I hope this book does well when it publishes! We were asked to read this potentially for a July box, but I was not approved in time for it to be considered. I hope to read it sometime this summer!

I absolutely loved this. It's not a happy story, and things get pretty dark, but it worked. I loved that the protagonists didn't always win or succeed. I'm definitely interested to see where this series goes.

From its announcement, I knew that this book was one that I needed to read. I love that we’re beginning to get more non-Western historical epics written by authors of color with this book having a particularly interesting alternate take on history. Bold and radiant, She Who Became the Sun follows two people determined to claim their destinies on their terms, regardless of what is fated for them.

In 1345 China, a girl is destined for nothingness while her brother is given a fate of greatness. When he dies, she decides to claim his name, Zhu Chongba, as well as his fate. She takes his place at a monastery, eventually becoming an ordained monk who eventually turns to war when her monastery is destroyed. Meanwhile, Ouyang is a Nanren (Chinese) general in the Mongol army, favored by the Prince of Henan despite being a eunich. He has plans for his own fate, one that takes him down a secretive, destructive path.

I should begin by clarifying that I will refer to Zhu with she/her pronouns, which are what is used in her point-of-view. However, this is not another crossdressing Mulan retelling; rather, Zhu, having taken her brother’s place for so long, does not identify with being a woman yet knows she is not a man. This is addressed in the narrative a few times and handled with care.

The plot of this book unfolds over a decade or so, beginning in 1345 when the Mongols ruled over China. Throughout this story, we see the tide turning against Mongol rule with the Nanren rebellion beginning to win more victories against their army. This was a slow plot but one that still intrigues as it also sets aside time for the characters’ own plots.

Amidst the battles, we follow Zhu as she lives in the monastery and later rises in the ranks of the Red Turban rebellion army. On the other side, Ouyang seeks revenge against the people who ordered his family’s executions while he also fights for the Mongol army. Meanwhile, we also get to read other characters’ points-of-view, such as Esen, Ouyang’s master and close friend; Ma Yingzi, a girl who gets to know Zhu more; and Yuchun, a thief who eventually joins the Red Turban army. I liked following all of them and seeing how their different perspectives added to the story.

The characterizations are also so strongly established. Zhu is determined for a fate of greatness, whether she has to wrench it from heaven herself or not. Her desire for something more is so great that she will do anything to stay alive and get what she wants. Similarly, Ouyang is constantly brimming with anger and determination. His need for revenge is years in the making, and he will stop at nothing to accomplish his own plans. Ma, meanwhile, is compassionate and emotional in a setting that calls for no empathy.

I loved the writing; Parker-Chan’s prose is easy to follow amidst the twists and turns of the plot. As I said, the characterizations are well established, which is due, in part, to the clear-cut nature of the writing. Also, I couldn’t put this book down!

She Who Became the Sun was a thrilling story of chasing one’s fate. It was a strong series opener, and I cannot wait to read the sequel! I loved the characters and how the plot unfolded. I definitely recommend She Who Became the Sun if you’re looking for an epic historical novel full of ambition and desire and greatness.

I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley. The full review will be posted on Goodreads on on July 6th and shared on Twitter. Review will be posted on Amazon after the book is released.
Goodreads; https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/17108692-paul-mcguire
Twitter: @pdmcguirelaw

From its first pages, She Who Became the Sun enchanted me with the poetic descriptions. Even the humble beginning chapters mesmerized me with their elegance. Often early chapters of back story can be slow but necessary. Not so here. Early chapters have a humor and wit that makes them as engaging as the later sections. This is a tale of power and empowering women. It is also a history lesson and a study of war and its machinations.

Set in China in the 1300s, She Who Became the Sun chronicles the red turban rebellion and the Chinese fight to push back the Mongols. But at its core it is the story of a peasant girl, Zhu, who becomes a monk and decides to fight as a man despite grave risks of being discovered. This serves as a vehicle for exploring the fluidity of gender.

"You won't be the one to make me nothing. I refuse."

