Cover Image: Iron Widow

Iron Widow

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I had this book all wrong. I had seen the title multiple times in other places and just didn’t think it was my style. Then I saw it on NetGalley and figured I would give it a try. From the very first line I was hooked. I devoured most of the book in about a day and finally dragged my feet for a while because I did not want it to end. Where has this author been all my life? This book has so many twists and turns that I could not stop reading. The MC, Wu Zetian, is badass, driven and my favorite type of character to read. She’s navigating a world that sees her and every other woman as a servants who are meant only to sacrifice themselves for men. Quickly she proves her power and turns everything upside down. It was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much the entire time. I am now a huge fan of this book and author. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone who enjoys strong MCs that refuse to give up. I will be picking up this book when it is released.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC. It was amazing!

Was this review helpful?

you don’t understand this is my new favourite book and i need the sequel right now!!!
The story is so compelling, i love the setting with the sci-fi aspects mixed with history, however, i have to admit that the world building was at times a bit confusing (specially during the prologue, that felt like being thrown into a blender), i’m still not a 100% sure how chrysalis work but i’m guessing that now with the twist at the end we are going to learn more.
I really like all the commentary in the book, although i do believe the writing of it could be improved, as it sometimes felt very on the nose i do believe that is a product of iron widow being a debut novel and i look forward to see how xirans writing improves in their future works.
I specially love how all the main characters are complex and ruthless in their beliefs, Zetian and Li Shimin will always have a special place in my heart but i’m not going to lie at first i wasn’t very on board with yizhi but i ended up warming up to him, i just wish we could have seen more of his and zetians early relationship development so i could have been more invested in their relationship

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

I am begging for Zetian to marry me this instant.

YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THIS BOOK!! ADD IT TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT HAS EVERYTHING.

A new and interesting independent sci-fi world, a gorgeous cover, Asian rep, inspired by Chinese history, a polyamorous love triangle twist...

And most importantly,

A BADASS MURDEROUS FEMINIST WOMAN DRIVEN BY REVENGE WHO AIMS TO TAKE DOWN THE PATRIARCHY THAT I AM IN LOVE WITH AND YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH TOO.

Sorry for screaming, but this is very important.

This book follows our main character, the loml Zetian. Her sister has been sacrificed and killed to power a Chrysalis that is run by a male pilot while trying to fight the mecha aliens outside of the Great Wall. Driven by revenge, she signs up to become a concubine pilot so she can avenge her sister by slitting the throat of the pilot who killed her. After gaining his trust, she kills him in his sleep. Things don’t go as she has planned but she manages to take control of the Chrysalis and survives the attack.

She becomes the Iron Widow. The government doesn’t know what to do with her. They pair her with Li Shimin, the strongest pilot alive, to help fight the war and change the fate of the world. Then she begins to discover secrets hidden from the public that could change everything...

The plot was fast-paced which I loved. Most of the time it was thrilling and impossible to put down. Sometimes I think it dragged just a tiny bit, but not an extremely noticeable amount.

I love the characters. Actually, I love Zetian. We didn’t see much of the other characters enough for me to love them but we had Zetian so that’s fine with me. She is so badass and strong-willed that it was impossible for me not to love her. I loved how she isn’t the typical female character and she lets no one tell her what to do. Her motives of revenge, anger, and bitterness towards the patriarchy for forcing her into gender roles (same) made me intrigued to learn more about her character. I am seriously considering devoting my life to her, even though she would probably kill me (which I would gladly let her do honestly). Some people might think that she’s trying too hard to be badass but I don’t think so at all. I love feminist main characters and Zetian is exactly that.

The romance!! It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Taking the typical love triangle trope and turning it into a polyamorous relationship? GENIUS. I will no longer accept love triangles in books. Zetian’s boyfriends are cinnamon rolls who I love dearly. I do wish I got to see more of them together not in battle but I can understand why not.
The setting and the world is a lot to take in. You get all this information thrown at you which can be confusing. There is some unexplained info-dumping at the beginning but as you read on it all starts to make sense. I came to appreciate the world of Huaxia by the end.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot! Although it was a bit confusing at times, I now have a new favorite character and I loved the themes of feminism as well as all the diversity and uniqueness of the story. I also have an extreme need for the sequel. I definitely recommend it.

trigger warnings: violence, abuse, suicidal ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture.

4.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

"You tell them they're meant to do nothing but serve from the minute they're born. You tell them they're weak. You tell them they're prey. You tell them over and over, until it's the only truth they're capable of living."

Writing this review immediately after finishing Iron Widow may not be the best idea, but I need to rant about this book somewhere and I might as well pour my feelings out into a review. Iron Widow is the first book in a YA sci-fi duology, following 18-year-old Wu Zetian as she becomes a concubine-pilot of a Chrysalis, one of many transforming robots that fight the Hunduns, aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall, in order to get closer to the male pilot of the same Chrysalis, who just so happens to be the one responsible for her sister's death.

" 'Yes, because love doesn't solve problems,' I say. 'Solving problems solves problems.' "

I normally don't read sci-fi, because they rarely catch my attention, but this book is everything I love. The feminism! The setting! The queer rep! The writing! (I could seriously talk about the writing for hours.) All in a wonderful 400 page book with a sequel coming next year!!!!

"It's hilarious. Men want us so badly for our bodies, yet hate us so much for our minds."

Can we just talk about how amazing of a protagonist Zetian was? I was hanging on to everything she did and every word she said. There were so many times where I read an especially thought-provoking quote and just had to sit and take a moment.
"Even I do it. I say it. I say the word despite how it blisters my mouth like sizzling ember, because it brings me one breath closer to bathing my hands in his blood."
" 'What is it about gender that matters so much to the system, anyway? Isn't piloting entirely a mental thing? So why is it always the girls that have to be sacrificed for power?' "

There are so many more quotes I would put, but it would get to the point where the entire book would be in this review. I suppose the only way to read all of the other amazing quotes is to check out the book for yourself.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penquin Randomhouse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full credit goes to Katee Robert for hyping this one.

TW: sexism, feet binding, chronic pain, violence, fatphobia, emotional and physical abuse by family (past), torture, alcholism/addiction, discussions of rape, blackmail, death of a loved one, grief

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-mfm friends to lovers
-Handmaid's Tale x Pacific Rim
-fierce feminism
-piloting giant robots
-fame and
-some very soft cinnamon rolls

The description that this is the Handmaid's Tale and Pacific Rim melding together is spot on. This book was atmospheric, immersed in Chinese culture, with themes that are universal. I couldn't put this one down. It was exciting, angry, and just so different from what I've been currently reading in the best way.

Zetian is not a simpering heroine, she's out for blood and taking names. Within the first couple of pages when one of our MMC tries to save her, proclaim his love, she pushes back, she knows what she wants. I adored her so much and her journey. She didn't soften but the development of the relationship, which was the b plot but such a joy to read about this poly couple. Honestly I can't say enough good things about this fiercely feminine book other than where is the second book.

It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger just to warn you friends but provides resolution for a lot of the plot points too. Just read it, devour it. It is just so excellent, original, and a must read.

Rating: 5
Steam: 1.5 (completely closed door but implies sex)

Was this review helpful?

Have you ever heard of a premise so damn cool that you are actually in awe by the sheer imagination it took to even come up with such an idea for a story? Because that’s how I felt from the moment I heard about Iron Widow. The summary alone was enough to have me screaming about this upcoming book to anyone who would listen. Then came the absolutely gorgeous cover and my excitement for this book only grew. I must have done something to deserve being approved for an ARC. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Iron Widow was one of my most anticipated books of 2021… and after reading the ARC it has become one of my absolute favorite books of the year.

This book was everything. It was vicious and violent and breathtakingly fantastic that I did not want it to end. It’s been a long time since I’ve finished a book and immediately wanted to re-read it right then and there just because I wasn’t ready for it to be over - and Iron Widow was that book for me. I felt Wu Zetian's rage, and rather than be horrified by it, I cheered her on again and again. As for Gao Yizhi and Li Shimin... I just wanted to hug those boys the entire book.

