Iron Widow

This might be cheating a little, as the ‘dragon’ in this book is actually a giant robot-like mecha that is piloted by human soldiers, but I couldn’t leave this list without a mention of Iron Widow.

This is a fierce feminist fantasy re-imagining of China’s only female sovereign, Wu Zetian, and it absolutely pulls no punches. A furiously paced story of vengeance and redemption, this book was a thrill from start to finish.

I loved Iron Widow because reading it is like a train wreck you can’t possibly look away from.

The main character, Zetian, is angry, unhinged, and bent on vengeance, and not once does the narrative punish her for it, which I loved. Zetian is willing to kill, torture, girl boss, and reverse-harem her way to ruling an empire whether anyone cooperates with her or not.

And I was merrily along for the ride from the moment she psychically murdered her chrysalis copilot as vengeance for the death of her sister.

This book was a wild read in the best way, with its fierce protagonist and thought-provoking social commentary.

The author’s portrayal of protagonist Zetian’s unhindered feminine power, combined with the powerful feminist themes of the book, made this story a gripping, inspirational read. With elements like female fighter pilots, rich Chinese-inspired world-building, and a refreshing polyamorous romance, Iron Widow delivers a story that is a testament to feminine rage and empowerment and refuses to follow the rules. 

This book has the most badass female protagonist of all young adult novels I’ve read!

Talking about a resolute heroine set on overhauling an entire misogynistic system. She’s not restrained by what society deems as appropriate or moral, and despite their constant attempts to oppress her, she grows even more determined to break free. 

The book blends mecha-science and fantasy perfectly. It has Pacific Rim vibes, but they are based in a Chinese composite of history and culture, while also rooted in traditional Chinese Qi magic.

The book starts off with a tense battle and doesn’t let up from there. The writing style is punchy, the sentences short and simmering with an anger that carries throughout the novel.

The story focuses on Zetian, a young girl in a world where the highest honor for women is to be sacrificed during battle in order to power the mecha used by humans in war against the Hunduns.

I was drawn to Zetian’s anger, her inability to let go of her pain when her sister is murdered, and the way she refuses to be silenced or submissive when the… show more.

I was so thrilled to find out there was another sci-fi retelling of a female ruler! Iron Widow puts Empress Wu at the helm of a giant mecha based on creatures inspired by Chinese myth.

You’ll find figures from history and lots of Easter eggs within the book, and this is such a fresh and exciting take on this setting. As a bonus, if you’re frustrated with the abundance of love triangles in YA, I think you’ll be really interested in what Xiran does with the trope in this book.

Huaxia is protected by the military celebrity pilots of Chrysalises, gigantic mech suits powered by xi. The pilot program is strictly male, but each pilot requires a xi battery to accompany them–also known as a concubine. The girls who enter the Chrysalis cockpits never come out alive. Zetian knows this when she volunteers, but she doesn’t care. The point isn’t to come out alive. It’s to kill the pilot who killed her sister. Anything else is a bonus. 

While normally Kaiju/Gundam Y.A. stories aren’t my jam, you are missing out if you don’t pick up Iron Widow. Huaxia is a… show more.

China only ever had one empress regnant: Wu Zetian, who reigned from 690 to 705CE. Iron Widow recasts Zetian as a mech pilot, battling misogyny from the cockpit of a giant, transforming robot.

Iron Widow is a YA science fantasy with an FMM poly triad. It’s joyously high-energy, and at points, you have to turn off your sense of disbelief and just go with it, because it’s YA. Historians treated Zetian more harshly than her male counterparts; I’m grateful for this homage that literally puts her in the pilot’s seat of her own story.

Set in an imagined, futuristic version of ancient China full of aliens and magic giant mecha with a protagonist based on China’s first and only female emperor, this book takes its bonkers premise and blasts off. Wu Zetian will stop at nothing to raze the system that sold and killed her sister. This story is furious about misogyny, capitalism, and exploitation, but it’s tender, too. Zetian slowly letting her guard down with her best friend from back home and her assigned co-pilot—and then all three of them letting their guard down with each other—is the best part.

Wu Zetian is a figure I’ve always admired in Chinese history. To see her come to life in this stunning science fantasy novel feels like a dream. I loved how the author took prominent creatures from Chinese mythology and turned them into mechas. The mechas were described so vividly as if Xiran had been in one of their creations! It also felt empowering to read about a character who was angry at the difficult situation they’re placed in as opposed to broken bird MCs, who tend to struggle with figuring out methods of resolution. Her resilience is something that has… show more.