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.

3.5 stars

She Who Became the Sun is full of vivid, atmospheric writing. At times it overshadows the narrative; this dark, haunting vibe running beneath the storyline. Even though only Zhu can see the ghosts, her ability suggests their constant presence, contributing to this undertone.

Another aspect that Shelley Parker-Chan nailed is the emotions tormenting every character. The narrative is certainly not lacking depth; no character is ever experiencing only one emotion - it's always a range, and it's never simple. The relationships are complex with tortuous histories, and almost every conversation feels like a minefield of religion, gender, and bloodlines.

She Who Became the Sun is an epic narrative encompassing a lot of time and a lot of information. Because of this, there are sudden jumps in time which can make it feel rushed or like you're missing out on some of the character's experiences. For example, I would have loved more time in the monastery during Zhu's early years. By missing out on these formative years of her life, it's a lot of telling, not showing, and the reader is expected to accept the information presented without a wealth of evidence. This happens with a lot of the characters; we're told their backgrounds but don't get to experience them. I want to attribute this to She Who Became the Sun being the first novel in a series, but I won't know for sure until there's a second instalment. I will be keen to read the next book to see if, after all this buildup and backstory, the pace will slow down a little, and we'll be allowed to spend more time with the characters and their experiences.

She Who Became the Sun is a classic fantasy that deals with themes of destiny, gender identity and those who struggle to find their way with both. It’s an alternate history based on 1345 China. I was intrigued by the story the moment I started reading.

Early on the audience is introduced to a no-name girl living in poverty and desperation. That girl eventually becomes Zhu Chongba. Her need for more than what’s she’s been given in life is palpable and this becomes the basis of her character throughout the story. Zhu is a one track minded character and it’s understandable considering where she came from. It’s easy for the audience to understand Zhu’s motivations even though they might not agree with her. In this regard I think Shelly Parker Chan did an excellent job with her character development. In terms of the other characters, I found them all to be morally grey and at certain points unlikeable. Morally grey is my favorite character type which is the main reason I enjoyed the story as much as I did. I found Ouyang to be the most fascinating character and I’m interested in seeing where his character arc goes. I also adored Ma, she’s the type of character that’s too good for this world. Overall, I think the characters were well developed and I enjoyed my time reading them.

In terms of themes, this story deals heavily with themes of destiny and gender identity. She Who Became the Sun poses questions of what it means to be destined and if it’s possible at all to avoid that fate. It’s something that I haven’t seen many authors explore in the books I tend to read. I also enjoyed the exploration of gender and how it impacts Zhu mentally, emotionally to be in constant search of her identity. Zhu, as a character, is certain about her destiny but in this one aspect she stumbles as she tries to discover herself. Zhu and Ouyang are two sides of the same coin in this regard.

The story starts off in the middle of a war between the empire and the rebels. As a result, this story is heavily driven by political machinations as well as military strategy. Readers who enjoy political backstabbing, military fantasy, and historical fiction would highly enjoy She Who Became the Sun.

In terms of the world, the magic is fairly light, to the point of being almost non-existent. I would recommend this to someone who might be new to fantasy and are intimidated by complex magic systems. This is a morally grey society where anything goes. The characters will kill, brutalize, and manipulate whomever they need to in order to get what they want.

Overall, She Who Became the Sun is a strong debut and I can’t wait to continue on with the series.

I DNF'd this book after the first part. The writing was beautiful and the story had promise, it was just more of a historical fiction with a touch of fantasy than a fantasy with touches of history which is what I was in the mood for. I will absolutely be trying to read this again at another time because I did really enjoy the lyrical writing, I just want to be in the right mood for it.

If you’re a fan of historical fantasies, then She Who Became the Sun will not disappoint. It’s touted as “a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty,” and it was this description alone that got me interested in reading it in the first place.

This book covers several decades of the main character’s life as she movies through childhood, losing her family and becoming a monk, and joining the rebellion to secure a spot in a future that was never meant to be hers. It’s a lush, full, gorgeous story that encompasses the very definition of an epic. If you’re the type of person who loves to sink right into the pages of a novel and live the story alongside the narrator, She Who Becomes the Sun will happily take you along for the ride.

The other main component of this novel is Zhu’s gender identity and how that affects her relationships with the people around her. The way she views herself slowly unfolds over the years, often complicated by her drive to survive. But the book does not concern itself with labels, and Zhu is often allowed to exist without putting a name to it. It’s refreshing to see such a perspective set against a historical background.

This book was a wild ride of political intrigue, romance, action, and adventure! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read more by Shelley Parker-Chan.

I have now read two books of the sapphic trinity of 2021 and I'm floored. Shelley Parker-Chan blew me away with this story and all the hype I heard surrounding this book beforehand could not compare. I loved the historical nuances incorporated in the story and just the empowerment of the characters. Truly a masterpiece!

