Awards

• Nominated for Aurora Award - Best YA Novel 2025
• Nominated for GoodReads Choice Award 2025
• Nominated for Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book 2025
• Winner of Aurora Award - Best YA Novel 2025

Overview

Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow. Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. After suffering devastating loss and making drastic decisions, Zetian finds herself on the seat of power in Huaxia, but she has also learned that her world is not as it seems. Revelations about an enemy who dangles one of her loved ones as a hostage force Zetian to share power with a dangerous man she cannot simply depose. Despite their mutual dislike and distrust, the two must work together to take down their common enemy and stoke a revolution against the systems of exploitation that plague their world. However, power is not so easy to wield once seized, and a revolution is not so easy to control once unleashed. As Huaxia’s former elites strike back and the common people’s fervor for justice turns bloody and paranoid, can Zetian remain a fair and just ruler? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence and succumb to her darker instincts in her quest for vengeance and liberation?

Full Product Details

9780735269989

Table of Contents

Reviews

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Indie #1 Bestseller A CBC Books Bestseller USA Today Bestseller A 2025 Indigo Best of the Year (So Far) One of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Spring 2025 An Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Teen and Young Adult Books of December PRAISE FOR Heavenly Tyrant: ""[S]trong worldbuilding lays a foundation for a story that explores social issues, contains a steamy romance, and delves into Zetian’s internal battles . . . A roller coaster of entertainment, emotions, and political machination."" —Kirkus Reviews ""Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy."" —School Library Journal ""Full of action and intrigue . . . Whatever happens, Zetian remains in the center of it all. She is relentless, and she is sometimes a mess. But she is determined to bring down the gods—and anyone else—who control her and her country by any means necessary."" —Reactor Magazine

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Indie #1 Bestseller A CBC Books Bestseller USA Today Bestseller ""[S]trong worldbuilding lays a foundation for a story that explores social issues, contains a steamy romance, and delves into Zetian’s internal battles . . . A roller coaster of entertainment, emotions, and political machination."" —Kirkus Reviews ""Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy."" —School Library Journal ""Full of action and intrigue . . . Whatever happens, Zetian remains in the center of it all. She is relentless, and she is sometimes a mess. But she is determined to bring down the gods—and anyone else—who control her and her country by any means necessary."" —Reactor Magazine

Author Information

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.

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