Books like 'Iron Widow'
Readers who enjoyed Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy romance action / adventure high fantasy military, war & conflict dystopia lgbtq historical-fiction retellings
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The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 54 ratingsThe final chapter in the Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.Daevabad has fallen.After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people... -
![The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden]()
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsFollowing their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen. Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame... -
![The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty]()
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 58 ratingsReturn to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there... -
![A Hero's Tale by Catherine M. Wilson]()
A Hero's Tale by Catherine M. Wilson
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIn Book II, Tamras moved from her home into the lands beyond its border. In Book three, the stage widens further: she deals with the struggles of whole peoples. Caught up in intrigues that would once have been far above her, the heroine risks everything unless she can not only learn to swim in treacherous waters, but to master them. The heroine 's inner journey continues to match her outer one... -
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![How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy: Miracle 6 by A.J. Sherwood]()
How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy: Miracle 6 by A.J. Sherwood
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhat’s Devan to do when Serenity claims him as her lover? Run.What’s Tan to do when Serenity claims Devan as her lover? Start a revolution.All’s fair in love and war... -
![The Rebel's Vision by Kristen Banet]()
The Rebel's Vision by Kristen Banet
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsOne declaration was all it took. The Andinna Rebellion has begun. Knowing that the fight will be hard, Mave has taken back the title of Champion. King’s Champion. She’s resolved to stand tall beside King Alchan Andini and fight for him, and to fight for her people.But it’s off to a troubling start... -
![The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas]()
The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsThe Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers female-mc historical-fiction magic paranormal war action-adventure -
![The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless]()
The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sequel to the critically acclaimed The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, The Words of Kings and Prophets is the powerful new historical fantasy novel by Shauna Lawless.Ireland, 1000 AD. Gormflaith is unhappily married to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, and although a queen she struggles with her limited position... -
![An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir]()
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 79 ratings▶ Alternative Cover Edition #1 Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother... -
![Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton]()
Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsWhen gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice... -
![Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen]()
Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsRebels, royals, and monsters wage war over the Mytican throne in the shocking fourth book of the Falling Kingdoms series, from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes... -
![Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton]()
Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsRebel by chance. Traitor by choice.Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne... -
![Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta]()
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsBlood sings to blood, Froi . . . Those born last will make the first . . . For Charyn will be barren no more. Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes...Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper... -
![The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon]()
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 77 ratingsA world divided.A queendom without an heir.An ancient enemy awakens.The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.Ead Duryan is an outsider at court... -
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![The Blight of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler]()
The Blight of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn The Blight of Muirwood, the second book in the Muirwood Trilogy, Lia finds herself filled with inner turmoil after the great battle of Winterrowd that led to the death of the wicked king and her closest ally...Categorized as:
dark female-mc historical-fiction magic paranormal war 21st-century action-adventure -
![The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso]()
The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe final volume of the Gemmell Morningstar Award-shortlisted Swords and Fire fantasy trilogy, in which political scion Amalia and her bound fire warlock Zaira must save the Empire from a ruthless, magical enemy. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce, The Queen of the Tearling, and Uprooted... -
![The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon]()
The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling author comes a breathtaking fantasy of a cursed kingdom, warring clans, and unexpected salvation.Bayr of Saylok, bastard son of a powerful and jealous chieftain, is haunted by the curse once leveled by his dying mother. Bartered, abandoned, and rarely loved, she plagued the land with her words: From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok... -
![The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson]()
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsHeld captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together.Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw... -
![The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson]()
The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsShe does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.Elisa is a hero. She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from both foreign realms and within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled...Categorized as:
