Iron Widow    by Xiran Jay Zhao Order:  USA  Can Penguin, 2021 (2021) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson We're told that Xiran Jay Zhao's young adult Iron Widow is futuristic and set in another world, yet featuring Chinese cultural elements. Warning: it's a very dark read, that sometimes brings to mind The Handmaid's Tale. In Huaxia, Chrysalises (giant robotic transformers) are piloted by young men partnered with young women - the boys get the glory while the girls from whom they draw their power die very young. These unequal teams are used to fight mecha aliens beyond this world's Great Wall. As the story opens, eighteen-year-old Wu Zetian offers herself as a concubine-pilot - seeking vengeance for the death of her beloved elder sister. She succeeds in being selected by the ace pilot who killed her sister, and surprisingly ends him when they're linked in the cockpit. She's a very rare (and feared) Iron Widow, a female pilot who can draw on male psychic power to run her Chrysalis. Now, Zetian is partnered with a very powerful male pilot, Li Shimin, reviled and imprisoned for killing his brothers (to save the girl they abused). Though there are many attempts on Zetian's life, she has not only Shimin on her side but also her old friend, Yizhi. Together, can they stop their society's sacrifice of girls? This episode ends on quite the cliffhanger, with a terrible revelation about the world they live in. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews