Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
Publisher: Bloomsbury
School: Viewbank College
Reviewer: Adonis
Genre: Science fiction
Category: Review
Tags: Fiction, Government, Resistance to, Robots, Sex role, Student Review, Viewbank College, Women
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. No one cares that their female co-pilots must serve as concubines and sacrifice their lives. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, her plan is to assassinate the man responsible for her sister's death. But on miraculously emerging from the cockpit unscathed after her first…
A book that promotes equality and is set on a post-apocalyptic world. The people pilot giant metal robots. After the protagonist’s sister dies in a prologue, the protagonist Wu Zetian makes it her mission to kill the person who did it. In this world, girls are expected to offer themselves as concubine pilots to the men as a sacrifice. Wu seeks to topple this. However, once she does, she is declared an Iron Widow. After becoming the new Emperor, she finds a horrifying truth. This book truly represents equality for all in a way that shows the female as the “bad-a**” character. It is also interesting with little plot twists hidden here and there.
Reviewed by Adonis, Viewbank College
