Iron Widow
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / General
4.3
(7.7K)
Xiran Jay Zhao
An instant #1 New York Times 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.
Science Fiction
Buy Now
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Xiran Jay Zhao
Pages
400
Publisher
National Geographic Books
Published Date
2021-09-21
ISBN
0735269939 9780735269934
Community ReviewsSee all
"While I find some of the basic writing building blocks to be a little underdeveloped and stereotypically YA, the CONTENT is beyond amazing. I look forward to the other books this author writes, because I think with practice, a lot of the clumsier writing will clear up, and instead we’ll have more genre-defying, take-no-prisoners writing with whip-tight prose and even sharper dialogue. Looking forward to the sequel 😈"
" There is NOTHING you can do to convince me that Xiran Jay Zhao is not just going places but sprinting there. This book is not perfect but gosh it kept me hooked. Finally a badass MC who is going against the grain and facing real consequences for their actions! And relationships that are built on communication, trust, and acceptance!? I just want to keep talking this book up, so instead I'll just remind you all that a triangle is the strongest shape ;)"
"WHAT??? A.. STORY! You ever experience something that gives you the urge, desire, and make believe that you can wrestle a bear? Because this is how I feel right now. First of all the pacific rim/handmaids tale reference, 💯 true and I loved it because I love Pacific Rim. Giant machinery being controlled by humanity for protection, sign me up, sans the whole life source depletion for some boy toy compensation. The feminine womanly rage, I 👏🏻 AM 👏🏻 HERE 👏🏻 FOR 👏🏻 IT XIRAN! I loved everything about Zetian and her will and determination to go out with a bang and take a crappy societal system down with her. The IMMENSE sacrifices that she has to make over and over feel so outrageous that I couldn’t believe things could get worse and then they would. Yet the Iron Triangle is strong, IYKYK, so I remain hopeful. I absolutely loved this, this is my first Xiran Jay Zhao but it certainly won’t be my last, I am eagerly waiting for the sequel to this epic tale. The plot twist in the end, WORTH EVERYTHING. I came for the cover, and stayed for the utter most gut wrenching badass tale of an empress in the making. I am giddy for the second one folks, I can’t recommend this story enough. Happy reading, especially if you’re a misogynistic man who can’t see the absolute value in a woman and her freedom, pick up this book and read something of actual value. "
"Best book of 2021 l, period. The setting (chinese scifi with mecha) is a great device to have a deeper meaning behind the struggle of the main character. She's a badass disabled vengeful women and I love her. I also like what was done to throw the cliché love triangle upside down. I tabbed so many quotes, and I usually don't, like at all. It's a masterpiece"
"It has a very interesting premise, and it is a sci-fi type retelling of China's only female emperor. I thought the story itself was really good (and there was polyamory!!), but the writing style was a bit messy sometimes and the last few chapters were really confusing. I am totally looking forward to the next book!"
Similar Books
4.3
3.6
3.8
4
4.3
3.6
3.7
4
3.8
3.8
3.8
4.5
3.5
3.4
3.6
3.8
3.9
4
4.2
3.6