AND THAT ENDING! No spoilers but damn. Brav-freaking-o Xiran Jay Zhao. That sound you hear is me continuously clapping and screaming. It's going to be tough to wait until next year for the sequel but I don't doubt it'll be completely worth it.

Was this review helpful?

I cannot stress enough how good of a book this is. I am a lifelong avoider of the sci-fi genre, but something about this book just spoke to me (probably that gorgeous cover).
But I'm not exaggerating here at all - by the time I had finished the author's note at the start of the books (Yes, before I had even started the first chapter), I knew that this was somehow everything I've ever wanted in a book. A sci-fi reimagining of a Chinese Empress who controlled not one, but two puppet emperors? Set in a Pacific Rim style world that melds Chinese mythology and culture with a futuristic dystopia that is both familiar to fans of the dystopia genre, and yet also completely unique due to the heavy integration of Chinese culture that has been completely unrepresented in the genre? Absolutely flawless.
I loved every single character. Even the ones I disliked as people were so incredibly organic and intertwined with the world Zhao has built that I wanted to learn more about every single one of them. The plot genuinely kept me on the edge of my seat, and there were multiple times throughout the book where I had no idea what was going to happen and was so pleasantly surprised (even when it was nail-bitingly stressful) with the direction the story went in.
I cannot wait for the second book in this series, and I am absolutely going to pick up a physical copy when this book comes out. I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
As a complete side note, I realized partway through the book (when I ran to follow the author on social media) that I had actually been watching the author's Youtube channel for months! Small world, and just makes me love this book even more!

Was this review helpful?

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is one book that will break barriers in the Young Adult world. Where you usually see a Male/Female love interest (with more often than not a love triangle thrown in) in the Young Adult genre, in this book, that is not the case. This book has a polyamorous relationship and it was one of the things I loved most about this story. I am avid reader of the Reverse Harem trope in the indie community so reading a poly relationship that is being published within the young adult community is huge and I am totally here for it! If you don't like polyamorous relationships, then unfortunately, this book will not be for you. I would encourage you to keep an open mind though and at least try to read this book. You could end up loving it and having your mindset changed.

As for the story as a whole, Xiran Jay Zhao really knew what she was doing when writing this book. The history and the science-fi in this book was beautifully written and kept me engaged till the very end. The heroine, Zetian, is one of my favorite characters and she is fierce. She is also determined .to create a better world for all the young women after she learns of the lies that were created to keep them down. Through this book, Zetian truly comes into herself and also finds love with two guys. She learns that love is unconditional and without restraints, which is a lesson I think we all should admire as our world needs more love in it. Zetian is truly a queen in her own right and I am excited to see her rise even more in the second book.

You truly created a masterpiece Xiran Jay Zhao! Keep perservering and breaking those boundaries!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Xiran Jay Zhao has taken us on a bloody and furious journey to fight the patriarchy with teeth and nails and friends, just let me grab my coat.

Zetian is newly 18 and knows her choices are either enlist to be a concubine-pilot in the mech army and die or marry. The choice is easy - concubine-pilot in order to avenge her older sister who was murdered in the name of duty. What follows is Zetian becoming one of the most powerful female pilots in history and being paired with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia. With her newfound power, Zetian decides that she'll take her fight beyond one pilot to try and save the girls in her country from being sacrificed in the name of battle.

Less than 100 pages in, I was already hooked. This book is described as Pacific Rim meets The Handmaids Tale, and I'd also like to add a dash of The Hunger Games. It's inspired by historical China and uses the culture and famous figures, but it's not historical fiction or even a reimagining. It's its own unique sci-fi world. The pilots control their giant Mech armies with their qi (a sort of inner elemental power) and fight to defeat the aliens that threaten human civilization. The battles are so well written and the imagery is so fantastic, I would love a visual adaptation of this!

