Really enjoyed this story, with a mix of historical figures in a fantasy setting, war themes, gray and dark morality, and a lot of room in the story for a valuable exploration of disability and queerness in multiple relationships, without diverging from the plot.

Discussed this in depth here: https://youtu.be/S0NHXLEMrmg

Genre: Historical, LGBT, Asian Literature
Age range: 17+

Overall: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Writing and Setting: 5/5


Content warning: *child abuse, violence, graphic scenes, neglect, poverty

The gist of my review:

This book has a very interest concept and literally THOUSANDS of incredible reviews… but I didn’t like it...

Initially I was drawn in with the ‘Mulan meets The Song of Achilles’ and the ‘bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty’. I understand where the Mulan references tie back to, however, I really can’t liken this book to SOA in the slightest. I more see this book resembling ‘Poppy Wars’.

I will give props to the LGBT representation, but the reason why I didn’t like the book was because I found it to be more of a history book, rather than this epic fantasy. I attempted this book multiple times, and eventually I forced myself to finish this book.

Characters: 3/5

The characters were all interesting in their own ways. By far, I loved Ouyang the most. This character was so fascinating from the get-go, but Zhu…! Zhu’s story started off so well. I felt empathetic for her humble and simple beginning and rooted for her for seizing the opportunity she took, but after she left the monastery, I was put off my how dull she became.

Plot: 2/5

To me there didn’t really seem like there was much of a plot. Throughout the course of my reading experience, I couldn’t really tell what the course of the novel was going to be and when I got to parts where the sequence of events became clearer, I just wasn’t amazed.

Writing and Setting: 5/5

In my opinion, the writing in this novel is what prevented me from DNF’ing. The descriptive writing was lyrical and artistically written. All the scenes and characters were described in such a visual fashion that I became absolutely addicted to.

In terms of POV, the story jumps around to different characters a lot. Although I normally like this about epic fantasy novels, I just don’t think it was done particularly well in this book. As I mentioned before, not all the characters that engaging and only some of them weren’t really distinct.

Thank you to Shelley Parker- Chan and the team at Tom Doherty Associates for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As I started reading this book I tried to read faster and faster to figure out where the story was going and how the characters were going to survive to the end. And the answer is that some of them don't! From the very beginning I enjoyed the way this book played with gender and expectations. The plot point regarding the prophesy and this idea that the character will only be successful if they are fully taking on their brother's mantle and name. Over time as the become more comfortable with themselves I love the inner work of them questioning and exploring what their gender is and what it can be. This book raises questions of destiny versus choice and how both can work for you. I was intrigued by the role that revenge and retribution plays in this book, even in the face of love.

She Who Became the Sun was a fantastic start to Parker-Chan's works and it did not disappoint. The world-building and historical events were well-researched and written. I had a great time going on an adventure alongside Zhu.
The pacing did move a bit slow, however, the likable and flawed characters made up for it. Every single character was fleshed out and I connected with their struggles.
Overall, this was an amazing start to the series and I am looking forward to reading more!

She who Became the Sun is a unique and timely reimagining of Chinese history through a gloriously queer lens. And I love it. While it has been described as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles, I really don't think that the comparison does it justice. After being told her whole life that she is worthless, destined for nothing, and has no future, a young girl decides that she will survive no matter what. To not only survive, but to shine, and to do so she has to steal her deceased brothers name, Zhu Chongba, and his fate. As she becomes he, Zhu enters a monastery and becomes a monk. From Monastery to warrior, and from warrior....well, Zhu is going to make it all the way to the top. From poverty and starvation, Zhu's journey will end up with the crowning of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu herself.

The settings are lush, the battles are epic, and the political scheming is Machiavellian (even though ol' Niccolo won't be born for another few centuries). The friendships are powerful, and the romances are all the delicious queerness that one could want. Zhu, who was assigned female at birth lives as a man, and finds her beloved in a lovely court maiden. Alongside Zhu's story is that of Ouyang, warrior, general, and eunuch. Ouyang's gender is fluid, although having been assigned male at birth, and his strength of arms is equalled by the strength of his longing for his totally hot Prince.

