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Cover of Iron Widow

Iron Widow

by Xiran Jay Zhao

🌶️fade to black·spoiler·Iron Widow #1
Available on Kindle Unlimited

Why Read This?

A cathartic revenge fantasy that empowers through its fierce protagonist and groundbreaking polyamorous representation.

Synopsis

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 the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

At a Glance

4.02 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️fade to black
Endingspoiler
PairingPOLYAMOROUS / MULTI-PARTNER
Romance Pacingmedium burn

Top Tropes

forced proximitygames/trials romancecompetition romance

Mood

darkintenseepicthrillingemotional

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.02 ★

Page Count

394 pages

Published

2021

Primary Genre

Young Adult

Pairing

POLYAMOROUS / MULTI-PARTNER

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Medium Burn

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Rong Fu

Narrator Count

Single

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

sign in to see all 5 tropes

Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: vengeful / revenge-driven sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

rough / aggressive style sign in to unlock

deathmurdertraumaviolencecaptivitygriefmisogynysexismsystemic oppressionwar

World & Setting

space/sci-fi sign in to unlock

Reading Context

revenge fantasy sign in to unlock

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