A copy of Iron Widow was provided to me courtesy of the author and publishers, and although they did not ask for anything in return, I offer my review freely and honestly.
I just read all four books in the An Ember in the Ashes series and thought that after that story, I wouldn't be able to read anything else like it for the rest of the year, but I was wrong: Iron Widow is a magnificent story, which takes characters from Chinese history and places them in a fantastic and futuristic world, where, as in the time of Empress Wu Zetian, women were considered inferior beings who had to submit to the will and whim of men.
And just like the real Empress Wu, the Iron Widow in this story sets a precedent in her world, proving that a woman is not an object, but a strong, intelligent, and sensitive being.
I loved the story, but I NEED to read the sequel, because there is a second book and maybe a third and even a fourth book, right?

WHAT. OKOKOKOK, so. In Iron Widow:

There are Chrysalises (giant, Transformer-ish mecha) powered by a male-female pilot team, which is supposed to have a balanced qi, but more often than not, the male pilot drains the female pilot’s qi, killing her.

Zetian’s sister is picked for the pilot program and dies in this way. Zetian vows revenge and volunteers for the program, ostensibly to murder that pilot, but then somehow her qi takes control in their psychic link and she drains him. She’s an Iron Widow.

So now it turns out she’s a matched pair with Li Shimin, who is not only the best pilot but also a condemned murderer. The two of them eventually hatch a plot to break the system that is deliberately made to murder women. Also, they get some help from Zetian’s childhood friend/rich boy Gao Yizhi who becomes the brains and money behind their attempt to bring down the patriarchy…and part of their romantic triad. (As Ziran has said on Tiktok, a real “love triangle” meets on all sides, not just one because then that’s just a boring old less than/greater than sign.)

And then shit gets real wild on the last page. Gimme book 2, because Zetian is NOT done fucking up the patriarchy.

So, like 5 stars for the book but also 1 million bananas because holy cats is there so much in here. Come for the Pacific Rim-meets-Crouching Tiger vibes, stay for the feminism, anger, and polyamory (this is still a YA, not much steam on the page, but the committed triad is a real thing and all the main characters are bisexual).

Many CW for violence against women, rape (off page), misogyny, racism, coercion, physical abuse (foot binding is a REAL THING in this book), substance abuse, violence and gore in general.

This book was definitely an enjoyable read! We don’t usually see polya rep and in my opinion this was perfectly done. The storyline was so great, it never bored me and was really interesting.

i liked it. not love or anything but it was entertaining and poly relationships are very refreshing to see.

To be honest, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I requested this book. The synopsis sounded very futuristic/postapocalyptic sci-fi, but as is my custom, when I started reading this book, I forgot the entire synopsis and then started thinking about ancient-Chinese based fantasy. Iron Widow is an explosive start to a new scifi series which draws on Chinese history and combines it with a futuristic world and technology to create something truly unique. With queer characters and a polyamorous relationship at its center, a morally grey main character and a feminist narrative within a patriarchal society. There were so many moving pieces of history and mythology at play within the story, making for an intricate window into this fantasy world. Xiran Jay Zhao’s writing style was so engaging and they brought out Zetian’s perspective so damn well. I loved reading Zetian’s narrative. Overall, this book was so, so good. I gave it a 4.5 stars, because while it was amazing (as I’ve said over and over), it wasn’t quite favorite-level.

This was such a unique Young Adult book and I can't wait to see more from this author. I really enjoyed the world, and the characters were interesting and had a good relationship. The pacing was good and it was an overall good book.

Mildly interesting word building but quickly bogged down with the tired women vs men politics. Ironically, the romance came before the real plot (no one really believes she’s gonna assassinate anybody). If I have to read “dazzling eyes” before I care about what’s gonna happen to the MC or am intrigued by a good plot, it’s a DNF. Made it halfway through part 2 (out of 11.) Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

what a fabulous book by a new-to-me author … really enjoyed “Iron Widow” by Xiran Jay Zhao and cannot wait to read more

What do you get when you combine mecha battle badassery, unhinged protagonists hell-bent on revenge, and a healthy polyam relationship that's definitely one of the firsts for YA books? Poof! You get Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao!

I feel like this book is one of those books where you either love it to bits or confuse the hell out of you, and I happen to fall on the side that ADORED it! I have been waiting for a book like this to show up for a very long time and I really enjoyed this. With its action-packed story plot, the unhinged ferocity that is Wu Zetian, the mecha designs and battles, you'll be screaming "down with the patriarchy!" as soon as you reach the last page of the book. 🔥

Though it's understandable that those who are unfamiliar with the tropes and story devices used in mecha anime and manga might find this book an information overload of sorts. If I were to suggest a mecha series to get a feel for the world of Iron Widow, do give Darling in the Franxx a shot. According to Xiran, this anime inspired the piloting system in the book, so hopefully, it'll be of help in visualizing the world the book is set in.

