May 2025 Intermission: Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

Hi there!

Welcome to our May 2025 Intermission for Xiran Jay Zhao's 2021 Iron Widow.

Trigger Warning: Violence, abuse, suicidal ideation, sexual assault reference, alcoholism, torture.

Overall

We love this book one million percent—we bought into it off the bat. Ceraya knows she's into a book when she locks in, hours pass, and she has been reading the WHOLE time. We are completely engaged and READY for part two.

Everything we hoped for came to fruition realistically and believably.

We could suspend our disbelief because we were fully immersed in the world and enthusiastic about it.

Wu Zetian & Yizhi

We LOVE Zetian, specifically as a lead. She is persistently strong and driven at first by vengeance. We were all here for it, absolutely - AVENGE YOUR SISTER. We also loved her approach to the problems she faced- a little headstrong and very determined, she fights for her needs in a very vocal and straightforward way.

Yizhi is the soft, gentle strength to foil Zetian's jagged and impulsive nature. We also love him. He came back to help Zetian, not because she is weak, but because he wants to help her with her goals. He's an angel. Is he in the mafia (those full-body tattoos)? We think he is.

Their relationship is precious, and we want to protect it! But if it changes, that's okay too!!! (Polyamory may be on the horizon here, and we're excited to see where it goes!)

Li Shimin & the Pilots

Most if not all of the pilots suck ass for obvious reasons - but they are such well-written bad guys that are so incredible to watch and listen to, that we ate their interactions up as well.

Li Shimin, the misunderstood monster of the group, is so deeply complex, and we're realizing that he is so realistically written as a troubled addict that it's hitting a little close to home. We see him as someone who has so much growth to experience as a character that we're eager to see where he will go, but his alcohol dependency is a huge hurdle for him, along with his self-worth. The alcoholism just being alcoholism in a douchebag's life is enabling - in this instance - it is indeed dulling his true potential and stifling his clearest mind - keeping his full-strength at bay.

What's Next

We DON'T KNOW! And that's what makes this book SO GOOD!

With love, see you soon!

Ceraya & Brieanna