The story could have inspired just with our main character, leaving the Mongols as undeveloped enemies. Yet we are blessed with a vibrant cast of characters. The stories weave together wonderfully as they converge on the finale. Though this is just the beginning, it feels complete and comes to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to the next chapter in this epic tale. You will not want to miss this.

In a dying land ruled by tyrants, a young girl follows her father and brother to visit an old monk who declares that her brother Zhu Chongba is destined for greatness. Once her father and brother have gone, the girl lingers to ask the monk of her own fate. The monk replies she is nothing. But when her father and brother die after a bandit attack, the girl takes on her brother's name and claims his great destiny for herself.
A young man grows up in the house of the murderer of his family, a man that mutilated him and forced him into slavery. The young man, Ouyang, is followed by the ghosts of his dead, his fate weighing heavily on him. For while he knows it is his fate to kill the man who destroyed his family, how can he bring himself to such an act when that man's son is as close to him as a brother?
She Who Became the Sun is a story of how Fate controls the lives of two people. While one grasps on to a fate that is not their own, the other shies away from their fate. Their actions bring to two together and a nation is changed forever.
She Who Became the Sun is a thrilling historical fantasy set in 14th century China. Fans of historical fiction like The Song of Achilles and The Bear and The Nightingale will love this!

The only way to describe this book is ‘radiant.’ A dual narrative that is brimming with political intrigue, this book asks the question ‘how far are you willing to go for greatness?’ while acknowledging that greatness is payed for with blood. No one is who they seem, and the slow peeling away of layers to uncover the truth will leave you breathless. You’ll want to read this book now, so someday when it’s a multi-million dollar HBO series you can say you’ve been there since the beginning.

I was expecting Mulan meets Song of Achilles but what I received was so much better. The unique voices mixed with historical fantasy weaved a compelling story. I was hooked from the first page and can't wait to read the second book.

I thought this book had an extremely strong start, but my attention wandered once it left the confines of the monastery and this was ultimately. a DNF. I really enjoyed Parker-Chan's prose, though.

This is a historical fantasy that is so magical yet not any less historically accurate or intriguing. This is a story of people discovering their identity, their sexuality, and their path of 'becoming.' This is probably the best book I've read featuring multiple morally grey protagonists. The book is so rational yet so emotional, and I LIVE FOR THIS EPIC COMPLEXITY. And oh the yearning, the yearning was tangible, and I felt it deeply.
The story started as Zhu became the last girl alive in the village - because why would you feed the girls when there were boys? She thrived in a place where women's lives meant nothing. That's what she was afraid of: to become nothing. This fear became apparent again when a fortune-teller told her brother that he would become great, and to her, he simply said she would become nothing. And when her brother just gave up his life in a tough situation, she was so mad that someone would just give up his destiny while she didn't even have a chance to become great. That's when she decided to become her brother, to take his fate to achieve greatness.
As if this is not interesting enough, the book also introduced us to a eunuch general whose whole family had been murdered by the one he had to show loyalty to. His blood was the reason for his mutilation, yet his mutilation was the only reason he was still alive. However, seeking revenge is complicated because the murderer's son was his only source of sunshine and comfort.
I LOVE THE PARALLEL and different POVs. The double main characters are so similar, but they share an ANTAGONIST relationship, with both of them being morally grey. Even though they only have very few brief encounters, their stories are so intertwined, and trust me when I say their encounters are legendary.

Being Chinese didn't prepare me for the plot twists as I am disappointing my ancestors with my lack of knowledge of Chinese history lol I still can't believe I didn't recognize some of the names...I want to cry in a corner in shame.

5/5 stars
Recommended to people who like: historical fantasy, fantasy, Chinese fantasy, magic, semi-historical retellings, LGBTQ+ characters

This review has been published on GoodReads and my blog as of 5/12.

I was really intrigued by the summary of this book, particularly the comparison to Mulan. While there are some definite similarities between Zhu's story and Mulan's, this story is distinct on its own and doesn't bear a huge resemblance to Mulan, the Disney version or the ballad.