Thank you Shelley Parker-Chan for this epic, excellent game changing historical re-imagining. I'm very proud to claim you as a shining star of Australian fiction.

I have been trying, literally for months, to get through this book. I find the premise to be interesting and engaging, however the novel itself is quite flowery and drags pacing wise in a way that I don't find engaging or enjoyable. At this point, the book has been archived, I have picked this up and put it back down more times than I can count, and I think I just need to call it quits. I am rating 3 stars because I feel my review does not reflect the actual quality of the work, rather my current mental state and the types of writing I enjoy. Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC, and I am very sorry I was not able to fulfill.

I rounded out the sapphic trifecta with this beauty, and it did not disappoint.

From the beginning, the story is gripping. The world building is phenomenal, and the author’s rich and detailed descriptions really allowed for full immersion in this story.

I loved our MC. She’s such a badass, and even with her “flaws”, she never once holds back.

My biggest issue is now we wait for book two.

Absolutely stunning. I loved this one.

It’s a bit slow in spots, but I loved the characters so I didn’t mind.

Some of the writing was repetitive, but it immersed me into the world.

Absolutely captivating. A life-spanning epic of fate, ambition, and identity set in 13th-century Mongol-ruled China. After a childhood full of death and starvation, a young girl assumes her brother’s identity as Zhu Chongba and takes his place as a novice monk destined for greatness. Follow Zhu as she joins the rebellion against Mongol rule and works her way up the ranks to higher and higher positions of power. The characterization of the main characters and their development was so good.

THE CONCEPT OF DESTINY AND GREATNESS IN SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN

She Who Became the Sun is one of the strongest written books I have ever read. From its sharp prose to its engrossing character study and commentary on gender and identity, Shelley Parker-Chan’s debut book is beyond spectacular. This book is an unflinching look at the lengths one will go to to achieve greatness. She Who Became the Sun is a genderbent retelling of the rise of the Ming Dynasty which ruled China from 1368 to 1644 A.D.

The opening scene of the book was enough to root me into the story. It’s first line establishes the desperation and helplessness of the young girl we come to know as Zhu Chongba. When her brother and her go to a fortune teller, her brother’s fortune is one of great power while hers is nothingness. But when her brother succumbs to starvation, she makes the choice to take his fate.

Destiny and greatness are mentioned very often in She Who Became the Sun; that it almost feels like a physical object one could wrap their hands around. Despite it being Zhu’s driving force, her sheer willpower is what actually brings her from death to the monastery to the rebel group. She doggedly pursues her brother’s prophesied fate. At the monastery, she not inly has to keep up with the other children but she also to surpass what her brother might have been. Her pursuit of survival is all claws and fangs.

This, we see reflected in General Ouyang. He is a eunuch whose family had been murdered by the people her serves. As a young boy he had been castrated and enslaved by Lord Esen. He eventually rose in ranks to become Lord Esen’s personal bodyguard and closest friend. Being a eunuch, Ouyang’s fate is also one of nothingness. He is driven by anger and vengeance, by the ghosts of his ancestors who demand revenge. All this, he pursues and schemes, despite his affection for Lord Esen.

General Ouyang and Zhu Chongba so deeply believe that their fate is set. Both of them are haunted by their past – Zhu fears Heaven finding out who she really is, while Ouyang cannot escape the violence exacted on his body. A girl and a eunuch did not have a bright future, but they defied it. Both of them living a life of deceit – the girl as Zhu Chongba and Ouyang as a loyal general, and their determination to hold on to this identity leads them to make terrible choices.

ENGROSSING CHARACTER STUDY
The perspectives of Ouyang and Zhu Chongba are very discernable to readers. The prose is not flowery but often veers into introspection that is full of longing and ambition. Taking time to explore the chaotic emotions of their character, the author’s prose shifted easily from Ouyang to Zhu. Where one was driven by rage and confusion, the other was calculated and cold. In many ways, Ouyang and Zhu were so similar – driven by survival and the determination to defy their fates. These were characters who were not content to let fate or their identities determine their place in life. They would bend fate to their will or die trying.

