Iron Widow

Rache im Herzen

by Xiran Jay Zhao

Paperback, 544 pages

German language

Published July 23, 2023 by Penhaligon Verlag.

ISBN:: 978-3-7645-3288-8

Die 18-jährige Zetian tritt der Armee bei, um Rache an dem Mörder ihrer Schwester zu nehmen. Sie wird Konkubinen-Pilotin einer Kampfmaschine, die nur von der Qi-Magie eines Mannes und einer Frau gemeinsam aktiviert werden kann. Doch die Macht des männlichen Piloten ist viel größer als die seiner Partnerin, und ist er nicht vorsichtig genug, brennt er die ihm untergeordnete Pilotin aus. Bei Zetian ist es anders, und die junge Frau erlangt ihre Rache auf spektakuläre Weise. Plötzlich ist sie eine Macht, mit der zu rechnen ist. Wird sie das Land im Kampf gegen die Bestien jenseits der Großen Mauer zerstören, wie viele fürchten? Oder ist sie die letzte Hoffnung auf den Sieg?

12 editions

Phillip Santiago reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Burns Quickly, Leaving Ash

3 stars

Relentless pacing that eventually crashes into the wall of its ending. It's pretty great worldbuilding and plotting, but I wish it had cut some of the subplot revolving around the Yellow Dragon Chrysalis and spent more downtime exploring with that pilots do when they're not beating each other senseless.

David Bremner reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Solid adventure, some thought provoking aspects

4 stars

I found my self making time to listen to this audiobook by doing things like taking the dog for extra walks. So that in itself is a pretty good review.

The protagonist is an interesting character, who is quite relatable. I'm not sure I would make some of the choices she does, but I haven't lived her life either.

From a genre point of view, it was (for me) closer to fantasy than "hard" science fiction. That might depend on how familar one was with traditional Chinese Chi theory. I'm not even familiar enough to say how close the book is to tradition.

Some of the twists are not quite as surprising as the author might have intended. It is very much set up for a sequel, which I understand the author needs to make some more money to write. So I hope my USD13 helps (or …

I found my self making time to listen to this audiobook by doing things like taking the dog for extra walks. So that in itself is a pretty good review.

The protagonist is an interesting character, who is quite relatable. I'm not sure I would make some of the choices she does, but I haven't lived her life either.

flashy_dragon reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Zeitan is intent on getting revenge on the Chrysalis pilot that killed her sister. After succeeding, her list of people and groups to get revenge on slowly grows.

Zeitan falls in love?… I’m not sure if love is actually present, but as presented on the page, a love triangle forms between her, her pilot, and her friend. That is, she falls for each of them, they fall for each other, and each of them fall for her. It's hard to tell that anything developed, because I feel there is very little weight to any particular decision or action for the characters. I didn't feel that decisions, when choices were presented, came with serious, character (or world) altering repercussions. The world is superficial. The characters are flimsy and shallow. There is little substance, little depth to be had. The book seems more of a vehicle for the author’s profound thoughts, dropped regularly, on everything from cherishing and inspiring someone, to pregnancy and slavery.

I particularly didn’t enjoy that the entire premise for Zeitan is that she isn’t like other girls. That’s nearly the full extent of her character. Perhaps most frustrating is that Zhao clearly cares about what they are writing and why, they’re anger is tangible and real. But that anger, that drive doesn’t make up for my perceived lack of depth.

I felt that it over promised and under delivered.

Axl reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Zetian is just not like other girls but in a good way, it's hard to remember another character that was anything like her, Yizhi and Shimin were also a good surprise and I would have liked even more scenes between all of them. The writing was simple but fluid and the plot with all the sci fi elements was great, it was not too much or too weak, this book was easy to fly through and finished with a bang and so of course i'm anticipating the next book with impatience already lol

Tsundoku reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

UNLIKEABLE CHARACTER AHEAD WOO WOO (and) Ignore the Comp title, but read this book

5 stars

Content warning CW: Abuse of all kinds, death, misogyny, footbinding

Comp Titles, if you don't know, are where you get that "X meets Y" and if you are like me, get you mad when you read a book because it was nothing like what you imagined when you smooshed those things together.

Comp titles are basically required to sell books. There's a lot of detail I could go into here, but it's better to think of them as "has elements of X" and "Has elements of Y".

This, if you may not know, was at least pitched to ME as "Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid's Tale" I am sorry to say I have not seen Pacific Rim, but I know it's a mecha movie with kaiju and people liked it.

Okay. The problem is, if you're like me, you're a little Tired of the Handmaid's Tale. Do not imagine the Handmaid's Tale. This is a futuristic fiction (once again they have mechs) and is very clearly, NOT an analogue of the US.

