This book was even more brutal and tragic than the first book, if possible, but without losing the original spark and heart. All of the characters were at their best, which is to say their worst, but it was more than an endless slog through despair. It was a reminder that cruelty is a choice, revenge is a choice, but is it really worth it when an alternative still exists? A perfect finale to a perfect duology.

Beautiful. Haunting. Painful. Oh so painful. Yet completely perfect.
Wow, I’m not even sure how to write a review for this book. I feel like I could write multiple papers on all the themes explored within and never be able to say enough words about it. First, the writing is just gorgeous. Shelley Parker Chan is a genius. They’re able to bring me on a journey in which I FEEL so much for characters I hate. The depth of feeling and understanding evoked for each and every one of these incredibly complex characters is mind blowing. I’ve rooted for Zhu, Ma, and Xu Da the whole time. But as much as I could hate Ouyang, Baoxiang, and Madame Zhang, I also ached so very deeply from their pain—both their internal pain and the pain they inflicted. And it is A LOT. There is torture, rape, dismemberment, masochism, creative executions, descriptive injuries, and so much more. But most importantly, the exploration of pain, how the characters see their own pain, how it shapes them and their actions, and ultimately finding out if all of that pain is WORTH something that is the true underpinning of the entire book. Each character has to reckon with what their actions are worth. And the answer for most of them is so breathtakingly heartbreaking. I cried several times, often for characters I never would have expected.
There’s also tons more to unpack around bodies, how they’re used and seen and treated and how all of that impacts and shapes the owner of that body. And how society’s expectations of a person, their body, and their behavior shapes a person’s actions and their pain.
This is an absolute masterpiece and I will be haunted by it for a long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.

This book seemed a bit harder to get through than the first. Sometimes the way characters speak would throw me off a bit, but not enough to disengage from the story. Personally I had issues with the prevalent whining of Ouyang and Baoxing but understand that their early experiences informed their motivations as adults but it seemed to be too constant rather than a pulsing undercurrent.

An amazing follow-up to one of my favorite 5-star reads of 2021. Powerful and a perfect blend of historical fiction with fantasy elements. SO SO good.

He Who Drowned the World, the second and final installment of The Radiant Emperor duology by Shelly Parker-Chan is hands down one of the most brilliant books I have read in the year 2023. It’s predecessor, She who Became the Sun had already set the bar so high, yet He Who Drowned the World effortlessly surpassed it, raising the bar to unprecedented heights and redefining the benchmarks for the art of crafting a historical fantasy masterpiece. True to Chan’s signature style in The Radiant Emperor duology, almost all the protagonists in this book remained unabashedly queer, morally grey, some downright toxic and all were power hungry, who stop at nothing in their relentless pursuit of personal ambitions, regardless of the cost or sacrifices involved.

By this juncture, it is indisputable that Chan has unequivocally established themselves as one of the foremost authors in the realm of historical and high fantasy literature. Their ability to intricately weave a multifaceted narrative, complete with its ebbs and flows, alongside evoking poignant and heart-wrenching emotions, is truly unparalleled. Moreover, their skillful craftsmanship is further exemplified through the vivid tapestry they have expertly painted, depicting a world of remarkable depth and complexity. The exceptional world-building on display serves as a testament to Chan’s immense talent and contributes to the overall brilliance of their storytelling.

Amidst the brilliance of its world building, intricately woven plot, and multi-layered character arcs, one exceptional aspect that radiates throughout He Who Drowned the World is Chan’s resolute commitment to advocating for queer representation. Regardless of the reader’s own gender or sexual orientation, Chan masterfully ensures that every insult hurled at the characters, every prejudiced blow that lands upon their bodies, resonates deeply within the reader’s core. With utmost sensitivity, Chan delivers a profound and immersive experience, compelling the reader to keenly feel the weight of discrimination and violence that these characters endure, fostering a powerful empathic connection. Moreover, Chan skillfully illuminates the historical presence of xenophobia, homophobia, and ableism in ancient East Asia. Furthermore, notable recognition should be attributed to the author for shedding light on the practice of foot binding, which was a profoundly excruciating ordeal endured by women in their pursuit of societal ideals of feminine aesthetics within East Asian cultures.

Now to the characters. First and foremost, let us talk of our beloved Zhu Yuanzhang. From her humble beginnings as a peasant orphan, daringly seizing her brother’s destiny as Zhu Chongba, to her eventual ascension as The Radiant Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang’s journey is a tumultuous one, marred by numerous hardships. Confronting a relentless barrage of discrimination solely due to her gender, she boldly discards societal expectations, sacrificing her very identity to pursue her ambitions. Her path is marked by an unwavering determination to be recognized, clawing and scrambling her way through the obstacles that obstruct her progress. Zhu Yuanzhang’s character possesses an incredible power, unveiling a narrative that is both brutally honest and immersed in bloodshed, presenting an unflinching portrayal of her remarkable persona. Chan’s depiction of Zhu’s character development in He Who Drowned the World is truly remarkable and surpassed all my expectations. In contrast to her portrayal in the previous book, Zhu undergoes a profound journey of emotional and physical tribulations in this installment. Despite facing heart-wrenching circumstances, she emerges as a character who exhibits enhanced qualities of empathy, patience, and strategic thinking. This transformation in Zhu’s persona is a testament to Chan’s exceptional storytelling prowess.

General Ouyang undeniably stands out as one of the most gripping and masterfully crafted characters I have encountered in my recent literary explorations. His portrayal exudes a profound darkness, skillfully brought to life by the author’s pen. Given his background as a Nanren child enslaved by the Mongols, forced to witness the brutal execution of his family and enduring the horrific castration as a consequence of his father’s rebellion, it is no wonder that Ouyang is consumed by overwhelming hatred and rightfully so. Witnessing Ouyang’s gradual descent into the abyss of an unfathomably murky emotional landscape was undeniably heart-wrenching. Each passing day seemed to erode his spirit, causing him to fade away before our eyes. The weight of his traumatic past and the absence of a guiding light in his life left him adrift, struggling to find a path through the darkness that threatened to consume him completely. It was truly a poignant portrayal that tugged at the reader’s heartstrings, evoking a profound sense of empathy and sorrow for Ouyang’s plight.

The interactions between Zhu and Ouyang can only be likened to the catastrophic force of a volcano erupting or a devastating tsunami crashing upon a country’s shores. They possess a mesmerizing power that is both hauntingly beautiful and overwhelmingly destructive. Like a morbid spectacle, one may feel the inclination to avert their gaze, yet they find themselves unable to tear their eyes away. The intensity of their connection exudes a magnetic pull, captivating the audience in a way that is simultaneously enchanting and disconcerting. It is a testament to the author’s skill in crafting a dynamic and unforgettable relationship that leaves an indelible mark on the reader’s psyche.

Baoxiang and Lady Zhang too added a captivating dimension to the narrative with their individual perspectives and backgrounds. Without revealing any spoilers, it is safe to say that their journey in He Who Drowned the World was nothing short of harrowing. Despite knowing the eventual outcome they would face, it was impossible not to wholeheartedly root for them. The trials they endured were nothing short of hellish, yet their resilience and strength shone through, eliciting a deep emotional investment. Their fates were intertwined with the reader’s empathy, resulting in an unforgettable and bittersweet connection.

In conclusion, He Who Drowned the World stands as one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2023. Despite my initial worries whether Chan could surpass the brilliance of She Who Became the Sun, I was pleasantly proven wrong and I’ve never been this happy to be wrong either. This latest installment is an extraordinary masterpiece that excels in every conceivable aspect and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy upon its release. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley, Tordotcom, and Shelley Parker-Chan for the privilege of receiving an advance reader copy.

[Actual Rating 4.25] He Who Drowned the World is the sequel to She Who Became the Sun in the Radiant Emperor series set around the Ming Dynasty. Zhu is now the Radiant King, however, Madam Zhang in the south wants the throne for her husband. There is also the scholar Wang Baoxiang who wants to become the next Great Khan. Ouyang is also there from the first story as he is intertwined with Zhu’s journey from the first novel. Since the two stories go together, it is recommended to read them in order. Based on the random pieces, I could potentially put the story together by reading this one alone, however, it is much clearer after reading both.