It’s their willpower that makes you root for them. As I read this I celebrated their achievements and their cunning. Wide eyed and shocked, I accepted the questionable actions they took. You see, to these characters, there was no moral complexity to murder or betray. It was a ‘me or them’ choice and for these characters who had nothing handed to them, who had pulled teeth to be where they are, there really was no choice. Their survival mattered more than their morality. This made for a fascinating read. I love characters who are so driven and set that they know what needs to be done, who do not chew on their actions but actually do it.

The rivalry between General Ouyang and Zhu is another driving force. Their first meeting changes the trajectory of their lives, going so far as to catapult Zhu to a revered position in the rebel group. The narrative pacing in She Who Became the Sun was neither fast or slow, nor did it follow the three act structure. To be able to tell the story of two very complicated characters, the author showed us how a decision on one end influenced the life of the other. It was engrossing to watch this happen especially when the two characters did not interact for a long time and yet, their lives where shaped by the other.

Don’t walk into this book expecting a lot of fight scenes as the majority of this book focuses on the politics. The fighting scenes focused more on the character’s cunning and wit to win. Personally, I thought this was handled really well and it didn’t jar the story for me at all.

THEMES OF GENDER & IDENTITY IN SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN
One of my favourite themes in She Who Became the Sun is its deconstruction of gender and identity. It challenges readers to question exactly the notion of gender and how it influences our lives. When Zhu first claimed her brother’s identity, it was not wholly because of the promise of greatness. Rather, it was the promise of survival. Born as a girl, she would have succumbed to nothingness but as Zhu Chongba greatness was easier to grasp. As a eunuch, Ouyang was considered neither man nor woman. Had it not been for Lord Esen, he might have even remained a slave.

This book asks us: what is gender? Why should our entire lives be determined by what our biology is? Do our bodies really define who we are and what our fate will be? What about the way people see us? Is that what sets our life’s trajectories?

In Zhu Chongba, Ouyang sees what he wants to be and by misunderstanding this, he furthers Zhu’s destiny. In Ouyang, people only see him as a eunuch – what he is holds more importance than who he is. Both Ouyang and Zhu experience body dysmorphia but also use their bodies to their advantages. There is so much to unpack in She Who Became the Sun regarding gender and identity.

It was compelling to read the different parallel moments the characters went through. Zhu and Ouyang may not be the most likable characters but knowing where they come from, the actions they take are understandable. After all, is destiny something that is given to us or do we take it?

Overall, I absolutely adore this book and think it’s a very strong debut. It was so intricately written with very strong characters and relationships that will charm you. If you enjoy books that feature morally complex characters, genderqueer representation, political fantasy and historical retellings, She Who Became the Sun is a must-read!

Historical fantasy at its finest.

A brilliantly written novel about a woman who makes the decision to be great by stealing her dead brother's destiny. Shelley Parker-Chan writes a character who is tremendously flawed, but also terribly human. They explore gender identity, power struggles, destiny, and the sacrifices required to be great.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, political fantasy, or a beautifully written book.

I can't wait to read more by Shelley Parker-Chan!

This book was absolutely amazing! I couldn't put it down! I'd heard plenty of things from friends at work and other booksellers who had read early copies, and we're all in agreement - this book is amazing!

Ooof... where to start with this review...

She Who Became the Sun is one of the hardest books to come up with a rating for. I've landed at a three star for this reason. The writing, for a majority of the book, is quite beautiful. However, this was very close to being DNFd after the first chapter as the chapter was nothing but purple prose. I do not like flourishy metaphors and description that borders on not making sense. It did let up. It seems that Chan was attempting to set a scene and, for me, it didn't work.

As for the rest of the book, there were a lot of things done that I care nothing for. The first being excessive time jumps. As much as I wanted to care for Zhu, I couldn't. I didn't have time. As soon as we were given an opportunity to delve into her character, we fast forward. I may not be a charter driven reader but I do have to care about the characters in the book. This made it hard to continue.

Secondly, I love action in my fantasy novels and this had none. All of the action happens off page. I did not care for this at all. Again, made it very hard for me to remain interested.

What kept me going was the relationships in this novel. I won't put spoilers in here but suffice it to say that Chan excelled in garnering sympathy for a few of the characters involved in this story.

