of.

Now all the characters in this were spectacular. Morally grey and scheming I adored watching Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi come together. They worked in such an unexpected manner and I genuinely can't wait to read more about them in the next book. Polyamory is the way to go when there are two love interests. But I really did respect the way that Zhao created these characters. They all had trauma and they all have a lot to learn but they found ways to work together and I thought that this was an amazing set up for the second book. I will be impatiently waiting to get my hands on that!

This book was AMAZING! I had so much fun following along with this morally grey main character. And giant mecha bots battling metal space aliens….UM HELL YES. It honestly reminded me of the end of Power Rangers episodes when they would all come together to form a big battle robot to fight the enemy.

The amount of times that I snorted or burst out laughing because the main character did or said something unexpected were too many to count. Zetian had my heart from the first couple pages and I was rooting for her. She reminded me a lot of Harley Quinn.

There is LGBTQ+ rep in this book and I was happy to see that as well. It was done in a way I haven’t seen before and it was pretty cool.

I am so excited to continue this series and will definitely be picking up the next one when it comes out.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a science fiction, fantasy novel following Wu Zetian in a reimagining of China's first and only female emperor - not an alternate history story or a historical fantasy novel. Iron Widow is set in a world of its own that is inspired by figures in Chinese history, as said by Xiran Jay Zhao. This novel contains the best kind of love triangle you can find - one that ends up as a polyamorous relationship. This novel started off with a content warning, allowing a reader prepared for what kind of material to expect while reading.
Wu Zetian enlists as a concubine-pilot to kill the pilot responsible in the death of her older sister. She becomes the Iron Widow and ends up paired with a different pilot. In the book, there is bisexual representation, and disability representation. The latter of which is through Wu Zetian herself as she was a victim/survivor of foot binding.
While reading, I went on a journey of emotions; rage, horror, embarrassment, grief. This novel actually had a plot twist that I didn't see coming and left me shocked. Hint: it's in the epilogue.
I'll gladly read the next book if/when it gets released.

Like some other reviewers, I really wanted to love this story. I tried to read it for over a month and it just never drew me in. Right off the bat, it felt like a technical description of a bad video game and lost me. The world building and history of what was going on was non-existent! I ended up skimming and I don’t think I missed anything. I wish I hadn’t tried for a month to read it.

I wanted to love this book so bad and I am so disappointed right now. I feel like this honestly could have been such a good book if the author rewrote it a couple more times.

Iron Widow is described as Handmaid’ Tale meets Pacific Rim featuring a polyamorous relationship. And for once in a long line of YA tag lines, this is actually a pretty good description. Our main character lives in a world that has been taken over by aliens - we don’t know much more about the aliens then that - and in order to fight back and keep them at bay, male pilots use giant machines and their Qi power to use the machines and kill the aliens. And in order to make sure that the males have a perfect life they are given concubines to assist with piloting and also making sure their every need is satisfied.

My main issue with the story was the writing. It felt like a Wattpad story that I would have read years ago in which the main character is so different and special and also tortured. Our main character has a terrible life. Her family is mean to her, her sister was killed in the war (the only family member she liked), her country is forcing her to become a concubine, her feet are bound and therefore she walks with a limp, but she is also really outspoken and wants to save the women from becoming sacrifices. I hated how her whole family was so mean to her especially the women which made no sense. And I hated how every interaction she had with another female was so limited and so awful.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the story with the exception of the end. I found the end to be a little crazy especially the epilogue. But I thought the way that the story progressed was at a fast-pac and had quite a few twists and turns. I wish we had gotten to spend a little more time in the world that the author built and learn more about why things were the way they were or how they started using these machines.

I enjoyed the polyamorous relationship although it was mostly background. But I liked how it actually made sense and was true triangle.

I would probably not pick up the next book as I felt like the ending put the story in a weird place to continue.

The perfect combination of angry feminist reimagination of Chinese history (first Chinese female emperor? sign me up!) and mecha sci-fi. Reading this book had been an entirely new experience, with many exhilarating moments that are permeated with meaningful themes so masterfully weaved together with both traditional and modern, futuristic sensibilities. I definitely had so much fun reading this book and would gladly devour its sequel when it comes out.

This book was absolutely fantastic! I will be recommending this to so many of my customers.

I highly recommend to anyone who likes historical SFF. The author does specifically state that she was not trying to be historically accurate, but was inspired by historical figures across Chinese history. I do still think that if you like historical SFF this is a great option.

A powerful female character fighting back against the patriarchy in a way I wish I had been able to read when I was a teenager.

Even though this book is marketed as a YA title, I did not feel like it fell into the pitfalls of most YA novels. While there were some cringe romance moments, there were very few and I was only pulled out of the story once or twice. (Which is what made this book 4.5 stars instead of 5.) This story also includes a polyamorist relationship that I thought was extremely well done.

CW: rape, mentions of rape, alcoholism, general murder/gore.

I received an advanced copy of Iron Widow through Netgalley so I could share my review with you!

Content Warning: Iron Widow contains scenes of murder, violence, gore, torture, suicide ideation, domestic and parental abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, footbinding, misogyny and sexism, discussion and scenes involving sexual abuse, alcohol additiction, withdrawls, torture, and death.

