BookBingeIron Widow Books in Order
The short answer
Xiran Jay Zhao · 2 books
- How many books?
- There are 2 books in the Iron Widow series, published 2021–2024.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Heavenly Tyrant (2024).
- Where to start
- Start with Iron Widow (2021).
About 920 pages — roughly 15 hours of reading
A vengeful young woman claims the giant mecha throne meant to consume her, upending a rigid empire in a gender-flipped reimagining of China's only female emperor.
Here is the complete Iron Widow reading order — all 2 books by Xiran Jay Zhao, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Iron WidowA vengeful teenage pilot enlists in a brutal mecha program to avenge her sister, pairing with the boy blamed for killing his past co-pilots.2021400 pages
- Heavenly TyrantNewly risen to unprecedented power, Zetian must navigate deadly political intrigue and rebellion while reckoning with the cost of her ambitions.2024525 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Iron Widow books are there?
There are 2 books in the Iron Widow series by Xiran Jay Zhao, from Iron Widow (2021) to Heavenly Tyrant (2024). Together they run to about 920 pages.
Is the Iron Widow series finished?
Yes. Xiran Jay Zhao completed the series with Heavenly Tyrant in 2024; all 2 books are out now.
What is the first Iron Widow book?
Iron Widow (2021) is book one, at 400 pages. A vengeful teenage pilot enlists in a brutal mecha program to avenge her sister, pairing with the boy blamed for killing his past co-pilots.
Should I read the Iron Widow series in publication order?
Yes. For the Iron Widow series, reading order and publication order are the same — Iron Widow (2021) through Heavenly Tyrant (2024).
How long does it take to read all Iron Widow books?
About 920 pages across 2 books — roughly 15 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Heavenly Tyrant (525 pages); the shortest is Iron Widow (400 pages).