Trigger Warnings: Physical and emotional abuse, alcohol addiction, mentions of rape, threats of rape, torture, murder, gore, misogyny.

I originally decided to read Iron Widow because of one blurb I saw on Netgalley:

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

Now while I don’t quite agree with the categorization of Iron Widow being a YA book, I do agree with everything else. Iron Widow IS a strangely wonderful blend of ideas both new and old. The characters are taken from Chinese history as well as Chinese literature and they are given a spin that will allow even those who aren’t familiar with their original stories to connect with them.

Set in the nation of Huaxia, Iron Widow is a futuristic reimagining of Medieval China. It is a nation that is constantly under attack by alien robots known as Hunduns. The only way to defeat the Hunduns is through the use of Chrysalises, giant mecha made from the spirit metal of defeated Hunduns. It takes two people to pilot a Chrysalis; male pilots who are regarded as heroes and female co-pilots who are more often than not forgotten.

Wu Zetian volunteers to become a co-pilot so that she may take revenge for her older sister’s death. It is her main driving force even though she knows she will likely die achieving it. When Wu is able to achieve her revenge, that small taste of power spurs her on. Her abilities make her an asset even as she is considered a threat.

In reading Iron Widow, I not only thought of Pacific Rim but I also found myself thinking of the classic anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. For those who are not familiar, Evangelion featured EVAs which were also biomechanical mechas created to battle similar type creatures. They too feature a human pilot – though the EVAs have one pilot while the Chrysalises have two. The pilots in both are young and must also follow the orders of those above them.

Zhao’s writing in Iron Widow is in my opinion quite well done. The action scenes are well-paced and are nicely interspersed with the more character-building scenes. Scenes that feature Wu’s “down-time” do not detract from the overall story but instead, add to the creation of a character that the reader can connect to. We cheer for Wu as she struggles and succeeds.

The only thing I did not like – and which I hope Zhao will expand upon in the second book – is the whole backstory of the Hunduns and the Chrysalises. We are given a tantalizing tease at the end of the first book and I am hoping that we learn more in the second.

I enjoyed reading Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. I am very glad I was allowed an early peek through Netgalley and I am eagerly looking forward to the second book in the series.

This was a great book with a unique story! It took me a while to get into the book but I loved the strong female characters portrayed and the suspense throughout.

Zetian is such a GOOD PROTAGONIST!!! There were spots that felt a little rushed or where I felt confused on what happened or whatever, but it was just such a fun plot. I loved the fact that there was no awkward love triangle, those normally ruin a book. It just felt like such a good and fun take on a Pacific Rim spin-off and I absolutely adored it. Cannot WAIT for book 2 (also the epilogue seemed a bit rushed and out of nowhere but also OH MY GOD).

Xiran took all my expectations, threw them in a shredder and used the shreds to papermache a masterpiece. I loved everything about this book (except maybe the ending... left a little to be desired only because it felt so left field). But I loved the direct action of Zetian and how she's constantly being supported and how she doesn't completely ctrl, alt, delete her experience with her bound feet and how it affects her quality of life to make the plot quicken or take another direction. I just loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of the things that I like best about Xiran Jay Zhao’s debut, Iron Widow, is that it truly defies categorization. A YA dystopian novel inspired by figures and cultural periods throughout Chinese history, Iron Widow is also a battle-mecha story that dives deep into the trauma of war, abuse, and gender-based violence. It’s a lot all at once but it worked for me!

Wu Zetian is a towering pillar of rage, largely kept in check by her circumstances. When Zetian’s older sister is quietly murdered by one of the most famous men in the country, all her attempts to play by the rules are called off. Knowing full well that her plan to murder a war hero will result in her undoing, Zetian plunges headfirst into her ill-conceived plan…and in so doing unearths one of the most closely-guarded secrets in Huaxia.

Thrown into the cockpit of a mecha creature called a Chrysalis, Zetian must partner up with Li Shimin, a pilot as powerful as he is despised. Powerhouse though he may be, Zetian isn’t about to cede control to Shimin. As they jockey for control of their Chrysalis, a tentative alliance is formed…one that becomes even stronger when Zetian’s would-be lover Yizhui enters the mix. That’s right people: polyamory in YA. As Zetian says herself, the triangle is the strongest shape!

