Iron Widow is amazing and easily one of my favorite reads of the year. Zetian is exactly the kind of heroine I love to see. Despite enduring hardships including abuse and mutilation from her family who raised her to be submissive and self-sacrificing, Zetian is instead fierce, assertive, outspoken, and unrepentantly furious. Not to get too spoilers, but this is not one of those stories that caution against revenge and advocate the power of forgiveness. Zetian is angry about what has been done to her, to her older sister, and to countless other girls. Not only is she angry, the narrative frames her as right. I enjoyed following her through this beautifully written novel that blends together historical figures with futuristic technology. Along with the excellent character work, the unique world building including the magic system were excellent. I can't wait to check for the sequel.