She Who Became the Sun is a reimagined story of the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
The story follows Zhu Chongba (the girl who took another’s place) and her journey from the starving fields of her village to her gradual rise to greatness.


The plot was fast paced, it kept me on edge the whole time as one action rolled into another consequence. The world was so rich with textures and descriptions that it immerses you in this part of Chinese history.

There is no such thing as heroes in this story, Shelley Parker-Chan does a wonderful job of showing the bad and good sides of each character; each one is as complex as the last and just as beautifully written.
Zhu’s rise to power came with accepting both parts of her life, but also thirsting for more of it; contrasted with Ma’s compassionate nature and Ouyang’s silent plot for revenge – you’ll learn to like the characters for all their flaws and damning choices.

I have been really excited for this book, and as expected, loved it a lot.
Just watching Zhu – a powerful character in her own right – fight for a destiny she desperately wants, taking anything in her path to victory. I loved her intuitive side, the side that showed compassion and understanding because it made her so much different from the other generals. I can’t say I was surprised by her sudden shift in violence towards the end; but I think Zhu lost a little bit of her charm because of that.

I also did some research on the Ming Dynasty (around the third part of the book) which spoils the book a little bit – so I wouldn’t recommend doing external research unless you’re prepared for that. Obviously, as it’s a reimagining, many details are changed anyway.


She Who Became the Sun is definitely something I’ll recommend because of the engaging plot and intense writing.

TW // child neglect, blood, gore, graphic injuries, body shaming, death, murder, forced marriage, manipulation, misogyny, starvation, torture, violence

In 1345, China lies restless under harsh Mongol rule. And when a bandit raid wipes out their home, the two children must somehow survive. Zhu Chongba despairs and gives in. But the girl resolves to overcome her destiny. So she takes her dead brother's identity and begins her journey. Can Zhu escape what’s written in the stars, as rebellion sweeps the land? Or can she claim her brother’s greatness – and rise as high as she can dream?

The author has really brought to life 14th century China, the world building is very detailed and the atmosphere perfectly set. I loved seeing what motivated 'Zhu' and reading about her life at the monastry, however, I was surprised at how long it took me to get through the middle given how strong the book started. I adored Ma and Xu Da they both brought empathy and humour to the story, the ending is very emotional and I look forward to the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read She Who Became The Sun.

Well this book is certainly different from other books I've read. Original, well written and crafted. Leave all your preconceptions at the door and just wallow.. Historical fantasy is probably the genre but really it is so much more than that. The book is quite long and the plot complex with many characters but somehow that didn't matter. A unique and engaging perspective on a historical event. Given that I am fascinated by China anyway that helped.
I would encourage everyone to read this

Right from the start of this book it was apparent this was going to be an extremely well written and complex story which likes others have said reminded me of Mulan.
It’s a reimagining historical tale of a peasant girl who takes on the persona of her dead brother hiding her identity as a girl and all the trials and tribulations that brings. This is quite a thrilling adventure story that goes at a fast pace and at times I must admit I did get a bit confused with certain storylines but because of the beautiful way it was written I did overcome that and enjoyed the book a lot.
There are a lot of characters to follow and one heck of a lot of plot lines, the book is also pretty long so it takes a lot of reading and I did find my attention drifting in certain parts of it but overall it was good and well worth reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, Mantle for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

'Practice like your head’s on fire' is the advice a young Buddhist monk lives by in Shelley Parker-Chan’s action-filled novel of the fall of China’s Yuan dynasty. In the beginning, a withered fortune teller foretells nothingness for a poor, starving nameless child visiting with its father and brother. The brother is surely on the path of greatness, he the 8th son with a lucky name, but life steps in and pushes them all into the arms of divergent fates borne of their own choices, good and bad. This lowly girl assumes her fortunate brother’s name and therein lies the problem – she will always be fated to live a lie. Or will she?

'She who became the sun' is a gripping retelling of the rise of the Ming Dynasty in medieval China with fictional elements creating a rich tapestry of what if. The author has woven in some daring gender play that really lifts the oft-told story and will engage even the most battle-weary historical fiction avoider. There is a tantalising sprinkling of magic, just enough to be believable, that enhances the story of a little monk’s rise to power.

