I'm not usually the biggest fan of Sci-fi or historical fiction but I saw the authors post on TikTok about the poly rep in the book and decided to give it a shot. And let me say, it was absolutely worth it.

The relationship in this was everything to me. It wasn't the main focus, but the attention to building a strong bond between the three characters was so well done. I haven't seen many poly relationships in books, but this one was represented in a very respectful manner. There was never any competition with anyone, and the communication and intention between everyone was clear. This was the main reason I decided to pick up the book and it did not disappoint.

I loved the writing in this novel. It was clear and easy to understand, especially for someone like me who doesn't read much Sci-fi. I especially enjoyed this in the world building and how it managed to mesh Chinese history and these futuristic elements together. The world building in this book was immaculate. The pacing was perfect for this story, giving the right amount of time to see the characters develop and learn about them whilst also managing to keep the main plot clear and concise.

This is described as a feminist story, and rightly so. The main character, Zetian, is faced with the societal and familial obligations set by the patriarchy, especially in the beginning, but it spans throughout the novel. Instead, she decides to take none of that shit and do what needs to be done. All of this was so well connected with the historical aspects of the story. It used aspects of Chinese history, incorporating this misogyny and the fight against it within the Sci-fi elements of the story as well.

I hadn't realised that this was a series, but I'm so excited for the sequel, even though this one isn't even out yet.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and the author for this free, digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
is a post-war dystopian fantasy marvel! I loved this book!

“Nobody in this world hates women in general. They just hate the ones who won’t listen. Who think they can break the rules and get away with it. “

Zetian is the second born daughter in a family that thinks a girl’s purpose is to benefit her family, even if that results in her death. Set on avenging her older sister’s death she enlists to be a pilot with the goal of assassinating the man who killed her sister. All while being linked to a male who will use her qi to add strength to his own power while piloting Chrysalises, giant transforming robots in a war beyond the Great Wall. A job that puts her at risk of certain death.

In a dystopian world where girls lives are dispensable and males are dominant , Zetian shows the male pilots and the leaders that girls are not to be underestimated. Macha, aliens, romance and a powerful female heroine make this book a must read! In this powerful book about crushing the patriarchy, Xiran Jay Zhao addresses the history of the gongdou traditions. This is a powerful book that addresses misogyny and oppression with a strong LQBTQIA+ love triangle. I honestly can not express how much I enjoyed this book

Fans of The Hunger Games and Girls of Paper and Fire will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As this has a science fiction element, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it, but decided to give it a shot anyway and I’m glad I did.

Iron Widow is a blazing example of female rage and the examination of misogyny within a young adult fantasy/science-fiction novel. Before explaining the events of the novel, it’s important to understand the premise of the world: giant mech suits that require a man and woman to pilot, where the woman acts like a battery until she dies. They must use these suits to battle invading creatures and this is just accepted within the society.
Specifically, Iron Widow follows Wu Zetian, a girl whose older sister had been killed after becoming a concubine pilot, who swears vengeance against the pilot who killed her and offers herself up as a concubine pilot to be able to kill him. But when she’s selected and becomes a concubine, she ends up killing the pilot with the psychic link and becomes known as the Iron Widow. Since pilots are a sort of celebrity, the government can’t kill or properly imprison her, so they must use her and pair her with another prisoner pilot in an attempt to keep her in check.
After this pairing, Zetian has to find her place with her new partner and is properly sucked into the world of piloting, and stardom, and the never ending war the pilots fight in, all of it a lot more than it seems.

I read this book in a single night and my first thought was I absolutely LOVED how unhinged Zetian is. She wants vengeance at any costs, she gets it, she’s brutal and ruthless and unapologetic and straightforward. Very much a morally gray or villain protagonist. She is critical and where we see her dissection of the rampant misogyny within her society. I think this is where the book shined brightest. However, I will note that due to complete lack of important female characters or friendships, there were a few “not like the other girls” vibes/moments. Ultimately I could overlook it since I loved her but I wish there were more women in this book (more specifically women with who she has positive relationships with)

I also enjoyed the romances… yes, you read that right. Plural. Poly triad! One interest felt a little more compelling and genuine than the other love interest, but I enjoyed both.

Representation was great: all non-white characters (think Chinese and Mongolian people in fantasy setting) polyamory, and the three are bisexual. Zetian is also disabled (her feet are bound and makes it extremely hard and painful for her to walk)

While the system of the mech suits and energy used were well done, I think the world-building itself was a bit lacking. Again, this can be remedied in future books.

So many moments in this had me gasping “wtf!” or giggling in delight. I couldn’t put it down. It wasn’t perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly look forward to where the series goes in the future. But given the tendency for any book series with a villainess main character is having them die at the end, I’m a little nervous, not gonna lie. Please don’t do that to us, kind author.

This book is phenomenal. I had so many expectations going into Iron Widow, and it's safe to say that Xiran Jay Zhao knocked them all out of the park.
Effortlessly balancing a commentary on gender roles and sexism in cultures while developing a world that's intricate and engaging, Iron Widow is a truly remarkable book--one that is already a favorite of mine. I love stories that explore what it means to be a teenager figuring yourself out, while also having to deal with a world that's fighting against you, and I think that Zhao handled it wonderfully. The writing was fresh and modern--a result of its taking place in the future--but maintained the aura of Ancient Chinese civilization. I loved all three of the protagonists, and their chemistry with each other was unmistakable. I enjoyed the polyamorous relationship between them, and how their love triangle wasn't reduced to two men fighting over a single girl. But what really makes this book memorable is Wu Zetian. Zetian's agency is her own. She's never doing anything because people tell her to, she's doing it because that's what she wants to do. And in stories like this, it's important to have characters who show you that while the institution is horrendous, not everyone is going to ignore the problems it exerts onto society.
All in all, Iron Widow was thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to reading more by Xiran Jay Zhao in the future.

How do I begin to put all my thoughts into this book? Iron Widow was written phenomenally with outstanding world building and heart breaking conflicts. Every chapter had a significant purpose and the pacing was nice and fast, I was fully immersed in the journey I didn't want to look away or leave the would Xiran built and submerged me into. ​

​This is a feminist novel that everyone needs to read, its a stop the patriarchy kick misogyny right where it hurts and we aren't taking no for an answer kind of book. It also shows how some men are shoved into roles they don't willingly want to take on and how it affects them and everyone around them. I love how Xiran takes the major issues and mixes it with this phenomenal world she built.

Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi are the Poly Relationship we all need in our lives, i loved their dynamic with them and how they each had a special connection with one another. I'll be honest this was the major thing that made me want to read this book, I didn't have to pick sides because both of these men won my heart over and I understand how Zetian couldn't let either of them go. The relationship they all share is so raw and beautiful, I really couldn't help but get invested into their story and fall in love with them.

The Plot was so engaging and every aspect of the storytelling process Xiran hit out of the park, i think my favorite parts were the climax and the ending. Those last ten chapters had my head spinning, in a good way. my heart was wrenching, engage nail biting suspense, mind blowing reveals. everything was just mind blowing.

