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Iron Widow

The TikTok sensation

Published by Rock the Boat
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Instant New York Times No.1 Bestseller. A YA Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid’s Tale retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history.

I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance.

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises – giant transforming robots that battle aliens beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that their female co-pilots are expected to serve as concubines and often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, her plan is to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But after miraculously surviving her first battle, Zetian sets her sights on a mightier goal. The time has come to stop more girls from being sacrificed.

‘This is the historical-inspired, futuristic sci-fi mash-up of my wildest dreams.’ Chloe Gong

‘Raging against the patriarchy in spectacular style.’ Observer, best books of the year

‘Zetian is unstoppable, and I dare you not to cheer her on.’ Elizabeth Lim, author of Spin the Dawn

A New York Times bestseller, Oct 10 2021

About The Author

Photo by Xiran Jay Zhao

Xiran Jay Zhao is the #1 bestselling author of the Iron Widow duology. A first-gen Hui Chinese immigrant from small-town China to Vancouver, Canada, they were raised by the internet and made the inexplicable decision to leave their biochem degree in the dust to write books and make educational content instead. You can find them @XiranJayZhao on Twitter for memes, Instagram for cosplays and fancy outfits, TikTok for fun short videos, and YouTube for long videos about Chinese history and culture. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is their first middle grade novel.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Rock the Boat (October 7, 2021)
  • Length: 400 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780861542109
  • Ages: 14 - 99

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Raves and Reviews

Ferociously original.’ Guardian

‘Zetian is the take-no-prisoners heroine you’ll love to cheer on.’ Rebecca Schaeffer, author of Not Even Bones

Thrilling, heart-wrenching and epic!’ Kat Cho, author of Vicious Spirits

‘Zetian is here to set the world on fire.’ Nicki Pau Preto, author of Crown of Feathers

A searing, cinematic, gut-punch of a tale.’ Joan He, author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

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More books from this author: Xiran Jay Zhao