This was good, but not excellent. I liked the main character but it felt a little forced. Was a fine read, but probably wouldn't purchase it for myself!

Historical fiction about pirates is not usually my thing, but Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a genuinely exciting novel. Based on the life of real-life badass female pirate Shek Yeung, we follow this courageous woman through her many tragedies, as she uses all her expertise to survive in a violent, male world.

Shek Yeung’s story is devastating; the novel begins with the murder of her husband, and we learn quickly that she lost her brother in a similar way. She has also endured a life of enforced prostitution, working on “flower boats”. But one of her customers recognizes her potential, and recruits her onto his ship. It is then that her reign of terror begins, under her own terms.

Yeung is so relatable it’s almost depressing. Her challenges of motherhood, misogyny, and unrealistic societal expectations still ring true today. I loved following her journey; she was such a smart, fearless woman.

I’m not usually a big reader of books that contain battles, but the action in this is incredibly well-written.

The elements of the story containing the Chinese sea goddess Mazu are really interesting, and add a little sparkle of magical realism to proceedings.

For fans of historical fiction with an incredibly strong female character.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA.

I really enjoyed this book, it's pretty different from what I would typically read. I usually like to read a lot more fantasy or mystery books, but when I read the description of a Chinese woman pirate, I needed to know more. It did not disappoint!

Kind regards to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea did not disappoint. The cover of this historical fiction novel is as beautiful as the tale that unfolds throughout this adventure on the high seas. The novel focuses on Shek Yeung , one of the most famous Chinese pirates. It is full of adventure including naval battles, hand to hand combat, power, and a bit of magical realism. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written historical fiction novel.

When Shek Yeung’s husband is killed in a battle, she takes immediate action, marrying his second in command (with the promise of bearing him a child, a son, to be his heir, despite having thought herself past the time in her life), in order to maintain her power and position within the fleet. But even with that quick thinking, the fleet remains on the edge of disaster in the face of myriad outside threats. Shek Yeung must navigate through a Chinese Emperor who seeks to eradicate all piracy in the most brutal manner, European powers who are tired of losing resources to the pirates, and an inter-fleet alliance that is shaky at best. Plus, as she faces the vastly different challenges of new motherhood, she begins to question what price she is actually willing to pay to retain control and leadership.

I am not sure why, but I thought there was going to be magic in this story…and there is not. I want to set that out to start, as, since I didn’t know where that impression came from personally, maybe other people are thinking that too. That has no bearing on my enjoyment of the overall reading experience whatsoever, I just felt it necessary to clarify. I will say though, there is a definite vibe that supernatural forces *could* be in play, through fate and fortune-telling and the influence of gods (similar to books like The Fortunes of Jaded Women, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, The Cloisters, Plain Bad Heroines, etc.). So, it kind of reads like a magical historical fiction in vibe, if not in actuality. And that’s a style I can get behind.

Plot-wise, this was spectacularly written and paced. There was, absolutely, all the ruthlessness and violence one would expect from a novel about pirates, but as it was sprinkled in with stories about Ma Zhou and mythology and beliefs around her godhood, that was balanced out in a way that made it feel less intense or overwhelming. This was aided by the background on Shek Yeung’s life that was developed as the story went, giving us context not only about her own journey to piracy, but for the greater world within which her story takes place. It was tragic, as I believe all “I didn’t set out to become a pirate, but ended up here anyways” tales must be, compounded by her role as a female during this historical time period in Chinese history (but also, as a female in any time period ever, if we’re being honest). Getting to experience the story from her perspective, her own decisions, and with insight into her own thought processes and feelings, was exactly what I wanted. Finally, in regards to the plot, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge how wonderful the complexity of the political machinations and power maneuvering were. I always love when those aspects are done with the kind of deftness that Chang-Eppig had here.

A few final thoughts. First, I was thrilled to hear that Emily Woo Zeller was narrating – I enjoy her voice talents and this was no exception. I thought it was great, the way Chang-Eppig showed how mythology and folklore take on a life of their own depending on the teller, and how every story is just that because all tales grow and change in the telling. This was demonstrated both though the tales of Ma Zhou and in the ways Shek Yeung chose portray herself and her life.

Overall, what atmospheric and original historical fiction. It was swashbuckling and violent, but also culturally and politically nuanced. Perhaps a slightly slower read than the blurb might suggest, but once I adjusted, it was such a good reading/listening experience.

This book had so much of what I'm into: seafaring adventures, women with complex lives, historical fiction set in China, complicated love lives. I especially loved the main character's exploration of fate and religion. I felt the book was well paced both with the main character's thought-provoking inner thoughts and the action packed pirate battles.

Female pirate? Say no more.

This was a riveting, well written tale that sucked me in immediately. This is a great book that does justice for the person it was written about. Pick up a copy asap!

I was deeply hoping this would be my jam, but it wasn’t quite. I did enjoy it enough to keep reading, curious to see where it went.

What an unusual, adventurous novel! "Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea" transports readers to its 19th-century setting beautifully. Yet, while reading, I was struck by certain passages that felt like they were immediately relevant to present-day 2023. That's where the power of Rita Chang-Eppig's novel lies. It's wildly creative and memorable, saying so much about humanity and what it means to be a woman.

Wow! This book blew me away.

I loved the mix of adventure and historical fiction. I learned so much and I was entertained from start to finish.

One of my favorites this year!

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea sounds like the ideal book for me. Swashbuckling historical adventures on the high seas in an exploration of the fascinating Shek Yeung, one of the most successful pirates (not just female pirates) in history? I'm so there. Unfortunately I found the actual writing so plodding and flat, I had a hard time getting or staying invested in what should have been a compelling, dramatic, often moving story. It's occasionally too cerebral - which I certainly wouldn't mind, though it seems a bit counter to what I expected from the marketing - but even in these instances of philosophical introspection, plays at too shallow a level, like it doesn't trust the reader to be smart enough to keep up. All in all, while I've read worse ARCs this year, few have been quite as personally disappointing after my high hopes for this one.

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA for the advance review copy.

“Maybe this was Heaven’s punishment for her, a woman who’d dared to want more than the fate that Heaven usually allotted women.”

Honestly, I don’t think this book was marketed quite right, it’s less of a swashbuckling adventure and more of a character study of a female in Imperial China who happens to be a pirate by circumstance.

I think it could have been such a wonderful feminist telling of myth and colonization, but it lacks the momentum to keep interest. There were a few moments of plot action, but they are overshadowed by discussions and cerebral inner thoughts.

*Thank you for the advanced copy for review

This story was quite the adventure. The main character was a very strong protagonist and I loved seeing that strength on the page. Loved it.

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a historical fiction novel following the life of pirate queen, Shek Young, in the aftermath of her husband’s passing. Shek Young is an extremely ambitious pirate, seeking to gain as much power as she can in a deeply misogynic world.

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is more of a character study rather than an epic, historical fantasy. I really enjoyed the quiet pace and found Shek Young to be a deeply flawed but compelling character. I also appreciated being exposed to the history of piracy in Asia, something I knew nothing about. I believe Shek Young is based on real life pirate queen, Zheng Yi Sao, the most successful pirate in history. While I enjoyed myself, I don’t think this novel will suit every reader, particularly those who prefer action packed plots. The tone of this book reminded me of the historical fiction series, And I Darken by Kiersten White. While the histories the two books pull from are very different, they both explore the outcomes of a woman’s strength and ambition in world that’s incredibly bleak and misogynistic. Additionally, they grapple with female characters who are both “unlikeable” and compelling. If you’ve read and enjoyed And I Darken, I think there’s a good chance you’ll also enjoy Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea.

Do you love character driven stories? Badass female pirates? Action mixed with strategy? Then this might be the book for you! Shek Yeung is a legendary Chinese pirate in a unique time. The Europeans are trying to find footholds into China and that may come at the expense of her fleet.

I really enjoyed Shek Yeung as a character. She is tough. She’s been through trauma and survived. She has a killer instinct and learns to become a skilled negotiator for her husband’s fleet. She’s respected as a leader, but it doesn’t mean that everything comes easy to her. She is challenged and questioned for being a woman. She fears childbirth. What I’m getting at is she isn’t a Molly Sue who is automatically the best at everything. Instead, she’s a real person who has strengths and flaws.

This book is a bit more reflective than I expected. It moves at a slower pace, but I liked that because it gives the reader a chance to really understand Shek Yeung. I suppose this might be a bit slow for readers expecting an epic adventure, but for me the pacing was great.

