Heavenly Tyrant Iron Widow, Book 2, Xiran Jay Zhao
Heavenly Tyrant Iron Widow, Book 2, Xiran Jay Zhao
1 Rating(s)
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Heavenly Tyrant (Iron Widow, Book 2)

Author: Xiran Jay Zhao

Narrator: Rong Fu

Unabridged: 21 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tundra Books

Published: 12/24/2024


Synopsis

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
CBC bestseller
USA Today bestseller

Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow.

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

After suffering devastating loss and making drastic decisions, Zetian finds herself on the seat of power in Huaxia, but she has also learned that her world is not as it seems. Revelations about an enemy who dangles one of her loved ones as a hostage force Zetian to share power with a dangerous man she cannot simply depose. Despite their mutual dislike and distrust, the two must work together to take down their common enemy and stoke a revolution against the systems of exploitation that plague their world.

However, power is not so easy to wield once seized, and a revolution is not so easy to control once unleashed. As Huaxia’s former elites strike back and the common people’s fervor for justice turns bloody and paranoid, can Zetian remain a fair and just ruler? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence and succumb to her darker instincts in her quest for vengeance and liberation?

About The Author

XIRAN JAY ZHAO is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Iron Widow series and Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. Their books have been a finalist or winner of many awards, including the Nebula, British Science Fiction Association, Locus, and Astounding awards. A first-gen immigrant from small-town China to Vancouver, Canada, they were raised by the Internet and made the inexplicable decision to leave their biochem degree in the dust to write books and make educational content instead. You can find them @xiranjayzhao on Twitter for memes, on Instagram and TikTok for chaotic skits, and on YouTube for long videos about Chinese history and culture.


Reviews

Goodreads review by caro on January 02, 2025

2.5 "krusty krab is unfair! mr krabs is in there!" says the tiktok dark boyfriend with a "dragon size" penis. "don't you dare seize my private property!" says the blue haired non binary god alien. "oh no! if it weren't for... the baby!" says katniss-wu zeitan, while texting god from her ipad. "i'm i......more

Goodreads review by Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) on February 16, 2025

Review: [URL not allowed] Okay, so if you're going into this expecting it to wrap the story up in a duology, I'm sorry to tell you that is not happening and it ends on a cliffhanger for a book 3. If you're picking this up because you're super invested in the polyamorous romance that began i......more

Goodreads review by Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ on December 03, 2024

Feminine rage incarnate is back… even angrier than before and hated by more. I cannot believe this is a Young Adult book. Zetian is hated by both men and gods, and heaven and earth cannot allow her to exist. After destroying the Kaihuang watchtower and the Palace of Sages, learning the truth of the......more

Goodreads review by Caitlyn on January 02, 2025

2.5 stars I waited eagerly for 3 years for this sequel so if it sounds like I’m bitter, I am. I will keep this vague enough to not spoil Iron Widow because I still love that book and recommend reading it! After the explosive end to Iron Widow and the challenges Zetian had to overcome to rip power bac......more

Goodreads review by Alice on January 06, 2025

Content warning: This review discusses the depiction of sexual assault in this book. Man, this book really went “f**k Yizhi,” huh. 2.5 stars. I never thought I’d give this book less than 3 stars, but there were some parts of it that were so upsetting to me that I can’t say I enjoyed this enough to be......more


Quotes

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
Indie #1 Bestseller
A CBC Books Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Nominated for the 2025 GoodReads Choice Awards
A 2025 Indigo Best of the Year (So Far)
One of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Spring 2025
An Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Teen and Young Adult Books of December

PRAISE FOR Heavenly Tyrant:

"[S]trong worldbuilding lays a foundation for a story that explores social issues, contains a steamy romance, and delves into Zetian’s internal battles . . . A roller coaster of entertainment, emotions, and political machination."Kirkus Reviews

"Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy." School Library Journal

"Full of action and intrigue . . . Whatever happens, Zetian remains in the center of it all. She is relentless, and she is sometimes a mess. But she is determined to bring down the gods—and anyone else—who control her and her country by any means necessary." Reactor Magazine


Awards

  • Aurora Award - Best YA Novel
  • GoodReads Choice Award
  • Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book