This has quickly and easily become one of my favorite books. Zetian is the badass heroine that everyone wants to be and nothing can get in her way.

In the distant future the world is full of magical power, alien invaders, and giant fighting machines to protect the human race. Women serve as physical and emotional batteries for male war hero’s.
Zetian has had enough. She is bold, determined, witty, and violent. She will not stop until she avenges her sisters death. Soon she is found to be one of the most powerful women in existence and dubbed the iron widow, to serve alongside the iron demon.

This story is packed with action, power, and a challenging love triangle. Sprinkled in between the fight scenes are moments of tenderness that melt my heart.

“When you cherish someone for how amazing they are, you don’t pluck them from their roots just to watch them wither in your hands. You help them bloom into the really incredible thing they’re meant to be”

The author uses beautiful imagery and intricate world building to create a place like we’ve never known. The character development is muah chefs kiss. A triangle is the strongest shape and the MCs of Iron Widow are genuinely a balanced match.

I absolutely loved this book.

Feel like taking down the establishment or patriarchy? There are so many explosions and role changes. Zetian figures out a highly sexist system and turns it on its head. But even before all that, the world building is solid.

Tired of having to make a choice in a love triangle? Congrats, now you get both of them. And they're both adorable/awesome in their own special ways. And this happens early enough that there's never really any agonizing over who to be with.

Giant mecha based on Chinese mythology? Many! And with fantastic descriptions! The writing is so nice and they all sound so cool.

Really interesting pilot system? I see a lot of Pacific Rim comparisons and I LOVED the whole drift compatibility concept, and this has something in the same vein but still very unique, which I also loved.

A protagonist who wants to burn it all down and you want to cheer her on and help her do it? I loved Zetian. I could feel her anger and indignation and really rooted her her.

Also worth mentioning, she uses a wheelchair or is often carried because her feet were bound and she can barely walk. She also mentions being bisexual and possibly non-binary (there are several comparisons to the butterfly that is born with different wings because it is both sexes). And as mentions, the love triangle becomes a threesome and both guys are also bisexual and have a good relationship with each other. So if you're looking for any of those things, there you go.

I will definitely be reading the next books. I also recommend following the author on Twitter because she's hilarious.

Big thanks to Penguin Teen Canada for the e-ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

I am a huge fan of Pacific Rim and the Handmaid's Tale so when I first heard about this book I was so excited and add on the fact this is based off of the only Empress of China? I was very much in a 'give it to me NOW' mood. When I got the email saying I got the ARC? I was blown away and so happy!

Iron Widow grabbed me in the Author's Note and didn't let go till I was simultaneously laughing and crying because the ending left me hanging and begging for book 2. I can't tell you how amazing it was to see my own frustrations with the patriarchy put into words and ingrained in a character like Zetian. I will admit that right before I decided to read this I kept wishing for a character who would just not care about other people enough to sacrifice themselves/their power because it's frustrating to see ESPECIALLY in a female MC. Xiran just took everything I've ever wanted in a character and gave it to me in a kick a** bow.

I don't know what to actually classify Zetian as, is she the villain? Is she the attractive, morally grey character who we all fall in love with? Is she the hero of this story? Part of me believes she is all three and all of me is absolutely in love with her. I will say that the romance and main plot of the book felt equally balanced and intertwined with eachother which was fun to see play out in terms of both character development and the development of their relatihappened.

You can't even imagine how devestated I was by the cliffhanger AND the fact that this book has not even officially come out! Like, when will I get book 2??

My only critique has to be that the last page of the book felt too much like an information dump and I had to reread it before I fully understood what happned.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The world was by far my favourite part and I really enjoyed the combination of futuristic technology and the ancient China-inspired setting. Also, this book is about mecha pilots so, of course, it was a good time.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style and didn't connect with the characters (especially Wu Zetian) as much as I would have liked. I also felt like some aspects of the worldbuilding weren't fully explained and I found myself a bit confused at times, although that might just be because I am small brain.

Overall though, I would recommend this book and am excited to continue this series and see where the story goes from here because WOW that epilogue was fantastic. I also think that people who are drawn to this book because of the inclusion of polyamory will get more out of this book than I personally did.

This is PHENOMENAL. I rarely binge read a book so fast as I did this one & I can NOT wait for the rest of this series. The open sexuality, the twist at the end, the fiercely feminist tone. I love this. I'm obsessed. I've alreadh recommended it to dozens of friends.

An easy 4 stars! The blend of sci-fi with historical-esque elements made Iron Widow a refreshingly fun read. Those describing the book as pacific rim meets the handmaid’s tale are spot on, but it also has elements reminiscent of the hunger games that I enjoyed as well. The only difference is the author was brave enough to transform the love triangle into something most other fantasy/sci-fi/ya authors are too scared to do: polyamory.
The settings are lush, the chi system of power is complicated but well explained and the characters are exquisitely written. There’s nothing more exciting than a badass stubborn woman who starts off with nothing to lose, but gains her own found family along the way. I already cannot wait for the sequel!