Iron Widow, is the book we all need to read in September.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
To avenge her Big Sister’s death, Wu Zetain volunteers herself as a concubine-pilot. When her original plan takes a turn; she improvises; leading her to come out with a stronger, deadly power level. To tame her; her people’s army has paired her up with the strongest and most controversial male pilot. Emotions will run high, the right cards will have to be made to achieve power. Zetain is now the Iron Widow and she wants more power; she also wants to know why the system works against girls the way it does. Will Zetain’s digging lead to something bigger?
~~~~~
Warning: Topics of violence, abuse, suicide, sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and torture.
This book was on a whole new level for me! Xiran Jay Zhao has really really raised the bar for the book community. There have been comparisons of this with a combination of the movie Pacific Rim 2018 and the book The Handmaiden’s Tale. I honestly believe that it was spot on. Zhao also goes into the aspects of why they created Iron Widow; it is so inspiring and so powerful! I really loved that they took the idea of a real historical powerful woman and put her into a next level, sci-fi fantasy book!
Xiran Zhao is absolutely amazing with their wording and putting great details into all the scenes and the characters. Even when Zhao goes over the characters' flashbacks or their emotions; there is no need to imagine with these because Zhao gives such great detailing. Through so many details, even in a fantasy book, Zhao really brought to light the reality of what a nightmare it is for a female concubine.
The main character, Wu Zetain, is an absolute badass. I love the powerful energy and just “don’t try me” attitude. Then the fact that no one saw her coming out of her small village; no one expects the woman. I love these types of books; where the woman just takes control and it just stuns everyone. Also the awesome fact that she can totally kick anyone's ass now after some training and she has learned how to play the political game. She is totally not dumb and it’s so cool to just watch the madness unfold.
The romance in this book is addicting and I kept wanting more. I thought of this as a love triangle, don’t quote me on this. I don’t normally like them; but this! This was amazing! Every expression that was put into the romance and even into possible PTSD events. Feelings are so important in this book.
Xiran Jay Zhao really took this book to the next level and I can’t wait for the next book to come out for this series; if they plans on more of this storyline. I am absolutely honored that I was approved for this ARC. Thank you so much Xiran Jay Zhao and Penguin Random House Canada .

So…this was an interesting book. I am unfamiliar with Oriental (specifically Chinese) literature and themes, so I am certain I did not fully grasp everything the author illustrated in “Iron Widow.” That did not prevent this from being a good story well told.

Author Xiran Jay Zhao has an agenda with this book. Her protagonist rails against patriarchal societies - and rightly so - who subjugate women to narrowly defined, sacrificial roles. She also challenges gender conformity, rejects authority, and refuses to accept perceived helplessness. This is a strong character.

What I liked best about this book is that the protagonist learns and grows. She is just as guilty of bias and prejudice as those she despises, yet she seems to be perched on a moral high ground. Fortunately she doesn’t stay there, growing as new information shatters her preconceptions. This is a good thing. It allows the story to grow along with our hero into an almost legendary tale.

My only gripe was the heavy-handed way that the author delivered the message. Even that gripe is minor because, sometimes, a shout is the only thing that can be heard. Otherwise this was one of the best books I’ve read this year.

My rating is four and a half stars. I look forward to other books by Xiran Jay Zhao.

My thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4.25 or 4.5

Overall: This book had me hooked from page one and was a wild ride the entire way through. The chrysalis-concept is incredible and really well fleshed out, I will now read any book or watch any movie that (1) is by Xiran Jay Zhao and (2) uses this tech.

The Pros: Engaging and vibrant world building, stellar cast of characters, super interesting concept and follow through. Zetian's character arc was thrilling to watch and I look forward to the next chapter!

The Cons: Dialogue felt a (teeny) bit corny or convenient from time to time and there was SO MUCH happening that I felt some of the relationships between characters seemed to develop very quickly with not a whole lot in the middle

Screamed when I saw I got approved for this arc. Screamed again when I saw it on my kindle. Screamed for the three hours it took me to absolutely devour this book.

Iron Widow is the YA sci-fi of my dreams. Needless to say, anything with mecha is an insta-read for me (NGE's grip on me has never faltered), but I genuinely didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I did - there are certain genres in certain age categories that usually are more miss than hit for me, and YA sci-fi happens to one of them but, uh, Xiran Jay Zhao is a master at their craft.

Let me get into the one "negative" that really jumped out at me, that's not particularly a negative at all: the poly relationship does end up feeling like both boys are closer to Zetian than each other (meaning they read more like insta-love than their separate connections with her, though the three of them coming together is still strong), but I recognize that leaving that tight, first-person single POV would have not been as narratively satisfying (it is, above all, Zetian's story). Oh, another not-really-a-negative, most of the twists were easily predictable, but I could not tell u for the life of me if they were just set up really well or if they were lukewarm reveals because, honestly, the rest of the novel is so good it makes you blank on things like that.

