Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

Singer wrote that 'books like Iron Widow by Canadian author Xiran Jay Zhao are already gaining popularity online, even before the book's release date in late September'.

Jessica Singer, for CBC News in August 2021, highlighted the impact of BookTok on sales of young adult fiction. Zhao credits their presence on the Internet as a self-described 'Chinese history memer' for the success of Iron Widow, which was initially expected to only appeal to a niche audience. In September 2020, Zhao went viral, first on a Twitter thread followed by their first YouTube video, for their criticisms of Disney's live-action Mulan remake and its cultural inaccuracies. The second installment in the series, Iron Widow 2: Heavenly Tyrant, is scheduled for release in April 2024. 1 in the Young Adult Hardcover category of the New York Times Best Seller list.

The first installment in the series, Iron Widow, was published in September 2021 and reached No. Zhao described the series as a 'monstrous amalgamation of my love for anime and my love for Chinese harem dramas'. Rock the Boat, the children's imprint of Oneworld Publications, acquired the UK rights in May 2021. In March 2020, Zhao signed a two-book deal with Penguin Teen Canada for a young adult (YA) mecha reimagining of the rise of the Chinese Empress Wu. They worked at a co-op before deciding an office job was not for them. They majored in health sciences with a focus on biochemical disease research at Simon Fraser University, graduating in 2020. They would imagine stories growing up, but did not put any on paper until they were encouraged to at an anime convention when they were 15. They are of Hui heritage on their father's side. Zhao immigrated to British Columbia from a small town in China in grade five. 1 New York Times Best Seller and won the 2021 BSFA Award for Best Book for Younger Readers. Their debut novel, Iron Widow, became a No. Xiran Jay Zhao is a Canadian author, Internet personality, and cosplayer. Iron Widow, Heavenly Tyrant, Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao