I was so appreciative of Rong Fu’s narration to help me understand the pronunciation, and I really felt Zetian’s deep rage and frustration through her performance. There are two boys who will do anything for her, but don’t worry, it’s not a love triangle it’sĮven better. She defies the system one increasingly impossible step at a time, from becoming one of the most powerful Chrysalis (aka giant robot) pilots in the army-let alone the most powerful female pilot-to basically crushing all her enemies. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil, which is exactly what made Zetian’s story so satisfying.

Zetian absolutely refuses to bow down to what is expected of her, which, in this Chinese-inspired fantasy world, is to sacrifice her life so her family will have enough money to afford a bride price for her brother. If I were ever in a fight, I’d want Zetian to be on my side. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way - and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected - she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. 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. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. 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. Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA listeners. An instant number one New York Times best seller!

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