Iron Widow (Iron Widow #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao --> Restarting January 7th 2023

[Aly]

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​

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

[Aly]

End of part 1 (view spoiler)[ Okay so Zetian is a badass and I love that she doesn't hold back. Go girl! Kill those asshole pilots. Also, the foot binding thing is horrible and gross. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ Wow the military people suck. They sacrifice pilots?? I'm really glad that Yizhi came, I wonder if it will just be a love triangle or a menage? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of part 2 (view spoiler)[ Hmm, they're better as a triad. I really want them all to be in a relationship too, come on! Also, I'm so happy they said fuck you to the headless douche and the soldiers (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 38 (view spoiler)[ I'm really worried that one or both guys won't make it. Please live! Also, time for some revenge... (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of part three (view spoiler)[ those motherfuxkers. Girls are powerful, they'd just rather keep sacrificing them even if it costs them the war. Now they have proof and I hope things change.
Also hell yes for the triangle! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Holy shit. So many things happened and my mind is blown. I'll definitely be buying a physical of this and I can't wait to find out what happens next. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

2% (view spoiler)[ If the Hundun were so "mindless", how did they completely destroy civilization........ (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Krystal wrote: "2% [spoilers removed]"

Good question!

[Brinley]

Ill be late on this one, but i will start it!

[Krystal]

11% (view spoiler)[ The terms concubine and consort confuse me in this setting. Is it just something they have deemed as a title or do they also have to do a concubines/consorts "regular" duties? (hide spoiler)]

Never mind, I didn't read far enough, lol

[Aly]

Krystal wrote: "11% [spoilers removed]

Never mind, I didn't read far enough, lol"

I do that all the time lol

[Krystal]

Aly wrote: "Krystal wrote: "11% [spoilers removed]

Never mind, I didn't read far enough, lol"

I do that all the time lol"

Haha, it was literally the next few lines too. Too funny.

[Krystal]

Aly wrote: "End of part 1 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ the footbinding is the worst! I know they did it and I like how this book is based on that culture. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Krystal wrote: "Aly wrote: "End of part 1 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I'm glad the author made some parts very realistic

[Krystal]

30%(view spoiler)[I wonder how long it takes until a romance develops..But, I do hope these two at least become friends. I think he killed for a very specific reason. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

50% (view spoiler)[ I actually don’t like the main female character as much as I want to. She doesn’t have any empathy and while I can understand why, she needs to gain some. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

64% (view spoiler)[ The qi and the use of it is a tiny but confusing to be. How do they actually use this from their body? I know it's mental and all, it's just... I guess the thought of using that ability is so different so I'm still getting used to it. It's unique for sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Aly wrote: "End of part 2 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! (view spoiler)[ There is no reason, other than their backwards society, that these three can't be a thrupple! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Krystal wrote: "64% [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I didn't think it was explained well either

[Krystal]

69% (view spoiler)[ This part of the book is so Hunger Games and President Snow! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Very true!

[Krystal]

Aly wrote: "Very true!"

(view spoiler)[ Now moving the family to a better place? HG.... (hide spoiler)] I'm glad this part of the book is more 'normal'. Normal things happening to them instead of all the fighting and mind realm.

[Aly]

Krystal wrote: "Aly wrote: "Very true!"

[spoilers removed] I'm glad this part of the book is more 'normal'. Normal things happening to them instead of all the fighting and mind realm."

Yes I agree

[Krystal]

Finished (view spoiler)[ the ending!!! I’m sooo glad the Hundun issue was explained. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Aly wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

It was (view spoiler)[ A jam packed ending! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Im late on this one, but ill start it soon!

[Brinley]

Starting this one now!

[Brinley]

11%
(view spoiler)[ I gotta say, i feel bad for Yizhin. I admire her dedication to revenge, but that was harsh. Poor guy (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Krystal wrote: "11% [spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[ I think they have to do the regular duties? Because theyve mentioned that her sister wasnt killed in war, she was killed during the "physical" portion of it. And that whole conversation with Yizhin about having to become his concubine. Im liking this, i just wish it were a bit clearer (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

31%
(view spoiler)[ I love how shes so thrown off about having to live with Li, whos a murderer. Does she realize that shes a murderer now too? Sure, she has motive, but she still killed a guy... (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Krystal wrote: "30%[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Im expecting a romance to develop, but in not sure if i want one. For a while there, i was kinda hoping she'd just go on a man-killing spree and murder every pilot they stuck her with. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

42%
(view spoiler)[ This is gonna turn into some Selection type stuff, isnt it? Of course Yizhi is back. I like him, but i really thought his role in the story was done. Hes just gonna end up causing more problems for her and Li (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Aly wrote: "End of part 1 [spoilers removed]"

Aly wrote: "End of part 1 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was shocked by the foot binding too. I knew it happened, but reading just how disruptive it was is horrifying. And also, i love Zetian too! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Krystal wrote: "64% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Im confused too, but im just going with it. I like the idea, but its just so far from what we usually see in fantasies (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I loved this!! That ending just left me amazed, and i ended up loving our main character so much. Sure, she wasnt "good" or "kind", but she was an entire powerhouse. That scene of her murdering her family had me shocked, but at the same time, i loved it so much.

