Stephen’s Reviews > Iron Widow > Status Update

Oh, the character development you can do when you relax and let the characters interact organically.
Zhao is nearly there, but her hand is felt in writing trans-affirmations than is already obvious.
Indeed, Zetian explicated that she doesn't hate being female, but the system that discards girls and oppresses women. So it's a touch out of character for her to monologue about discarding male and female.

The author is so funny: Zhao will have the Zetian grow or experience change, but then step out of the character that she - Zetian - has developed. As if Zhao doesn't yet know

It's become an exercise in "what will Zhao do next? Will they take the characters down the typical path, revert to preaching against gender roles, or do something interesting?"

It's been a mixed bag as we finish part 2... Here's to the finale.

Finally a moment of self-awareness (as to how vindictive and paranoid she has been) from our (still justifiably) angry protagonist, ironically coming after a man (who's her only friend in the world) saves her.
Curious play by the author. Given the re-injection of the friend into the plot, I'm even more curious to see where Zhao takes Zetian next. Will it be another, typical YA love triangle: Zetian, Li Shimin, Yizhi?