Do you read two books at the same time? I also had Joe Abercrombie’s 'A little hatred' on the go and the similarities were striking: intrigue, politics, strategy, feminine power, male privilege, and that hint of magic. Although I appreciate both titles, Shelley Parker-Chan’s take on the swashbuckling historical saga was so fresh that it gripped me from the start. The LGBT+ elements of the novel are written with tender authenticity and serve to attract the reader further into the characterisations. The characters are magnetic. As interesting as Chinese history is, Shelley Parker-Chan has wrought an attractive cast, warts and all, and it is this that stokes the reader’s fire.

The language feels choppy, as if translated, but it rolls the tale out cinematic-style building a world that lives in the mind’s eye. I happily read the book in two sittings. I rooted for the Zhu Chongba (MC) to win through but the baddies (Ouyang the eunuch general on a mission, Little Guo the miserable misogynistic man-boy to name a few) shone just as bright. I felt I was in YA territory because of the unique POV of the story and its characters. I adore YA, by the way, and that’s high praise indeed. For those sexually squeamish readers, there is a 3-screen sex scene which is tender yet graphic.

I’m going to recommend this book to absolutely everyone I meet, especially if they liked the aforementioned 'Age of Madness' (Joe Abercrombie) or mythic retellings like those of Madeline Miller ('Circe' or 'Song of Achilles'). Even if you don’t like historical fiction or fantasy fiction or romance or adventure, you’re going to love Shelley Parker-Chan’s literary baby. The author’s notes attest to the epic nature of writing this one volume, but I will be praying for a quick sequel in 'The Radiant Emperor' duology, and then reading it like my head’s on fire.

Thanks as ever to NetGalley UK for the eARC and to PanMacmillan.

There’s so many words to describe how brilliant this debut is. She Who Became the Sun is full of picturesque prose illustrating harsh landscapes and brutal war. From the opening chapters to the closing lines, I was transfixed by how intriguing the politics was, and following the characters fight to make their own fate was breathtakingly captivating.

The world building felt ancient and vivid, and the political landscape was intriguing to say the least. I never knew what was going to develop next. From backstabbing and coups, to sieges and executions, Parker-Chan did not hold back. Honestly I’ve now got a complex about appearing to support war because of how epic it was to read this book’s scenes?! The rows of men, undergoing training and sparring sessions, preparing for war with their anxiety palpitating off the pages, with the horror, brutality and violence of war, all the while scheming their own schemes to seize power. It was just fantastic.

The characters were cleverly crafted and unforgettable. It was excellent reading the lengths Zhu would go to achieve a great fate, made even more enjoyable that we follow Zhu from adolescence into who they become by the novel’s end. As Zhu passes off as a man and embraces that identity, it grew a little tedious reading chapter upon chapter of Zhu’s worries about overstepping in the guise and being discovered. It felt like the author manifested the weight of Zhu’s burden onto me, which while impressive, was also incredibly exhausting.

We also follow the perspective of Ma who was full of compassion, yet always perceptive, even more so than many men. Her character, along with her relationship with Zhu brought a tenderness to the story although they certainly didn’t lack some spice (wink, wink).

The other main character is Ouyang. To avoid death at the hands of the royal family, he became a eunuch and as a grown man serves the same family as a general of the army. Ouyang was definitely my favourite character. I have nothing but love for him. My heart was with him in every embittered thought and tickle of anxiety about his resentment of those who looked down on him for being a eunuch, for hatching his own plans for his own agendas and for trying to resist how his traitorous heart beat for his enemy. I loved his and Esen’s chapters. At the height of turmoil, I couldn’t breathe and just kept reading and reading. They made this book a true page turner.

The concept of fate is crucial to the story and was probably my second favourite detail of the entire book. On the one hand, you’ve got Ouyang who feels his fate is set in stone and it must be followed until the end of the line. And on the other hand, you’ve got Zhu, who’s purpose of living is to bend the boundaries of what fate means for oneself. The contrast of these two characters, considering their parallels too, was beyond impressive. In fact, I still think about it months later, that’s how powerful it is.