dystopia female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction magic paranormal war action-adventure -
![Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen]()
Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsIn GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces... -
![Sacrifice by K.M. Shea]()
Sacrifice by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsSacrifice: the thrilling conclusion to the Snow Queen series! Rakel, once feared and exiled for possessing magic, is now hailed a hero. Leading resistance forces against the Chosen—an army of magic users that invaded her homeland—she is granted everything she has longed for: acceptance, a home, and the love of her friends. But the battle for her country has just begun... -
![Der letzte Kampf by Rachel E. Carter]()
Der letzte Kampf by Rachel E. Carter
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsHe’s the Black Mage and she’s the traitor to the Crown.Ryiah’s world was shattered the night she discovered King Blayne’s nefarious plans. Now, she has to betray the one she loves most in order to save the realm from war... -
![The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson]()
The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 52 ratingsLia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers female-mc historical-fiction magic paranormal war action-adventure -
![Princess of Dorsa by Eliza Andrews]()
Princess of Dorsa by Eliza Andrews
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe fate of an empire lies in the hands of one untested princess. Princess Natasia is the eldest child of the Emperor Andreth, ruler of the Four Realms. If she were a boy, she’d be the unquestioned heir to the throne. But as a girl, her main duty in life is to marry someone her father can shape into his successor. Everything changes when an unknown would-be assassin nearly takes Tasia’s life... -
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![Wayfarer's Keep by T.A. White]()
Wayfarer's Keep by T.A. White
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsBranded a traitor by her people, Shea and her warlord—the fiercely dangerous Fallon—travel to the Pathfinders’ seat of power at her father’s request, hoping to form an alliance despite the distrust between them. It doesn’t take long before Shea and Fallon realize something is dangerously wrong in the place she once called home... -
![Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen]()
Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA siege is laid against the last resistance to the Senate’s rule. As the battle rages, a commander, a soldier, and a rebel will decide how far they are willing to go for victory.THE COMMANDERMarcus is forced to choose between destroying the rebel forces and liberating his legion. He must face the true cost of being a leader. And an oppressor...Categorized as:
dark enemies-to-lovers historical-fiction myths paranormal war action-adventure angst -
![By Dark Deeds by Miranda Honfleur]()
By Dark Deeds by Miranda Honfleur
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer hands shackled. An assassin hunting the man she loves. Will she save him in time?Elementalist Rielle needs to get to the man she loves before the assassin pursuing him finds her mark. There's only one problem: she's chained aboard a ship bound for a foreign land.And her new life is harsh, with her movements watched, food scarce, and safety even scarcer... -
![Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse]()
Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsExiled and on the run, Selene Ravenwood is in search of the real reason her family was given the gift of dreamwalking but first she must adapt to her marriage with the man she was originally assigned to kill. With war impending and a dark being after her gift, she finds herself at a crossroads but time is running out and soon her choice will be made for her...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers female-mc magic paranormal war action-adventure assassins -
![Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes]()
Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe ruthless Empress Amara of Kraeshia has taken the Mytican throne, and now uncertainty looms over the three kingdoms. Since Lucia unleashed the fire Kindred, wreaking havoc throughout the land, Myticans have been looking for someone—anyone—they can trust. They believe in Amara, not knowing her grand promises are built on lies... -
![Crier's War by Nina Varela]()
Crier's War by Nina Varela
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsImpossible love between two girls —one human, one Made. A love that could birth a revolution.After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will... -
![Royal Decoy (1) by Heather Frost]()
Royal Decoy (1) by Heather Frost
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive. A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.A PRISONER used to keep him compliant. A WORLD on the brink of war. In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince...Categorized as:
dystopia female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction myths war abuse action-adventure -
![A Kingdom of Nomads by S.B. Nova]()
A Kingdom of Nomads by S.B. Nova
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the darkness grows, so must the light…Branded as enemies of the fae kingdom, Serena and her friends are on the run from the witch queen, Morgan. They reach sanctuary, only to discover shocking secrets that separate them.Serena’s newfound destiny takes her to a land plagued by endless war. To survive there, she is forced to bloody her sword, escape an evil king, and confront a god... -
![Eidolon by Grace Draven]()
Eidolon by Grace Draven
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsIn a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis has unleashed a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness and on the brink of war. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to secure his throne...Categorized as:
dark enemies-to-lovers female-mc friends-to-lovers magic paranormal war action-adventure -
![Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers]()
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 46 ratingsI lean forward, pushing my body out past the battlements. The wind plucks at my cloak, buffets against me, as if it would carry me off in flight, just like the birds or the knight's soul. Let go, it cries, I will take you far, far away. I want to laugh at the exhilarating feeling, I will catch you, it whistles seductively.The convent has returned Sybella to a life that nearly drove her mad... -