I really loved the way that these three characters care for each other and support each other, each one adding something that the others lack. Tenderness is just as valuable as power, maybe even more so since there’s such a dearth of it in Huaxia. Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhui have conversations about patriarchy, racism, violence, substance abuse, desire – you name it, they discuss it. It’s refreshing to see teenagers in such a high-stakes environment taking the effort to connect and build emotional intimacy.

While there’s a lot to love about Iron Widow, few novels are perfect so there were some aspects that I found a little underwhelming. For all the details about foot binding, technology, mechas, and the alien enemies that Chrysalis pilots fight, I still felt that the world building was a little thin. Frankly, the world building seems to be composed primarily of vibes and aesthetics. They’re good vibes and good aesthetics – just look at all the fan art – but still.

I was also disappointed that Zetian didn’t have more women around her that she could count on as allies and mentors. I get why things played out the way they did, women can be complicit in the systems that oppress us and all that, but that’s something that I expect to see remedied in the sequel. Zetian may be tearing the patriarchy down but she can also lift other women up! She’s clearly a great multitasker (if you know, you know).

Things that Iron Widow is not: subtle, predictable, safe-for-work. If you’re expecting a nuanced feminist opus, this isn’t it. If, like me, you just want to see an angry girl tear shit down, then you’re in for one hell of a ride. For the first time in ages, I’m feeling truly excited about YA science fiction and fantasy again. Recommended for fans of mecha anime and readers who appreciate some good, white-hot female rage.

What to say about this book except it was absolutely phenomenal.
The biggest thing I loved about this book was Zetian as a character. She continuously surprised me even up until the last page. Her thoughts, the decisions she makes and her rage made this an extremely enjoyable read.

Second, I really liked the books reflection of the 21st-century as a patriotic society and what it’s like being a female in this world. Even though this is a sci-fi/fantasy I saw a lot of parallels from our world.

The only reason this is not a full five star read for me is because of the romance. I felt like the romance was lacking, and there needed to be more of a development between all three character (Particularly the romance between Li and Zetian and Yuzhi and Li. .’m hoping we will see more of it in book 2.

I really wish this book was a New Adult/Adult read because I feel like the author could’ve pushed so much more and less “fled to black” moments especially with the romance. I also wonder if it would’ve been better to have a multi perspective with focus on Zetian just to cover some of those moments that happened in the background (aka the relationship between Yuzhi and Li Shimin). I think it would’ve helped the reader understand certain relationships develops.

Overall though, I absolutely loved this book as I knew I would. I cannot believe I have to wait a year and a half for book 2. I am very excited to see more from this author and future.

Pitched as "The Handmaid's tale" meets Pacific Rim in an alternative history retelling of the rise to power of the first and only female Chinese Empress.

Pacific Rim is one of my favorite movies and I love alternative history books but this blew everything else out of the water. You know when you've read a lot of sci-fi and you can kind of predict what the plot twists will be? I thought I knew where this was going and in the last 25% of the book I was wrong, would change my mind to where I think it was going, turn the page, and be wrong again. Just amazing I can't gush enough about it.

Well, this was definitely a book that had me constantly on the edge of my seat and scared to see what would happen next.
I like how this book feature Chinese-coded characters, the inclusion of disabled characters, and that it doesn't have the "normal" romance we have become accustomed to in books. This book definitely blew me away and left me craving more. However, I will say this book is not for the faint of heart and includes triggers for gore, murder, torture, abuse, suicidal ideation, mentions and threats of rape, and more. This book was sooo good, but it is also very triggering.
I can't say there was any ONE thing that made me love this book, as I think my love for it is due to expert storytelling, amazing characters, a plot that kept me engaged and craving more, and an ending that left me absolutely floored. All of these things added up to a book I can't stop thinking about and a sequel I can't wait to get my greedy hands on. I will admit that the romance being poly definitely added to my love though, since I only ever see love triangles or monogamous romances, so seeing a poly relationship used and accurately depicted was a breath of fresh air for me.
I just really loved reading this book and wish I could read it again for the very first time.

I absolutely loved this bok! It is one of the only books that has the love triangle trope correctly done, and the main character, Zetian, is so morally gray and cool!! Such a feminist icon!! I'm so excited for the next book!!

I will be 100% honest and admit this is not my preferred genre. That being said, I loved this book! Zetian is an incredible protagonist with a taste for blood, and I am here for it. While the romance side was definitely a side story, I love the queer representation in this book, which is something I'm always looking for in YA novels. I can appreciate that the author chose to throw the romance in there, but not make it the primary plot for the novel. A badass book that was easy to get through! I'd recommend it.

Whoa! Love the sciency and historicalness of this book! Now, is this yet another book I cried to? OF COURSE! But can we talk about what a badass Zetian is like everything about her is like "You better listen to her or you will probably regret it!"