Also, the exploration of sexuality and gender identity was something I really enjoyed. It's not often that we get to see something like this in fantasy and those elements were really well done. Having struggled with gender identity in my past, I could see some of the elements that I had to come to terms with and I had that connection with Zhu as she explored that aspect of herself.

So, did I like it, did I not? Some elements were great and some were poor. It leaves me with a sense of ennui over it all. I don't think I will continue with this story but I'm also glad to have read parts of it

I was enraptured in the beginning: the way Parker-Chan introduces us to Zhu and the whole opening sequence (mostly in the descriptions) was absolutely epic. I was sad to see that level of detail lost as we delved into the politics and dialogue, but I found each member of our main cast to be compelling - and seeing them both from the inside and the outside (both on the same team and from their opponents) really gave us such a clear and deep picture.

I also loved that the story is rooted in want. Zhu wants greatness so she will take it. She will take it from anyone who stands in her way. And if she has to suffer for it, then that is the cost and she has known nothing but suffering and so she will pay it. Over and over. And each time she is confronted with that choice, she continues to pay more and more. I cannot wait to see how her story ends.

Also, hello sapphic trifecta! The sapphic relationship at the core of this book is fantastic because they challenge and encourage each other, they talk plainly, they fulfill each other's needs, and they still are rooted in wants: what is a woman allowed to want? What is a woman allowed to want when the world thinks her a man? Again, we are back at wanting.

Once again, I got duped into loving the cover only to realize later this was going to be a fantasy series, (a duology, I think)!! The first was The Poppy War, which I completed. Woot woot! Have yet to post my review on the final series. Anyway, She Who Became the Sun, which was marketed as a combination of Mulan and The Song of Achilles, was a strong debut. I enjoyed it overall.

This novel was a retelling of a history based on the Red Turban Rebellion that took place between 1351 and 1368 in China, with a genderqueer, Zhu, as its protagonist. I don’t know much about the Red Turban Rebellion, so off to Wikipedia I went. In short, the Red Turban Army, originally started by Guo ZiXing and followers of the White Lotus was to resist the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. One of its prominent leaders was Zhu Yuanzhang, i.e. the main character of this debut, although the latter had a very different back story. According to the author, she took full creative liberty with the reimagination of this history. You might want to read the history to know more before/after reading the retelling.

Ok so now, I was really expecting to enjoy this because of its rave reviews and the stunning cover that set the tone for me. When the story started, it felt so darn promising – an intriguing character, a female who adopted her brother’s identity after his death, who, according to a fortune teller, has a future destined for greatness and assuming his identity, she was determined to achieve it, no matter the cost. With that, she managed to enter a monastery (which I enjoyed reading about) while keeping her real identity hidden.

Then, when it got to part two, somehow it felt like it had taken a different direction. But that’s okay, it’s the author’s story and prerogative, and I can go with it. This part, if I recall correctly, was the longest among the three parts, slowing down the pace, but I was able to learn more about the other secondary characters as the story shifted to their POVs. I would be fine with that had it added depth to the story, but it didn’t, not really. What I did appreciate though, was that the fighting scenes were less descriptive as compared to TPW (hence not so graphic). I think I’m in the minority here, preferring my fighting scenes to be over and done with in a page or a few paragraphs. But I guess this was also why nothing really stood out in this book.

Also, I found Zhu’s intention to survive turning into a desire and greed to achieve greatness was just too big of a leap; too sudden, making it a little unconvincing. And her resolutions to her problems were so easy and convenient, with hardly any tension or challenges. I found it hard to empathize with her, while Ouyang’s character on the other hand, was more believable. In fact, if I had to choose a memorable character from this book, it would be Ouyang, whose life was saved and changed after becoming a eunuch. He struggled with his identity, of not being treated like a man and not getting the respect he deserved. His struggles between wanting to avenge his family and serving his master whom he was infatuated with, were deeply explored.

You know how when you read a book, you’d know exactly what you enjoyed and didn’t? This for me, was a difficult book to rate. Looking back now (I normally take a few days to reflect on what I had read before reviewing), I can hardly recall any particular parts that were memorable, or ones that I didn’t like. That said, I still enjoyed the book as a whole, I think mostly because of the writing and the characters in general.