The writing has similar prose to the first novel, so those who enjoyed the first, will most likely enjoy this one. The tone, however, is a little more somber, which is one of the key differences. There continues to be inclusion with gender fluidity, sexuality, and identity. I loved that Parker-Chan did not shy away from any emotion or other element in the story as there was a lot included. The plot itself is complex as there are many elements and characters to track, but it was all easy enough to follow and understand. The duology feels like a puzzle that the author nicely put together. There are multiple POVs in the story and I loved the various journeys that all led to a satisfying ending. The emotions do take up more pages than the rest of the plot, so I can see this as a divider among readers where some may prefer the story as-is and others would prefer more focus on plot. Overall, this was an excellent sequel, and I cannot wait to read more from the author in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Tor Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This book gets 5/5 on everything for me. Such an outstanding work. I adored the first book in the duology and this one didn't disappoint. Brilliant writing, amazingly complex and morally grey characters, and a deeply dramatic setting that I craved coming back to every time I was forced to put the book down. Loved it!!

I LOVED "She Who Became the Sun" - it was one of my favorites books the year that I read it. I can't say that the follow up novel hooked me quite as much as the first, but I was still happy to have followed the story to its end. As with the first installment, I love Parker-Chan's gender bending of the Ming Emperor's story. That being said, her treatment of Zhu's pronouns was confusing at the best of times. This book was also significantly darker than the first, which was fine, but just a warning for readers who might be triggered - there are LOTS of trigger warnings with this one - rape, assault, and abuse - just to name a few. As a reader, my biggest complaint with this one, though was how BORED I got. Don't get me wrong, there is a TON of political intrigue and backstabby betrayal, but in between those moments, I found myself getting bored. I wish the plot had moved along a bit more smoothly - rather than moments of nail biting action followed by pages of boredom.

Overall, it was a solid read, and because I loved the first one so much, I am glad I read this one and finished out the story.

The sequel to one of my favorite books, She Who Became the Sun, He Who Drowned the World continues the story of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, who has come from obscurity to become one of the most powerful leaders in an alternate China. She'll go up against Madam Zhang, a queen who has an army that could beat her, and Baoxiang, the scholar son of the late Prince of Henan who has maneuvered his way into the capital. Zhu will have to team up with Ouyang, the disgraced eunuch general who sliced off her arm. Together, they may be able to take the throne and get Ouyang's revenge against the Great Khan.

The good: As before, the writing by Shelley Chan in this book is exquisite. Her imagery and poetic language was both haunting and easy to parse. They masterfully wove the 3-5 narratives together in a way that made sense and built upon our knowledge of the world. The characters were incredibly complicated and diverse, and I was excited to see most of the voices. The author made sure to pull at our heartstrings with heartbreaking deaths, sacrifices, and debauchery which still hurts me after reading it. I loved the complicated relationships as well, between Zhu and Ouyang, Zhu and Ma, Baoxiang with his dead family, and Madam Zhang with her lovers and her own body.

The meh: I felt this book lost some of the charm of the first book, which was mainly communicated through its humor. Though I recognize this was a book primarily about suffering, I felt it didn't quite match the tone of the first book. This may be good for some people but I missed the banter from the first book. I also had a problem with the climax being the very end of the story. I very much wanted to see a falling action and the consequences of some of the decisions made by Zhu and other characters. I also felt like Baoxiang and Ouyang gave in to Zhu's commands too easily in the last few pages. It's for this reason that I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of 5, as I was a bit disappointed in the ending.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and read it very quickly. I can't remember the last time a complicated fantasy series like this drew me in so quickly and forced me to read so fast.

You will like this series if you like: complicated relationships with others and self, ambitious people, political intrigue, war, suffering, consequences and hard questions.

A review will be posted on The StoryGraph on 7/16 and an Instagram post will be made near the day of publication.

WOW. In a stunning follow up to She Who Became the Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan has really pushed the story to new heights in He Who Drowned the World. This story is brutal and tender all at once, with brilliantly complicated characters, artfully woven storylines, and a musing about power, identity, love and fate that is absolutely stunning. Even as the characters of this story violently cleaved their way through the pages of this book, I found myself drawn to their humanity and complexity, and deeply moved by the emotional journeys that played out alongside the military campaigns and political plotting that pull the story forward. This is such a solid and beautiful duology and I couldn't think of a better way for it to end than with this. Bravo to Shelly Parker-Chan for such a triumph of a series. I hope this ushers in more stories like this, that are rich with queer themes as well as being a riveting, bloodthirsty, complicated fantasy/historical fantasy novel.
This is easily my favorite book of the year, and I look forward to being able to recommend it to many people upon its release.