Zetian is not your average girl boss hero. She's angry and mean and horrible. She'll sacrifice who she needs to for the greater good and for all the girls who are forced to kill themselves so the boys can take home all the glory. She's been taught that her body is shameful, her voice is shameful, her being is shameful unless it's to serve a man. Her feet are bound as well as her voice, so when she finally starts using it, it's absolutely glorious. I love her character so incredibly much. She fights the patriarchy every step of the way and finally asks the hard questions no one else is.

Yes, there is a poly relationship in this book, and yes, it's done so well. Zhao did an excellent job of making us root for both love interests with equal fervor. I loved Li Shimin because he's broody and traumatized but still a sweet cinnamon roll on the inside. I love Yhizi because he was always a sweet cinnamon roll and is logical in a way that you can't even argue with. There's no jealously and no hurt because how you feel about one person doesn't take away how you feel about another. Truly, so well done and I hope it gives other authors a chance to write polyamory in their books in a positive light.

Overall, really fantastic debut. I'm dying for the second book already and this one isn't out yet. Way to knock it out of the park, Xiran!

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

All I have to say is, wow. I admit I was confused by just how many times you’re warned about triggers in the beginning of the book but I’m glad they were there. This book is most everything it set out to be, and is fast paced from start to end. I want so much to talk about specific plot points, but I feel like even the smallest thing has a chance to spoil one piece or another. If you looked at the summary and thought “this might be something worth checking out,“ just save yourself the time and read it. You may need to pace yourself, but it is definitely an interesting book.

Was this review helpful?

5/5; Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the e-ARC.

[The world I put on the page is fictional, but the rage that burns through it is real." --author's note]

This was an enthralling, heart-wrenchingly poignant fantasy feminist reimagining of Chinese history that I could not put down. In short, Iron Widow is everything that I could not even fathom to imagine reading in a traditionally published book. Everything I lamented that mainstream publishing lacked. Yet here it was, in all of its glory. Iron Widow heralds East Asian representation, polyamory, thunderously captivating worldbuilding, and a refreshing no-nonsense take against patriarchal structures.

"Welcome to your nightmare!" -- Wu Zetian, the protagonist whose POV we read through, was a delight to meet. Her voice was incredibly fierce and formidable, yet retained a sense of sarcastic humor that had me laughing out loud throughout the story.

"You can't shoot me; I'm rich!" -- Gao Yizhi, the sheltered noble boy with a heart of gold and a resolve of steel, who is arguably just as gloriously unhinged as Zetian herself. What a fantastic lad. I was cheering every time he was on the page.

"The last thing I needed was another reason for the world to hate me." -- Li Shimin, the Iron Demon, the repulsive cold-blooded murderer... but is he really? The gradual unfolding of what Shimin was not, of who Shimin could not be, of who Shimin could not ever become... Xiran Jay Zhao tore my heart apart and I will be forever grateful for it.

This book, from start to finish, will have you soaring to unimaginable heights with the characters. (But with unimaginable heights comes equally unimaginable plummets, and what a joy it is to fall...)

[He should be the Iron King, and I should be the Iron Queen. Yet Iron Demon and Iron Widow is all they'll let us be.]

Iron Widow releases on September 21, 2021, and I eagerly recommend that you add this book to your TBR! It truly does not disappoint.

Was this review helpful?

*Trigger Warnings: contains scenes of violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault ( though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, foot binding, and torture.*

