Iron Widow

by Xiran Jay Zhao

5 out of 5

Synopsis

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often 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 she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Review

After the death of her sister, Wu Zetian's goal is get revenge on the man that killed her. When she survives this suicide mission, no one knows how to handle this dangerous woman.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set in Huaxia, a technologically-advanced empire, but bound by many ancient Chinese customs. It is constantly under attack by the Hunduns, which are only kept at bay by the famed Chrysalis pilots - young men who channel their high qi into reclaimed Hundun husks - which they turn into giant, powerful weapons.

The downside is that they can't power them alone, and as yin is needed by yang for balance, so the male pilots need female co-pilots.

The problem is that - as the men are stronger in their qi than their female partners, the women usually die when the battle is finished. But that's OK, because there's plenty more poor families offering up their daughters as sacrifices. In exchange for money.

We follow Zetian, a young woman who grew up in a frontier town. She lives the life of many peasant girls - she's just a daughter, not allowed any freedom, and eventually bartered away. Seeing her as nothing more than an asset, her family even maim her feet and lame her for life, because smaller feet are considered pretty.

After Big Sister is killed by a Chrysalis pilot, Zetian vows revenge, even though she knows she will die in the process.

Zetian survives physically, but it is like her old life, her old restrictions have died, along with her victim.

She's has never wanted to be subservient to men; but now she chooses to stand up for herself; she chooses to defy those that would push her down.

Zetian casts off all the shame and the rules that have been drilled into her all of her life, and starts to make her own plans, with the help of her allies, Li Shimin and Yizhi.

Wow. I enjoyed every inch of this story.

Zetian is such an unforgiving main character. She's not always likeable, but she doesn't care, and neither do I.

There were moments where certain male characters made typical 'romantic' or 'hurt hero' moves, and Zetian is quick to point out the flaws in said move. She doesn't just blindly accept something because the hero tells her it's so. And it makes you look at those characters in a new light.

I thought having a poly relationship between the main three was such a refreshing change from the usual love triangles.

Don't let this type of relationship put you off - I thought it was excellently written, and focuses on the growing romantic connection between them. It's just so healthy, compared to most of the other relationships portrayed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and after the ending, I can't wait for the next book!

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