114 followers
168 books added

Xiran Jay Zhao

Xiran Jay Zhao is a first generation immigrant to Canada from small town China (which, for China, means a town of 4 million people). A recent graduate from Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University, they wrote sci-fi and fantasy books while they probably should’ve been studying more biochemical pathways.

They are in a cow suit because they made a promise to their friends 7 years ago that they would take their author photo in it if they actually got published, and they are not going back on that promise.

You can find them on Twitter for daily shit posts, Instagram for cosplays and very Extra outfits, and YouTube for videos about Chinese history and culture.

Awards: Hugo (2024), BSFA (2021) see all

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Children's Fiction

Series

Iron Widow
1. Iron Widow (2021)
2. Heavenly Tyrant (2024)

Zachary Ying
1. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (2022)

Awards

	2024 Astounding Award for Best New Writer : Iron Widow
	2021 BSFA Award for Best Fiction for Young Readers : Iron Widow

Award nominations

	2022 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book (nominee) : Iron Widow
	2022 Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel (nominee) : Iron Widow
	2022 Locus Award for Best First Novel (nominee) : Iron Widow
	2022 Dragon Award for Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel (nominee) : Iron Widow
	2022 BSFA Award for Best Fiction for Young Readers (nominee) : Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
	2022 Astounding Award for Best New Writer (nominee) : Iron Widow
	2021 Andre Norton Award (nominee) : Iron Widow

Xiran Jay Zhao recommends

Paris Celestial (2025)
(Lady Jing, book 2)
A Y Chao
"Charmingly irreverent."

The Nightblood Prince (2025)
Molly X Chang
"Beautifully written and brimming with defiance."

The Last Dragon of the East (2024)
Katrina Kwan
"Rich with Chinese mythology, The Last Dragon of the East spins a heart-wrenching tale of love that transcends lifetimes."

Fledgling (2024)
(Keeper's Records of Revolution, book 1)
S K Ali
"A dystopian story rooted in colonial realities, Fledgling is a fierce and ever-relevant ode to resistance and self-determination against the hypocrisy of those who burn the world down for their own benefit and then deem themselves superior to those who survive among the ashes."

Of Jade and Dragons (2024)
(Fall of the Dragon, book 1)
Amber Chen
"A richly detailed and wildly imaginative book with some of the coolest retro-future tech envisioned on-page and an engineer heroine with the smarts to wield it! The steampunk C-drama of my dreams."

Heavenbreaker (2024)
Sara Wolf
"A genre-bending, viscerally written thrill ride with a feral heroine who will stop at nothing."

The Murder of Mr. Ma (2024)
(Judge Dee and Lao She Mysteries, book 1)
John Shen Yen Nee and S J Rozan
"The Murder of Mr. Ma is a refreshingly unique mystery featuring a Chinese detective and his somewhat unwitting partner in 1920s London, combining classic elements from both British and Chinese detective stories in a thrilling romp that doesn't shy away from the realities of life under colonial dynamics. Lao She and Dee Ren Jie are a hilarious and compelling duo to follow!"

Skater Boy (2024)
Anthony Nerada
"A poignant unraveling of the binds spun by toxic masculinity. Skater Boy kept me rooting for the disaster boy to find his way."

Conditions of a Heart (2024)
Bethany Mangle
"This book kept me laughing with its endless wry wit and emotionally captivated with its introspection of society's attitudes toward health and disability, especially in a post COVIDian era when we have seen the accommodations that are possible. I read it in a single day."

Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies (2023)
(Shad Hadid, book 2)
George Jreije
"Shad Hadid tugged at my heartstrings, made me laugh, and dazzled me."

The Hurricane Wars (2023)
(Hurricane Wars, book 1)
Thea Guanzon
"A masterpiece of worldbuilding. Thea Guanzon forges a rich, fantastical realm with poignant and immersive prose and a spectacularly unique magic system. All hail the World Mother of Lir."

Tessa Miyata Is No Hero (2023)
(Tessa Miyata)
Julie Abe
"At once heartrending and heartwarming, this thrilling, magical tale of finding one's inner strength will show that Tessa Miyata is more than a hero - she is a legend!"

Her Radiant Curse (2023)
Elizabeth Lim
"Elizabeth Lim's worlds and words are always magical."

The Fraud Squad (2023)
Kyla Zhao
"Zhao (not my cousin) showcases both glamor and grit in this thrill ride through Singapore's high society, balancing dazzling luxury with critiques of classism and inherited privilege!"

City of Nightmares (2023)
(City of Nightmares, book 1)
Rebecca Schaeffer
"Rebecca Schaeffer delivers another dose of morally ambiguous, delightful chaos--this time with a refreshing examination of how we view vampires."

Strike the Zither (2022)
(Kingdom of Three, book 1)
Joan He
"Strike the Zither reimagines the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms in a way never seen before, with intense twists and turns that pay homage to its inspiration while being refreshingly different. A brilliant exploration of destiny and identity!"

Monsters Born and Made (2022)
Tanvi Berwah
"An exhilarating race of willpower and defiance, set on an utterly unique world filled with glorious monsters."

Foul Lady Fortune (2022)
(Foul Lady Fortune, book 1)
Chloe Gong
"Amazing, show-stopping, spectacular."

Nura and the Immortal Palace (2022)
M T Khan
"With gorgeous, atmospheric writing, M.T. Khan tells a bold tale that challenges greed and inequality as the tough and clever Nura fights the odds from the mica mines of rural Pakistan to a realm of jinn and magic."

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (2022)
Sylvia Liu
"Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation is a refreshing, imaginative take on a cyberpunk future, filled with wickedly cool technology and unraveling intrigue!"

The Dream Runners (2022)
Shveta Thakrar
"Shveta Thakrar spirits you away to a richly imagined dream of a fantasy!"

Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit (2022)
(Theo Tan, book 1)
Jesse Q Sutanto
"Heart-felt and heart-pounding, this book will have you cheering Theo on as he sets out to find the magic of his heritage! (Both figurative and literal!)"

A Magic Steeped in Poison (2022)
(Book of Tea, book 1)
Judy I Lin
"A breathtaking tale with a stunning magic system rooted deep in Chinese mythology and tea-making traditions. Lin's originality truly blew my mind. Love and magic overflows past the brim in this work of beauty."

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