I really enjoyed Zhu's character. I was kind of wary of the whole monk thing at first, I was definitely expecting the monastery scenes to be more boring than they actually ended up being. At certain parts, I even almost missed the monastery. Zhu certainly has the ambition and ruthlessness that's promised. She desires to not be nothing and is willing to do pretty much anything to achieve that. At the same time, she does have people that she cares about and are moments where she is light and engages in banter. There were some things I didn't quite get, (view spoiler)but overall Parker-Chan did an excellent job creating the background reasoning for Zhu's actions.

Ouyang was the other main POV character and he was actually someone I was somewhat wary about reading. He's set up to be one of Zhu's main antagonists, and since we only start getting Ouyang's POV in the second part of the book, Zhu is already well-established as the person we're rooting for and I wasn't sure how much I was going to like Ouyang as a narrator, but I ended up enjoying his parts. He has a fairly complicated schtick going on and on the one hand I feel for him since we get to see in his head, but on the other hand he is still antagonizing Zhu, so it's complicated. Much like with Zhu, I thought Parker-Chan did a good job setting up why Ouyang felt certain ways and did certain things.

There were certainly twists, but none of them felt like they came totally out of nowhere and none of them felt out of character for Ouyang or Zhu, which I think shows Parker-Chan's writing skills. The actions the two characters took may have been terrible at times, but for each character they were certainly justifiable, which I think is particularly important when you're writing morally grey characters.

Ma, the daughter of a Red Turban general and someone Zhu eventually befriends, is another POV character. She doesn't get a ton of narrative space, but she gets enough to show she's clever and has empathy in spades. I think she'll end up coming in more in the second book, but this introduction to her showed some of her character arc and set her up as a nice foil to the two main POV characters who are decidedly less empathetic.

Esen, a general for the Mongols and a friend of Ouyang, was another POV character. Like Ma, Esen serves as a kind of foil to Ouyang, but through his openness and a seeming naivete about the world. Esen has a kind of openness that the other characters don't have and sees the world in a fairly straightforward and uncomplicated way. He also experiences a character arc during this first book that I thought was interesting, though admittedly was one that went in a different direction than I would've liked compared to Ma's.

In general, the characters and character relationships were written well throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed Zhu and Xu Da's interactions with one another. They largely grew up together and so have established a kind of brotherly rapport that's enjoyable to read. Likewise, Ouyang and Esen's interactions, while somewhat less brotherly, also showed the complicated mix of history and duty that sets the background for their story. As obnoxious as he could be at times, I even liked the interactions Esen and Ouyang had with Baoxiang, who proved to be an interesting character and wily in his own ways. To be honest, I'm kind of rooting for whatever he's plotting since I'm sure he'll be back in the second book.

Also, for the LGBTQ+ aspect, beyond the two main characters being gender queer, they're both also interested in same-sex relationships, though it isn't stated whether Zhu and Ouyang are solely interested in same-sex partnerships or if they're also interested in opposite-sex or gender queer relationships as well. Ma is also written as being bi or pan.

This book deals a lot with ideas of power and ambition, but it also looks into gender and gendered experiences. Both Zhu and Ouyang are at the center of this, with Zhu being the 'Mulan' character and Ouyang being a eunuch. They develop different feelings on the topic over the course of the novel and Parker-Chan shows two very different ways of examining one's gender when neither man nor woman feels correct, or even how at times one may feel more correct than the other. The book also shows a great deal of gender relations and how that impacts one's movement through the world and the power interactions that people face. I really enjoyed how she incorporated gender into the story and am interested to see how things will continue to be examined in the next book.

Aside from the characters, the imagery in the book was also excellent and was actually something that I noted from page 1. Parker-Chan managed to infuse the landscape and settings into each page so that you can really feel them while you're reading. A lot of attention was paid to the details of things. As a reader who really likes a balance that tips toward imagery, I liked Parker-Chan's writing style.

This was a fantastic book and I definitely recommend it for people who like historical fantasy. Gender and gendered interactions are a big part of this book and Parker-Chan explores them in really interesting ways. The imagery is also fantastic and really comes alive each time its mentioned. I'm eager to see what happens with the characters in the second book.

A Mongolian version of Disney's Mulan that is definitely not for kids. Through rich language, exotic places and peoples, Parker-Chan has created a singular character who refuses to be defeated by the circumstances of her birth to rise to the position of Emperor. Using luck, fate and a fierce belief that one can not only change one's destiny but can in fact, create it keeps the character of Zhu moving towards that destiny no matter what obstacles are placed in her way. Poverty, death, homelessness, being female in a male dominated society, and learning how to play the lethal games of politics propel Zhu to her final destiny. A saga to enjoy for those willing to put in the time and effort of keeping the different clans, tribes and armies distinct in their minds.

Siempre son bienvenidas las historias que cambian los escenarios más conocidos por otros más exóticos, algo que Shelley Parker-Chan consigue desde el principio. La novela tiene dos partes muy diferenciadas, aunque todas siguen la vida de Zhu, una joven campesina que supera una gran hambruna y muchas vicisitudes para conseguir su objetivo en la vida, esa grandeza que un vidente prometió en su momento.


La primera parte de la historia describe de forma muy acertada y dolorosa la hambruna que no hace sino exacerbar las diferencias entre hombres y mujeres de una sociedad patriarcal como era la china antes de la dinastía Ming. Estos primeros capítulos nos servirán para ver cómo se forja el carácter de la protagonista, que adoptará el nombre y la vida de su hermano fallecido con la tenacidad de quien se sabe destinada a un futuro elevado.

A pesar de no conocer la historia del fundador de la dinastía Ming, una búsqueda rápida por la Wikipedia permite saber que la autora ha volcado en su narración muchos de los hechos históricos de los que hay constancia, rellenando los huecos con su propio relato para conformar una novela con ligeros toques fantásticos y un planteamiento más que interesante. De hecho, los nombres de muchos de los personajes coinciden con figuras históricas.

Me parecen especialmente atractivas las dualidades de las que hace uso durante todo el libro, en una suerte de ying y yang que servirán de contraste para dotar de profundidad a la historia. No sola la protagonista que se hace pasar por hombre para sobrevivir, si no la presencia de su «mayor» enemigo, un eunuco al que le están permitidas cosas distintas a los demás precisamente por su condición pero que por esa misma razón vive aislado dentro de su propio ejército. El tratamiento del género es importante en She Who Became the Sun, que pone de manifiesto las desigualdades de la época pero que pueden servir como reflejo de las actuales.

La segunda parte de la novela cambia el paso para centrarse en las intrigas políticas tanto de un bando como de otro. Esta parte de la historia también es interesante, aunque de manera algo sorprendente me resulta menos atractiva que la anterior. Se habla mucho sobre el camino marcado y el destino manifiesto, pero lo cierto es que también hacen falta bastantes casualidades para que todo se desarrolle de forma satisfactoria para la protagonista. Además, no es un libro de blancos y negros, todos los personajes tienen cierta oscuridad en su interior y en especial la protagonista no se detendrá ante nada ni nadie para conseguir lo que quiere.

Se trata de una novela bien escrita que puede ser uno de los lanzamientos más importantes del año.

I need to start this review by saying that I literally screamed when I got approved for this arc. So thank you to netgalley and Macmillan-Tor, I’m really grateful.

From the very beginning, I loved Zhu and her thriving ambition. Though I wished she would have been more like Mulan, aka a warrior, I enjoyed the fact that she was different from any character I’ve read about so far - she’s so clever and driven by her desire of greatness and power. She will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.
Ouyang was an unexpected surprise. I cared so much about him. I understand his problematic behaviour and I felt for him. Most of the time.
Their complexity, the fact that they were morally grey characters and that they had a lot in common was so interesting to read about. I loved that they were on opposite sides as it increased my fear - I love them both and didn’t want to see them hurting each other.

As for the writing style, the pages flew by and I underlined so many beautiful or meaningful quotes. Sometimes I definitely needed to be fully focused to remember who was who - as there are a lot of characters - and what exactly were their schemes but I was never bored or losing interest.

As for the end, it was meant to happen, I knew it but it still hurts and, yes, I cried. I’m ready for book 2. I think.

I’m not going to lie, my expectations were way to high - She who became the sun was my second most anticipated books of 2021. Which should explain why I’m not 100% satisfied. Many battle scenes would have been welcomed but we didn’t really get one as it’s always avoided and the story was not as emotional as I thought it would be. This book is more about war and political strategy, which is without a doubt entertaining but not what I find the most riveting in a book.

It was still an amazing story and I’m so eager to know what will happen next.

I don't quite understand the comparison with the Song of Achilles and I believe it could do a disservice to the book. Indeed, I expected something different from what I read. Moreover, it was more historical fiction than fantasy, but I didn't mind that.
Nonetheless, I loved it, it was fantastic.
I am still in awe about the fact it is a debut novel for it is so intricate, well-written and elaborate.
This book is about fate, greatness, betrayal, love, war and power. It is epic, it is about political maneuvering and strategy more than about the battles. Indeed, the action often takes place "offscreen" and I like when it's a little more action packed.
The multiple POV were necessary and interesting. All the characters have their own personalities and agenda. And I loved seeing morally gray characters and still rooting for them. However, there is still some distance from their feelings, and I wanted to feel more heartache than I had while reading their inner battles (but this is a recurrent issue I have with adult fantasy). The characterization and character development is mastered. I loved Zhu, she is so driven. I loved Ma and Xu Da very much as well. Ouyang was also an interesting character, and I was happy we got to see his point of view.
I'm curious to know how the second book will turned out.

A long journey of courage and discovery. As the characters fight to save their country, they must also fight to discover who they are.

it’s an excellent book though it’s not one that hooked me completely. It’s well written and the duality of two of the narrators is amazing to read. I anticipate this will be a bestseller. (I think I was expecting more magic!) Still five stars.

Zhu is a powerhouse of a protagonist, the likes of which I’ve never read before. She desires not only to be great, but for everyone to know it and that never makes her less likable! She definitely had a duality going on, which makes me believe my students will relate to how she approaches the world. The author manages to give us a complex heroine without dimming her shine or making her apologize for going after what she rightfully deserves.

The wars, the relationships, the battles, the underlying conflict are all brought to life by Zhu’s ravenous desires and the story is better for it.

@shelleyparkerchan you have achieved greatness!

She Who Became the Sun was incredible in every possible way and
I know it's only May but I'm confident to say that this will be my favorite book of the year.

First of all, I loved Shelley's writing style and ability to connect you with the world and characters (not many authors are capable of doing that, especially in their debut novels).
At some points, I completely forgot that I was reading a book and felt like I was part of this amazing journey. I could see myself as Zhu, breaking all the boundaries, desperately trying to achieve something memorable, to become great, and have people remember my name for centuries. Truly incredible feeling.

"Becoming nothing was the most terrifying thing she could think of - worse even than the fear of hunger, or pain, or any other suffering that could possibly arise from life."

Zhu's character and ambition were the main highlights of the book for me, I don't remember liking a character this much ever since Aelin from the ToG series. I also loved Ouyang, Esen, Ma, and Wang Baoxiang, they were such great characters and they all had such impressive character developments. I can't wait to read more about them, especially about Lord Wang, I feel like people underestimate him too much.

Also, according to the synopsis, this is a fantasy novel but I wanted to tell you not to expect a lot from it. There are a few fantasy elements but not as much as you wish. Of course, this doesn't make the book less good or mean that there will not be more magic in the next book (maybe?).

All in all, this is a fabulous book and I'll undoubtedly write more about it once I reread some parts and have my feelings settled down.

"She didn't just want greatness. She wanted the world."

She Who Became the Sun - 100000🌟

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in an exchange for an honest review*

I will be reading this book on behalf of Booklist, the magazine publication of American Library Association. Thank you very much.

She Who Became the Sun is a beautifully written, epic novel following a girl who takes on the persona of her brother after he dies. He had been promised a fate of greatness, and the girl decides to make this her fate. We follow her through the trials and tests she must take to achieve this fate.
The prose is beautifully written, the story is engaging, and the characters memorable. I highly recommend reading this book and am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan will be published on July 20, 2021.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this eARC.