OKAY NOW TO GUSH ABOUT THAT VERY RELATIONSHIP. The poly rep was a big reason I wanted to read this so badly, and I'm so glad I did. I really did not expect either of the love interests, and I utterly adore both of them alllmost as much as I adore Zetian. Seriously, the character work with these three is incredible, and watching their little triangle develop was so fun. I don't think I've had this much fun with a YA couple in so long.

The complicated relationships between women this book explores is excellent. Its takes on gender and how it affects every aspect of society, often in ridiculous, made-up ways that are only that way suit patriarchal demands, were so fresh to me. None of the women here are one-dimensional, and, wow, that exploration of trust & betrayal & helplessness in grandmother-mother-daughter relationships? Hahaha. There was a line in this that nearly made me stop because it was just too real.

What I'm saying is, this is a debut that excels in nearly every level - worldbuilding, character, pacing, plot. I can't wait for my preorder to get here so I can read it AGAIN, and I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL I NEED IT NOW PLEASE.

Iron Widow tells the story of Wu Zetian—a rightfully angry, vengeful girl born into a world of ruthless patriarchy all-too-eager to subdue and/or sacrifice its women. Set in a sci-fi world with giant pilot-controlled robots, god-like aliens and a society that rose from the remnants of humanity, this book is a whole experience that won't leave you disappointed.

The themes this book discusses and the way it carries them throughout was incredible. It was loud, angry and provocative and completely unashamed in its directness against the gender stereotypes and discrimination against women. I really liked how angry Zetian was, I liked how unapologetic she was and I liked how flawed she was. As a character, she's a deeply divisive and grapples with every stereotype and every social norm forcefully imposed on women. Her thoughts may have been a little on the nose(a problem addressed later in the review), but they still packed a punch.

The ensemble of characters is also great. I still cannot believe this book made me enjoy a love triangle—a trope I usually hate with passion. The polyamorous relationship was so easy to root for; I couldn't get enough of their interactions. I still need MORE. I also really liked the fact that this book doesn't at all concentrate on the romantic aspect of the characters' relationships; it still plays an important role, but the relationships are more concerned with powerplay, friendship and just how far gender stereotypes can warp and sabotage them.

The plot was very engaging; I breezed through the entire book in a day, since the story kept me on edge the entire time; it's very fast-paced and things keep happening without being dragged out or feeling too rushed.

A separate mention of the climax is a necessity. I am a huge believer that a climax can make or break the reading experience—a good climax can completely transform it. This was the case with Iron Widow. I certainly had my problems with certain elements and moments in the story and the characters, but the culmination of this story blew me away. It's flawed and dramatic and some may even call it over-the-top, but it felt *right*.

This book, despite its abundant merits is very flawed. Flawed in the technical sense. I think this is largely because this is the debut novel of Xiran Jay Zhao, because the prose is often very in-your-face and lacks subtlety and nuance that would significantly improve certain parts of the book, including some of the romantic interactions between the characters. Some of the dialogue felt stunted, "staged" and even unnatural, but it still didn't hinder the enjoyment too much. In that sense you can definitely tell that this is a debut novel. Some of the characters needed to be a little more fleshed out, but reason tells me we will see that in the later installments of the trilogy. Again, the author manages to make everything suspenseful, gripping and entertaining enough to look past the prose and its obvious problems.

If I could describe this book with a single word, I'd call it cinematic. I enjoyed Iron Widow greatly. This book is by no means perfect, in fact some aspects of it might deter some readers, but even with those glaring flaws this story will definitely find its audience. It's a very fun action-packed read and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley for graciously providing me with an advanced reader's copy of Iron Widow.

I loved seeing a polyamorous relationship in a YA series. We need more relationships like this in the book world aimed at younger readers. I think a lot of people will thoroughly enjoy the dynamics and getting to explore a healthy polyamorous relationship...something that is hardly ever seen in YA. The incorporation of Chinese history with a spin was also refreshing. I can not wait to see what else Xiran Jay Zhao puts out!

As someone who enjoys a good sci-fi, I can say that though I enjoyed this book, I'm not the biggest fan of the mecha element. If you enjoy those, then this is definitely a good book to read, but it personally wasn't my cup of tea. I would love to see the Chrysalises drawn out though, I feel like they'd be so even cooler than what I imagine in my head. The one thing I LOVED was the ending, DAMN. The last 150 pages were amazing and had me non-stop reading until the end.
The main character, Zetian, while being very outspoken and brazen about the unfair social norms and gender inequality, was sometimes a little too much for me. I love a strong female character as much as the next reader, but the "not like other girls" mentality I got from her sometimes made me pause a bit.
I absolutely adore the author and how they fought for the polyamorous relationship in this book which is not something you see every day. The subtle aspects of the growing relationship between Shimin and Yizhi was enjoyable to read but I felt like Shimin and Zetian was slightly rushed, though their deep connection went well with their compatibility when fighting.
Again, this was an amazing book and I was so lucky to receive an arc copy, please do yourself a favor and read this when released if you enjoy strong female characters and/or sci-fi!

