"Like Wu Zetian, I was prepared to risk it all for this book; no really, I was almost late to work because I had to finish it. It’s the mecha-anime-historical-Chinese-drama-dystopian-thriller of my dreams. Angst, drama, and a protagonist ready and willing to burn it all to the ground. Zetian sits at the same table as Leo Fotia, Satsuki Kiryuin, Wei Wuxian, and Wu Xialing."
"This book is really good and you should read it please!
'pew pew pew pew pew' -big qi bird
(Also what Lily said, she is better at staff recs than me.)"
"An adrenaline-fueled “destroy the patriarchy” mecha-fight from start to finish. (Please note: you may find yourself muttering 'hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah' under your breath every time Wu Zetian opens her mouth to say literally anything)"
Format Hardcover
ISBN 9780735269934
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn’t matter that the girls 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 when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead.
To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying.