The world that Xiran Jay Zhao has created in Iron Widow is absolutely incredible. Young readers will devour this book and beg for more. Amazing world building, strong characters, and a plot that allows readers to both escape and think about the world around them- this book will soon be a favorite. Highly recommended.

I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, and was so excited to get the galley. It was a fun read but didn’t quite meet expectations, so I’ve been trying to figure out why.

The premise is promising, but the execution falls rather flat. The novel is fast-paced to an extreme. Without interrupting lulls, the action sequences become pretty repetitive and the *truly* exciting or important moments don’t get to shine. Breakneck pacing makes for action without tension or suspense, and the story seems to lack “depth” as a result. (An analogy might be reading “The Hunger Games,” but without the moments of quiet between Katniss and Prim/Rue/Peeta that help reveal and develop Katniss’s interiority. Those are the moments which heighten the stakes whenever there IS action in THG, but they’re all but absent from IW.)

The novel’s characterization similarly lacks a degree of depth. For example, Wu Zetian is initially driven by a desire to avenge her elder sister. But after reading the entire novel, I can’t say anything about who her sister was or anything about why Zetian felt their relationship meaningful. Her driving motivations are certainly stated, but that doesn’t make them dimensional. Yes, she is driven by revenge — but why avenge this particular person? What brings them together, when Zetian detests everyone else in her family? There’s just an underlying layer of motivation — the truly human layer, that lies underneath the handy soundbites of “revenge” and “anger” — that’s unexplored.

When it comes to character development, Zetian changes so quickly (specifically it’s her perspectives on patriarchy/female subjugation that shift, becoming more nuanced), and so much of it is literally in her own head, within seconds, that her character development feels more like checking off boxes than true development. And none of it really changes how she moves through the world — so ruthless that you never expect her to fail. I love the feminist messages in the text, but they’re primarily incorporated through Zetian’s thoughts in the aforementioned character development moments, so they feel heavy-handed. The effect is like seeing the hands of the artist shaping the story; seeing the intention behind the product, which detracts from enjoyment of the product. (Side note but the riffs on Chinese history/culture — like “Dream of the Red Watchtower” instead of “Dream of the Red Chamber” or “Journey to the Western Kingdom” over “Journey to the West” — had a similar effect of taking me out of the story instead of immersing me.)

Ultimately, I was really aware of *reading* the novel, whereas with really good fantasy/sci-fi I want to feel like I’m *experiencing* the novel. I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy the fast pace and how single-minded Zetian is, but it wasn’t for me.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. I saw the synopsis and knew I had to read it. It was a fast paced read and an engaging plot. I cannot wait for the sequel.

(non-spoiler review):
RATING: 4.5/5 stars

IRON WIDOW by Xiran Jay Zhao is a dark but beautiful sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of China’s first and only female emperor. It’s perfect for fans of strong female protagonists, enemies-to-lovers, and love triangles (that are actually real triangles). Xiran Jay Zhao artfully weaves Chinese culture and elegant fantasy worldbuilding together in a way that makes the novel accessible to readers who may not be very familiar with either of those two subjects.

The novel is a fast-paced and action-packed story that contains strong feminist themes without coming off as “preachy.” The characters and worldbuilding were the strongest parts in my opinion; right off the bat, I was able to get a great sense of who each of the characters are and their specific personalities, and was also sucked into the world and could picture everything perfectly in my mind. I was hesitant about the polyamory in the novel as it’s not something commonly found in YA, but I think Xiran Jay Zhao masterfully handled the romantic aspects of the book. I found myself rooting for all of the characters, and the timing of the romance was just right.

Overall, the main issue I had with the novel was the ending, which is why I’ve rated it 4.5 instead of 5 stars. I found myself getting lost in the final battle of the book, and felt like much of the battle was rushed. In the final few pages, I was more confused than anything--and that’s not the impression an author wants to leave the reader with. Additionally, I wish there had been more foreshadowing leading up to the twist at the end, as it felt a bit out of place compared to the rest of the novel.

That said, I loved reading IRON WIDOW and look forward to the sequel!

lucky enough to be able to read an advanced copy and it was AMAZING. I felt like this book was specifically made for me- Pacific Rim influences, an angry female protagonist, a love story forged out of magma and steel, and incredible world building.

This was just so good and the ending just left me wanting more. I specifically got a NetGalley account so I could read it, and I’m so glad I did. I finished this in half a day. I just wish there was more.

I can’t wait to have the physical copy on my bookshelf.

This book was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and let me tell you all that I was not disappointed. This book is so freaking good, I was all day reading it and when I finished, I wanted more!!!

This one felt like it started off a little slow, but then it got so good! It was hard to put down. Zetian is a badass and one of my favorite ever protagonists in a novel. Handmaid’s Tale, but with Transformers. Or, Powers Rangers with a twist. And the main romance? I was so in for it. A triangle is the strongest shape after all.

There has to be a sequel, right? I’m so ready when there is one.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 the 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

Holy crap, this book was insanely good. The main character is a badass. If you are wondering why you should read this book, here is one reason for you: the poly representation!!!
“Choose? Why do I have to choose just one of you?”
When do you ever get a book when the love triangle doesn’t pick just one, but can have both? Let me answer that for you, NEVER! This book did not have a dull moment and it was impossible to put down.

I loved that this book confronted the social construction of gender right in the first few chapters.

I love when books include trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Trigger warnings included: gore, murder, torture, mentions of rape, threats of rape.

PREORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT TIL SEPTEMBER FOR THE PHYSICAL COPY? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL????

As soon as I saw that this book was available to read on NetGalley, even though I already preordered this book on Kobo, I signed up for a NetGalley account to read it because I have been burning with curiosity about this book for the past several months.

I sped through 80% of this book in four hours. I read the other 20% the next day in one hour. I yelled at the screen. I dropped my phone to stare into the distance as I mentally screamed about different characters. I thought this was a standalone but the ending laughed in my face and said, "Guess what, you're going to emotionally invest yourself in this series for several more years," and I said thank you.

So a weeb review because I don't know how else to process this:

Have you ever heard of Darling in the Franxx? Are you a girl who loves mecha but hates how female characters are treated in the relatively recent ones? Do you scream meta at various mecha into the universe but no one seems to care or want to write the mecha you are looking for?

Then this is the book for you.

If you ever wanted a female-led mecha, this book slaps you in the face with action, darkness, and so more lore that you spend the next hour planning out two fanfic to flesh out characters yourself because the book won't let you go. I enjoyed all three characters of the poly relationship though I do wish they were fleshed out more. However, please keep in mind that this book is LONG and its focus is more on the action and world-building. The romance is secondary (as it should be) and the focus was on Zetian and her world. There are hints throughout the novel that something is not quite right with this setting and the ending sets you up for exactly why that is and then you stare into the void, knowing you have to wait until the next book.

I love how fast-paced the prose is though it can be more tell than show. This can be a bit jarring if you are not familiar with the conventions of storytelling from anime or Chinese historical drama. I watch a lot of anime and historical dramas so it was easy for me to figure out the battle system and world building but newbies to both kinds of storytelling might get a bit confused.

The main three characters get the most depth. Zetian is very interesting and cut-throat. I'm so curious to see how her character evolves after this. Yizhi was my favourite. I'm sorry but I'm definitely writing fanfic about his character that won't get published until this book is officially released and no one will read it but me but that's okay. I'm hoping the other minor characters get to develop further in future books.

Xiran Jay Zhou looked at Darling in the Franxx and said, "You can do so much better." And then they did do better. So much better. The exploration of gender was so interesting in the pilot system and also horrifying (as it should be.) I'm very curious to see how the pilot system would be affected with two women in the seat or two men or two non-binary people.

The little drops of Chinese history were extremely satisfying too!

Overall, while this novel does feel rushed and I wish some characters had more development, it's definitely a great novel that I couldn't put down even though I should have been working. Also, now that I know that the first draft was basically R-18, that will haunt me until I die.

Thank you Xiran Jay Zhou for saying, "Hey mecha anime can do better." And then doing that with my guilty pleasure genre of anime. Thank you.

Edit: Forgot to include that after I finished this book, even though I have it on preorder on Kobo, I went and pre-ordered a print copy. Take my money.

4.5 stars rounded up

You ever just start reading, saying you’ll read 50-ish pages before you sleep, then suddenly the sun is out and you’ve finished the whole book? Yeah that’s what happened to me.

Iron Widow was something I’ve been looking forward to from it’s announcement. And it did not disappoint. The characters feel fleshed out, the world lived in and unique. What a debut and I can’t wait to see what the author has next.

So, I was INCREDIBLY excited to read this book.
And I was not let down.
Strong female MC, intriguing side characters, mecha fights and feminism. PLUS a poly relationship? Fantastic.
I already have this preordered but if I didn't, I'd definitely be adding it to my collection.

A really fun reimagining of Wu Zetian! The worldbuilding and powers in the book were a bit difficult to comprehend but it was very enjoyable. I will definitely buy a physical copy when they are available!

This was one of my most-anticipated releases of this year, so I jumped at the chance to read it early. I loved everything I heard about this book, everything on the author's social media - and I love everything Iron Widow is trying to do.

Unfortunately, I don't think it pulled it off. And I think that's mostly because it's been written as YA. It's not that YA doesn't have room for hard topics, because it absolutely does, but Iron Widow reads like the 'real' story has been simplified for younger readers. The writing style just doesn't match the story it's trying to tell. And it's heartbreaking, because this had all the potential, with endless cool ideas and a vicious heroine who is absolutely brilliant, the kind of morally-grey that we don't see often enough. But it was just so difficult to get at the incredible story through the prose. I got halfway through before I gave up, because reading isn't supposed to be a chore, and this was.

I wish this had been written as Adult. But all that said? I really hope this does well, because we need more stories like it.

Iron Widow is quite an enjoyable read teeming with dangerous mechas. A story rich in characterization and worldbuilding, I definitely recommend,