"TLDR; Welcome to your Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss nightmare.

If there’s anything Iron Widow succeeded in doing, it’s filling me with feminist rage. Feminist rage over how very little feminism (on top of a multitude of other things) this book had promised but delivered so badly. I cannot recommend this book to anyone in good faith.

The brutal truth is—Xiran is very fortunate their YouTube career took off and subsequently aided in their book’s success because this book is so poorly and thoughtlessly written, its success can only be driven by and will continue to depend on their internet fame.

The biggest irony is that this book and their character, Wu Zetian, emulates almost every single element Xiran criticized about the live-action Mulan (the YouTube video that launched their internet fame and propelled their book's sucess), most notably: 1. Chinese culture used for superficial embellishment, 2. meaningless character deaths/cannon fodder, and 3. a series of completely illogical events.

When you hate something deep enough and then manifest the very thing you hate.

Anyway, if you want a book that’s ACTUALLY rich in Chinese history, eloquently written, has sophisticated worldbuilding, and is led by a complex, nuanced, and empowered badass antiheroine, read REBECCA KUANG’S THE POPPY WAR series.

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The short version: My biggest gripe with this book is how baffling the writing suffers from poor narrative technique. In the most objective way possible, Xiran's writing direly needs practice and a better set of editors/critiquers.

(1) Style/Prose
* This book is oversaturated with purple prose that it reads like a middle school assignment on how to use similes. There are a lot, and I mean, A LOT of confusing verb and adjective choices for imagery that simply does not make structural sense:

“Yizhi looks at me like a beautiful immortal who’s floated down from the Heavenly Court, only to stumble upon the concept of cannibalism.� (Wh� what does this mean?)

“His chains rattle in what sounds like a motion of jolting up.� (Who is her editor??? Because whoever they are, fire them.)

* Very expository storytelling—to the point where the worldbuilding, character developments, and plot suffered in the process. Relies too much on dialogue to propel the narrative forwards.

(2) Plot
* Overly ambitious storytelling that Xiran’s writing is simply not strong enough to tackle in large part because of their narrative issues: 1) Hundun invasion, 2) Zetian’s rise to power, and 3) (view spoiler)[ the return and intervention of the gods (hide spoiler)].

* The author tried to incorporate as many superficial Chinese elements as they could while relying too heavily on borrowed ideas (i.e. Pacific Rim, Darling in the Franxx, The Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc, etc). It is very difficult to conceptualize how the world works without some level of knowledge for Chinese history and mecha anime.

* Absence of relevant backstories and flashbacks necessary to nurture Zetian’s character development, particularly her romance with Yizhi and complicated family dynamics.

* There is no emotional dynamic between Zetian and her deceased sister. Considering that her sister is the catalyst for spurring Zetian’s call to adventure, we are given absolutely nothing about the sister’s character. Her own family does not talk about the sister. Her sister doesn’t get a backstory or flashbacks to show why she was so important to Zetian or why Zetian was willing to risk everything just to avenge her death.

* It is difficult to ascertain why Yizhi likes Zetian so much because we were not provided a solid backstory of their relationship. Yizhi was willing to risk his entire inheritance, face disownment by his family, protect her, swear fealty to her, and commit treason out of devotion to Zetian but� why? Zetian misconstrues every good deed Yizhi does for her as coercion or subjugation and has made it clear that she is not willing to do anything that inconveniences her.

* Extremely convoluted plot, especially in Part IV and V’s story arcs; there were too many plot reveals shoved towards the last few chapters of the book.

* For a story centered around the endangerment of the human race by an alien species seemingly determined to wipe them out, there is never any sense of imminent danger. There are continuity issues about the war between Huaxia/humanity and the Hundun.

* Character deaths are treated as cannon fodder. There were so many thoughtlessly written, anticlimactic, and irrational pilot deaths on the war front because half of the Chrysalis battles were not even against the Hunduns, but Zetian murdering other pilots for undermining her “authority�.

(3) Setting/Worldbuilding
* Casualties of war and societal implications are overpowered by Zetian’s convoluted political agenda. There is an excessive amount of sensory overload for scenes that should have either been cut out or condensed.

* Inharmonious elements of Chinese history + 21st-century technological advancement + mainstream vernacular and aesthetics (e.g. Zetian wearing cleavage-baring cosplay outfits for one too many celebrity photoshoots).

* Understandably, YA language should be digestible for its intended audience� when it is actually done properly. However, this book is so haphazardly inserted with TikTok/Gen Z memes at inappropriate periods that it comes off as lazy and cringy writing.

Examples:

"I flexed some connections."
"I was collectively rising above that bullshit."
"You’re the baddest of bad boys. The ultimate alpha male." (Kill me now.)

* Very little to nonexistent worldbuilding for the country of Huaxia, the Hundun species, and the pilot/Chrysalis program. What is written is hard to conceptualize, again, due to poor writing.

- No background context for Chrysalis program: How did Zetian pass the test with such significantly high marks in concubine history, as someone who is illiterate and from a poor uneducated background? What exactly does the Crysalis test comprise of? How was she able to solo operate a Chrysalis despite having never stepped foot inside a Chrysalis or done simulation tests?