Zetian is out for revenge, and she doesn’t care who has to die for her to get it. The world around Zetian is structured to keep women down, ordering them into positions of subservience in a system of dual pilot war-bots. Each of these machines, called Chrysalises, requires a male and a female pilot, but their roles are anything but equal. The male pilots survive battle after battle, gaining fame and fortune from their roles on the war front, while the female concubine pilots are used as nothing more than batteries, to be discarded at the end of each battle when they’ve been burned out. After her sister lost her life to one of the most famous pilots, Zetian enlists as a concubine pilot with a single mission; she is going to kill the man that murdered her sister, even if it costs her everything.

You can get your copy of Iron Widow now from Penguin Teen!

Once every handful of months, I come across a book that I wish I could give a rating higher than five stars. Iron Widow has easily earned this title, with its amazing plot, characters, and world-building earning it six solid-gold stars! This is easily one of the strongest debut novels I’ve ever read, and I will be itching for the sequel until it comes out next year. Of all the things that made Iron Widow such an amazing read, I think that what set it apart for me was the perfect pacing of the story. There was never a moment where I was bored, yet there was still plenty of time for world-building and character development. With such high stakes, it would have been easy for the story to feel rushed, but that was never the case. And as a side note, the author’s twist on the classic love triangle trope was sheer perfection. From here on out, I will only be accepting polyamorous love triangles, because Xiran Jay Zhao has ruined me for anything else!

My Recommendation-
If you loved Gearbreakers, In the Ravenous Dark, or She Who Became the Sun, you need to pick up a copy of Iron Widow! I would especially recommend this book to readers searching for a story with a ruthless female protagonist, who is willing to do whatever it takes to get revenge!

I cannot and will not stop thinking about this book. It is one of the best books, not just of the year but ever!

I had the highest expectations going in because I’ve been following the author and seeing them talk so much about this book, I was so eager to read it because it just sounded like something fresh and unique and it was!

The way the author tackled the polyamorous relationship was so beautiful to me, I have watched and read other stuff about polygamy but I’ve never seen it be handled so beautifully. I literally had tears in my eyes. And it was done very tasteful too which was needed because it’s a YA book for teens!

The characters have my whole heart. I especially love our MC, I know she is supposed to be unlikeable but that is exactly why I love her. She is unapologetic. She is fierce. She is herself. She is a force and I think we need more characters like hers!

The ending really had me SCREAMING and I cannot wait for the next book! This is seriously one of the most amazing books I’ve read and I’ve been recommending it to everyone who will listen!

I LOVE history and I have such trouble with sci-fi, but the balance Xiran Jay Zhao strikes in this book was, for me, perfect. The creativity with which these figures in Chinese history were woven into this world with striking misogynistic systems was incredible. Though it's hard for me to weigh elements of this book against each other - it was honestly entirely well done - I must say the characters struck me the most. AND THE POLY REP??? *chef's kiss*

This story was a fast read, it definitely has a lot of similarities to Pacific Rim. I enjoyed the military and the fighting aspects. There were several times when I found the writing and the sequence of events very confusing. Also the description of the invading aliens, as well how this special metal works was not completely clear. There was a lot of action, fast paced and intense moments throughout. This world is very heartbreaking, especially for how it values women in the society. I loved the ending. There was a lot going on and I am curious as to where the story is going to head. I did enjoy this book but it did not blow me away. I would still definitely check it out.
Trigger warnings: rape, mutilation, death and abuse.
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this book!!! The world, the romance, the dark elements!! IRON Widow is one of the most compelling sci-fi fantasies I’ve read!!!!!

4.5 stars

Well, this book just throws you in and NEVER. STOPS. And wow, what a journey.

Iron Widow is billed as a Pacific Rim meets Handmaid's Tale reimagining of China's only female emperor and this description is incredibly on point. From page one, the reader is thrown into the world of Huaxia, where our main character Zetian willingly offers herself up as a concubine-pilot so that she can assassinate the male pilot who murdered her sister. What starts as a classic revenge story becomes so much more as Zetian rails against the oppressive world she lives in, where girls are treated as commodities, sacrificed to male pilots in the name of a war effort against the alien robots that plague their lands. As Zetian learns about and embraces her own powers, she is paired with Li Shimin, the strongest pilot around who is widely feared after he murdered his family. But Zetian is no longer afraid as she sets out topple the system that has oppressed girls like her for so long.

As I said above, this book is just...wow. Just non-stop action and empowerment balanced with introspective character moments that took my breath away. I do think this book was hard to read at times in the same way that reading/watching Handmaid's Tale has always been hard for me - it's tough to see women and girls trapped in a system that devalues them so extensively, so please note the content warnings here, including rape and murder. That said the moments of strength and sheer will from Zetian are so inspiring this book left me feeling amped up and ready to smash down some walls and tear down the patriarchy. Oh and the love triangle here? Literally one character says to Zetian "you'd better not be tangled up in a love triangle" to which she responds "don't you know basic geometry?...a triangle is the strongest shape" and boy howdy this book leans into that and I am here for it. Love this poly/queer rep - it's so great to see. The end of this book was mind-blowing and all I could do is nervously giggle and say "wtf?" repeatedly out loud so it's safe to say I can't wait for book 2.

I will say I found some of the language here to be anachronistic and it occasionally took me out of the story but it wasn't a huge issue as the characters and story always brought me back into it. I am also not a huge sci fi person and while I was into the story this means that my eyes did glaze over some of the world-building stuff from time to time, but again this is a minor quibble. All in all, I definitely recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next book and whatever else the author writes.

Thank you very much to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc!