Reviews with content warning for Torture - Iron Widow

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Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

938 reviews

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The content of this is adult, but the writing style is YA for a majority of the book. The premise was completed within 100 pages, and I was never clear on Zetian's end goal after that (it was either short-term or vague). The pacing was too fast for me, and I wished we could ahve lingered on specific topics and experiences (i.e.: exploring gender identity). Because it was so fast, I wasn't fully attached to the relationships. However, I was angry when

Li Shimin "died" (thankfully it was a fake out)

. The last quarter of the book was strong because I finally believed in the brutality of Zetian (I kept comparing it to She Who Became the Sun and was disappointed). I was not expecting the twist at the end, and am not sure if I like it or not (it was WILD). Next book will tell me.

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gondorgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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nikkimouse_16's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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cavernism's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

What a wild ride! I think it could have benefitted with a little time spent on setting up the war/foe. Some of the writing felt rushed/confusing. However, the emotional beats hit wonderfully. The main emotion? R A G E.

I thought they were setting up a love triangle but got hopeful when

it veered in another direction, and then DELIVERED on an actual throuple dynamic! I was so bummed that it was so short-lived though. But maybe there's a hope for the future?

This book has a lot going for it, and I'm very eager for the sequel!

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kdegroote905's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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ixris's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What if pac rim met the hunger games and starship troopers in a back parking lot and had a gender fist fight.

Very fun. Top tier writing. I have one complaint and it's about how short-lived the best shape got to be.

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southernindigo's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

For a solid half or so of the novel, it's mostly character driven and I struggled to find the plot. The worldbuilding was enough to keep me locked in and when the plot kicked in? Enjoyable! But the character dynamics were still the strongest element. Wu Zetian is not an FMC who shies away from violence, I'll tell you that lol

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r3ader's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was... an experience. A book that is filled with pure female rage and feminism. A book that shocks you, that makes you angry, sad and happy. An ending making you wish to be able to read the next book INSTANTLY. Still, something was missing for me to give it the full 5 stars.
I'm looking forward to part 2 and seeing how it will all play out.

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corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve heard so many people talk about how wonderful this book is, but I went into it basically blind, and I’m glad I did.
It’s everything you know and love about Mulan, but if she was a bit more power hungry and firmly morally grey.
I want to take a moment first to celebrate the worldbuilding here. I struggle sometimes with sci-fi type books, but this story was a delight and didn’t get too bogged down in the details of how various technology worked beyond what was needed for the plot, when it was needed. The whole chrysalis concept and technology are explained extremely well. Added to this is a solid dose of Chinese culture and history that was beautifully woven into fantasy/sci-fi parts of the story. The ongoing discussion of the practice of foot binding, including our main character’s disabling pain, brought a raw physicality to the discussion of sexism in the story that broke me.
Now we go to our main character, Zetian. She is fire, and vengance, and spirit, and a deep yearning for power and revenge that I immediately adored. I’m going to tattoo “I am your nightmare” to the inside of my eyelids. But we also catch glimpses of her soft side, and I loved that as well.
And then we have her boys. Yizhi and Shimin are each delightful in very different ways. I loved the contrast of Yizhi’s softness balanced with cunning and Shimin’s roughness balanced with a poet’s heart. I was glad that on of the few things I knew going in was that the romance in the book is poly, because I enjoyed watching all three fall in love together without having to worry about her picking one.

(With that being said, spoiler: If Shimin is irreversibly dead, we riot. I need him to be okay by the end of the next book.)

In short, I really enjoyed this book, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. The discussions of patriarchy and defeating the expectations people put on us are expertly handled, the plot is perfect and riveting, and the romance is tender despite it all.

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bisexualbookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a fierce, unapologetic masterpiece that blends science fiction, Chinese history, and feminist rebellion into a searing tale of vengeance and liberation. In a world where girls are sacrificed to power giant war machines, Wu Zetian, the novel's protagonist, stands as a force of unflinching defiance, determined to dismantle the patriarchal society that seeks to destroy her. Zhao’s direct, sharp prose brings Zetian’s rage to life, grounding her personal quest for revenge in a larger critique of the oppressive systems that devalue and discard women.

Zetian’s journey begins with a personal vendetta—the murder of her sister by a male pilot—but quickly transforms into a mission to tear down the very system that treats girls as expendable. When Zetian kills the man responsible for her sister’s death, she earns the title of "Iron Widow," a rare and feared female pilot capable of sacrificing men to power the war machines known as Chrysalises. Her defiance becomes a symbol of feminist resistance, challenging not just the men who uphold the system but also the women who enable it. Inspired by the real-life Chinese Empress Wu Zetian, Zhao’s heroine is a force of nature, her journey fueled by fury and a hunger for liberation.

The world-building in Iron Widow is nothing short of ambitious. Zhao draws on Chinese history and mythology, creating a richly imagined society that blends futuristic technology with ancient traditions. The concept of girls being sacrificed to power mechas feels both chillingly futuristic and deeply rooted in historical patriarchal violence, making the novel’s feminist themes all the more potent. Zetian’s rebellion isn’t just personal—it’s a full-scale war against the systems that have oppressed women for generations.

Zetian’s relationships with co-pilots Li Shimin and Yizhi add another layer of complexity to the story. Their triad challenges traditional ideas of romance and loyalty, exploring themes of polyamory, interdependence, and bisexuality in subtle but powerful ways. The emotional depth of their bond, especially as they navigate a brutal world together, underscores the novel’s exploration of non-traditional relationship structures and challenges gender norms with nuance and care.

At its core, Iron Widow is a defiant rejection of societal expectations. Zhao doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, tackling patriarchal violence, gender roles, and systemic oppression head-on. While the novel’s feminist critique is often intense and at times heavy-handed, this only reinforces the urgency of its message. Zetian’s rage, her refusal to bow to the world’s demands, and her unrelenting pursuit of justice make Iron Widow a powerful, exhilarating read.

For anyone seeking a story of rebellion, resistance, and the reclamation of power, Iron Widow is a must-read. Zhao’s fierce writing, bold themes, and unforgettable characters make this novel an electrifying entry into the science fiction canon. I can’t wait to see where Zetian’s journey takes her next.

📖 Recommended For: Fans of feminist rebellion and fierce heroines, readers who enjoy stories blending science fiction with historical influences, those interested in themes of dismantling patriarchy and non-traditional relationships, and anyone who loves unapologetically powerful characters like in The Hunger Games or Chain-Gang All Stars.

🔑 Key Themes: Feminist Resistance, Patriarchal Violence, Reclamation of Power, Polyamory and Non-Traditional Relationships, Vengeance and Liberation, Chinese Mythology and History.

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