- No explanation about the Hundun origins and a surprising lack of imagery when describing the Hundun or what they look like: The characters mostly refer to Hundun by their hierarchical power rankings (e.g. Prince class, Emperor class) but how do they look like? What constitutes an Emperor class, a Prince class? How are Hundun husks made into Chrysalis armor?

* Geopolitics and religion superficially explored. The author mentions different dialects and interrelational conflicts between provinces in Huaxia but does not offer any insight into the geopolitical systems.

* Considering that Xiran has made a career out of writing about Chinese history and mythology, the lack of meaningful cultural elements in this book was genuinely disappointing.

(4) Portrayal of feminism
* For a book that notoriously markets itself as feminist rhetoric, Iron Widow perpetuates a lot of feminist stereotypes that undermine the actual movement.

* The women in this book are incredibly poorly written and reduced to sexist tropes:
- Xiuying’s character suffered a great injustice. She was the one person in the book with justifiable intentions who becomes wrongly vilified by the narrative.
- Zetian’s sister and Wende exist as nothing more than fridged plot devices.
- Qieluo is reduced to the typecasted jealous female rival.
- Xiao Shufei and Yang Guang’s concubines are portrayed as vapid and simpering weak women desperate for male validation.

* She treats every female character as a common enemy, even though she provokes the other women first. She gives Xiao Shufei attitude for Shufei just offering her harmless advice about her hairpin and when Zetian is called out for her rudeness, Zetian accuses the concubines of ganging up on her out of spite.

* Zetian harbors an unusually strong resentment towards the patriarchy and milieu in a very black and white manner. This makes her perception of the patriarchy not revolutionary but anomalous. Other than Yizhi’s occasional tutelage, Zetian hasn’t received any formal education, is illiterate, has restricted/limited access to media coverage, doesn’t interact with anyone with shared viewpoints, and doesn’t have access to resources for her to develop such profound and skewed views about the fundamental flaws with her society.

* She generalizes beliefs about male behaviors and refuses to correct her way of thinking when it is challenged. Zetian is genuinely bewildered by Shimin’s respect towards women and continues to invalidate his opinions and PTSD because “male pilots all think alike� and “how could he care about the girls when no one else does?�. Yet, she gets upset when her viewpoints as a woman are challenged.

* She carries a lot of self-hatred towards being a woman; she associates all areas of emotional weaknesses with being female and constantly refers to backward-thinking sexist insults (e.g. “he died like a girl�, “[I] immediately hate myself for how Hopeless Wife I sound�).

* She wants women to be respected but doesn’t respect them in turn. She is very contemptuous of women acting in accordance with society’s way of life and looks down on traditional female roles such as motherhood, housewives, maidservants, and concubines, frequently describing them in negative connotations.

* She scoffs at women for fixating on physical appearances (accusing Qieluo of pandering to her male partner) but also prematurely judges women like Xiuying for looking too plain and conventional to be considered a concubine. Zetian boasts about weaponizing sexuality to subjugate men but then also proceeds to lecture Xiuying for using makeup to please men and cover up her bruises.

* How are we supposed to champion Zetian to liberate women from tyranny and dismantle the patriarchy when she internalizes and perpetuates so many of the patriarchy’s beliefs?

(5) Portrayal of polyamory
* The polyamory in this was grossly oversold. This was not polyamory. This was a glorified love triangle, one in which both male love interests are inexplicably subservient to Zetian. The dynamic between Zetian, Shimin, and Yizhi as romantic partners is at best, awkward and at worst, lacking communication.

* Shimin and Yizhi have no motivations outside of serving and enabling Zetian. This is not how a healthy relationship works. There is no compromise involved because the two male love interests are so enamored with Zetian that they do everything and anything she wants without questioning her behavior. They have no opinions for themselves. Yizhi has been unfathomably servile to Zetian from the start. Shimin loses all his character development as soon as Zetian allows him to enter a romantic relationship with her.

* Zetian displays polarizing and artificial affection towards both love interests: she is equally combative towards and possessive of Shimin and Yizhi. She frequently contemplates killing either or both of them if they no longer serve her interests.

* Up until the last 60 pages of the book, the dynamics were mostly:
- Zetian and Yizhi, consisting of page-long awkward makeout scenes and reassurance of his fealty to her.
- Zetian and Shimin, consisting of Zetian debating whether or not to trust or kill him and Zetian gaslighting Shimin for his PTSD and alcoholism. Shimin was the third wheel for a significant portion of the book.
- In short, there was never any genuine romantic chemistry explored with all three of them together.

* The Shimin and Yizhi dynamic was lazily shoved in at the last minute with the most awkwardly written kiss ever, one in which Shimin looks to Zetian immediately for approval (“Shimin’s gaze pours over Yizhi’s features, but jumps to me with a flash of guilt. I roll my eyes, make a triangle with my fingers, and nod�). In the end, they only accepted each other romantically because that’s what Zetian wants and expects.

* The only implications that Yizhi and Shimin might be attracted to each other are:
- Them blushing one time at each other.
- Shimin commenting that Yizhi has nice skin.
- Shimin, in a state of delirium from alcoholic withdrawals, confuses Yizhi for the woman he is still grieving and clearly suffering PTSD over.

