#71 in Young adult
Iron Widow
- 315
- Pages
- about 6 h
- Reading time
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About the book
Iron Widow is a 2021 young adult science fantasy novel by Canadian writer Xiran Jay Zhao. The novel is a mecha reimagining of the rise of China’s first and only female Emperor Wu Zetian set in the nation of Huaxia, a futuristic reinterpretation of Medieval China.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.0 across 542 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 75% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Young adult average of 7.8. That is how 8.0 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.5 | 20 | 4% |
| Hardcover | 7.9 | 522 | 96% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“Well, it was better than I thought it would be. As my book club has started talking more about the four doorways of reading (Character, Plot, Setting, Writing), I'm coming to realize more and more that without that Writing doorway, I just have a hard time getting into a book. This book is extremely cinematic in a way that if it was an anime or graphic novel where I could actually see the Chrysalises and watch the battle scenes, I'd probably be pretty into it. The ruthless female anti-hero is a trope that I'm glad is gaining more traction. In the romance aspects of the book,<spoiler>the pro-p…”
Frequently asked
What is Iron Widow rated?
8.0 out of 10, from 542 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Iron Widow worth reading?
Readers give it 8.0/10 from 542 ratings, which puts it ahead of 65 % of the Young adult shelf.
How long does it take to read Iron Widow?
About 6 hours at an average reading pace — 315 pages.
Where does Iron Widow rank?
#71 in Young adult on the current snapshot.
What age is Iron Widow for?
Iron Widow sits on the Young adult shelf in the sources we use, which by convention means roughly ages 13 and up. This is a guide from the book’s category, not a publisher’s age rating. It has 315 pages — shorter than 85% of the ranked books in Young adult.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Young adult — and a score of 8.0, the closest to this book.
