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““You can’t shoot me; I’m rich.””

What is the Book about?

18-year-old Zetian joins the army to take revenge on her sister’s murderer. She becomes the concubine pilot of a fighting machine that can only be activated by the qi magic of a man and a woman together. But the power of the male pilot is much greater than that of his partner, and if he is not careful enough, he burns out his subordinate female pilot. Zetian is different, and the young woman gets her revenge in a spectacular way. Suddenly she is a force to be reckoned with. Will she destroy the country in the fight against the beasts beyond the Great Wall, as many fear? Or is she the last hope for victory?

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Rating
Plot ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★☆☆☆☆
World Building ★☆☆☆☆
Atmosphere ★☆☆☆☆
Writing Style ★☆☆☆☆

Favourite Character
None

My thoughts while reading it

When I picked up Iron Widow, I was thrilled by the concept: a feminist reimagining of ancient China, giant mechas battling alien forces, and a protagonist willing to take on a brutally patriarchal system. The idea seemed bold, fresh, and full of potential. However, I finished the book not just disappointed, but genuinely frustrated.

The novel is marketed as a feminist story, and given the author’s strong voice and outspoken advocacy on social media, I expected a nuanced, thought-provoking take on the subject. Instead, Iron Widow felt like a shallow attempt at feminism, leaning more on anger and shock value than meaningful critique. This made me angry because the book had such an important opportunity to do something revolutionary—and it squandered it. Not only did I want more, but I expected more, especially from a work so heavily promoted as feminist.

At its core, the protagonist, Zetian, is supposed to represent a self-assured woman who challenges the oppressive structures around her. Yet, her actions and development tell a different story. Zetian is heavily dependent on her two love interests throughout the book. For someone who is meant to embody empowerment and independence, she achieves almost nothing on her own. She constantly leans on her partners to succeed, whether it’s emotionally, physically, or strategically. This dynamic undercuts the feminist message the book claims to champion, leaving Zetian feeling less like a trailblazing leader and more like someone propped up by the men around her. While I wanted to root for her as a fierce, revolutionary protagonist, she often comes across as angry and immature rather than empowered. Her determination to challenge the system is overshadowed by her impulsive, often self-centred behaviour. One particularly uncomfortable moment occurs when she forces one of her love interests to touch her, declaring, “And I know you want me.” This behaviour feels invasive and inappropriate, and if the roles were reversed, it would undoubtedly spark outrage. It’s hard to reconcile her supposed feminist ideals with actions that feel controlling and problematic.

The lack of meaningful relationships with other women is another glaring issue. In a story like this, I expected to see camaraderie and solidarity among women. Instead, Zetian has no positive relationships with other female characters. The few women she interacts with are either enemies or completely irrelevant to the plot. This absence of female alliances not only weakens the story’s feminist premise but also makes the world feel implausible. In such a deeply oppressive society, surely there would be more women quietly (or openly) resisting, forming bonds and networks of support. Instead, Zetian is portrayed as the sole woman who realizes her worth, which reinforces an unconvincing and overused “chosen one” trope.

Adding to these issues is the overly simplistic writing style. While it’s clear the book is aimed at a younger audience, the lack of descriptive detail and depth severely hinders immersion. The worldbuilding—arguably one of the most exciting aspects of the premise—is disappointingly thin. The concept of giant mechas powered by qi in a dystopian war against alien creatures is fascinating in theory, but the narrative barely explores it. The mechanics of the war, the stakes of the conflict, and the functioning of the mecha systems are all glossed over. This leaves the setting feeling generic, as if the story could have taken place in any dystopian or fantasy world without much change.

The storytelling itself feels chaotic, with events happening abruptly and often without logical progression. Key moments that should have emotional or narrative weight are rushed or poorly executed. For example, Li Shimin is introduced as a dangerous and mysterious figure, yet he inexplicably opens up and reveals his entire tragic backstory far too quickly. This makes his development feel forced rather than earned. Another frustrating moment occurs when Zetian, while supposedly imprisoned, pulls out a dagger to kill someone—raising the obvious question of why she wasn’t searched or disarmed beforehand. These inconsistencies break immersion and make the story feel sloppy. The dialogue also leaves much to be desired. A line like, “You can’t shoot me, I’m rich!” is presented with complete seriousness but feels unintentionally comedic. Instead of heightening tension, moments like this undermine it entirely, making it difficult to take the story seriously.

Overall, Iron Widow is a book with an incredible premise but fails to deliver on almost every front. Its lack of worldbuilding, shallow character dynamics, and inconsistent storytelling leave it feeling rushed and underdeveloped. Despite its claims of being a feminist work, it undermines its own message with a protagonist who relies too heavily on men, alienates other women, and often acts more like a dictator than a liberator. While the book touches on important themes like systemic sexism, it does so without the depth or care needed to truly explore them. This was a story that could have been groundbreaking. Instead, it left me disappointed, frustrated, and angry at the missed opportunity.

(btw the quote is not my favourite quote because there were simply no good quotes, but I’m just making fun of the book)

Reading Recommendation? ✘
Favourite? ✘