Parker-Chan’s writing style is something I’ll appreciate for years to come. From how illustrative and easy to imagine some moments were, to how deeply moving and lyrical some passages were, it wins the book I’ve saved most quotes from in 2021. If I hadn’t struggled with some rigid dialogue here and there, I’d go so far as to class it flawless. Even still, remembering its a debut, my eyebrows go above my hairline and my socks remain blown off.

She Who Became the Sun will go down as one of the best publications of this decade. It feels as epic as it is to read long after finishing, and guarantees I’ll be putting whatever Parker-Chan writes next at the top of my TBR priority list. I’ve preordered both US and UK copies because ✨covers✨ and that’s how much I enjoyed this book.

P.s. definitely give any final maps and character lists a look over before reading. I was a little confused at first understanding royal titles and wish I’d thought to utilise the list (its at the back of the book).

Thank you kindly to the publishers Mantle (Pan Macmillan) and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a historical fantasy novel, a genderqueer re-imagining of the story of Zhu Chongba, born to impoverished peasant farmers in 14th century China, who rose to become the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. But there's a twist in Parker-Chan's interpretation of this story. Zhu Chongba dies in adolescence, and his younger sister takes on both his identity and his destiny to rise to greatness.

Parker-Chan does a great job of exploring the genderqueer elements of the story, with Zhu Chongba's struggle to reconcile the male identity in which she's immersed herself with the female body in which she's imprisoned, along with the ever-present threat of discovery. We also meet her nemesis in battle, Ouyang, made a eunuch as a child by a Mongol leader, then rising to the rank of general in the Mongol army as he grapples with his emotions about his mutilated body and his feelings for the son of the man who maimed him.

Zhu Chongba's arc, from a shy girl in a famine-struck village, to a novice monk, to a powerful military leader, is effective, as is her developing relationship with Ma Xiuying (the only character in the book who has any empathy for other people). The military engagements and the various armies were effectively described, delivering a filmic scope and scale that I haven't often seen on a page. The fantastical elements were also balanced well with the political and military aspects of the story.

Unfortunately, I did find that the pace dragged, especially in the middle section. There were, for me, too many examples of clunky prose or anachronistic sounding language. In a fast-paced page turner you could probably get away with this, but as this book was quite slow anyway, the things I disliked about the prose had the effect of pulling me out of the story, breaking the 'fictive dream'. I never found myself being carried along by the story and at times it became a bit of a chore, although the pace did improve towards the end. The book was pitched as Mulan crossed with Song of Achilles, and while I can see why they went with Song of Achilles in terms of story, for me it raised expectations in terms of the quality of the prose that sadly this book didn't live up to, for me anyway, despite the originality of the idea.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read She Who Became The Sun in exchange for an honest review.

If I could just leave a speechless face as a review, I would for "She Who Became the Sun". This book is an incredible journey, filled with amazing characters, an intensely vivid setting, a plot that I swear made my heart stop at several points... but, most importantly for me, Shelley Parker-Chan's writing delivers the story in a way that you can escape - and don't want to. One of my top ten reads of the year so far.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

This book explores an alternate history of the Ming Dynasty, and it's clear that Shelley Parker-Chan has put a lot of research and passion into this setting; it weaves together the realistic and grim history with a layer of the magic and paranormal to create a truly interesting world I had a great time exploring.
The two lead characters - Zhu and Ouyang - are well-developed and are each given time to breathe as protagonists, with grey morality and explorations of not only their own gender identity, but the way their society functions - and how their fate intertwines with its destruction.
The romances of this novel were not my favourite aspect, but the blossoming and eventual difficulties explored within each dynamic felt realistic and well thought-out (and heart-breaking, at certain points).
I personally haven't read many books that are so heavy on the logistics and planning of battles and encounters with an enemy force, but I found those to be my favourite parts of this novel, honestly.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable read! It's not a new favourite for me, but I feel like those who are hyped for it will have a great time.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, the Milan meets Song of Achilles comp is absolutely spot on. Perfect for historical fiction fans and fantasy lovers alike, plenty of action and a great romance sub plot. Felt the characters were well crafted, the relationships believable, and there was a lot of unexpected humour which I loved. Would highly recommend.

3.5 stars.

In amongst the densely woven descriptions of battles and the deeply unlikeable characters (bar a couple), there is a good story here.