Basically our Protagonist Wu Zetian, (yes named for that historical empress) has a problem for YA fiction. She's very "unlikeable". Not to say I DIDN'T LIKE HER. On the contrary, I LOVED her. But basically in YA fiction (and I think elsewhere too, but this is the closest thing I have to expertise) you'll see in reviews "ugh this Bitch was so unlikeable because she did a bad thing that a male protagonist would have been allowed to do".

Let me be clear: Zetian does a LOT of fucked up shit in this book. That's partially the point, this is a fucked up system. It basically requires a fucked-up response (at least in this book). But I personally quite liked Zetian once I understood her.

And let's talk for a moment. There is "technically" a love triangle, but as many of you probably know, this goes into poly territory. And while I at least don't Think I'm poly, I thought it was handled well, but ask someone with experience in those relationships.

Anyway if you need a con about this book, I can give you one (that is not the book's fault)

The sequel is not out until 2023, and yes Xiran Jay Zhao is writing something else right now, entirely because they understandably want to be paid for their writing so they can, you know, eat: ( nitter.net/XiranJayZhao/status/1511894731764109316#m )

I do encourage you to read it now anyway, because while it does end with a sequel in mind, it's a good ride, and I've honestly seen more pressing of cliff-hangers.

SharonC reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

What a terrible book. Cardboard characters behaving irrationally
Lazy, boring "world building"

Non-sensical dialogue choices

Archbishop reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is genuinely my favorite book ever. When I started it I’d been in a reading slump for a while, and this book got me out of it. It was so well written and has such good character development. Character development is one of the most important things, and you nailed it. Thank you so much for writing such an amazing book and I can’t wait for the sequel. You’re an amazing author!

Sergio reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

If you're even the least bit curious about this book after reading the premise you probably owe it to yourself to read it. A doozy mech sci-fi, historical retelling(?), YA romance book weaved together by the power of spite and feminism. As a big fan of the mecha genre I really appreciate how obviously familiar and comfortable the author is with it's themes of bodies, the instrumentalization of young pilots and exertion of imperial power.

SI CLARKE reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

When her sister dies in the war efforts, Xetian decides to take her revenge on the pilot who killed her.

This story punched me in the gut with al the wrongs in the world (the author's fictional world and by extension our own) but it also wrapped me up in the warm fuzzies with how wonderful people can be. And then it punched me again.

Huh. This book is an abusive partner. Still, I'm not going to break up with it.

An unapologetic sci-fi tale that pulls no punches and will leave readers fired up and ready to overthrow the patriarchy.

& reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

i couldn't wait till i was back at dorms where my laptop is but. Aaaaaa of course it was [redacted for spoiler reasons] and i know this is possibly not for everyone's fancy, i believe no book is if we are talking about Everyone, but it was for Me. enjoyed it v much. i now realise why i feel like i have to justify my enjoyment here but that's between me and my therapist. can't wait to draw fanart. like the book was marketed as, this review is also a scream and is between me and god.

Books That Burn reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

If the synopsis or the phrase "mech battles powered by polyamory to fight a misogynistic death harem" intrigues you then you should go read this book as soon as you can. I love the whole thing, from the world to the plot to the characters, this is amazing on its own and I’m really excited for more. It's well-paced, brilliantly written, and just a damn good story.

The setting is vibrant, I love the main characters and the interplay between them. The slow burn between the three main characters is subtle but unmistakable, they have different dynamics between each pairing and it just fits so well. I appreciate that Zetian never loses her laser focus on what matters: burning this misogynist system down.

Zetian has bound feet and it matters to the narrative, affecting the way she moves through the world, literally, as well as being one more way that her society has oppressed her for her gender. Sometimes she walks, though according to her the last time "walk" was appropriate to describe her motion was right before her feet were broken and bound, the verb she uses is "totter". She's occasionally carried or in a wheelchair, but more often she has a cane. There's a consistent awareness of her mobility or lack of it and how that affects her daily existence. Piloting a mecha is the only time she's awake and not in pain from her feet, but it's also not positioned as a permanent solution. It's thematically appropriate, explored throughout the text in a nuanced way, and makes her one of very few protagonists I can think of who begin their story with a mobility issue but no plotline about a cure of any kind.

I loved this and I wish the sequel were available immediately.

chayote reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

what a fucking ride

johnny dangerously. reviewed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow #1)

Review of 'Iron Widow' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

Excellent characters in a story that pulls you right in. The world feels expansive on a grand scale, full of mystery and imagination, but its scope never looses focus on the characters central to the action. I don't usually enjoy YA, but this let the characters act in a convincing way that never felt sanitized or particularly worried about snagging a movie deal-- which is a good thing. Looking forward to more in this series, and by this author in general.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read the book early in return for a fair review.