Iron Widow

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Teen, 1st Floor 4-week checkout	Teen Fiction / Zhao, Xiran	4-week checkout	On Hold Shelf
Downtown Teen, 1st Floor 4-week checkout	Teen Fiction / Zhao, Xiran	4-week checkout	Due 06-21-2023
Downtown Teen, 1st Floor 4-week checkout	Teen Fiction / Zhao, Xiran	4-week checkout	Due 05-28-2023
Traverwood Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Zhao, Xiran Jay	4-week checkout	On Hold Shelf
Malletts Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Zhao, Xiran Jay	4-week checkout	Due 05-31-2023
Pittsfield Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Zhao, Xiran Jay	4-week checkout	Due 06-10-2023
Westgate Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Zhao, Xiran Jay	4-week checkout	Due 06-15-2023
Westgate Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Science Fiction / Zhao, Xiran Jay	4-week checkout	Due 06-21-2023

"The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying"--Provided by publisher.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Something New and Different submitted by rishikabhutani on December 21, 2021, 7:13pm I liked how different this book was from most YA sci-fi fantasy novels. I love a villain/corruption arc, which this book had. I also enjoyed how strong-willed and sassy the main character is. You rarely get to read a novel like this where the protagonist is almost an anti-hero, with no desire to be compassionate in a cruel world. Wu Zetian is a relatable character in that sense. This is one of those books that you simply can not put down until it's finished. I look forward to reading the sequel.

Unrepentantly fierce submitted by mowjac on June 12, 2022, 10:10am Wu Zetian is angry about the loss of her sister and wants vengeance. She maintains that ferocity throughout. I have never read such a fiercely written story against a patriarchal system, while recognizing that she is not the only one injured. The inevitable YA love triangle has a fresh resolution, her description of Chinese theory energy based power and use of Asian tropes is welcome. I felt like it was a mashup of Hunger Games/Ender's Game/Nausicaa/Poppy War and would encourage fans of any of those to dig in.

Good, not Great submitted by bookasaurusray on August 24, 2022, 10:45am I really loved the overall concepts and ideas in this book. I just wish the writing was a bit better. Easy, quick read.