In a world where there are giant transforming robots that battle mecha aliens... and boys are paired with girls... in which the survival rate of girls is about 1% and are seen as disposable compared to the boys, one girl is going to destroy it all. Zetian is a 18 year old girl who decides to offer herself up as a concubine-pilot... to work for the man who killed her sister. Her plan: get the role, kill the guy.. and die. To her surprise she doesn’t kill him in his sleep, rather she ends up killing him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is now labeled the Iron Widow- a much fear and much silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to the power of the Chrysalises (robots they pilot) instead. In a world where girls are seen as disposable and used to be sold off and silenced, she is the ultimate threat and in a system that is built to keep her down her defiance will not go unheard. She is thus paired with the pilot known as Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot. He is a prisoner who was sentenced to jail for killing his father and brothers, and no girl who has ever piloted with him has ever survived. It is a literal death sentence... until they find that Shimin and Zetian are compatible as partners. Together they have the power to face the system that has both kept them down and take a few bodies down with them. Let me first say, this book was GLORIOUS! Zetian is everything I could ever want in a protagonist. She is bloodthirsty, strong, defiant, smart, and willing to do anything to get to her goal. Did I also mention there is a polygamous relationship in this book in which everyone actually likes each other ( Zetian, Yizhi, and Shimin). Yizhi is Zetian’s best friend who is the son of the richest man in Huaxia, he is sweet, caring, has skin like porcelain and is the epitome of a soft cinnamon roll. He is the caring one in the relationship and is definitely a nurturer. Shimin on the other had is more of a bloodthirsty killer with a super soft side, exemplified by the fact that he loves to read but destroyed his books to make a shiv to try and stab his guards (he really be out here being the murderous but soft boy). He feels a lot of guilt and remorse for his previous partners and while he does have a rough around the edges aspect to his character he is sweet and caring too. There is chemistry between all three of them which I really appreciate. <spoiler> I will forever be laughing at Shimin’s attempts to kill his guards, especially when its noted he used his last pair of glasses by smashing the lenses, sharpening the biggest fragment on the floor of his bunker, hiding it in his collar, and trying to slit a soldier’s throat with it, and Zetian is just so impressed hahah. They really are the bloodthirsty couple. and when I found out why he murdered his family, 100% agreed with him, they had to go.</spoiler> Its great to read a polygamous relationship in which all the parties interact and care for one another. Anyways onto the story, the magic system was great and the story was really exciting. THAT ENDING!?!?! EXCUSE ME??? How am I suppose to wait until the next book??? I NEED MORE! So if you haven’t already added this onto your TBR YOU HAVE TOOO!

Fav Quotes:

“You’ve been living a dream for long enough! Welcome to your nightmare!” Zetian (p. 82)

“It takes a monster to slay a monster” Zetian (p.102)

“He will not kill me. He does not get to make me a statistic” Zetian (p. 105)

“Too bad. I am exactly the kind of ice-blooded, rotten-hearted girl he fears I am. And I am fine with that” Zetian (p. 114)

*Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Was this review helpful?

absolutely amazing!! i love femme fatales. the book was written beautifully. i need more immediately!

Was this review helpful?

I requested this solely based on the description and comparison to The Handmaid's Tale. This is not a genre I typically read a lot, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed. Zetian is a bada** female character that you root for from the beginning. Her need for answers and to break down the mysogynist world she is living in tie in to some of today's events in which women are still being controlled and expected to act a certain way. Hence why the comparison to Handmaids Tale came about. Although the fighting/mecha parts and some of the Chinese history that was brought in lost me a little bit, the real meaning behind this was what shined the most for me. I really enjoyed this!

Was this review helpful?

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't entirely know what to expect when I opened this book. The book summary was what piqued my interest, and I feel like the book far exceeded what I anticipated based on the summary.

In a society where men are considered superior and women are either required to marry or become a concubine for male pilots, Zetian is having none of it. Women who serve as concubines do not survive because their spirit pressure is always significantly lower than men's. The only way a women would survive is if they have a spirit pressure that matches that of the male. Then they would be considered a match. Zetian's older sister was killed being a concubine for an arrogant man who has no real care for any of the women employed to him. When she joins the service of the man who killed her sister, she is elated to have the opportunity to kill Colonel Yang. Except, when the two link inside of the Chrysalis (giant robots that battle aliens), she over powers him and ends up killing him. Not the way she anticipated killing him.

Now she is labeled as an iron widow and is paired with the most dangerous male pilot the program has. Li Shimin. He is a prisoner of Huaxia after murdering his family and it is believed that he has zero remorse for the loss of any of the concubines he uses. Zetian and Li Shimin prove to be a formidable pair and together they work to dissemble the patriarchy of China and figure out why women are always being sacrificed. The pair also receives help from Zetian's friend/love interest Yizhi as he offers them his spirit pressure at times.


