Gao Qiu: The richest media mogul in Huaxia and a corrupt businessman with underground ties to spread his influence. Initially dismissive, he eventually agrees to exclusive and lucrative media contracts to support Zetian and Shimin's public image. Zhao initially announced that the sequel, titled Heavenly Tyrant, would be released in Spring 2023, [36] however, they later announced that the release would be delayed to April 30, 2024. [37] [38] They earlier hinted on their Tumblr blog that the novel "will be a partial Three Kingdoms retelling". [39] Adaptations [ edit ] After a heavily televised battle where Yizhi gives his qi to help them defeat a massive Hundun, Yizhi joins them in the Chrysalis. The three suspect that the Chrysalis system is biased toward the survival of the male pilots. Shimin and Zetian torture a high-ranking official, who confesses that girls are just as likely to have strong spirit pressure as boys, but the system is rigged to ensure the survival of the male pilot. To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed. a b "Canadians C.L. Polk & Fonda Lee nominated for 2022 Hugo Award for best series". CBC Books. April 11, 2022 . Retrieved May 11, 2022.

Koehler, Mimi (20 September 2021). "Q&A: Xiran Jay Zhao, Author of 'Iron Widow' ". The Nerd Daily . Retrieved 24 October 2021. Fiorillo, Katherine (December 21, 2021). "The 20 best young adult books of 2021, according to Goodreads reviewers". Business Insider . Retrieved 2022-05-12. a b c Armstrong, Vanessa (2022-05-11). "Here Are the Finalists for the 2022 Locus Awards". Tor.com . Retrieved 2022-05-12. a b Singer, Jessica (August 29, 2021). "BookTok's novel approach to books is helping Canadian authors, retailers attract new audiences". CBC News . Retrieved May 11, 2022. Codega, Linda H. (22 September 2021). "Historical Fantasy at Its Most Anime: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao". Tor . Retrieved 24 October 2021.You know those memes that are like "Would you live in Gotham if rent was 5 dollars a month?" That is basically this book. I mean, the titular city of nightmares is literally called NEWHAM. But I'd say Newham is even worse than Gotham because it's in You know those memes that are like "Would you live in Gotham if rent was 5 dollars a month?" That is basically this book. I mean, the titular city of nightmares is literally called NEWHAM. But I'd say Newham is even worse than Gotham because it's in a world where people have a chance of physically and permanently transforming into their worst nightmare when they sleep--unless they take drugs to stop themselves from dreaming. But the drugs are nullified by alcohol, so Prohibition is in place and the world very much has the vibes of that 1920s era, though with more POC and queer characters living their best lives in waistcoats and dress pants. As good of lives as they can make in a world of living nightmares, anyway. This is a society that's terrible to a hilarious degree. The mayor openly keeps a nightmare-pterodactyl as a pet to unleash on her political opponents. Bribery is mandatory if you want to get anything done. Mail can be expected to get stolen if you don't deliver it yourself or with your own employees. Every time you go out you gotta worry about some kind of monstrous creature showing up to gobble you up. An Lushan: Chief strategist for the Sui-Tang frontier. He treacherously seeks to remove Zetian and Shimin from battle by sending them on suicide missions and is later interrogated by the two for his knowledge of the Chrysalis pilot system.

Yang Guang: the male pilot of the Nine-Tailed Fox Chrysalis, and the target of Wu Zetian's revenge for murdering her sister. Iron Widow is a 2021 Canadian 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. [1] [2] [3] Wu Zetian enlists as a concubine to avenge her older sister, who died co-piloting a Chrysalis. She resents her uncaring family, who only value their daughters for the money their deaths as concubines will fetch them. Despite being in love with a wealthy childhood friend, Gao Yizhi, she resolves to avenge her sister even if it will likely mean her death. Zetian successfully arranges to be paired with her sister's co-pilot, Yang Guang. While piloting, Zetian sees his memories of the many girls he's abused. Zetian overwhelms and kills him. Her survival has her branded a dangerous and rare "Iron Widow". Her spirit pressure now registers at extraordinarily high levels. Feared, but conscripted, she resolves to destroy the Chrysalis system and its reliance on the sacrifice of female pilots. a b Brooke, David (7 April 2022). "2022 Hugo Awards finalists, including in comics, announced". AIPT . Retrieved 12 May 2022. Wu Zetian: a peasant girl who becomes the titular "Iron Widow" and co-pilot for the Vermilion Bird Chrysalis. She seeks to topple the sexist society of Huaxia after her sister is sacrificed as a pilot.Zetian attempts to retrieve Shimin's body, but the Heavenly Council has taken it. A secret government document reveals that Huaxia is not on Earth, but actually a colony on another planet. The Hunduns are the native species, defending themselves from invading humans. Before Zetian can share this horrifying information with the public, the Heavenly Council advise her that if she serves them, they will revive Shimin. a b "Winners of the 2022 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill & Quire. September 30, 2022 . Retrieved September 30, 2022. a b "Canadians C.L. Polk & Fonda Lee nominated for 2022 Hugo Award for best series". CBC Books. 11 April 2022 . Retrieved 11 May 2022. A Girl Prepares Her Brows for Battle in This Excerpt From Iron Widow". Gizmodo. July 27, 2021 . Retrieved 2022-05-12.