Many many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great sequel to an already great book, and a satisfying ending to this series. This book somehow manages to raise the stakes, with more and more contenders for the throne coming out of the woodwork and beginning to make their move. Zhu's wit and confidence helped her tremendously in the first book, but here we see a different side, where it's less one-sided victories and more of a struggle, with some losses. Fighting a multi-sided battle is difficult, and the author did a great job of showing Zhu's struggle with that while still retaining her strong character. There were more perspectives in the narration this time, with several chapters showing events that are outside of Zhu's knowledge, which helped to fill out the world and reinforce how big the fight for the throne had gotten. The end came as a surprise to me in how things were handled, but it was satisfying and a good way to end things. My major complaint is that Ma didn't feature nearly as much as I thought she would, until the very end. I felt like there was lost potential there, but with so many storylines to juggle, it's not a surprise that something fell to the side.

This was one of my more anticipated reads for the summer, after very much enjoying the first book that came out last year. After the masterful showing that was ‘She Who Rides the Storm,” it was a pretty sure thing that this book would rise to a similar level. However, I wasn’t quite prepared for exactly how dark this book turned out to be.

Again, right from the start, it’s clear how much talent this author has. The characters are all fully fleshed out, flawed individuals whose motives and choices are as frustrating as they are realistic. The stakes are also often incredibly high, making some of these choices all the more tortuous to read about. Throughout it all, the descriptions and style aspects of the writing are solid and clear, sucking the reader in, even as they may wish they could step back a bit.

When researching a bit for this review, I saw that the author had written on Goodreads mentioning that she doesn’t consider this book grimdark. In the same note, she referred to “Game of Thrones” as grimdark, and one gets the sense that she was likely trying to differentiate her book from that one, a series that has been criticized by some for being overly graphic in its depictions of violence. Now, I understand trying to differentiate your own book, but I also don’t think that authors are the true arbitrators of what subgenre their own book falls within. Yes, this is her opinion, and no one can deny her that. But subgenres like grimdark exist for the readers, not the author. They are there to allow readers to have a broad understanding of what sort of book they are picking up. And, by any understanding of the term grimdark, this book is definitely that.

Without exaggeration, about 90% of this book is made up of horror after horror. The hopelessness and terror of these situations is pervasive throughout the book. And the descriptions being as crisp and vivid as they are, the reader will find no respite from looking right at all of these awful things unfolding before them. Honestly, this book checks off markers on the grimdark list in an almost aggressive manner. And this isn’t a negative thing! People do enjoy grimdark, and I can appreciate it as well. “The Poppy Wars” often fell into this category, and I loved the heck out of those books. But to try to deny that this is grimdark is honestly doing a disservice to readers and setting up unwitting readers to be unprepared for the type of story they are going to be reading. Even from the first book, this one is markedly more dark and difficult to read.

All of this to say, that my actual reading experience of this book would probably put it in the 7 range for rating. It was a hard book to get through, and I wasn’t fully in the right space to want to read something that was this dark for almost the entire read. But, I also recognize the overall quality of the book and writing, so I’ve bumped up my rating. Fans of the first book will likely enjoy this one. But, yes, this is, in fact, grimdark fantasy.

Rating 8: Brutal and relentless, the strengths of this book are also the parts that make it such a challenging, but worthwhile, story.

(Link will go live Aug 23)

I do not know how to start this review.

There was sooo much going on which at times was a bit jarring. But I really did appreciate getting somewhat of a better understanding of characters and their motivations.

This book was constantly on 100. Characters dying and betrayals and pregnancies and dead people and more dead people and more dead people.

I just felt the ending left me wanting…more? Something different perhaps? After the 70-80% I could pretty much guess where the book was going and although the ending was deserved, the journey felt a bit…lacklustre.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I always enjoy reading about Zhu & Ouyang.

My feelings towards this book are wrapped in so much grief I almost didn’t realize I loved it.
It’s such a rare feeling to be so invested and heartbroken over the way a story is told, that its own gaping wounds start to make you feel like one yourself.

I loved this book just as much as the first one! I am so excited to see what else Parker-Chan writes, and I will definitely sell this one just like She Who Became the Sun!!

TW: Self harm, Rape, Torture, Miscarriage

Zhu, The Radiant King, finds herself feeling unstoppable after her victories and wants to crown herself emperor. But she won’t just have to go against the reigning dynasty but also others who have designs on the throne. Zhu realizes she can’t go it alone and makes an unlikely alliance with someone who is more like her than he realizes. But no one vying for the throne realizes that there is someone who lurks in the shadows with their own designs to rule and is much closer to claiming the throne than anyone else. As they’re all willing to do whatever it takes to rule, who will have to sacrifice the most, and who will emerge victorious?

