A review by ashley_mrose530
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This is a fantastic book. I loved the world building and the magic system. It's so cool and different and I love the added element of it being very patriarchal and connecting it with elements seen in our world that way.
I loved the main character Zetian. She was so brazen and stubborn and she knew exactly what she believed was right and what wasn't. She knew how she and most other women were being treated wasn't right and she had the guts to stand up against the injustice. And I loved how she turns out at the end to be

kind of morally grey and you're left with a feeling of discomfort about what she does.

I can't wait to see how she handles everything in the next book.
I loved the poly relationship as well. I'm rooting for all three of them. I thought they all balanced each other out perfectly and they each got the other to open up so well in their own ways. It was lovely to see. I do wish we had gotten more scenes between them though to help develop those relationships a little more especially between the two men but also between Zetian and Li Shimin. Their feelings weren't completely out of nowhere but they also seemed to develop too quickly so it would have been nice to see them on the page a little bit more. 
I'm excited to see what the next book has in store.