I felt like I got more out of this book than I was anticipating from the summary. It isn't just about Zetian trying to unravel the plot behind women dying in Chrysalises. It's about the war occurring with the Hunduns beyond the Great Wall. It's about the truth of Li Shimin's past and who he really is. It's about the lengths Zetian will go to prove that men are not superior. I felt like this was a complex and well crafted story. There was a strong blend of a fast-moving plot and character development and world building.

I will admit, I was surprised that there was a romance in the story, considering how angry Zetian is with the system and women dying. She is a strong, opinionated, fierce female who knows what she wants and there is nothing that is going to stop her from getting it. There is a polyamorous relationship (which I have yet to encounter). I am surprised by how much I enjoyed the development of the relationships and how each individual provided something that the other persons did not. I found it fitting with the storyline and felt like it enhanced the story. It did not make it more confusing or unnecessary. It showed the necessity and value of trust, friendship, and love when fighting for what you believe in.

I highly recommend this book and based on the ending, I think the author has set it up to be another fast paced, well developed book!

Was this review helpful?

The thing about Iron Widow is that it is so unbelievably cool that you as a person become more cool just by reading it. I mean that. I literally feel like a cooler person now that I have read this book. Not only is it well paced and well written, it is full of such unique and complex characters that even though there is a big cast, none of them get blurred with the others. This book is just incredible.

Will my review be a little incoherent.... maybe. But I'm going to do my best.

Iron Widow takes place in a world where metal beasts, called Hunduns, attack the people in the provinces we would call China today. In order to combat these mechanical beasts, the people created Chrysalises, their own mechanical beasts to battle the Hunduns. Through qi, these Chrysalises channel the spirit type (Earth, Water, Fire, Wood, and Metal) and deliver deadly attacks. These Chrysalises are powered by two pilots, a man and a woman, and because men's qi is so much stronger than women's the female pilots (also called concubines) die. This is accepted and understood in society. Families send their daughters off to certain death for money and a sense of righteousness. Sometimes, very rarely, a concubine's spirit levels match that of their male partner and in these situations they become Matches and pairs. It is rare and requires a lot of strength that women don't normally have. But everything changes when Wu Zetian attacks.

Wu Zetian is PISSED. The world hates women and she hates it back. Her big sister was sent off to be a concubine and died at the hand of a pilot before battle which meant her family never got the money that was owed. This latter fact upset her family more than her own death. Except for Zetian. This act fueled an even greater hatred and caused her to create a plan of vengeance to kill the pilot responsible, even though it means she herself will die. Her best friend, Yizhi, tries to stop her from going, but in the end, nothing can stop Zetian from fulfilling her plan, and so she goes off to the great wall to become a concubine.

There is so much more to this story than what I cobbled together above. I can't explain how much I enjoyed this story. Zetian is RUTHLESS in such an amazing and vicarious way. My anger mixed with hers. I felt her pain. I felt her glory. She is paired with Shimin, a killer that was taken from the prison to be a pilot because his qi levels were off the charts, second only to a legendary Emperor from 220 years ago. The relationship between Wu Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi is probably, ugh idk if I can really say this, but probably my favorite part of the story. It's messy and complex and full of pain and anger and sadness and love. I love that we got.to have a polyamorous relationship because IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME. As Wu Zetian says, "the triangle is the strongest shape."

I know this book has been hyped and thank god for that because otherwise I would be disappointed in the reading world. Everyone always says they want a ruthless, bloodthirsty, powerful female lead, and in this book, they got one. Wu Zetian is more than just her anger, she is full of the whole range of human emotion, she is not just one note of buzzwords. And that's part of what makes this book so special. It's full of nuance and complexity and really let's you examine what these people are really like. This is what we mean about have strong female characters. Not that their only trait is strength, but that they find their own strength through sheer force of will AND with love and support from others.

