Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Series: Iron Widow, #1 Read time: Just Over 1 Day Rating: 5/5
The quote: "I'm so tired of being a girl." "Yeah. If you were a boy, you'd be ruling the world by now." "Oh, I don't know if it's that's simple. I'd still have to be the right kind of buy. That's probably something you have to watch out for if you're getting a wish granted by some spirit. 'Make me a boy!' Bam. I get turned into a big, buff, Rongdi. Everyone's so scared of me that they'd rather chase me into the wilds. I can't get anything done." "That's not untrue." — Wu Zetian and Gao Yizhi (p.166)
Warnings: In the authors words “Please be aware that this book contains scenes of violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture.”
This review is not written with a lot of cohesion. It's more a dump of I needed to get this out of my mind. I've tried to synthesise to make it readable but I have likely failed. TL:DR I loved this book. It is so worth the praise it is receiving. The Iron trio are so brilliantly broken and the ideal violent antiheroes. I really recommend it if the blurb appeals. Just be sure to read the warnings.
Oh man, this book did things to me. It gave me emotions I didn't expect. There is a lot of just pure female power and rage in Iron Widow and readers are encouraged to go with Zetian. One of the cover quotes/endorsements is "a primal scream of a book" (E.K. Johnson) and that is a fantastic quote for it. Zetian is the kind of feministic badass, unforgiving, deadly and headstrong heroine I love and really do not read enough of. Probably because not enough of them are published. She is the ultimate f**k the patriarchy and anyone who supports it. Do you have any idea how both rage-filled and overjoyed and adrenaline filled I was by the time I finished this? I read it in a day and a bit (70 gages one night the rest the next day). I just could not put it down. The world both captivated and frustrated me. Wu Zetian, Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi enthralled me. The Iron Triangle is one of the most powerful things I've read in a long while.
One of the first things you will see in reviews for Iron Widow is to read and be aware of the content warnings. I'm going to add Xiran Jay Zhao's statement here "Please be aware that this book contains scenes of violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture.". The violence of the book is regularly discussed in reviews, all these things are important to be aware and some will definitely be triggering to the point where the book is unreadable for some.
Iron Widow plays with the concepts of femininity, vengeance, making amends, love, power in the best possible way. Though not always in the same person. Zetian may be the main character but this is also about Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi. These three characters are so likable and almost human but they are different. Different to each other and different to your normal protagonists. One of the really appealing aspects of these characters is their unwillingness to shy from their darkness, they are aware it can be weaponised and will when it suits them. Li Shimin in defence, Wu Zetian in vengeance and even Gao Yizhi when the need calls for it. there is also something appealing in Xiran Jay Zhao writing Zetian, as not unique in her level of ability just rare, and even with that Zetian and Shimin, are ostracised rather than elevated. It fuels the readers' indignity and anger. They are our antiheroes.
Wu Zetian is an interesting protagonist. At first, I was wondering if she was unreliable, especially during the first part with Yang Guang. I no longer trust protagonists as tellers of their own stories, they are always the least objective of storytellers. But this first part makes everything that comes later that much more valuable. It shows the contrasts between those only seeking self-preservation over fame. But aside from anything else, it is so nice to see a female protagonist for ruthless in ya, so willing to go after what she wants. To kill, to seek vengeance, to take pleasure, to give and withhold her trust. I like her. I like her relationship with Li Shimin and Gao Yizhi. The way she does not care about cultural norms and will be with them regardless. That pretty much sums up her attitude... f**k society I'm here to be me... wait nope on second thoughts bow before your queen you cowards.
Some dot points to stop this from getting truly out of control.
The use of Chinese elements is brilliant, the way they have been made ancient than futuristic all while remaining understandable. The way it is written is impeccable. It allowed for a consistent, natural and easy to follow world and lore.
Wu Zetian is based on the powerful 7th century Chinese Empress of the same name. Li Shimin is based on an Emperor of the same name (interestingly Wu Zetian's father in law) as the perfect touch here his consorts name was Empress Wende. Li Shimin was a different kind of power, he was logical and scholarly. Gao Yizhi is I guess based on Zhang Yizhi one of Wu Zetian's favoured *cough*toyboys*cough* consorts. Look Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong weren't stupid they knew how to get power.
Ruyi, Zetian's sister and the reason she goes after vengeance is possibly named after a period of her reign.
I appreciate the choice to call piolets boys. Given they rarely ever twenty-four, never twenty-five and wouldn't typically be considered men until they reach twenty, the cultural age of majority. So culturally when they become pilots at sixteen they are boys.
I did not expect the sheer amount of care for the girls in play here. From Wu Zetian. From Li Shimin. To a degree Gao Yizhi.
Wu Zetian is an angry, hurt woman. Li Shimin is just a broken and pained boy. Yin and Yang in so many ways. And Gao Yizhi is so full of love I can't, he kinda feels like their balance.
Yizhi's tattoos continue to cause me great suspicion. But oh they are so pretty.
Their monikers are fierce, strong and perfect, Iron Demon, Iron Widow and Baofeng Shaoye (Young Master Strom). Better yet it is Wu Zetian owning the slur. By honour Zetian and Shimin's names should be Iron King and Iron Queen.
Holy... that photoshoot. Has anyone made fanart for it yet? I need to see it. Speaking of fanart Xiran Jay Zhao's tumblr is @xiranjayzhao they share some gorgeous fanart there. Also their username basically everywhere.
"Maybe , if things were different, I could get used to this. Being cradled in his warmth and light, Being cherished. Being loved. But I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance." — At this point, I realised that Yizhi was definitely coming back and love was much more important than Zetian though. This section is so lovely. (Wu Zetian, p.37)
"I drop Yang Guang in front of me and set a tiny lotus foot on his corpse. What do you know? I really did kill him." — Followed quickly by the iconic Welcome to your nightmare!. This is such a good visual though especially given the gauzy material and slightly mad look. (Zetian, p.81)
"I have to remind myself that those are the same vicious, red-lit eyes that glared at me with bloodlust in the mind link. He is not innocent. Not framed. Not misunderstood. I know that for certain. I have lived through the burning, screaming depths of his mind." — His mind realm was a shared perception for them, she saw what she expected to see. (Zetian, p.108)
""Let's be real." I let out a cross between a scoff and a sigh. "We were doomed from the beginning. The world will never forgive us for what we've each done, and there will always be those who will love to make us suffer. Not like we would've gained any respect by lying down and letting them do it." His mouth pops open, then he huffs. "Yeah. That's true." — I don't know why I like this so much. It could be because of the timing. (Zetian and Shimin, p.155)
"False hope. I swear the army is sustained on it." — Where is the lie? (Zetian, p.229)
"You're my polar star. I'll go wherever you guide me." — This is such a lovely sentiment. And you can tell he means it. (Yizhi, p.238)
Two posts I need to share from tumblr posted by @bookcub and @fixaidea respectively. Bookcub and Fixaidea both hit the nail on the head here. THIS is Wu Zetian (if you want your posts removed I am happy too).
I've read that this is a duology and damn I'm glad there is more to this story. I'm glad that Zetian has more to tell us. I can be patient until Xiran Jay Zhao writes it. It takes a lot for a book to impact me as much as this did. I kinda hope we get to see something more of Wende I feel like there is more to tell there. I also hope that Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi get more loyal and valued allies.
