Heavenly Tyrant Audiobook By Xiran Jay Zhao cover art

Heavenly Tyrant

Iron Widow, Book 2

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Heavenly Tyrant

By: Xiran Jay Zhao
Narrated by: Rong Fu
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About this listen

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
CBC bestseller
USA Today bestseller

Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1
New York Times bestseller Iron Widow.

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA listeners.

After suffering devastating loss and making drastic decisions, Zetian finds herself on the seat of power in Huaxia, but she has also learned that her world is not as it seems. Revelations about an enemy who dangles one of her loved ones as a hostage force Zetian to share power with a dangerous man she cannot simply depose. Despite their mutual dislike and distrust, the two must work together to take down their common enemy and stoke a revolution against the systems of exploitation that plague their world.

However, power is not so easy to wield once seized, and a revolution is not so easy to control once unleashed. As Huaxia’s former elites strike back and the common people’s fervor for justice turns bloody and paranoid, can Zetian remain a fair and just ruler? Or will she be forced to rely on fear and violence and succumb to her darker instincts in her quest for vengeance and liberation?

©2023 Xiran Jay Zhao (P)2023 Tundra Books
Literature & Fiction Multicultural Science Fiction

Critic reviews

"Returning fans will find many things to love in this cathartic power fantasy." School Library Journal

What listeners say about Heavenly Tyrant

Highly rated for:

Engaging Story Complex Characters Unpredictable Twists Immersive World-building Excellent Pacing
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Masterpiece of Modern Storytelling

This series has become my new favorite immediately. The author crafted a masterful story that is thrilling and always left me surprised by each turn. The tension between characters and the story arcs are satisfying and left me at the edge of my seat excited to learn what’s next. Beautiful. The book is political in nature, so it is for a specific audience and that audience is me to a tee. It tackles issues of ruling elites vs common people, social power, economic disparity and exploitation, and intersectionality. I am so so so excited for the next book.

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Incredible

Excellent, no notes.
Slay queen.
The is an excellent continuation of the story and I can’t wait for the next book!

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loved it and can't wait for more

fantastic narrator, and the story kept me engaged all the way through. I eagerly await the next in the series

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This was too good

I'm so happy to know there will be atleast one more book and maybe screen adaptation.
This series are that good

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The hype deserved and the anger that follows

This was a long wait that was definitely worth it with the twists catching me off guard, the decisions the characters make causing laughter and annoyance, the length of this second entry making me weary then angering me for feeling too short. All the negatives feeling like positives at the end adds up to me loving listening to this. I will be lying in anguish waiting for the next book but making up for it with more and more listenings.

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Excellent story, and peformance

The author did a great job of living up to the previous book. I find myself on the edge of my seat while listening to it. Nearly binged it in one night, does not disappoint.

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Basically perfect

If you ever dream of destroying the system and seen the world and reality crumble around you, this is the series for you, great characters, great moments, great conflicts, great relationships

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A perfect sequel

I wasn't sure anything could live up to Iron Widow, but Xiran has outdone herself again. A perfect continuation of its predecessor with fun new characters and development from the ones we know. Why is the toxicity so sexy?? Make it stop 😆 Burn it with fire chi 😏

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10/10

this is just great, I agree that it being placed in YA does it a disservice, yes the central character is young, but I could see this series following her into her thirties like other grand time spanning fantasy. if for some reason that aspect is giving you pause, absolutely go for it.

its a fresh story, and I simply cannot wait for the film adaptations, though I do worry if they will be able to keep a lot of what I find so refreshing about it.

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Fantastic story

I was truly surprised at the depth and scope of this story. I read a lot of sci fi and few reach this level of believable characters, realistic view into inner workings of an abusive relationship and world building. Truly Xiran Jay Zhao has created an incredible world and can’t wait for the next book.

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