All in all, if you want a look at Pirates in China, the threat of European colonialism, and what it is to be a tough female leader, this might be a good book for you. It is a leisurely read, so don’t expect it to be all action, but it is a good read.

*Thank you to Netgalley, Rita Chang Eppig, and Bloomsbury for the E-ARC. This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.

I have been on a bada$$ lady pirate kick as of late. This story did not disappoint. What a life. We get to tag along and see how Shek Yeung fights for control in her life. Yay, women not being taken seriously- a timeless story. Other reviewers compare this story to The Poppy Wars series, I admit, I DNF’d with those, I just couldn’t get into the narration and writing. This, to me anyway, is beautifully written and kept me engaged, even with a few slower moving parts. I love strong women, I love reading about strong women taking life by the horns, and strong women at sea? Yes please.

3.75 stars

This is historical fiction that takes on the story of Shek Yeung (more commonly known as Ching-Yi Sao, Zheng Yi Sao, Madam Ching, or Sek Yeung) the brutal Chinese pirate queen of the early 1800s. I knew nothing about her or her impact on history before, but I've since gone on a research binge & encourage you to do the same, because goddamn, was she cool.

As a teen, Shek Yeung's family is attacked by pirates & she's sold to a brothel. Years later, a pirate client notes her keen sense of observation & takes her from the brothel to be his wife. She grows into a cutthroat pirate & rules half of the largest fleet in China. This book begins with her first husband's death, & Shek Yeung's struggles to remain in power after. She marries her deceased husband's second-in-command & together they take control of not only their fleet but a large pirate alliance.

This book is classified as historical fantasy, which I think does it a disservice. There are lots of legends/folktales about Chinese gods included, & Shek Yeung contemplates them frequently, but those are the only fantasy elements involved. It's more historical fiction with a literary angle.

The political intrigue in this was top-notch, though, & we can positively spin my lack of education on 1800s world powers & the opium trade because I didn't see any of it coming. However, the book focuses more on Shek Yeung's interiority & less on the action. I highlighted a lot of thought-provoking quotes, especially about femininity & power, but ultimately didn't feel as connected to the characters as I'd have liked. I think the things I loved about this story were the events of the real Shek Yeung's life more than the fictionalized elements. The author concluded things in a way that allowed me to continue picturing the characters existing beyond the pages, but there were some threads I wish had been more wrapped up, despite knowing that was the point. That said, I'd love to read more about Shek Yeung, & would be interested in more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, & the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great book and show how this woman named SHEKYEUNG had to go through so much tragedy in life but she. Pulled through. As a child she was very abunctuous and she wanted to do everything a boy wanted to do. But she went out on a fishing boat with her father and her brother. This turned tragic because they were overtaken by pirates and they were killed. She was then sold to the flower boats which were a form of prostitution. She managed to stay alive and keep going and met a very nice man who married her. She became a pirate along with her husband and she was very ruthless but tragedy struck again humans murder by portuguese. She had two young children at home but she did not raise them his family did. So she married the 2nd in command he. He really did not want to do this but she said look. I'll take half a fleet. You take the other half and I will produce a song for you. So this went on for a long time but the chinese emperor decided to crack down on pirating and so did the europeans and sell china sea. She had women on her boat as well. The show's courage and trigger T. This woman was pretty amazing because she was always competing with none but she had a very short mind about her and she really kept everything going. It was very interesting the customs of childbirth how named really up these women rest and really gave them food so they gained their strength to go on. She loved to see a lot and she really did not know about her husband being dead. She knew she had a carrying on business raised her children raise another. This is pretty amazing at that time. What a great book i'm really enjoyed reading it

**2.5/5 stars**

first off: this book should really be categorized as historical fiction rather than fantasy, because magic? a sense of epic adventure? nowhere to be seen.

i think that readers who enjoy a drier, more academic writing style might like this book more, because it's clear that Chang-Eppig has done a great job at researching Shek Yeung and the time period she lived in -- the Chinese history portion felt very integrated into the overall narrative. it felt like the first 80% of a Sanderson book, where you're kind of drowning in world-building, but it's all okay because you know Sanderson will somehow pull it all together in the end and absolutely blow your mind. the only difference here is that the last 20% of a Sanderson book, where the plot goes at breakneck speed? that never happened here. it was just politics, negotiation, and the occasional fight scene until the book ended.

love the historical aspects and the focus on the pirate queen & a realistic view of what women must do to obtain power!