Heavenly Tyrant, Book 2 of Iron Widow, is my most anticipated read after finishing Book 1. Book 2 continues immediately where Book 1 ends. It is a different switch to fighting to "overturn" the government. Now, Zetian is in the position that she craved in all—to make changes in the government—the beginning of revolutionary changes. But is it really how she envisioned taking over and ruling the Huaxian? 

As expected, the book's world-building is impeccable. Each description takes readers on a fantastic journey of Kunlun Mountains to the Heavenly Court (yes, iykyk)! I am a fan of good world-building since that sets the mood of the characters and diving into a more engrossing read. I appreciate the new places introduced in this book. There are returning lands, but the places beyond the real-world realm were a terrific add-on to the storyline. It also intrigues readers at what goes on with the "gods." 

Wu Zetian (Zetian), FMC, undergoes significant character development in this book, making her more relatable to readers. In the most horrific scene in Book 1, she loses her partner, Shimin, and the Vermillion Bird, their Chrysalis - so she now needs a new and powerful partner AND Chrysallis to continue with the revolution. In Heavenly Tyrant, Zetian had to learn quickly about court politics and manipulation as she refocused vengeance on a scale beyond familial duty under a new world order, new allies/foes, and new rules; things never come easy for Zetian. Written in first-person POV, Zetian had to be more cunning and, most importantly, patient in reaching a goal in her male-dominated world. It was one problem after another. Each failure or despair reverberates each bone in my body. Each anger she swallowed, I had to swallow. She had more control over her emotions, especially for Shimin, than I could have mustered being on the political stage. She develops well in the book by learning to adapt to situations and manipulate when she can, garnering her respect in my eyes. The author did her much justice and has surely patterned her to many of the empowered women in history - based on the author's research. No matter what happens, I am still so proud of Zetian (and the author), who can get a reader like me involved and invested in this book. 

Qin Zheng (Zheng), MMC, is the pilot of the Yellow Dragon and has been freed by Zetian to help with her cause. He had to catch up with being "awoken" into a time and place beyond what he expected and hoped for. All these past works seem to have not come any closer to his "ideal world." So, his conviction lies heavier on a particular side that can seem extreme, but when explained to the masses, it works as idyllic as Zetian wanted in the first place. He is the morally grey character that I love, and compared to Shimin (in Book 1), he is the strongest-willed pilot-partner Zetian will ever encounter. He has strong ideology beliefs that will make heads turn with the legislative changes that come into the regime he sees in Huaxia in the future.

There were many returning interesting secondary characters, like Sage, who was thought to have not survived, a partner who revealed more about his past, who would later manipulate the power struggle between familial claims, etc. These characters created more complex side storylines between Zetian and Zheng that will create further complexity.

Regarding the underlying message, the author imparted many nuances to governmental systems. Her points in the book made me think about the world (good and bad), but they are a good jumping point to start asking more from the government. At some points, there are controversial themes of patriotism, human rights, and equality, but the important thing is that these points make readers reflect and consider possibilities. I will admit that I felt unsettled by some of the "hard choices" made, but they are all part of what the author wants to direct readers to. The ending tied all those choices well.

In summary, Heavenly Tyrant is a non-stop, suspenseful read that will keep you "on the edge" of your seat. The author's skillful storytelling and the twists and turns made it a hard book to put down! The story climaxes exponentially by the cliffhanger ending, not only because of the gore, violence, and tension but also because of what the novel says about humanity and the politics that rule it. The ending gave me chills that will last till the next book. 

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I am grateful to Colored Pages Book Tours, Tundra Books, and Penguin Random House of Canada for my gifted copy. I voluntarily shared my honest review and emphasized that a positive review was unnecessary.