Also, I was totally freaking out when i thought Shimin was dead. He grew on me, and even though i never bought the romance between him, Yizhi, and her, i really loved him. Im just happy that hes half alive!

Also, that revelation regarding the gods??? Are they just people who sent an experimental colony down to this planet?? Is that why they intervene when necessary??? I cant wait to see how Zetian deals with them, as i already know shes not just going to accept their threats (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting August 16th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dr. Andy]

Hoping to start tonight!!

[Dannii]

I won't get to this one until Monday but I look forward to catching up with your thoughts :)

[Dr. Andy]

Dannii wrote: "I won't get to this one until Monday but I look forward to catching up with your thoughts :)"

No worries!

[Dr. Andy]

20% (view spoiler)[ oh shit did she already kill him!?!? I fucking love this already. Zetian is a badass and my hero honestly. I love what Yihizi said in the first couple chapters about gender and sex not being a binary. He’s a smart man (hide spoiler)]

40% (view spoiler)[ okay I love the whole dynamic between zetian and Li shinin. I want to know more about these two! I want to see more battles between them. Especially in the chrysalis. Ugh this book is so cool (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

60% (view spoiler)[ Ugh that ridiculous ness that about Li and Zetian having to have sex to make their relationship better is ANNOYING. No! They need to trust each other. Also I am really hoping that a love triangle could develop here between Zetian, Li and Yizhi. THe triangle is the strongest shape after all. ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[This immediately felt like a five-star read! I loved the introduction of the Chrysalis and the Qi it was powered with. Yang Guang revealed himself as the second-best pilot in the kingdom, after a murderer he was determined to take down, and had a total disregard for the death of the girls who flew with him.

Zetian's Big Sister was killed by Yang Guang and she was now determined to avenge her by killing him too. It was sad to see how little regard her family held for female life. It seemed like so much suffering had hardened them into being able to not view them as humans. They were merely another mouth to feed until they could be sold off in marriage or to the war effort.

I haven't really got a good understanding of the Hunduns yet. It has been revealed that they ruined human rule, two-thousand years ago, and only the Chrysalis stop them from doing so again. Is there something else really going on there? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Andy wrote: "20% [spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[I'm loving the conversations around gender this is also prompting too. It is such a cleverly constructed story so it feels seamless and not like it is preaching to the reader. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

78% (view spoiler)[okay it’s not quite a full triangle but there are possibilities for it to happen so I’m hopeful!! I want it so bad 😂. Also I love how Zetian is like I’m going to kill everyone even if I have to wait 5 years to get them. They’re going down! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[Fuck me. I just !!! I am all screams no chill. What an explosive ending. I wonder if these gods are actually gods or just people who have manipulated everything. I need the sequel ASAP (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Glad you loved it, Andy. I'm hoping to carry on with the book today and will catch up with the rest of your thoughts then. I'm absolutely loving it, so far.

[Dr. Andy]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - [spoilers removed].."

(view spoiler)[ I loved the way the world was introduced! It felt real and I wanted to rage at all the unfairness. I loved how quickly the action came. Like Zetian explains her plan and almost immediately enacts it after getting to the army. As for the Hunduns I'm still kinda confused as to what they are, but there's definitely more answers to come. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I just knew Li Shimmin wasn't going to be the villain the rest of the kingdom thought him but didn't expect an introduction to his character to appear so soon. It seems he shares the same ideals as Zetain so hopefully they can act on them together.

I also didn't anticipate Yizhi to appear in the book again either. (hide spoiler)]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[These battle scenes would make for such epic film shots.

Armed guards joined them in the Vermillion Bird to force them to fight but Zetain ended up fighting in her own way. I loved how they joined Qi with Yizhi and became some sort of unbeatable trio of energy. Yizhi is becoming a favourite character and I really hope it isn't an act for his onw agenda. His speech about Zetain's closeness with another not eradicating their closeness was so sweet and understanding. (hide spoiler)]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[Okay, new favourite book! I see you! This was spectacular. It was so fast-paced and unique. The press shots and the fame Zetain received reminded me of the later Hunger Games books, where they try to make Katniss a media darling rather than an enemy of the Capitol. It didn't work there and it doesn't work here.

The war scenes were so brutal and I loved them. That end scene has me DYING for more! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Andy wrote: "20% [spoilers removed]

40% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It really was so interesting to see them bond inside the Chrysallis. I enjoyed getting to see them slowly bond outside of it, as well. That took a lot longer though. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Andy wrote: "60% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Literally the only love triangle I have ever rooted for. I could really see them working as a poly relationship. (hide spoiler)]