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Quick answer: If you loved Iron Widow, read The Poppy War, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Six Crimson Cranes and These Violent Delights. All pair Chinese-inspired settings with ferocious heroines, war and rebellion.
Xiran Jay Zhao's 2021 debut reimagines the rise of Empress Wu Zetian in a world where teen pilots fight giant alien-bio mechs called Chrysalises. Zetian volunteers as a concubine-pilot to take revenge and ends up challenging the system. It is fierce, dark and fast. The books below offer similar rebellious heroines and East Asian-inspired worlds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Adult | grimdark military fantasy |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess | Sue Lynn Tan | Adult | Chinese mythology |
| Six Crimson Cranes | Elizabeth Lim | Teen | fairy-tale fantasy |
| A Magic Steeped in Poison | Judy I. Lin | Teen | tea and magic |
| These Violent Delights | Chloe Gong | Teen | gangs in Shanghai |
| Dragon Pearl | Yoon Ha Lee | Ages 9-13 | space fox spirit |
| Wicked Fox | Kat Cho | Teen | gumiho romance |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Teen | survival |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | Teen | power and rebellion |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | assassin heroine |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | pilot and war |
| Legend | Marie Lu | Teen | dystopian chase |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | Teen | fairy-tale science fiction |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Russian-inspired fantasy |
1. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
An orphan wins a place at an elite military school and finds shamanic power. Harsh and gripping.
Best for: grimdark military fantasy.
2. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A girl raised on the moon trains as a warrior. Lyrical and inventive.
Best for: Chinese mythology.
3. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
A princess is cursed and must save her brothers. Lyrical and romantic.
Best for: fairy-tale fantasy.
4. A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
A young woman enters a contest of tea-making magic to save her sister. Charming and atmospheric.
Best for: tea and magic.
5. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Rival gangs and a deadly madness in 1920s Shanghai. A Romeo and Juliet retelling.
Best for: gangs in Shanghai.
6. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
A girl searches for her brother in a space adventure with Korean mythology. Fast and fun.
Best for: space fox spirit.
7. Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
A teenage fox spirit in Seoul meets a boy with secrets. Sweet and dark.
Best for: gumiho romance.
8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. The model for many such tales.
Best for: survival.
9. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, teens are trained to kill. Smart and dark.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
A girl with unexpected powers is thrust into a royal court. Twisty and romantic.
Best for: power and rebellion.
11. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena competes to become the king's champion. Fast and fierce.
Best for: assassin heroine.
12. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet. Fast and funny.
Best for: pilot and war.
13. Legend by Marie Lu
A prodigy soldier and a wanted criminal meet in a divided Los Angeles. Fast and emotional.
Best for: dystopian chase.
14. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic is drawn into a royal plot. Fast and romantic.
Best for: fairy-tale science fiction.
15. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
A mapmaker discovers she can summon light. Atmospheric and romantic.
Best for: Russian-inspired fantasy.
How to Choose
For more of Zhao's series continue with Heavenly Tyrant, the sequel. For epic Chinese-inspired fantasy choose The Poppy War or Daughter of the Moon Goddess. For fairy-tale tone pick Six Crimson Cranes. For gangs and romance read These Violent Delights. For survival and rebellion try The Hunger Games or Scythe. Iron Widow includes violence and strong themes, so older teens and adults will suit it best. Zhao also creates videos about history and mythology, which many fans enjoy alongside the novels. Zhao's world blends Chinese history with mecha science fiction, so readers who enjoy that mix might also like anime and manga, though those are separate formats. Readers who liked the heroine's fury may enjoy The Poppy War, which is darker still. Readers who want something lighter can read Six Crimson Cranes or A Magic Steeped in Poison. Check content notes for violence and abuse.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iron Widow about?
A girl becomes a concubine-pilot to avenge her sister and challenge a patriarchal system of giant mechs.
Who wrote it?
Xiran Jay Zhao.
When was it published?
2021.
Is it based on history?
It reimagines the rise of Empress Wu Zetian in a fantasy-science-fiction world.
Is there a sequel?
Yes, Heavenly Tyrant.
Is it violent?
Yes, with battle scenes and dark themes.
What age is it for?
Older teens and adults.
What should I read next?
Try The Poppy War or Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
Is Iron Widow a romance?
It has a romantic element, including a polyamorous relationship, but the main focus is rebellion.
What is a Chrysalis?
A giant mecha in the book's world, powered by qi from the pilots.
Are there content warnings?
Yes. The book contains violence, abuse and strong themes.
Is Iron Widow a good choice for fans of The Hunger Games?
Yes, it shares the fierce heroine and dystopian tone.