A genderbent reimagining of the founding of the Ming Dynasty with slight fantasy elements. Love, war, identity, the costs of ambition and revenge — it’s not quite Mulan x TSOA but it’s easy to see why that’s the tagline ★★★★

An immensely readable and engaging queer retelling of the founder of Ming Dynasty in China. There is a lot to like here, the representation of the male king (and for some Han Chinese, savior) as the worst possible thing from Confucian point of view - woman in disguise - would make Confucius turn in his grave like e corkscrew. And that's awesome, cause that philosophy is one of the worst human inventions. But at the same time, I couldn't but feel that the gender of the protagonist did not matter at all (which is a good thing overall, but maybe not when the whole schtick of the book is the protagonist being a woman in disguise). Moreover, there is also very little character development here, which is a shame. Not sure if I'll bother reading the second part, to be honest.

I think this is going onto my list of “Favorite Books of all Time.” I really can’t say much more than that.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm blown away that this is the author's first novel! I loved this book because the writing is beautiful and the characters are well-developed. I'll definitely read more by this author in the future.

I really really expected to like this book. It was one of my most anticipated of the year. However, it fell short for me. I loved the first few chapters where she enters the monastery and is getting up to all sorts of trouble, but then there were so many moving parts added to the book and I just couldn’t keep track of them. The one sex scene was so incredibly graphic, and then she kills a child so that she can be successful?? I just don’t really understand what the message was supposed to be from this book. I expected an uplifting novel sort of like Mulan with some of the heartbreaking components similar to Song of Achilles, but I missed all of that if it was in the book at all. Really wishing I had better things to say about this one!

Absolutely spectacular. The writing is exquisite. The characters are phenomenal. The plot is so highly political intrigue and I adored it (no battle scenes!).

Parker-Chan has such an astonishing ability to make you feel for these characters and recognize everything they are feeling. Character dynamics are absolutely fantastic and painful.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a genderqueer retelling of The Red Turban Rebellions, which gave rise to the Ming dynasty. Zhu Chongba is destined for greatness, while his sister is destined for nothing. After bandits come to their famine plagued town and orphan the two children her brother, Zhu Chongba, gives into grief and dies. Left to fend for herself, with nothing but her fiery will to survive, she chooses to take her brother’s name and his great destiny and embarks on a journey for greatness. That begins as a monk, but soon gives way to commander and more.

This title has been called “Song of Achilles meets Mulan”, which I find to be a flimsy description for such a unique and intense piece of literature. Does no justice to the emotionally intense and thought provoking work that Parker-Chan has elegantly crafted. I found parts to be a challenge to read, for no other reason than I have difficulty with descriptions of military strategies, which is a prominent feature in many chapters. I was always impressed with the genius ideas Zhu would conjur, which always ended with outstanding, and sometimes brutal, results.

Zhu battles both with the enemies on the battlefield and within as she struggles with her identity. She is driven by her will to survive and defy the heavens by doing whatever is necessary. Which at times shocked me at the lengths she would go. However, to see moments and instances that would ruin and break most in her world, they further elevate her to greatness and bring her closer to her goals. An awe inspiring feat, to say the least.

This is not a story for the faint of heart. Set during a fantasy tinged retelling of Mongul ruled China during the Red Turban Rebellions, it is an intense, violent and often dark story where the lines are blurred. Trust is rare, and hunger for power and revenge reign alongside each other. As previously stated, there are a lot of military strategies and complex political plots that can slow down reading for those, like myself, who don’t read those themes often. However, these themes were easier to follow than most.

I found She Who Became the Sun to be thought provoking, emotionally intense and a comfort zone shattering experience. Those who enjoy character driven historical fiction on an epic scale, with just a touch of fantasy, should not pass on this title.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc!
This was a page turner! I am a great fan of historical fantasy and this queer retelling of the founding of the Ming dynasty kept me totally engrossed. A young girl destined to be nothing, as foretold by an astrologer, assumes her brother’s fate of greatness after he dies of hunger. She poses as him to gain entry to a monastery where food is available and never looks back. She becomes Zhu Chongba and decides that nothing will keep her from rising to the top. First in a series and I can’t wait for book two!

WOW. I think that this book truly deserves all of the hype. I actually loved how dark this book was, and how the characters seemed at times to lack a moral compass in order to accomplish their cause. This was a bit different than my normal read as I am used to a bit more of a romance based or influenced... but honestly I liked the change of pace. I actually liked how unlikable the characters were at times. I think that there is a great mix of magic, fantasy, and history. I loved the politics and the descriptions, and even the war scenes. This was just brilliant and truly unlike anything I have ever read. So unique!!

I started this and immediately ordered a hard copy of the final book. Such a fantastic concept. I already can think of multiple people I want to lend it to, and I haven't even finished it yet.