Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a creative, beautiful story and the characters are well constructed. This book was a totally awesome read. I don’t think I’ve at any point read anything quicker because I was so anxious to know what might occur next. It was a very well told story with such vivid detail that I could see it playing in my mind the entire time.
To protect their country from aliens, boys of Huaxia become pilots of very big transforming mecha called Chrysalises. However, the boys can not pilot these mecha alone. They require a concubine (a woman) to siphon qi from. Sadly this is often turnout to be deadly for the woman. But since the public authority pays very well for these sacrifices, helpless families from Huaxia offer up their daughters in the expectations that their deaths will help their sons.
This is what occurred with 18-year-old Zeitan’s elder sister. But her sister died at the hands of her husband (Pilot) and not in a fight, which implied her family got nothing. Presently with vengeance, Zeitan offers herself up to the very person who killed her sister. And, she succeeds, however not in the manner in which anybody anticipated. During the fight, she kills him through their psychic connection, receiving herself the title of Iron Widow.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao blew me away! I totally liked how well done the book was and how easily I developed feelings for the vengeful Zetian. I totally liked the Pacific Rim vibe and according to me the author did a great job in bringing Chinese mythical creatures to the Pacific Rim like world. The commentary on how men use ladies to get what they need with no worry for them was well done. Along with the writing of how ladies were forced into Foot modifications like old times made for an extraordinary correlation with beauty standards of the present world. However, more importantly made commentary on how ladies are subjected to agonizing practices for the ease and “advancement” of men.
There’s a lot of heavy and difficult themes in Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. Yet, I never felt that things got excessively heavy-handed. It is compelling and it’s certainly got reread value. It’s the sort of book that makes you think while being engaging. Truly, I feel like this is a book for everybody.
Also Read: Defy The Night By Brigid Kemmerer