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rich and imaginative Zhao doesn't come to play with Iron Widow. I loved the historical inspiration in this story and the Chinese coded set and cast. This book was fantastic to say the least.

The concept of this book got me interested in reading. The detailed writing kept me entertained all the way through. It definitely is like a fantasy meets The Handmaid's Tale. I love to read about a strong young lady standing up for herself and others. This book was it.

This book is a heart-stopping rendition of Wu Zetian's rise to power. The action scenes are well-written and easy to visualize while maintaining a fast pace and without skimping on the emotional side.. The premise of yin-yang seats, powering the Chrysalis, and battling the Hunduns was creative and well-developed. The writing style is crisp and precise, with some iconic, funny one-liners in dialogue and in narration. There are too many to list, but one of my favorites is, "You can't shoot me; I'm rich!"

All of the characters are stunning. Each is fully fleshed out and realistic. Zetian is always a mood, Yizhi is perfect but adorably, not annoyingly, so, and Li Shimin's character arc healed my heart and broke it. The minor characters are also a masterpiece, especially the relationships between Zetian, chief strategists, and other pilots and concubines. Zetian's journey is a turbulent wild ride, but she still feels relatable throughout. The familial struggles and expectations were portrayed so well, I wanted to high-five the author. This book definitely inspired me to read more about the historical Wu Zetian and the people present with her during her rise.

The plot has many twists and turns and never drags. The climatic final scenes, coupled with startling revelations, conclude an already very strong book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in strong characters who use their wits to navigate their survival, anyone interested in the real life Wu Zetian, and anyone who wants to gush over the most perfect threesome I've read in a while. This book is extremely quotable, and I am so ready to read the sequel.

When I ruminate on the best YA book I’ve read so far for 2021, I feel giddy and ready to just gush about it! Such is the power of IRON WIDOW to captivate and inspire obsession!

I had been following the author Xiran Jay Zhao on Twitter, her sharp, witty critiques, sense of humor and love of all thing Yu-Gi-Oh! make for a very entertaining timeline! I was pleasantly surprised when they announced that they were publishing a book! And a YA one at that!

When I heard more details, that it was Pacific Rim meets the Handmaiden’s Tale? A reimagining of the rise of the ONLY female emperor in Chinese History? Featuring other popular people through Chinese history? And when I heard the title? I quickly went from mildly curious to intrigued and excited!

But to have all my hopes for this story to pay off??? And to have enjoyed it this much? I did not even expect this!

Set in Huaxia, a land protected by The Great Wall and eight-story high Chrysalises (Jaegers), from mysterious Mecha Aliens called Hunduns; Iron Widow, follows Wu Zetian and her quest for justice for her sister, and for herself.

This is a world of faceless gods, floating in the skies above, sending pittances of technology and medicine to the desperate below.

This is a world of monsters, and monstrous men. Beneath the splendor of the Chrysalis and the prestige of being a pilot and his concubine-pilot, lies danger. Many women do not survive the mind-meld needed to power these great machines, nor do they often survive the nights of pleasure that their pilots are ‘owed’ for their victories.

This is a world of patriarchal forces and blistering misogyny, where to have any hope of a girl child being worthy of marriage, a 5 year old Zetian, had to have the bones in her foot broken and bound tightly, resulting in her never experiencing a step without pain; where her beautiful sister, her guiding light, was sold to the concubine-pilot program for the sake of the heir of the family’s future.

This is a world and a story that wrenches so many emotions from you, from grief to anger to hope to rage, with injustices that seem inevitable and unavoidable, hopeless situations, turned on their head by violence that feels righteous.


‘Welcome to your nightmare’ Wu Zetian promises us in the beginning and she delivers in a stunningly grand fashion, along with all those you thought would hinder her!

A compelling debut leaving you with a breathtaking final chapter that will have you chomping at the bit for more!

I can’t wait to see what else Xiran Jay Zhao has for us!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is exactly the kind of novel I love. It has a protagonist, Wu Zetian, who is working from within a system that actively puts her at a disadvantage as a woman to break it down. There are exciting action sequences that made my heart pound with excitement. The core group of characters are all strong and, in a way, ruthless, but soft with each other. The author drew from Chinese culture and history to create the world and its characters. It made me laugh, it made me angry for the characters, it made my heart ache, and it made me tense with excitement. This book created what was probably my favorite reading experience I’ve had so far in 2021 (and I’ve read 90 books up to the point of writing this review).

The book follows eighteen-year-old Wu Zetian as she is forced by her family to become a “pilot concubine”—meaning she will serve as co-pilot to one of Huaxia’s mecha pilots. In her country of Huaxia, adolescents serve as the pilots of mecha robots that fight enemy creatures called Hunduns. There is just one significant flaw within this system: in the co-pilot pairings that pilot each mecha, the boys survive while the girls typically die. Zetian’s sister was one of those girls, and thus she intends to avenge her late sister by serving as a concubine for the boy who killed her sister. Something unexpected ends up happening, however, when Zetian manages to overpower the boy she was paired with in the mecha they were piloting, while she was counting on having to assassinate him before they were sent off to battle. She now has an unexpected chance to keep working as a pilot with her new partner, Li Shimin, and take a look from within at how the system inherently disadvantages girls.