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![Sol & Lune: Book Two by Kathryn Moon]()
Sol & Lune: Book Two by Kathryn Moon
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA woman in the shadow of the new moon…Lumen Fenn was torn down by the men who took possession of her home and has sequestered herself in the Lunar Convent, searching for peace. But being left an empty vessel of a woman makes room to be filled by new forces. Called on by her Goddess, Lumen must return to the land and the men she fled... -
![Pool of Dreams by Sam Burns, W.M. Fawkes]()
Pool of Dreams by Sam Burns, W.M. Fawkes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA fae who betrayed his prince for a doomed passion.Syren sacrificed the man he loved to spare humanity from the wrath of the fae. For three hundred years, he’s been stuck on the mortal plane, floating alone in his pool while his powers slipped away... -
![The Rook by Frost Kay]()
The Rook by Frost Kay
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Dark Court is no place for a lady.After tricking the king, Tempest has finally won her prize - a place on the king's council - but it comes with a steep price. The monarch wishes for her to once again infiltrate the Jester's Dark Court and crush the remaining rebellion.Trapped between her kingdom and her honor, she throws herself into the task, determined to discover her true enemies... -
![The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty]()
The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAfter proving her worth in book one as a deft spy and strategic matchmaker, Sage Fowler is now comfortably positioned in high society as the royal tutor. When she’s called upon to teach his majesty’s soldiers how to read and write, she jumps at the chance to serve her kingdom of Demora—and to be reunited with her fiancé, Captain Alex Quinn. During a skirmish, Sage and Alex are separated...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers historical-fiction magic paranormal war action-adventure audiobook -
![Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova]()
Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsLong live Solaris. One bloodthirsty ruler has been overthrown by another, casting the shadow of death over the Solaris Empire. Vhalla Yarl stands upon the stage of fate, prepared to do battle one final time. Fragile alliances will be tested and new bonds will be formed as the world is reshaped... -
![Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier]()
Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsChild of the Prophecy is the thrilling conclusion to Juliet Marillier's award-winning Sevenwaters Trilogy.Magic is fading... and the ways of Man are driving the Old Ones to the West, beyond the ken of humankind. The ancient groves are being destroyed, and if nothing is done, Ireland will lose its essential mystic core... -
![Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman]()
Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 41 ratingsEon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army... -
![Earth's End by Elise Kova]()
Earth's End by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsA woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers female-mc friends-to-lovers magic paranormal war action-adventure -
![The Rebels of Gold by Elise Kova]()
The Rebels of Gold by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsA new rebellion rises from the still-smoldering remnants of the five guilds of Loom to stand against Dragon tyranny. Meanwhile, on Nova, those same Dragons fight amongst themselves, as age-old power struggles shift the political landscape in fateful and unexpected ways... -
![The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley]()
The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsLegend states that there exists a mighty sword that makes its possessor invincible to his enemies. But there is a curse on anyone who lifts the sword for conquest. King Kareed of Archeld goes after this sword anyway, winning it from the King of Bellandra. When he returns home from battle, he brings his daughter, Princess Torina, two special gifts...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers female-mc historical-fiction magic paranormal war action-adventure book -
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![Water's Wrath by Elise Kova]()
Water's Wrath by Elise Kova
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsLibrarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom. But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla's fate, finally come to light... -
![Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto]()
Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsI had a sister, once… In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart. I promised her the throne would not come between us. Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old... -
![Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen]()
Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsThe road to power... is paved with blood and magic.Cleo is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people.Magnus stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia...Categorized as:
dystopia enemies-to-lovers historical-fiction magic myths paranormal war action-adventure -
![Uprooted by Naomi Novik]()
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 83 ratings“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon... -
![Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy]()
Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAround the shifting borders of the Twelve Kingdoms, trade and conflict, danger and adventure put every traveler on guard . . . but some have everything to lose. ESCAPEDOnce she was known as Jenna, Imperial Princess of Dasnaria, schooled in graceful dance and comely submission. Until the man her parents married her off to almost killed her with his brutality... -
![In Despair by Megan Derr]()
In Despair by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPrince Telmé Guldbrandsen has been groomed since childhood to become a Prince of the Blood and Commander of the Legion. He will be the youngest person to ever take the Blooding—if he can behave long enough to prove he can be trusted with the responsibility...
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