Please read this. Please buy this book. I got an advanced copy and I already placed a pre-order for it. It's just that fantastic.

Was this review helpful?

*Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the eARC*

I absolutely love this book and am waiting (im)patiently for the sequel. Well, according to Goodreads, it looks like there will be a sequel, so I'm crossing my fingers that that is true :)

The writing is beautiful, the characters are badass and flawed and intriguing. I am glad there was an Author note before reading the story because I feel like it helped with understanding and receiving more knowledge about the time period. I am definitely going to keep an eye out for more from Xiran Jay Zhao and am looking forward to more from the characters, plot, and her beautiful writing.

4.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

“Iron Widow” was a fascinating depiction by Xiran Jay Zhao of a world where traditional beliefs of a society place males first and dominant and females as subservient and weak. A world where war is being fought against mecha aliens while televised like a show. A war where male pilots with their female concubine partner power mechanical Chrysalises made from the husks of the dead aliens. A war where the females are more than likely to die each time the alarms call the pilots to action.
The young heroine, Wu, has decide to take revenge on the pilot who “killed” her beloved big sister, but discovers something more tantalizing than the revenge she wanted so badly that will make her want more of. She will learn trusting the good is not always the right choice. Loving and caring for others lead to heartache and pain. That to right the wrongs of the society she lives in she may have to bend her own beliefs to accomplish it.
The novel was a very good read with evenly paced action.

Was this review helpful?

4.4 stars! absolutely amazing how the main romance consists of the unhinged chaotic angry, the 'lawful' romantic, and the won't-hesitate-to-throw-a-punch nerdy neutral. thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc!

this novel takes you on an electrifying, bold ride as if you're the one controlling a chrysalises, ferocious power and energizing spirit in every move you make. it's thrilling to me how this is inspired by darling in the franxx, a science fiction, romantic anime that explores gender, sexuality, and adolescence. it's also riveting how zetian is a re-imagined empress wu, the only female emperor in chinese history. her unforgiving calculation, her resolved determination comes alive off the page with every angry, unflinching move she makes constantly driving the story forward. xiran jay zhao really did her unbreakable character justice.

zetian, shimin, and yizhi's budding polyamorous relationship was a delight to behold, making me squeal and cackle in every scene they're in together. they're all so precious??? i love how different they all are from one another, yet they value and treasure each other's differences. the power they hold in my mind. also, maybe i'm just a whore but it's a crime how this is a YA. because seeing the fanart of shimin? phew zetian is one lucky bitch because wow. holy shit. do yourself a favor and check out the fanart!

the only critique i have is the pacing near the third half of the book, which was fast-paced for sure, but to the point where it missed a couple of important details that made me think "wait, what about — " but then we were already moving on to the next thing. the pace then wasn't exhilarating but more hurried. it didn't leave me breathless with awe; it was more suffocating than anything. there were times when certain, impactful scenes didn't hit as hard because the build-up was messy or wasn't there at all. but the third half of the book was mixed with these feelings and the whoa holy shit holy shit this is crazy, so there were really astounding moments that i loved in the third half too. i just wish the pacing was more balanced and fleshed out.

overall, this book just wants you to enjoy yourself. don't go into this thinking it'll be a grim science fiction novel with heavy, complex political intrigue and roaring, battlefield angst (this is a YA novel). it's more bold and adventurous than anything, a rollercoaster ride of that hysterical feeling of thinking you're going to die and the burning rage of systematic injustice. i gasped, giggled, hissed "what the fuck", and laughed so much while reading this book that i urge you to read it when it comes out because it's such an enjoyment to experience. happy reading!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this was WILD! I really enjoyed this book. The world it was written in was really unique, and the three main characters were great. Zetian is ruthless in the best possible way. I really appreciate that it had such a great polyamorous relationship, and the commentary about gender inequality was really well done and so very relevant. I found myself giggling uncontrollable at so many parts because the characters and twists it took were just so wild. And that TWIST at the end of the story, such a cliffhanger, I can't wait for the sequel!

Was this review helpful?