The first half of this book in particular was slow and I struggled to get into it, but from about halfway through the pace picks up and it becomes eminently more interesting. Unfortunately, the ending then becomes rushed and a lot of what happens to the main character seems awfully convenient! This is book one in a series, but I can't say that I'm left with any particular desire to find out what happens next - I'm quite happy to leave this as a standalone story.

Most of the characters are written to be unlikeable. They are greedy and corrupt, and will stop at nothing to get their own way. There are a couple of notable exceptions to this but unfortunately the central romantic relationships that involve some of these characters lack any real chemistry.

Overall, a good read once you've picked the story out of everything, but not something I'd rush to recommend.

4.5 stars
Set in China at the rise of the founding Ming Dynasty a young girls village slowly dies of starvation and bandits arrive she chooses to 'become' her brother and adopt his identity in order to claim his given fate of greatness.

This was a truly a novel that had it all, a strong protagonist, war, political intrigue and love. I followed Zhu's journey from the starving village to the monastery with bated breath in case she would be found out. Her decision to adopt Zhu's fate was truly gripping and I cant wait until the next book is released. If you enjoyed the Poppy War trilogy you will love this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

Rating 4.5 rounded up

Pitched as Mulan meets Son of Achilles, She Who Became the Sun is a reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty set in an Alternate China. Simply put this book was amazing. It was such a magnificent read with a beautiful writing style, well thought-out characters, and epic fight scenes. This was an amazing debut book and I cant wait for the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this and personally I thought it was just okay.
I really enjoyed the writing style, it was beautiful and I enjoyed that the characters were diverse. The writing was very descriptive and it did annoy me in places. There’s also some time skips which took me some time to get used to. However it also wasn’t what I expected. The story is split into 3 parts. I really enjoyed the first part, it is what I expected and I just loved the atmosphere. So much happens in the first part which makes the pacing a little strange. The second part was okay and the third part was back to being enjoyable as I’d got used to things by then.
I wish there was more fantasy elements as I was expecting this to be fantasy. I would have also been happy if there wasn’t any fantasy elements but this is sort of feels like it has fantasy just for the sake of it. I enjoyed the military aspects of the story. The characters were okay, I didn’t fully connect and I’m not sure I’ll remember them.
One thing that I loved was that there are genderqueer protagonists as I haven’t read many books that have that and I enjoyed the aspect. I enjoyed the slight discourse on gender identity.
Overall this was an okay read for me, not what I expected but I think people will enjoy it.

What if, this book asks, the first Ming Emperor Zhu Chongba was secretly a woman. My knowledge of Chinese history is paltry but even I recognise this suggestion as being akin to asking What if Henry VIII was actually a woman. And yet for all the gender twists that this throws into the pot, gender is really only important here in as much as it limits opportunity. When her family die as a child, she cross dresses as her elder brother for survival as he had been promised to a monastery. Then as a monk, she has to maintain the facade. And so it goes, an extra layer of danger, a secret identity which really just underpins the overarching ambition. A fortune teller had told her brother that Zhu Chongba would be great - well when she becomes Zhu Chongba she follows through.

This takes place in the very early phase of the rise to power, the first third of the book is the coming of age in the monastery and I must admit this was possibly my favourite part of the book, Constant threat but also it is a schooldays memoir with a few cultural twists. Its also all in her head. Once the monastery is destroyed and Zhu has to make her way in the world, we also have chapters from the point of view of the Mongol rulers as antagonists. While the political machinations and family drama of her enemies is entertainingly done, Zhu is such a great protagonist that you resent time away from her. And once grown all the duplicity she used to stay hidden she puts in practice in the art of war - using the avalanche/rockslide trick to defeat an army single-handedly (possibly more than just a tip of the hat to Mulan there). The book gets up to the conquest of Nanjing, and past Zhu's marriage to the woman who would eventually become his Empress. It dodges, at least at this point, the issue of issue - though I will be interested to see how future books deal with the concubines and the 42 children - that's a lot of people to keep a deadly secret.

