Heavenly Tyrant

Xiran Jay Zhao — 2023

Zetian, now ruler of Chang’an, must balance dangerous politics with her quest for revenge in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction. Having reclaimed her homeland from the Hunduns and learned the true nature of the gods, Iron Widow Zetian returns to Chang'an with Emperor-General Qin Zheng to rule together and attempt to deconstruct the corrupt and misogynist system that plagues the country. However, she must not only contend with political unrest and continued Hundun attacks but also with the gods themselves, who hold Li Shimin's life in their hands and seek to control Zetian as their puppet. Dangerous forces seek to undermine Zetian at every turn. Can she enact positive changes as a fair and just ruler, and change the system from within? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence, and succumb to her darker instincts, becoming almost as corrupt as Chang'an's previous rulers, in her quest for vengeance? Find out in this highly-anticipated sequel to Iron Widow, a #1 New York Times bestseller!

Reviews

Susan@itzzuzan

Mar 13, 2025

THE AMOUNT OF LIFE PARALLELS COMPARED TO THIS BOOK OMG, OMG, OMG

Melodie@melodica256

Feb 26, 2025

A nice sequel to it's gripping predecessor. Unfortunately I found it less gripping but still enjoyable.

shellybn@pillywiggin

Feb 19, 2025

I did not like this book as much as "Iron Widow." As I was reading, I felt like it could have done with one more good editing run-through. I did not like how much of the book revolved around politics and the power struggle between Wu Zetian and Qin Zheng. I was also not a fan of how much "spice" was on the pages. I am looking forward to the next book to see how the loose ends are tied up.

cee @ceereading

Feb 2, 2025

when a girl boss fucks around and finds out OR when powerful men are also annoying bottoms OR character assassination: how NOT to do it OR when the editor could've read this a little closer OR where's your rage? no seriously, where's your rage? girl hello.... OR i remember being 18.... that girl was a dumbass bless her heart

Iron Widow was one of the first books I read in 2021 that gripped me and reminded me just how much I love fantasy and scifi. I loved Zetian and how feral she was in her convictions, and how she was hellbent on changing the world come hell or high water. She was a messy, complicated wench of a teenage main character and I LOVED her. I found her... mildly annoying here. While I understand that this was the find out portion of her FAFO era, I also think that some of her shifting about faces came too easily here. The wider cast of characters was a fun way to expand the world and introduce readers to the reality of the Laborist state, but I think this could've been tighter wound, lingered too long in some moments, and tonally felt wildly different from the first book, despite picking up right where it ended. And not necessarily in a good way. While I am absolutely thrilled that this made it out into the world and am happy to have read it, it also makes me wonder how I would've felt about Iron Widow in the first go round if I was reading as voraciously as I am now. Would it have still hit?

There are moments in this sequel that carry so much heart and made me cheer out loud - but there were moments that didn't feel like they made sense for Zetian. Her beheading an officer without a second thought and it getting filmed and posted to the masses without much deliberation was chilling, and didn't feel right for who she had become. Her conflicting feelings regarding her sexuality felt forced to me, though I understand that her relationship with the Emperor was meant to symbolize abuse. So many moments I felt could've been done with more grace or felt too hamfisted, but it was a fun, though dragging read for what it was.

This review contains a spoiler

Mey@mey

Jan 15, 2025

3.25/5

I still might have some quotes to highlight but UGHHHH I wish I could love it more. The sentence "girlvoss discovers the limits of girlboss feminism" is indeed so true.

(SPOILERS)

I went through two years of waiting and 500 pages just for that ending? Okay I'm kinda going backwards but I know it's just Zetian's character to stab herself in the hand and I'm somehow still mad at it. Why on earth does Qin Zheng have a fricking breeding kink, of course he does, but WHY. Truly the plot and the names got so confusing I couldn't keep up. Someone pointed out in a comment somewhere that this is fanfiction-esque writing and I don't disagree.

Gaslight gatekeep girlboss vs mansplain manipulate manwhore FOR SURE.