Who am I?
I am a disabled author and podcaster who loves fantasy, but wanted more out of the genre than the Eurocentric Lord of the Rings model. I grew up watching Aladdin, reading Egyptian mythology, and one of my most prized books is an illustrated Shahnameh. There are brilliant stories set in deserts and rainforests, with intense magic and danger, and I hope you’ll enjoy these as much as I do.
L.J.'s book list on non-western fantasy
Discover why each book is one of L.J.'s favorite books.
Why did L.J. love 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 beautifully built world inspired by Chinese culture, tackles many societal issues (such as foot binding and patriarchal abuses), and does so with a sardonic tone that just keeps giving. It’s a rare example of a female, not male, power fantasy within an anti-hero’s story.
Iron Widow
Why should I read it?
10 authors picked Iron Widow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
What is this book about?
An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.
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…