Iron Widow

By Xiran Jay Zhao

Book Overview

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!
A USA Today bestseller!

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

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735269939
• ISBN13: 9780735269934
• Release Date: September 2021
• Publisher: Penguin Teen Canada
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.9" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

First 5 star read of 2025!

This book is incredible. If you grew up on Zoids and Power Rangers, if you’re into Pacific Rim or Evangelion, and you love feminine rage that topples oppressive regimes - you will love this book!

More, more, more!!!

Excuse me while I make this book my entire personality. If you like Hunger Games and Pacific Rim, this is the mashup of your dreams. Maybe this was obvious to others but that ending had me gooped & gagged!

So incredible, can't wait for the next volume

Love the characters and the story so much. Zetian has such an awesome character arc. I love Shimin and Yizhi just as much as her. I really loved seeing them grow together and come to understand each other more. I could feel the rage and hurt that they carry with them and the moments of joy and love between them. It's just such an awesome story with such amazing characters. Highly, highly recommend.

An Actual Page Turner! Finally!

I took a break from nonfiction and picked up this amazing and groundbreaking novel! Why is it amazing and groundbreaking? Because its (woman) author saw a lack of Chinese representation in novels, specifically fiction/other worlds, so she stepped up and wrote one herself! After that, she had to fight to find someone willing to publish it. As I am not familiar with many of the Chinese folklore and traditions, there were some parts that I know I didn't get. However, it doesn't FEEL like you don't get it. Because she writes so compellingly and uses her world building to introduce the creatures she refers to, you don't actually miss anything. Instead, you have a well written book which those familiar with Chinese culture will simply find more in! And that is amazing. I am dying for there to be a sequel, she tells the story so well and in that unique voice which I find missing from so many modern fiction authors. Perhaps I'm biased, but it's how I feel. She however is unique, a true storyteller and a talented world builder. I look forward to following her career, and I hope the big publication houses finally pay attention to her.

Amazing

This book will keep you enthralled and frustrated at the same time. Time permitting, it's entirely possible to devour this book in one sitting and still crave more

Incredible!!

I have never read a book quite like this in all the best ways possible! I can’t say enough good things about this book, all I can really tell you is that I finished it in one night and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it even after since!!!❤️

Fantastic.

So you know how they put independent reviews on books now and they usually are an oversell? Well, the review on this book is "a guttural scream of a book" and its 100% accurate. It follows some typical tropes but twists them around in the process. Its also intersectional, feminist and has a strong female lead. Shockingly, the male protagonists are also feminist instead of the typical "just supportive." At times it can be a bit on the nose with the points its trying to make but it's the authors first books and honestly, most men might need it to be that direct if they're ever going to see things from a woman's perspective. 10/10 would recommend and cannot wait to see what this author does in the future.

A pleasant surprise!

To be perfectly honest I only bought this book because I follow Xiran on YouTube. I put off actually reading this book for quite a few months. Although truth be told the begging left something to be desired, and the story still follows predictable tropes, I couldn't stop reading. Xiran takes tropes and expectations and turns them on their heads. She also put out some incredible one liners. I will be picking up several copies to distribute to my loved ones as well as pre-ordering more than a few of her other book. I will continously be on the look out for her books for years to come.