From the moment I got this book in the mail, I wanted to scream into the void: I have been waiting for this book for a very, very long time. Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao, is a fantastic book that YA-me would have adored and adult me is so glad exists in the world. Historical fantasy x mecha anime, with a ragey, unapologetic woman and a true love triangle?? YES PLEASE. Things I loved about this book: Shimin and Yizhi: Watching Zeitan's love for cinnamon soft Yizhi morph into something stronger, and then seeing her anger turn to respect and love for Shimin, and that tender moment between Yizhi and Shimin--I loved how Zhao rolled into trope city giving the reader exactly what they wanted with these releationships. The politics. I loved how Zhao never shied away from making a point. This book is an excellent example of how the "personal is political". The characters do not have the benefit of not choosing sides, not when we can see how the overarching social system is at t...
This is the writing blog of Audely Bensen.