A review by natesfairytale
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? Yes

5.0

 First of all, the chapters have titles, which is making it gain so many points. 

Wu Zetian is so brave and passionate. In a world where everyone is against her, she keeps revolting. She never gives up and fight for what she believes in. She struggles in this world because she is blunt and struggles to make allies. But when she does, they would do a lot for her. She keeps getting herself (and her ‘friends’) in trouble but that’s what makes her interesting. She is smart and she thinks a lot, which makes her dangerous to her enemies. I am in love. 
Another thing that I liked is the way the story is not centred in an imaginary place that is just another USA. There was a lot of moments where the book felt very close to our own world, with subjects like gender or sexuality.

How Yizhi sexuality is easier because he is a rich city boy, for example. One moment that marked me was the butterfly scene, with the non-binary butterfly which kind of starts a lot of reflexions in how Zetian saw the gendered way the world works.

I also loved the moments Yizhi talked about love and how it’s infinite.

I never saw it that way and it was a very pretty way of talking about it. I usually hate love triangle, but it was so well written, and it felt so natural to have them getting together in this way. I love how Li Shimin is kind of a mirror of Wu Zetian. And Gao Yizhi complete this duo so well, like you can see that for Zetian and Shimin to be a balanced match, they need Yizhi. 

Finally, I kind of whish some past conversations and actions were discussed more, but the book felt so well constructed that I don’t even mind it that much. It’s a series too, so I hope it will be discussed in the future books.