A review by sydneys_neverendingtbr
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The quote on the cover has never been so fitting. This is really is a “primal scream”. Zetian is genuinely the best YA protagonist I have ever read. She’s angry, cruel, and vicious. But she’s also gentle, trying to understand her complicated feelings, and loving. She is all the rage and righteous fury of Azula, but all the angst and confusion of Zuko. 

Li Shimin and Yizhi are the perfect partners for Zetian. Li Shimin matches her brutality, but shows the remorse she doesn’t. Yizhi is soft and overwhelmingly beautiful but has an under current of danger. 

I wish I had a more poetic ending, but this a fucking awesome book with awesome, brutal characters. Read it now.