Zetian has suffered a lot, so finally when the seat of power presents itself, she says yes! Although this bargain comes with the drawback of bearing a man she cannot otherwise depose. She knew she had a long battle to fight against corruption, misogynistic behaviors, but little did she anticipate that she might have to wage wars against the Gods themselves.

Set in a semi-modern world with a backdrop of science fiction, this fantasy tale blends the flavors of imperial rule with the existence of otherworldly creatures. The female protagonist is fierce and refuses to succumb to anyone's demands. It often feels like someone added technological advancements to people's lives but forgot to update their mindsets, which are still stuck in the past century.

I enjoyed the twists, and I suffered as the protagonist suffered every time she was wronged by those she began to trust. There is also the Chinese concept of Chi, which is used to work around many of the powers the characters manifest, providing a fascinating contrast to its tech-savvy angle.

I recommend this to readers who have read "Iron Widow" and want to explore what happens after the devastating end of book 1.

Genre: Scifi, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

This was an absolute joy to listen to. Imaginative, challenging and thoroughly engaging. I kept trying to find house chores to do so that I could keep listening Ha!

This book is shattering. I have the feeling readers will either love it or hate it - I don't think there is an inbetween. Either way, it will not leave you cold.

Iron Widow was a complete highlight for me, so the hype in my head built up over years was massive. But this book? - It holds up.

Please be aware that despite being marketed YA, this is an adult book. It's violent, full of rage, unapologetically political and so so angry.....As it should be tbh.

Wu Zetian is hated, she's fighting, she's angry about being powerless despite being the Empress. She's ripping herself to pieces in a struggle to find a new order. And she's not always making the best decisions, and some that are outright gross (what she does with the male prisoners).
She is not an "ask me about my feminist agenda" kinda feminist, she is not an idol - she is messy and questionable at times. But oh, she is so strong and stubborn and full of rage.

There is a lot of politics in this book, and despite the FMC and MMC being messy, the stance on politics is not. It's outspoken, straightforward, and there is no doubt where the author stands. I love this about the book, because Xiran Jay Zhao does not hold back in letting her firm opinions bleed onto the pages.

I can't wait for book 3!

The audiobook is very well done. I loved the narrator of Wu Zetian, who narrates almost the entire story. There is a prologue and epilogue from Qin Zheng's POV which was also brought to life vividly. This is a looong audiobook, but it still kept me on the edge of my seat.

5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @wfhowes for the eARC!

#HeavenlyTyrant #IronWidow #Netgalley #Bookstagram


TW for themes around pregnancy, body mutilation, toxic relationships and more.

I loved Iron Widow, so was very excited to listen to the follow up, but must admit it felt a little too long for me. I still loved the feminist angle to it, and Zetian’s journey, but after spending so much time getting invested in her relationship with Li Shimin, it felt quite jarring to then spend almost all of this book with a different male lead.

Having said that, it’s still a brilliant adventure with an important message, and I love the audio narrator. Actual rating 3.5.