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  • Iron Widow (Book 1)

  • By: Xiran Jay Zhao
  • Narrated by: Rong Fu
  • Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,600 ratings)

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Iron Widow (Book 1)

By: Xiran Jay Zhao
Narrated by: Rong Fu
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Publisher's summary

2021 GoodReads Choice Award

2021 Nebula Award

An instant number one New York Times best seller!

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA listeners.

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.

©2021 Xiran Jay Zhao (P)2021 Penguin Teen

Critic reviews

2024, Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, Nominated

2023, Green Mountain Book Award, Winner

2022, Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, Winner

2022, Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy, Winner

2022, Aurora Award - Best YA Novel, Short-listed

2022, Barnes & Noble Children's & YA Book Awards - Young Adult, Winner

2021, British Science Fiction Association Award, Winner

2021, GoodReads Choice Award, Nominated

2021, Nebula Award, Nominated

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

An Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Young Adult

An Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy

A Polygon Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of 2021

An Indigo #1 Teen Book of the Year

An Indigo Best Teen Book (2021)

An Indigo Best Teen Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book (2021)

A Barnes & Noble's Best YA Fantasy & Adventure of 2021

A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens (2021)

A Canadian Children's Book Centre Favourite Book of the Year (2021)

A Boston Globe Best Book of 2021

A Cultured Vultures’ “21 Best Books Of 2021”

A 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee, Best Young Adult & Science Fiction

Nominated for the Science Fiction Writers of America's Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

"[This] duology opener will appeal to those seeking high-energy, feminist, queer narratives." (Publishers Weekly)

Editor's Pick

The Hunger Games + Evangelion
If I were ever in a fight, I’d want Zetian to be on my side. Zetian absolutely refuses to bow down to what is expected of her, which, in this Chinese-inspired fantasy world, is to sacrifice her life so her family will have enough money to afford a bride price for her brother. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil, which is exactly what made Zetian’s story so satisfying. She defies the system one increasingly impossible step at a time, from becoming one of the most powerful Chrysalis (aka giant robot) pilots in the army—let alone the most powerful female pilot—to basically crushing all her enemies. There are two boys who will do anything for her, but don’t worry, it’s not a love triangle; it’s even better. I was so appreciative of Rong Fu’s narration to help me understand the pronunciation, and I really felt Zetian’s deep rage and frustration through her performance. Xiran Jay Zhao is a name to remember, because this creator is exploding onto the scene in a big way with Iron Widow. —Melissa B., Audible Editor