What an amazing book, I regret having such bad starting paralysis when it came to Iron Widow.

Wu Zetian is a wildly different person than me, and listening to her unbridled rage made me feel both unsettled, almost afraid of the things she could do. And reveling in her chaos, every plot and plan to become the true nightmare. She's an amazing main character, despite feeling unsettled at times, I was always rooting for her.

Li Shimin, my baby girl. LI SHIMIN MY BABY GIRL. Xiran Jay Zhao and I got beef for what she did to my baby girl, and where she leaves him in the end. I was really expecting the normal standard, stand-offish and cruel man. The way he's introduced as a man so dangerous he must be muzzled and collared at all times. Instead he's literally a teddy bear of a person, who loves reading and wears thick nerd glasses. He's expectedly gentle, and awkward.


And Gao Yizhi... My other baby girl. On her website she describes him as a pretty boy twink and I deeply adore him. He's again another character we're bait and switched on, I completely expected a slip of the mask in the worst way possible. If Wu Zetian thinks about how he really isn't as good as we're lead to believe because even though he knew she would killed if they were found it, he still came around to see her. I was expecting him to get all weird like "oh, you think I'm so good and pure. but really I wanna fuck you so bad" but he never does and thank god. He's like "My fantasy is we get married and live in the woods together and are in love" and that's just... A+++
Then his actual mask slip at the end... S++++++++ 10000/10 best boy, I love my baby girl

For the actual plot, I can only say I love being right. Even small things I picked up for that last twist at the end, because... Well, I am a giant nerd and I've play Xenoblade chronicles. No spoilers, but I love being right. If you liked Xenoblade, you will love Iron Widow!