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Zetian, now ruler of Chang’an, must balance dangerous politics with her quest for revenge in the sequel to the #1 Having reclaimed her homeland from the Hunduns and learned the true nature of the gods, Iron Widow Zetian returns to Chang''an with Emperor-General Qin Zheng to rule together and attempt to deconstruct the corrupt and misogynist system that plagues the country. However, she must not only contend with political unrest and continued Hundun attacks but also with the gods themselves, who hold Li Shimin''s life in their hands and seek to control Zetian as their puppet. Dangerous forces seek to undermine Zetian at every turn. Can she enact positive changes as a fair and just ruler, and change the system from within? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence, and succumb to her darker instincts, becoming almost as corrupt as Chang''an''s previous rulers, in her quest for vengeance? Find out in this highly-anticipated sequel to
About the author
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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Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
Indie #1 Bestseller
A CBC Books Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Nominated for the 2025 GoodReads Choice Awards
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
