A review by zoeluh
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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

4.5

I LOVE a morally grey, vengeful, murderous main character, especially a vengeful, murderous girl. As a survivor, Zetian’s rage and refusal to be forgiving speaks to me in an unvarnished and beautiful way. I love that she isn’t made to be forgiving, kind, or redeemable. She is fueled by anger, and beneath that by love for those suffering injustice, and that’s what makes her so powerful and relatable. I also like that although this isn’t historical fiction, it draws on so many aspects of real Chinese history, and highlights the discrimination of Chinese ethnic minorities. The descriptions of foot-binding stuck with me as well as someone whose ancestors had bound feet. Zetian’s rage was not arbitrary, it draws on very real injustices and deep, ancestral anger, making this a powerful novel that speaks to the darker parts of the heart. 
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