* Bottom line–don’t market something as polyamorous if you can’t fully deliver it.

(6) Zetian’s character development
Last but not least, Wu Zetian herself.

* Zetian is a hot mess—all the essential character development the audience needs to root for Zetian as a protagonist are missing. There is so much to unpack about Zetian as not just a character but as the protagonist of her own story. A protagonist doesn’t need to have likable or relatable qualities. What they should have are depth and complexity. Sadly, Zetian has neither.

* Her actions contradict her motives. Zetian, or rather, Xiran can’t decide if they want Zetian to be a villain or an antiheroine. Zetian has a major savior complex, perceiving herself as the liberator from male tyranny and an advocate for all women, but everything she’s done in this book has never been for the sake of challenging the patriarchy and protecting women. It has all been for the sake of liberating herself and eliminating anyone who challenges her authority.

* Zetian harbors a lot of unwarranted and misdirected rage, towards society, towards her family, towards her love interests, towards essentially... everyone. Why is she so angry??? Where did this anger manifest from? There is not enough context given as to why this anger is so deeply ingrained into her cognizance.

* She conflates murder with justice:
- Has a disturbing obsession with murdering people.
- Constantly fascinates about whom to kill next.
- Shows no remorse at the idea of killing either of her love interests should they betray her.
- She kills anyone who doesn’t agree with her way of thinking regardless of their gender or intentions.

* Zetian has an extremely juvenile and emotionally immature personality. When things don’t go her way, she throws literal temper tantrums and pulls the gender card to garner sympathy (e.g. crying when Sima Yi brings up that concubine duties include rearing children, a fact she was fully aware of and prepared to face when she was first matched with Yang Guang). Outside of her rage, mistrust and violence, any passages of her exhibiting sympathy or compassion come off in an unusually erratic way contradictory to her character.

* She is very indecisive and sways under different influences, most notably in the last arc of the book when Xiuying and Qieluo both offer her polarizing advice about her family. Zetian cannot actually formulate opinions for herself.

* She has such bizarre misogynistic preconceptions for helping others and being helped in turn that it would have been funny if it wasn’t so concerning. Clearly, Zetian has never genuinely helped anyone before in her lifetime:
- When Shimin falls ill from alcoholic withdrawals and she is nursing him back to health, she claims that her “subconsciousness� is “determined to serve the male master the world appoint[ed] for [her]� and not simply because� maybe� that’s what a decent person would do for someone who is sick????
- When Shimin becomes forcibly inebriated against his will and Zetian has to help support him, she laments that she’s becoming a “Hopeless wife�.
- She gets genuinely upset when Yizhi pushes her wheelchair for her and attributes this to having to rely on a man but she was okay with the maidservant pushing her wheelchair. In the very next scene, she is crying for one of her boys to come and rescue her because she’s stuck in her wheelchair, and Yizhi’s evil father is being evil. WHAT DO YOU WANT, ZETIAN?

* Other than the fact that Zetian is just not rationally sound of mind to rule a country, let alone pilot massive destructive machinery, Zetian doesn’t even have the qualifications to make a potentially believable ruler. She has no concept of warfare, politics, military strategy, or long-term political goals. How is she possibly going to dismantle the patriarchy? ~Feminist rage~ can only get you so far.

* Even with Yang Guang, her plan was extremely simplistic and naive. She originally intended to stab him to death with a hairpin but the plan quickly and logically falls apart because Zetian cannot physically overpower a full-grown, able-bodied man, something she–for some reason–didn’t take into account despite her constant bitching about how much she despises her feeble, weak, female body.

* Zetian relies on the power of deus ex machina to work in her favor; every instance of her succeeding against an antagonist or external obstacle was due to someone (aka one of her boys) or an actual (view spoiler)[divine intervention from the gods (hide spoiler)] coming to her aid, not of her own accord.

* Zetian’s character arc is rooted heavily in victim complex, most notably in her perception of her family. Zetian paints herself as the victim of abuse within her family, but we are given so little family dynamic to assert this, other than the understandably painful foot-binding her grandmother made her undergo. On top of that, Zetian is portrayed as neither a respectful nor filial daughter. Zetian not serve her family in any way. Rather than doing chores or taking care of her family, she was constantly running off into the woods (to rendezvous with Yizhi), something her family never stopped her from doing. She openly belittles her mother for being timid despite her mother doing her best to show affection towards Zetian and talks back to her supposedly temperamental father with no direct repercussions. She kicks her entire family out of the house to have a private conversation with a boy they have never met before and instead of challenging or punishing her, they heed her wishes.

* Yes, Zetian’s resentment towards being abused is valid, but it is not justifiable grounds for what she ends up doing to her family.

* There is so little of Zetian’s character to validate her credibility as a protagonist + the savior of her country. The worst part is that Zetian being an unreliable narrator is entirely unintentional. You’re meant to root for Zetian. You’re meant to see society through her eyes, support her journey, and commend her for her feminism. But she is such an irrational, contradictory, and poorly developed protagonist in her own story that you want her to and pray that she ultimately fails."