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A review by luluwoohoo
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
☀️☀️☀️⛅
(2025 re-read)
An action packed historical retelling with fantasy robots thrown in for good measure.
Re-reading this was just as fun the second time around! I went back to check my previous review to see if any of my opinions changed significantly and I have to say it's mostly the same.
Good: killer concept, badass characters who are distinctive from each other, the presence of a legitimate love triangle
Could be better: writing of the battle/action sequences are often lacking style and emotion, the progression of the romantic links with Shimin were rushed within the overall pacing of the story
Now to tackle book 2!
2022
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️This is a book that will make any girl scream a battle cry in victory for ❤️
▪️A deeply challenging YA debut that explores heavy topics in a no holds barred fashion. It is unhinged in the best way possible!
▪️It's exploration of gender expectations within society is without a doubt the strongest voice of the novel, but equally fleshed are the concepts of gender assignment and monogamy. They are all illustrated to be both outdated and a way for the powers that be to continue controlling the masses in this eerily familiar world to our own
▪️Zetian is a wonderfully complex MC whose growth over the course of the book is equally logical and manical. Both Yizhi and Shimin present similarly fascinating exploration, and no one is entirely who they appear on the surface
▪️My biggest gripes are that Zhao's writing style doesn't really lend itself to play-by-play battle descriptions, some of which felt too artificial and devoid of the emotion they needed to carry the story forward. And the world-building could have been fleshed out with the revelation at the end needing a bit more context
▪️Incredible reps found within: bi rep, disability rep, poly rep, enby rep!
▪️Trigger warnings: suicidal ideation, purposeful physical deformation, alcohol addiction, torture, murder, rape discussion
▪️Small side note: Zhao has the greatest author photo I've ever seen 😂
"For eighteen years, my unibrow has saved me from being sold into a painful, terrifying death.
Today is the day I'm releasing it from its gracious service."
"There's not a stratum of the world that doesn't need girls. Maybe we're devalued precisely because we're so valuable. The world is too afraid of not being able to obtain and control us to respect our true worth."
"You're not something to be kept or taken, and love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open."
☀️☀️☀️⛅
(2025 re-read)
An action packed historical retelling with fantasy robots thrown in for good measure.
Re-reading this was just as fun the second time around! I went back to check my previous review to see if any of my opinions changed significantly and I have to say it's mostly the same.
Good: killer concept, badass characters who are distinctive from each other, the presence of a legitimate love triangle
Could be better: writing of the battle/action sequences are often lacking style and emotion, the progression of the romantic links with Shimin were rushed within the overall pacing of the story
Now to tackle book 2!
2022
☀️☀️☀️🌤️
▪️This is a book that will make any girl scream a battle cry in victory for ❤️
▪️A deeply challenging YA debut that explores heavy topics in a no holds barred fashion. It is unhinged in the best way possible!
▪️It's exploration of gender expectations within society is without a doubt the strongest voice of the novel, but equally fleshed are the concepts of gender assignment and monogamy. They are all illustrated to be both outdated and a way for the powers that be to continue controlling the masses in this eerily familiar world to our own
▪️Zetian is a wonderfully complex MC whose growth over the course of the book is equally logical and manical. Both Yizhi and Shimin present similarly fascinating exploration, and no one is entirely who they appear on the surface
▪️My biggest gripes are that Zhao's writing style doesn't really lend itself to play-by-play battle descriptions, some of which felt too artificial and devoid of the emotion they needed to carry the story forward. And the world-building could have been fleshed out with the revelation at the end needing a bit more context
▪️Incredible reps found within: bi rep, disability rep, poly rep, enby rep!
▪️Trigger warnings: suicidal ideation, purposeful physical deformation, alcohol addiction, torture, murder, rape discussion
▪️Small side note: Zhao has the greatest author photo I've ever seen 😂
"For eighteen years, my unibrow has saved me from being sold into a painful, terrifying death.
Today is the day I'm releasing it from its gracious service."
"There's not a stratum of the world that doesn't need girls. Maybe we're devalued precisely because we're so valuable. The world is too afraid of not being able to obtain and control us to respect our true worth."
"You're not something to be kept or taken, and love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite, as much as your heart can open."