I think this book leaned more towards historical fiction (weighed heavily on politicking) than fantasy, as I didn’t find there were much fantasy elements to it, except for Zhu’s ability to see ghosts and the ability to emit fire (although I must admit I’m still a newbie in this genre, and I am just comparing it to TPW).

Reading this, for me, was like watching a Chinese kung fu drama/series (which is a good thing, because I used to watch and love them) – with lots of cunning plotting and revenge but minus the drama/suspense. Why? Because I didn’t feel like there were any cliffhangers or parts that made me want to turn the page faster. Let me just put it this way, for me, after the first part, I continued to read it because I enjoyed the brilliant writing and was curious about the characters and what they were plotting next. So yeah, generally an okay read. Would I want to read the sequel? Yes! I’m curious to see if the sequel will fare better, and I’m confident that it will!

TW: violence, death, misgendering, sexism, homophobia
Themes: fate, body acceptance, gender identity, love, revenge

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Survival. Destined to a life of struggle and poverty,mainly because of her sex. A son who has been promised a future great leader confounds those who see him as a great leader. The Zhu family is basking in good fortune when fate and bandits capture the brother and sister . It is Zhu who uses her brothers name to gain access to a famed monastery. It is here her life with a rigorous routine and a kind and gentle soul flourishes. It is here her purpose is clear to all. It is here the Sun rises for all to see.

This was a 3,5/5 stars for me. I was expecting the Mulan similarities and a sweeping historical fantasy narrative. I found the first half moved slowly and there were a lot of character names to wade through. Overall, I enjoyed it but some of the plot and character situations were too jarring.

Some stories are so old, so human that they feel like a part of our DNA. Fables, faerie tales, myths- reading this book felt like recalling a story I’d always known. I must warn you though, this one hurts. An ache so profound it broke me in all the best ways.
The story opens with a boy and girl struggling to stay alive in a famine and war-broken village. After receiving a prophecy that she will become nothing, the girl is faced with a choice- one that will define not only her life, but that of her entire world. The story follows Zhu as she both fights for and flees from a destiny so strong, it nearly drowns her. Both brutal reality and threads of magic drive this story of war, yearning, revolution, and fate- making for the kind of character-driven epic that feels both ancient and immediate. It’s just so damn good.
Grab some tissues before reading, and maybe a strong drink. This book will break your heart and leave you asking for more. This is easily my favorite book of the year. It’s worth every tear, I promise.

A daughter and a son live with their father in a small, dying village in 1345 China. The son, Zhu Chongba, is predicted to have a fate seeped in such greatness that generations upon generations will know his name. The daughter, however, is predicted to have a fate of nothingness. When bandits attack their village, both the father and Zhu Chongba end up dying. The daughter, rejecting her fate of nothingness, takes on her brother’s name and identity and enters a monastery. Years later, Zhu’s monastery will be destroyed, sending Zhu on a path to claim the greatness she was once denied.

3 Reasons to read SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN:

1.) The plot: SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN spans across several years. The beginning half is primarily focused on building Zhu’s character and showing her experience at the monastery. This is a plot that asks the reader to be patient but rewards the patience with an explosive final third act that weaves everything together. It is well worth the time to get comfortable in Zhu’s dynamic world.

2.) The theme of fate: Fate plays a large role in this story. The threat of an empty fate is what prompts Zhu to take her brother’s, but we also see other characters get tangled in their own fates. It isn’t so much asking if everything is pre-destined but more exploring of how far people will go to claim the vision they have of their own fate and what sacrifices they are willing to make.

3.) The gritty world-building: Zhu’s world, 1345 China under Mongol rule, is not easy for anyone, but especially not so for a girl. What I love about Parker-Chan’s framing of this hard world is that no detail or scene is gratuitous. There is no unwarranted gore or violence that some war-centered novels have. Every slap, strike, and stab have a reason and serve a clear purpose. It is also refreshing to see a story like this that doesn’t include sexual assault.

SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN is a harsh, beautiful story that punches you right in the heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I did not connect with the majority of characters.