Heavenly Tyrant (Iron Widow, Book 2)

Xiran Jay Zhao

Dec 2024 · Iron Widow Book 2 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
CBC bestseller
USA Today bestseller

Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow.

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

After suffering devastating loss and making drastic decisions, Zetian finds herself on the seat of power in Huaxia, but she has also learned that her world is not as it seems. Revelations about an enemy who dangles one of her loved ones as a hostage force Zetian to share power with a dangerous man she cannot simply depose. Despite their mutual dislike and distrust, the two must work together to take down their common enemy and stoke a revolution against the systems of exploitation that plague their world.

However, power is not so easy to wield once seized, and a revolution is not so easy to control once unleashed. As Huaxia’s former elites strike back and the common people’s fervor for justice turns bloody and paranoid, can Zetian remain a fair and just ruler? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence and succumb to her darker instincts in her quest for vengeance and liberation?

Ratings and reviews

Did not like this one as much as the first. After the ending of Iron Widow, I expected a lot more, and every time I thought we were almost getting there, the book found a way to take the anticipation out of my sails. The main character is her own worst enemy most of the time, and makes some rather shoddy decisions at times. Hopefully by the next book, she manages to work on herself a bit as well. I am not sure the ending was as impactful as the previous book, but it certainly leaves room for wondering what is to befall this poor, mislead world next.

A roller coaster ride from start to finish, and one that aims to inspire even through despair. I worried that it couldn't match the breathtaking Iron Widow, but it matches and exceeds the first book at every step.

An amazing and titillating read with a very satisfying length. I can't wait for the next one!

About the author

XIRAN JAY ZHAO is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Iron Widow series and Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. Their books have been a finalist or winner of many awards, including the Nebula, British Science Fiction Association, Locus, and Astounding awards. A first-gen 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, on Instagram and TikTok for chaotic skits, and on YouTube for long videos about Chinese history and culture.