A review by irl_bookworms
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

So this review is going to be scattered, because Iron Widow absolutely ruined my ability to summarize anything and has just left me shouting: OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!
 
Let’s give this a try:
 
With a tagline like ‘Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid’s Tale,’ you know you’re in for a story. Iron Widow meets the expectations of this tag line and then BLOWS IT OUT OF THE FREAKING WATER.
 
Zetian, our heroine, is full of rage that fuels her every calculated decision. Her drive is shameless, fearless, and it is ravenous and she refuses to let anything, even her own body’s limits get in her way. Beside her are not one, but two complex and fascinating young men who both stand uniquely on their own, but then also form my favourite love triangle style of all time - a poly love triangle!!
 
Also, the imagery is absolutely outstanding, so much thought about meanings are put into these pages, but also Zhao knows when they just want to keep things absolutely freaking epic and it just makes this whole book unputdownable! I can so very easily see this becoming an animated feature or series - please, can we get one? I would be so very over the moon!
 
This book will make you angry, this book will make you question your views - it demands your attention and holds it to the last page. To put it simply: I am in love with this book.
 
And can we talk about this cover??? This cover is a WORK OF ART.
 
I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on this book! Iron Widow, Zetian, and  Xiran Jay Zhao are going to make so many waves and I can’t wait to see it!
 
(I will add though, - part of me wishes we could have gotten to see the 18+ version of this story. This story does exactly what it wants and needs to for the YA age range, but I can only just imagine the fearless gut punches this story and author could have delivered?? One can dream!)
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Content‌ ‌warnings‌ ‌for‌  sexual assault, misogny, murder, torture, addiction, suicidal thoughts, & death
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*Thank‌ ‌you‌ Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen, ‌and‌ ‌NetGalley‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌ARC in exchange for my honest review*‌ ‌

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