Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for letting me read an e-ARC of Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao! This book (at long last) released on December 24, 2024. If the date passed you by, you can find it in stores and at your local library NOW! If you haven’t read the first book, grab that one while you’re at it - you’ll want to pick this one up immediately after finishing it.

This sequel (and officially canon NOT final book) was everything I didn’t expect and exactly what I wanted it to be at the same time! The author wasn’t kidding when they said this book isn’t a carbon copy of the first book, Iron Widow. While we explore new depths of feminine rage and the complexities of societal reconstruction, the plot is slower to develop and leaves readers wanting more with every chapter consumed. We bear witness as our main character, Zetian, reckons with the choices she’s made. Waking the powerful Qin Zheng (from another century entirely) causes ripples that even she can’t begin to fathom. He’s an absolute pain in the ass, but he’s also interested in making waves in politics and bettering the lives of the general public. She will do everything to break down barriers for women in Huaxia, but at what cost?