This is truly a work of epic historical fantasy. This sequel still focuses on familiar characters while expanding its reach throughout the empire on a larger scale. It had a much different feel to its prequel, which I ended up not preferring. Zhu’s POV was weaker in this read as it was more focused on her building up followers and running between different points or on intense bouts of action. I enjoyed the parts of Baoxiang’s POV that were more intrigue-driven subterfuge, but his sections quickly became too graphic for me.

I personally disliked how sexually explicit this book was and how often it happened. While I do acknowledge that these parts played an important role in the characterization and plot throughout the book, I would have preferred them to be more off-page and/or much less graphic. It reached a point where it felt more gratuitous and less relevant, which detracted from my enjoyment. This was mostly the case in Baoxiang’s sections, and much of his internal dialogue about the sexual interactions contradicted each other to the point where I was confused as to his actual wants/desires. I disliked how muddied his characterization became, especially as it didn’t seem like this was done on purpose.

I loved how complex this work was and appreciate how well the author combined so many elements and moving parts to create a compelling conclusion that didn’t feel forced. However, this book was just so drastically different from the first one in ways I didn’t prefer that it didn’t wow me in the same way. I do still recommend this read and it was a satisfying conclusion, although don’t go into it expecting a similar read to the prequel. My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published August 22, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thanks to Tor Books and Netgalley for grating me access to this eARC!

He Who Drowned the World follows the story of Zhu, Ouyang and the rest of the characters after the events that happen in She Who Became the Sun. Situations are way more violent and tense since they are at war now, and new characters appear to try to defy Zhu on her way to the throne.

I finished this book last night and I still don't really know what to say.
But ok, I will start by talking about the characters: This book is full of character development! We get to see Zhu explore different scenarios, where she starts to question everything she had fought for until now. We also get to see moments when some of the other characters get to slowly realize thing without really wanting to accept them. The whole book is a path of self-discovery and opening their eyes to a new reality of the world.

The new characters are extremely interesting. Both of them kept me wanting to know more about their lives, because they are such complex characters that you just want to keep reading what is in their minds. That being said, I really missed Zhu many times. Like, I know it's good we get more insight from the other characters, but at some point I was like, "where is Zhu?" and she would come back 30 pages after. I also missed Ma a lot.

Now, about the pacing of the story and the story in general: I really liked this book's pacing at the beginning. We are preparing for war, we come and go, battle after battle, mission after mission. We have deep moments when the characters openly (or as openly as these characters can) talk about their feelings and that's good and understandable. But then we get to the last part of the book...and everything starts happening SO FAST. It threw me off, because when this change happens, everything that happens starts to feel...too vain? Like, we stop getting deep into things, we just see them in the surface, and then everything is just too convenient. But what gets me more in the nerves is that, when something BIG happens almost in the last 20%, the characters just keep going. There isn't a moment of impact, nor enough time for the reader to assimilate it. I mean, I get it, that's how it is in war, but I really wished there were more reactions to this event.
And I didn't feel fully satisfied with the ending. I would have loved an epilogue! But also, I didn't like that some things were left so unsolved! I was happy, but I also expected some extra pages at the end.

That being said, in general, I really enjoyed this book, and in general this duology is spectacular and you should totally give it a try!

I REALLY enjoyed 'She Who Became the Sun.' It was slow burn, had a lot of world and character building, but did have a dark side.

You need to read book one to get the full experience for 'He Who Drowned the World.' This book follows some familiar characters in a new journey as Zhu sets her sights on becoming Emperor.

This book is brutal. I really appreciated that the author was so forthcoming with trigger warnings, as they are plentiful. Be sure to do yourself a favor and read over them.

Very dark and shocking end to a wonderful series. The tonal shift in this novel is enthralling and at first feels harsh but eventually makes sense.

This sequel to SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN is much darker than the first book. In fact it reminds me of a Chinese version of Game of Thrones, with lots of political machinations, betrayal, blood, torture, and destruction, and ghosts instead of dragons. The characters are very complicated and most of them are not particularly likeable, but there are exceptions that redeem the story in the end. There is plenty of action and plot twists to keep the reader invested, although there's so much death and destruction in the middle that it's hard to keep going. Those who do will be rewarded, but this is not a simple book to read. I think it is worth it, but there were definitely times when I had my doubts.