Iron Widow was one of the best books I read this year and I think everyone needs to read this book!

💫fast paced and immersive story which is a reimagining of the rise of China’s only female emperor. The plot keeps you hooked and it’s always happening which makes it an interesting read.

💫an unhinged and brutal mc trying to smash patriarchy and destroy the world and take revenge and she’s one you can’t help but root for. I love the journey and growth Zetian goes through and also how fleshed out her character was which made it super fun to read about her. I absolutely loved Yizhi and Shimin too.

💫a love triangle which ends in healthy polyamorous relationship. I wish the romance part was shown a little more but it didn’t hinder my reading experience much.

💫 discussed themes of misogyny, patriarchy and privilege and I love how all this addressed and written.

💫super engaging and addictive with an ending that’ll leave you wanting so much more. No seriously that epilogue was something else and I can’t wait for book two.

TW: murder, abuse, torture, alcohol addiction, suicide ideation, mentions and threat of rape.


Thank you the publisher for providing an eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"What's holding them back is that they don't believe there's any way for a woman to live a meaningful life other than rearing a family. I'll show them; I'll prove to them that it's not true. We can live for more. We can live for justice. Change. Vengeance. Power."

If you don't have 'Iron Widow' on your TBR list, go and place it right on top of that pile because you have to read this book. The story starts with Wu Zetian who volunteers to become a pilot of a Chrysalis, which are huge robots made from spirit metal that allows them to morph into different forms. They are used to fight aliens from beyond the great wall. Every Chrysalis is co-piloted by a male and a female, however the females almost never make it out alive, they are expected to serve as concubines and sacrifice themselves for the greater good, the protection of the realm. When Zetian finds out her sister has been murdered by one of the famous male pilots she has had about enough of the powerless struggle that is her life, so she starts to plot revenge to kill her sister's murderer. However, nothing goes as planned and suddenly she gets the opportunity to do so much more. She can try and change the system, she can and will become.. their nightmare!

This book gave me Hunger Games, Handmaid's Tale and Pacific Rim vibes all set in a world inspired by East-Asian culture and history. The main character Zetian is merciless in her goals and I love her for it. She's is by no means a perfect person, she makes mistakes but that just makes me like her even more. If a triangle is your favorite shape and you are looking for an action-packed, female empowering, sci-fi book inspired by the only female empress China has ever had, go and pick up this book!

Not sure what my favourite part of the book was. Was it the amazing, rich, exciting world, or perhaps the complex, ruthless and three-dimensional characters? It could've been the amazing themes discussed which included gender roles, family expectations, imperialism, environmentalism and so much more. But it was probably the highly engaging and relatable way it was written.

Iron Widow gave me an exciting, high-stakes sci-fi story about the robots from Power Rangers and I loved it. Seriously go read it.

If I had to describe Iron Widow in a sentence, I would say it's basically a YA book from the 2013 to 2016 era, but updated for a modern audience. You have all the basic elements of a YA book from a 5 years ago: a protagonist who at first glance 'isn't like other girls', a love triangle between a friend and a 'bad boy', and the fate of the world at stake.

However, Iron Widow totally subverts these traditional YA elements, and what could've been a very tropey and familiar story instead becomes something pretty original (especially if you've never seen a mecha anime before). I liked how Iron Widow interrogated traditional gender roles, and how pervasive internalised misogyny is.

I also loved the setting, especially the little details and how Xiran Jay Zhao incorporated Chinese culture and history into the novel (I think my favourite detail was about a pilot's autobiography called 'Journey to the West' lol).

One critique I have, is that in some ways, Iron Widow felt almost more like a movie than a book? Like in some ways, it seemed like the author had several key scenes and themes they wanted to portray, and then kind of built the rest of the book around that? But this meant that to me, some parts of the book (such as the training montage bit) felt a bit weaker than the rest of the novel.

Also, I felt that Xiran Jay Zhao's writing definitely got stronger as the book went on - the beginning was a little shakey, but the writing flowed better and felt more confident in the latter half of Iron Widow.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but it is definitely a YA novel, so if you're outside the YA target audience (like I am) you may not enjoy it as much.

*I should also note that I follow the author on Twitter and YouTube, and am a big fan of their work, so this is probably not the most objective review.

This novel is a work of art and I'm not sure if anything else I read this year will top it. It is original, compelling and entertaining with a breathless yet addictive plot.
The main character Zetian is plain cool - I can't think of a better way to describe her and the book itself covers so many serious and important themes in an accessible way that is not preachy at all.
From coloniality to racism to sexism - this book is the best attempt at writing feminism into a YA novel I have seen in years.
I have nothing critical to say about it, it is well-developed, the world-building is ace and the only minor plot hole that I wanted (although I may have missed this whilst devouring the thing!) is the explanation behind Yizhi's tattoos.
The only descriptor that kept repeating in my mind whilst reading this was "awesome" and I believe that readers will identify with Zetian all over. She is a real, raw, survivor and because of her the story is so satisfying all the way until the end.
I look forward to seeing more from the author and wish her all the best with her writing - the world needs more like it!

Pitched as 'Pacific Rim meets The Haidmaid's Tale' Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is an absolutely fierce, bold and exhilarating read.



Zetian Wu's goal is to seek revenge on the man that killed her older sister. However, once she achieves that goal it is only a matter of time before the world that surrounds her truly understands the potential and power that resides in her.



***



Set in Huaxia, a technologically advanced society tied to many ancient Chinese customs. It faces continued attacks from Hunduns, only kept under control by the revered Chrysalis. Piloted by young men who channel their life force or 'qi' into reclaimed Hundun husk. Infusing their life force into these husks allow them to be turned into giant powerful war robotic weapons.



The downside is that they can't be piloted alone and require female co-pilots. As in life, yin requires its balance - yang and the same goes for the Chryaslises. However, men are stronger in their qi than female pilots, meaning many young girls die before a single battle finishes.



But with poverty everywhere, more families are willing to offer up their daughters as sacrifices for money. Including Zetian's.



After Zetian's Big Sister is killed by a Chrysalis pilot, Zetian wants revenge, even if it means if it ends her life too.



Yet, in a turn of events, Zetian survives piloting her first Chrysalis. From then onwards Zetian realises her potential is what she truly makes. That the bounds and restrictions in her life are hers to defy.



Defy she does.





In-depth analysis of the book (what I enjoyed, any critiques, a favourite quote or scene mention, summary )



Where to start is the question because I loved this book A LOT.



Science fiction, East Asian myths come hand in hand beautifully to create the tantalizing retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the one and only female emperor in Chinese history.



Iron Widow is an action-packed, whirlwind story that takes you on one heck of a journey. A journey that is 100% worth it!



Bold and fierce and unapologetically badass, Iron Widow doesn't hesitate to defy your expectations.



The writing of this book is wonderful - well-paced, engaging and vivid it felt as if I was watching a movie. With extra praise towards the immersive worldbuilding and characterisation. Zhao does an amazing job at making her characters' emotions parallel magnificently with the sci-fi action of the book hence why many of the battles scenes were my favourite. It really is where Zhao showcases her talent as a writer. Finding the balance between action, characters and plot in some YA sci-fi is difficult enough. However, Iron Widow fuses all three into a compelling narrative that gets better as the story goes on.



Now a quick detour to discuss Wu Zetian.



I love her!



Of course, I could say she is a 'strong female character'. However, I don't think that would be enough to even begin to encompass her characterisation. Let's me say it like this instead:



Zetian is a resolute and dynamic character. Distinctive, bold and unapologetic Zetian's characterisation is constructed with a sense of addictiveness you don't want to miss any minute detail about her right from page one. It's like you can't take your eyes off her. Zhao entices you into Wu's world, values with such conviction (despite her moral ambivalence) you want to her conquer all that stands in her way.



Let's be honest, I love the morally grey character(s) the internal conflict between 'good' and 'bad' in someone is a great concept and seeing how writers decide to address this topic in their work is just as exciting. For Zhao, the fearless no F's approach she takes and is reflected perfectly encompassed in Zetian too.



Ok time to speed this review up:



Great discussions of gender roles and feminism are explored in the story. What I like in particular was that there was a great deal in regards to body autonomy. Said subject in my opinion isn't examined enough in YA fiction, so thumbs up to Zhao. For the target audience, it is important that people are aware of what ownership of your body means to you (physically, mentally, emotionally etc) and what the consequences are when it's hindered.



The general exploration as to why gender roles are arbitrary was refreshing. I don't think I have read a book in recent times that really has had the confidence to say 'screw gender roles and heteronormative' the way Iron Widow has and I adore it so much. This allows me to segway into polyamorous representation in Iron Widow. I won't say much because I don't want to spoil much.



In short, it's great to see that the relationship that exists between Zetian, Yizhi and Li Shimin is one that promotes that love is infinite - beautiful moral if you ask me.





Overall, Iron Widow is one of the most stellar YA debuts for me this year. With great originality, paired with its beautifully fierce defiant narrative. It's a book bound to make its mark for great reasons.



Star Rating: 5/5



The thoughts and opinions above are my own.



Thanks very much to Oneworld Publications, Rock the Boat an e-arc via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review



Also please view trigger warnings prior to reading.

How should I start this? It is a MASTERPIECE. A ride. Unputtable book. Each parts get more and more intense in action, the beautifully crafted world opens up, you get attached to the characters and root for not only the MC but everyone around to win their rightful reward…or punishment.

This book is phenomenal! It mixes heavy topics (such as gender, feminine rights or how women are still made to fit inti certain roles under men, different paths you can choose, abusive and toxic relationships) but also shows beauty. The main character Zetian is one fierce, passionate and SASSY girl, who shakes things up in the capital. Oh did I tell you there are two boys she loves? But those guys get fond of each other too? My heart!!

And if the amazing relationships, one bed trope, friends to lover and strangers hate to lovers tropes would not make you read RIGHT NOW this book, I hope the premise of an epic battle, fighting against creatures, using qi, piloting crazy huge robots will make you rethink the whole thought!

Absolutely loved this book. I want more. The sequel cannot come out early enough!

2,000 years ago the Hundun descended. The human race was all but wiped out, and then they uncovered one way in which they could fight back. Chrysalises were crafted to carry one ace male pilot and one female concubine-pilot. Inside of them, a psychic link was formed and the combined energies of the two were used to power the mecha-beasts. The female rarely survived it.

For the past two centuries, the war has continued with little changing. The mecha-aliens still descend. Humans still fight back to protect the little land they have left. Females are still sacrificed at an alarming rate for the good of the country. Male pilots are still heralded as celebrities and heroes.

2021 really is blessing us with such stunning and diverse fantasy stories! And this is by far one of the most unique and exhilarating that I have ever read! The entire concept was such an intriguing one and I adored how each facet was explored inside the story-line.

Asides from being an astoundingly sublime fantasy, I loved the conversations concerning gender that were also featured. The terms are never explicitly stated, but very early on two of the characters ponder over where an intersex, hermaphrodite, or trans individual would be seated inside the chrysalis. It showed a growing understanding from the characters that the world is not made of binaries, despite what those in authority would have the populace believe.

This exploration continued in the characters' personal lives, as they rejected the endorsed hetro and monogamous relationships and deemed sex as not the only form of intimacy that individuals could share. Featured was one of the softest and sweetest fictional relationships I have ever seen formed!

The most explicit societal norm this novel tackled was the misogyny that the kingdom thrived upon. Women were viewed as disposable and their families were actively encouraged and rewarded for raising them for either marriage or death. Generations of females were treated as lesser beings and it became impossible for many to ever view themselves, their sisters, or their daughters as able to be anything more.

This obviously fantastical construction also had its sexist roots in real-world history. This Asian-inspired fantasy utilised Chinese history to expose the horrors females underwent. For example, it was an accepted practise to mutilate female feet, making them smaller in size and daintier in appearance for the male gaze. The dual societal benefit of this was that they could never run or move freely again. The feet blistered and rotted and ached, meaning the prettily-shod exterior was never the same when viewed up close, and that each female spent their entire life suffering, unable to forget for one moment their agony or how they were shackled to a smaller space in the world, most often the home sphere.

This entire novel read like an angry battle cry. Xiran Jay Zhao used their words wisely to narrate a deep and moving tale. It was one made up, in equal parts of love and loathing, rivalry and revenge, sacrifice and strife. The patriarchy died here and my love for this author was born here, too.

IRON WIDOW struggles to buoy its ambitious premise until the very end, but still dazzles and shocks with an epic story and fierce characters.

The comparisons to Pacific Rim are not unwarranted. A solid chunk of this book throws you into the bloody, vicious world of Huaxia and its patriarchal society. It's gory and dark and spares no minutiae, and is one of the strongest points of this book. The battles, the stakes, are epic in scope, and Zhao nails the grandiose, cinematic imagery needed to pull it off. IRON WIDOW practically oozes brutality; it would make the perfect book to adapt to the big or silver screen.

This was easily a four star read for the first two-thirds of the book. Zetian as our anti-heroine is no-nonsense, unyielding and unafraid of what she wants. She makes smart decisions that bite at those that would do her harm. She's utterly compelling as the protagonist, snuffing out her vulnerabilities so that she can rule in her own way. And the romance that she's in does nothing to water down her character. Her love interests Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi are unique and bring out two different sides to her personality, yet both are equally good for her in partnership, and good for each other as well, in that the three form a polyamorous romance.

Similarly Shimin and Yizhi are distinctive and memorable enough as characters in their own right. Shimin, tortured by alcoholism and a tragic past, buries his feelings deep within him to save face, whereas Yizhi has a gentle heart and soul and will always try to do right by them. As far as characters go, I was cool on all three of them.

The last third of the book, however, felt too rushed and poorly paced to enjoy. So much time is dedicated to building up the world, the setting, the trio, and especially the magic system that much of the climax of the story unfolded in a manner that feels like it's being dictated to us, rather than seen through Zetian's own eyes. Everything is summarised and happens too quickly to really digest. It was disappointing that all this build-up led to an ending that felt like an afterthought, even if it was sowed between great character closure and some brilliant, unrelenting choices from Zetian.

This was definitely one of the most original YA books I've read in many years, and despite my criticisms I still enjoyed IRON WIDOW. I'll be interested to see where Zhao takes Zetian and the characters next.

Really enjoyed this! It wore its influences proudly and boldly, and totally made itself its own. Loved the way it handled love triangles and found it refreshing start to finish.

After the death of her sister, Wu Zetian's goal is get revenge on the man that killed her. When she survives this suicide mission, no one knows how to handle this dangerous woman.

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

This story is set in Huaxia, a technologically-advanced empire, but bound by many ancient Chinese customs. It is constantly under attack by the Hunduns, which are only kept at bay by the famed Chrysalis pilots - young men who channel their high qi into reclaimed Hundun husks - which they turn into giant, powerful weapons.
The downside is that they can't power them alone, and as yin is needed by yang for balance, so the male pilots need female co-pilots.
The problem is that - as the men are stronger in their qi than their female partners, the women usually die when the battle is finished. But that's OK, because there's plenty more poor families offering up their daughters as sacrifices. In exchange for money.

We follow Zetian, a young woman who grew up in a frontier town. She lives the life of many peasant girls - she's just a daughter, not allowed any freedom, and eventually bartered away. Seeing her as nothing more than an asset, her family even maim her feet and lame her for life, because smaller feet are considered pretty.
After Big Sister is killed by a Chrysalis pilot, Zetian vows revenge, even though she knows she will die in the process.

Zetian survives physically, but it is like her old life, her old restrictions have died, along with her victim.
She's has never wanted to be subservient to men; but now she chooses to stand up for herself; she chooses to defy those that would push her down.
Zetian casts off all the shame and the rules that have been drilled into her all of her life, and starts to make her own plans, with the help of her allies, Li Shimin and Yizhi.

Wow. I enjoyed every inch of this story.
Zetian is such an unforgiving main character. She's not always likeable, but she doesn't care, and neither do I.
There were moments where certain male characters made typical 'romantic' or 'hurt hero' moves, and Zetian is quick to point out the flaws in said move. She doesn't just blindly accept something because the hero tells her it's so. And it makes you look at those characters in a new light.

I thought having a poly relationship between the main three was such a refreshing change from the usual love triangles.
Don't let this type of relationship put you off - I thought it was excellently written, and focuses on the growing romantic connection between them. It's just so healthy, compared to most of the other relationships portrayed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and after the ending, I can't wait for the next book!

Summary: Iron Widow is an action packed, addictive story about revenge and taking down the patriarchy, that just so happens to have giant mech battles in a sci-fi alt world with characters and situations inspired by ancient China.

Recommended if you love women who don’t back down against the odds
Not recommended if you want characters that turn the other cheek
Recommended if you enjoyed Sanderson’s Skyward and want to try more YA
Not recommended if you find fast paced books exhausting
In a world where male mecha pilots sacrifice their female counterparts to use their qi in the war against the hoard of Hunduns, Wu Zetian is an anomaly, a woman who can do the opposite. At first Zetian is only out for revenge for the death of her sister, but her rage at the wrongness of the system that led to and allowed her death soon targets the system itself. Shackled to the powerful murderer and pilot Li Shimon, Zetian has to learn to work with him or be consumed by his sizeable power.

Zetian is angry, and it’s a righteous anger. The world is a terrible place for a woman, and she’s wronged again and again, by her family, by the pilots and by the strategists and sages who perpetuate the system itself. You can feel that anger simmer off the page, and it’s even more palpable for the fact that it’s got a basis in reality. Zetian does get some level of revenge – and doesn’t feel sorry for it in the least. That may put some people looking for a more noble protagonist, but in this world, I almost never felt that she was being excessive.

The setting has a lot of mystery to it. We don’t ever get a good handle on what the Hunduns are, and why they are attacking the humans is a lingering question for the reader, as is the true nature of the gods that covet the Hunduns spirit metal and give gifts of technology and knowledge to humanity in return. We do get some answers, but a lot of the stuff that is less pressing for the plot of this book is left for a sequel, which actually works pretty well for me. The mechas are a combination of a magic and technology, with the qi level of a person determining the amount of power they can use to operate and transform the mechas to higher forms. Everything feels quite anime in that regard – in the best possible way.

But the mecha combat comes second to the interpersonal conflict, and in this, the book shines even more. Zetian is abrasive, reckless, but vulnerable and not heartless. She has found a kindred spirit in Yichi, a rich boy her age with a powerful father and a determination to be by her side no matter what. And her relationship with Li Shimin, a man with hidden depths behind the surface, is deliciously complicated and powerful. The three of them are great, and before you start worrying about YA love triangles, I’ll say right now not to. It does not go the way you’d expect.

And that’s a theme throughout the book – for those who eschew the YA genre for its perceived predictably, this book will surely change your mind. This books moves at such a pace that I barely felt it’s 400+ pages, and it frequently zigs when I expected it to zag, in ways that were both satisfying and dramatic. It’s a rollercoaster ride that just builds and builds all the way to an explosive and shocking finish. I think if you like the slower moments of world and character building that some fantasy leans toward you might find yourself a little frustrated here – there is some of that, but not lots – and while I think it works for the plot being told, I could see the complaint being made.

Iron Widow is bold, exciting and gut wrenching, a book that gets you to revel in Zetian’s victories despite their bloody cost, and rage against the injustices of the world. I would have read it in one sitting had responsibilities not got in the way. Read this book. You probably won’t regret it.

Rating: 10/10

3,5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Please take in mind it’s my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have one.

This book started off so great, the first part was so interesting and refreshing. Where as the second part was just okay to me, BUT THE THIRD PART??? OH YES! Everything came together in that part.

The romance was a really slow burn but I honestly didn’t mind at all, the poly relationship was something new and refreshing as well since I haven’t seen that often in Young Adult books.

The ending had me shocked, I didn’t expect that at all. So I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in the next book

Thank you for this book and the opportunity to read and review it!

Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1)
Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao, is a retelling of the story of Wu Zeitian, China’s first female emperor, set in a sort of futuristic setting. I absolutely adored this book.

I wasn’t familiar with the story it was inspired by, but I loved it anyway. Iron Widow promises you this:

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

The characters were beautifully realistic, and the technology of the world was really well thought out- which is something a lot of YA authors neglect to think about.

The romance was there, but it wasn’t so important that it took over every aspect of the story.

Another brilliant thing is the character development. You really see everyone grow as a person in this novel.

This may sound a little weird, but I really liked how there was death in this book. It wasn’t one of those books where they skate around killing off important characters, and it was handled well.

This was such a unique concept. I loved the influences of Chinese culture and mythology that I rarely come across in sci-fi novels. Even more rarely there was a poly relationship that was so refreshing instead of the usual 'love triangle'.

The strong feminist themes and excellent discussions on gendered society really sung throughout. I could highlight quotes from this for DAYS. Also, giant mechas. I cannot stress how cool this was to read about!

Some of the parts I enjoyed less includes some of the secondary characters who felt a little shallow and I struggled to warm to them. It was also a little slow around the 50% mark due to the focus on politics. (This is mainly a personal preference)

Our protagonist Zetain was one of the fiercest females I have ever seen and so much fun (well not always fun but definitely compelling) to follow. This didn't pull any punches and was way more intense than I was expecting so please check out the content warnings. I would recommend for those who love feminist tellings, powerful female protagonists, GIANT MECHAS, lgbt+ rep and novels inspired by Chinese culture.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rock the Boat for the Advanced Readers Copy.

cw: torture, rape threats, misogyny, alcohol addiction

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is an exciting read in the beginning but as the story progresses, somehow I lost my interest. This is a reimagining book inspired by Wu Zetian, the only female empress in China with a twist wielding magical mecha powered weapons against the enemy called Hunduns.

I was totally hooked about 40% into the book and I kept telling myself not to give up. That it might get better afterwards but sadly, I was wrong. For me, it didn't really get better. I was pretty much just forcing myself through it.

I am all for badass female characters and Wu Zetian isn't an exception as she is fierce, strong and a queen. She sticks with her principles throughout the book and I definitely like that about her. She refuses to back down from misogyny and a whole system where women are always going to be lesser than men. She's the pinnacle of a revolution and good for her.

I am surprised by this myself but the romance is probably my least favourite out of everything. It feels a bit forced. For a powerful girl who relies on two man isn't really up to par by what she values. It seems a bit contradicting.

The ending was so unexpected but I'm not sure if I want to continue reading this story. I'm afraid this just isn't for me but if this is something you might enjoy, you should totally pick it up because there are so many others who ended up really liking it.

To say I was excited for this book was an understatement: I love Xiran Jay Zhao’s social media presence, and really appreciate their energy, humour and what appears to be a deep knowledge of Chinese history. I also read a few articles about their fight to retain the polyamorous romance at the centre of Iron Widow, and I wanted to support them in that effort.

Unfortunately, I had a number of issues with Iron Widow.

To start with the good, however: the aesthetic is excellent. I’m not hugely into anime so didn’t necessarily recognise the specific comps, but the mecha battles are really cool. I also really liked the Chinese inspired world-building: there are lots of little details that make the world feel really expansive and hint at the cultural diversity within the setting, such as the conflicts between different ethnic groups. I really appreciated that this book didn’t treat Chinese culture (or the fantasy cultures inspired by it) as a monolith.

As for everything else, well: the best way to describe Iron Widow is unsubtle. Sometimes that works – I was very into the ‘fuck the patriarchy’ vibe of this book at the beginning. Iron Widow is Wu Zetian’s revenge story, as she seeks revenge against the mecha pilot who killed her sister, but also the system that has pushed her down and denied her autonomy and opportunities at every turn. I love unapologetic women who fight for their rights, and I’m glad this book continues that tradition.

However, below the surface, the lack of subtlely in the feminist message means it doesn’t actually make much sense. Zetian’s entire story revolves around the same events: someone sense something grossly misogynistic, Zetian snaps back with a witty reply and owns them (where she learnt these retorts given the lack of feminist role models in her life is unclear). It doesn’t help that Wu Zetian gives off the biggest ‘not like other girls’ vibe I’ve seen for a while – she is miraculously somehow the most talented female concubine with the most spirit energy that’s ever been seen. She also has no positive interactions with women, either getting into catfights with them (over men), or looking down on them for choosing a different path in life (her disdain for another women who has chosen to have children with her mecha pilot partner is not the feminist message I was looking for). There’s simply no sympathy for the women who have been downtrodden and broken by the patriarchal society they live in and are yet to reach the same level of feminist enlightment as Wu Zetian.

The rest of the book is a bit of a mess, as well. The writing is clunky and unpolished, again lacking any kind of nuance or subtlety. There is a lot of telling rather than showing. And Zetian’s relationships with the two love interests, childhood friend Yizhi and fellow mecha pilot Shimin, lack consistency, making it hard to root for them. At one point, Zetian screams about how much she hates Shimin, only to passionately kiss him about three pages later. I really wanted to cheer for the relationship given the author’s attempts to break new ground and move away from toxic YA love triangles, but there wasn’t a lot to work with.

Ultimately, I really admire the intent of this book and I really hope the author continues to grow as a writer: I think they have a lot of really excellent feminist energy to bring to the genre, but lack the experience to nuance the messaging and tell a compelling story in this venture.

Well, this was a heckuva ride! This is a world protected against an invading force by pilots in giant mecha suits which transform according to their particular mental capabilities. Two pilots are required, yin and yang: the stronger male pilot, and the balancing female pilot… who often ends up a sacrifice, drained of her life force by her fellow pilot to power the suit in battle. Wu Zetian has volunteered as a pilot in order to kill the pilot who killed her sister, not in battle but somehow outside of it. Now she’s expected to become his concubine…

Think you know where it’s going? Well, the book has some surprises coming for you, about which I shouldn’t say too much for fear of spoiling them! However, I think it’s worth mentioning the fact that this features not a love triangle but a poly relationship: Zetian ends up with two boyfriends, and her boyfriends are boyfriends, too.

It is worth noting as well that this isn’t a nice world, and Zetian isn’t a nice girl. It’s a world loosely based on ancient China, meaning that Zetian has had her feet bound to become “lotus feet”, and the effects of that aren’t shied away from. And of course, our heroine starts the book planning a murder, and has few hesitations throughout the book about making life and death decisions for other people. We root for her because we also see the helpless position she’s put into, but we also know she’s not someone we want to know. There’s a line in one of Thea Gilmore’s live albums where she describes the personality of someone she wrote a song about: “She has the kind of personality that’s a nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there.”

Well, Zetian’s personality is an entertaining place to visit, but you definitely, definitely don’t want to live there. That you can root for her at all works because you can sympathise with her motives and reasons.

On a final note, oof! That ending! I’m guessing there’s more to come from Wu Zetian, and I intend to read it if so.

In this retelling of Wu Zetian, China's only female emperor, the boys of Huxia pilot Chrysalises while their female co-pilots must serve as concubines and sacrifice their lives in order to battle the aliens beyond the Great Wall. Zetian offers herself up as a concubine so she can assassinate the pilot responsible for her sister's death but after she is able to sacrifice the male pilot in her first battle, she has a new plan. The time has come to overturn the entire patriarchal military system.

If you're a fan of feminist messages in your books like me, you will love this! Zetian is an incredible protagonist, in a world would women must be submissive, she is anything but that. Although she is ruthless and willing to do terrible things, you can't help but root for her! She isn't the only character to have great development, Yizhi and Li Shimin are also great characters. Zetian's relationship with Li Shimin was particularly interesting as she had a lot of preconceived assumptions about him that we had to see her work through to accept him. I got a little worried as I thought a love triangle was forming, which I'm not a big fan of, but was pleasantly surprised when the triangle turned out to be a polyamorous relationship which I've never seen in a YA book before!

The world building was amazing, there were some complicated things to explain, like how the giant robots work, but Xiran Jay Zhao did a great job and it's clear they know a lot about qi and Chinese history!

Lastly the plot was just amazing! There was so much action and so many twists, I couldn't stop reading! This is probably my favourite and one of the most well written books I've read this year, and I already want to reread it. After that ending I need the sequel immediately and can't wait to see what's next for Wu Zetian!

Overall, I think everyone should read this and I will constantly be recommending it from now on!

As if I could give this book anything other than 5 stars.
I'd seen some anticipation for this book building up online and was so excited to receive the ARC... but nothing could have prepared me for how much I would LOVE this book. I honestly think this will be one of those books that will stick with me and live in a corner of my brain forever.

Zetian exists in a society which uses and discards women as if they are nothing more than a source of fuel. I use the word 'exist' specifically, as this is all she able to do, exist rather than live, under the weight of patriarchal control and under the physical and emotional abuse preventing her having any agency over her own life. In this society, which draws from futuristic sci-fi elements as well as ancient China, the lives of women are exploited from birth and in huge numbers are sacrificed as if meaningless to allow men to fight a war. The war is being fought using massive mechanical structures which require a pair of pilots, one male and one female, to channel their minds and spirits together. Almost always, this results in the female pilot's death. Zetian grows up in this world, full of rage and frustration at the lack of choices for someone of her gender and also in physical and emotional pain from the abuse she has experienced from both society and her own family. Her life truly begins when her desire to avenge her sister's murder, and the overwhelming rage and defiance that's built up inside her, means that when she ends up piloting alongside the second most powerful male pilot, she comes out alive, carrying his body, laughing manically and ready to burn the patriarchy to the ground.

Who wants a book with subtle feminist undertones, when you can instead have a book entirely fueled by pure, hot, feminist rage?

The writing of this book was outstanding - fast paced, engaging and visual - I felt as if I was watching a film. A great example of this is that I'm not usually especially interested in battle scenes, but the battles in this book were some of my favourite scenes. The writing fully pulled me in, with detail and emotion that carried me into battle too, and this goes for both the scenes set in the physical realm of this story and those set inside the physic connection between the minds of the pilots. The world building is excellent and immersive, but if I could offer one critique on this book, it is that I would have liked to spend even longer soaking up the many detailed layers of this world.

The character representation is excellent - have we ever had a lead character as unrestrained as Zetian? She is given the space to be exactly as enraged and unforgiving as she truly is - something rarely afforded to women. She has 0 f's left to give and it is both exhilarating and also refreshing to be transported through the story riding the wave of a woman's power and rage. She also gains strength from her two love interests, both men extremely well written characters in themselves. The fact that these two love interests also love each other, to provide incredible queer and polyamory representation is just.. chefs kiss..

I feel as thought it is impossible to portray all of the different ways I loved this book and all of the different reasons that it has exceeded my expectations. Did I mention it's a 5 stars?