Iron Widow 0 ▲ Emma Goto 1 hour ago · Writing · hide Book review for Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. I rated it 3.5 stars. In a futuristic world inspired by medieval China, the country of Huaxia is protected by giant robot mechas operated by male/female pairs. Mecha pilot Wu Zetian (inspired by the female Chinese ruler of the same name) struggles against a system where the men control the mechas, draining power from the women and often killing them in the process. The use of a male/female pairing in mechas (rather than just a solo pilot) was a concept popularised by the movie Pacific Rim, but what immediately sprang to mind for me was the 2018 anime Darling in the FRANXX, and it turns out the author was inspired by that to write this novel. Iron Widow is YA, which I am a little bit allergic to. But unlike something like Fourth Wing which is trashy-yet-entertaining, on the surface Iron Widow is a lot more earnest in its plot, especially with Wu Zetian's struggles against her family and the mecha system. Wu Zetian is raised in a patriarchal… Commenting on Bubbles has been removed. Why? If you want to talk about this post, write to the author, use the comments on their blog if it has them, or reply with a "RE:" post on your own blog. Suggestions? feedback@bubbles.town