There are heaps of SFF books being published nowadays that are labeled as feminist, but so very few of them actually take a look at the patriarchal and misogynistic systems that have existed in the past and still exist in the present. Iron Widow is not one of them. Zhao indicates in their author’s note prefacing the story that they have drawn on a variety of sources and cultures to construct the misogynistic system of concubine pilots that exists in the novel’s world. Zetian is thrown into this system because she wants to avenge her dead sister but instead finds a greater purpose in trying to break down the system from within. Going into this thematically would reveal too much about the plotline, I think, but the way in which Zhao comments on these power structures in their novel really stuck out to me.

Another standout aspect of Iron Widow for me was definitely the way action scenes with the robots specifically were written. Zhao has drawn inspiration from anime and specifically the genre of mecha anime for this novel, and while I am by no means an experienced watcher of anime, I know that this book gave me a similar excitable and suspenseful feeling to what I have experienced watching action scenes in anime in the past. There is a rhythm to the fights and action that happens in Iron Widow that just kept me engaged all the way through. I felt excitement lurch in my chest every time Zetian or Shimin got a hit in, and I had not had that kind of feeling for years.

Similarly, I adored the central characters and their relationships. Zetian and her scheming and the way she navigates this world are fantastic to read about and I adore her. Shimin is initially a bit of a mystery, but eventually, it becomes clear that he is a guy who has been abused by the system as much as Zetian has and they find a common ground. Gao Yizhi is the rational and softer balance between the two powerhouses that are Zetian and Shimin. Their individual dynamics with one another grow into something so incredibly heartwarming and beautiful in an otherwise quite harsh and dark novel. The fact that Zhao saw the love triangle trope and said “Okay, but I’m actually gonna make a real triangle out of this” is just great. The way the polyamorous relationship in this book developed felt so natural and well-balanced, I adored it.

Overall, I just completely adored this book. Everything from the characters, to the plot (fast-paced, surprising, and engaging), and the romance came together to create the perfect reading experience, in my opinion. I definitely have a new favorite book and therapy appointments to make after realizing I’ll have to wait more than a year for the sequel… after that massive cliffhanger. If you’re interested in Chinese-inspired worlds, giant mecha robots, polyamorous relationships, or fast-paced feminist sci-fi, I highly recommend giving this book a try when it comes out.

I can't decide whether I like Wu Zetian or not. I really admire her refusal to accept the status quo and the place of girls and women in society. But I had a hard time with some of her behaviour in order to affect change. Well sort of. Because let's face it, change was really necessary in the society she lived in.

I loved the use of historic Chinese culture to shape her universe. Some of those things we as westerners know about and are horrified by (and probably don't understand even remotely). She brings to the front the realization that perhaps some of those cultural elements horrified their society as well.

This isn't an historical book by any means. This is a book about abuse, oppression, and a quest for change. Put in Zetian's position would I behave any differently? Maybe not.

There are some complicated aspects of this book that it would be wonderful to discuss, but it might give the ending away. Suffice to say that I'll think about certain points for quite some time, pondering... nope stopping there.

5 stars
Wow, this was incredible. I was impressed by nearly every aspect of this book. From the rich world building, to the unique characters, to the captivating plot, this book was great, but the stand out feature of this book was undoubtedly the feminism and the way it discusses rape culture and sexism. This book isn't afraid to talk about the cruel extent of sexism in this world, and I love it for that. Honestly, Iron Widow was hard to read at times, but that's what made it so real. This isn't some idealized "love will change the world" version of feminism. It gritty and upsetting, but grounded. Unfortunately, none of the issues this book speaks on are made up. They have all happened, or still do happen, throughout history. Sexism and rape culture are systemic issues that will take a lot of work to slowly dismantle, and this book shows that. Zetian's journey to equality, both her personal one, and her larger goal of fixing some of the sexism in her world, is a long one. It takes time and a great amount of will, but she doesn't lose sight of her goal. Overall she was a very well written character. From her anger at the system, to the love she cautiously holds for those close to her, she felt like a real person. I also loved her relationships with the other characters in this book. I'm normally not a fan of poly relationships in books, but this one was so well written. All three character in the relationship felt like equals and the chemistry was absolutely there. This book is hard to review, as it touches on so many complex and deep rooted issues, but I can confidently say that it does them all justice. I'd definitely recommend this to any fantasy lovers who are looking for a book with a strong female lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a ride! I can't wait for the next installment and this one isn't even released yet. There were so many times I pumped my fist in the air or laughed out loud. Our main character Zetian is so powerful in herself and what she believes in. I will definitely be buying myself a hard cover and will recommend to all my Sci fi loving friends.