Heavenly Tyrant

THE WAIT IS OVER. ZETIAN IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

'Pulse-pounding, thought-provoking, ambitious and outrageous, this huge YA sci-fi tale amply delivers on the promise of the first volume.' Guardian, best new children's and teens books

She is hated by both men and gods, and heaven and earth cannot allow her to exist.

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 fervour 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?

THE EPIC SEQUEL TO IRON WIDOW.

Praise for the series:

'This is the historical-inspired, futuristic sci-fi mash-up of my wildest dreams.' Chloe Gong

'Raging against the patriarchy in spectacular style.' Observer, best books of the year

'Think The Handmaid's Tale meets Pacific Rim and buckle up.' Shelley Parker-Chan

A New York Times bestseller, December 28, 2024

Review:

Praise for Iron Widow:

'This is the historical-inspired, futuristic sci-fi mash-up of my wildest dreams.' Chloe Gong

'Raging against the patriarchy in spectacular style.' Observer, best books of the year

'Think The Handmaid's Tale meets Pacific Rim and buckle up.' Shelley Parker-Chan

'The captivating sequel to the acclaimed fantasy Iron Widow ushers in a new chapter in Zetian's tumultuous life.' Cosmopolitan, The best new books out in December

'Pulse-pounding, thought-provoking, ambitious and outrageous, this huge YA sci-fi tale amply delivers on the promise of the first volume.' Guardian, best new children's and teens books

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.