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    Iron Widow - Special Edition with Bonus Art (Iron Widow, Book 1)

    Part of Iron Widow

    Author Xiran Jay Zhao
    Paperback
    $14.99 US
    Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books
    5-1/2"W x 8-1/4"H
    On sale Nov 03, 2026 | 432 Pages | 9781770499829
    Grade 9 & Up
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

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    A stunning special edition of the instant #1 New York Times bestseller. A collector's paperback that includes new cover effects and a full-color art print.

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

    The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain.

    When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead.

    To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying.

    This spectacular collector's paperback edition features a cover with luminescent effects and brand-new, never-before-seen art with characters from the book.
    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.

    View titles by Xiran Jay Zhao
    • WINNER | 2024
      Nevada Young Readers Award
    • WINNER | 2023
      Green Mountain Book Award
    • WINNER | 2022
      Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
    • WINNER | 2022
      Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
    • WINNER | 2022
      Barnes & Noble Children's & YA Book Awards - Young Adult
    • WINNER | 2021
      British Science Fiction Association Award
    • FINALIST
      Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Award
    • AWARD
      Green Mountain Book Award
    • NOMINEE | 2024
      Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
    • SELECTION | 2023
      Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List
    • HONOR | 2023
      White Pine Award
    • SELECTION | 2022
      ALA Hal Clement Notable Young Adult Books List
    • FINALIST | 2022
      Aurora Award - Best YA Novel
    • FINALIST | 2022
      Locus Award for Fantasy Novel
    • HONOR | 2022
      Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Award
    • NOMINEE | 2021
      GoodReads Choice Award
    • NOMINEE | 2021
      Nebula Award
    • SELECTION | 2021
      OLA Best Bets for Young Adult Fiction

    About

    A stunning special edition of the instant #1 New York Times bestseller. A collector's paperback that includes new cover effects and a full-color art print.

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

    The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain.

    When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead.

    To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying.

    This spectacular collector's paperback edition features a cover with luminescent effects and brand-new, never-before-seen art with characters from the book.

    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.

    View titles by Xiran Jay Zhao

    Awards

    • WINNER | 2024
      Nevada Young Readers Award
    • WINNER | 2023
      Green Mountain Book Award
    • WINNER | 2022
      Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
    • WINNER | 2022
      Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
    • WINNER | 2022
      Barnes & Noble Children's & YA Book Awards - Young Adult
    • WINNER | 2021
      British Science Fiction Association Award
    • FINALIST
      Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Award
    • AWARD
      Green Mountain Book Award
    • NOMINEE | 2024
      Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
    • SELECTION | 2023
      Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List
    • HONOR | 2023
      White Pine Award
    • SELECTION | 2022
      ALA Hal Clement Notable Young Adult Books List
    • FINALIST | 2022
      Aurora Award - Best YA Novel
    • FINALIST | 2022
      Locus Award for Fantasy Novel
    • HONOR | 2022
      Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Award
    • NOMINEE | 2021
      GoodReads Choice Award
    • NOMINEE | 2021
      Nebula Award
    • SELECTION | 2021
      OLA Best Bets for Young Adult Fiction

    Additional formats

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