Whilst the book touches on issues of gender and sexuality in its whole broad story arc, its much more concerned about status and place and how a peasant can survive and eventually thrive in this feudal society. The subtext with the fortune teller is that Zhu Chongba brings the foretold greatness of her dead brother on to herself by force of will and belief (though that belief often stretches into moments where she believes she might be impervious to harm because of it). A similar thing happens around gender, having had to live as a man for such a long time she considers most things as a man and - biology notwithstanding - operates as a man in all ways. This may hint at giving a relatively modern perspective but actually it is more about safety and opportunity. When Zhu finally reveals their body to their wife to be, the conversation quickly goes to one of practicality and how holding such a secret can make both of them co-conspirators and safer. The book does nevertheless allow itself its moments of passion near the end.

This is a radical idea for a novel and one that could well be banned in China (I am not sure how seriously they take this stuff, but my sense is probably quite). But it still works fundamentally as an adventure, a romance and political novel, and Zhu Chongba is added to my recent list of smart warrior tricksters who will avoid war at all consts - though not necessarily bloodshed. Its already quite an incredible peasant to emperor story that I am sure it doesn't need the extra wrinkle, though that extra wrinkle here really gives it a flavour and drive all of its own.

☆☆☆☆☆

This book was fucking amazing.

I loved everything about this book even the parts that had me crying. One of my favourite aspects of this book were the relationships between the characters and how they were written because they were written so beautifully and the characters and their emotions were so well written, there were times when I had to put down the book to be like “fuuuck”. I couldn’t help but be invested in this book and it’s characters and everything else about it. I can’t wait for this book to release so I can own a (physical) copy.

She Who Became the Sun is such an amazing book. An action driven powerful plot which blends history with fiction in such a perfect way. The writing was so beautiful that hooked me up straight away. It was interesting to see the main character explore her genre and genre identity, being honest with her own identity and determined to achieve the impossible.
Looking forward to what's going to happen in the next instalment.

Shelley Parker-Chan weaves a rich tapestry of complex characters in a world that is both familiar and new. She expertly twists expectations and understandings of characters and the landscape and finds a knife-edge balance of fiction, myth, and legend.

2.5
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start this review by saying that this book was my most anticipated release of 2021. Mulan is one of my favourite Disney cartoons, and on top of that, I'm a huge fan of The Poppy War, which falls in the same category of literature as She Who Became The Sun. You can probably guess that my expectations were high, like REALLY HIGH. Additionally, this is a queer fantasy novel, which is something extraordinary in this genre. So what went wrong?

The first part of the book kept me hooked. I was stunned from the very first page and it continued for a few chapters. The monastery plot? Absolutely phenomenal. I couldn't wait to read more and more. And then... the second part came and that was the point when all went downhill pretty fast.
The writing style, which was great up to that point, made me feel distant from the characters and I couldn't connect with them AT ALL. The overall characterisation felt really flat to me and I don't know why people claim Zhu to be a strong, vicious character. There was literally NOTHING that made me believe so. Also, the pacing was slow and that's not a problem for me usually, but here it didn't do this story justice. I thought that there would be some epic descriptions of battles or military strategies, just like in The Poppy War, but they were only a few pages long in the whole book, which left me unsatisfied. Most of the time I was just confused because nothing splendid or at least a bit interesting was going on.

The next thing I wanna talk about is the romance. When I was diving into this novel, I had no idea that the plot would be focused on romantic relationships between the characters. Nevertheless, it was by far the best part of the book, but it didn't manage to carry this story on its shoulders. And another mind-boggling facet were Zhu's pronouns: they were changing constanly and at one point I simply lost track of it.

To sum up, I didn't have a good reading experience with She Who Became The Sun. Lots of people seem to love it, so I think you have to pick this one up and see for yourself whether it's your cup of tea or not.

-THIS. BOOK. WAS. ABSOLUTELY. INCREDIBLE. Definitely one of my favourite reads of 2021. If you take anything from this review, it should be that you NEED to read this book.-

~I received and eARC of this book through net galley in exchange for an honest review.~

The only thing I knew about this book before reading it was that it was described as a mix between Mulan and The Song of Achilles which had me so intrigued. I can definitely say that this description encapsulates this book perfectly. And if you need anymore convincing, this book is also has some epic LGBTQ+ rep (non-binary lesbian main character, lesbian main character, gay main character, bisexual main character)!!

This book has multiple main characters throughout but the most recognisable would be Zhu. I LOVE HER CHARACTER SO MUCH!! She is not your typical main character and is most definitely morally grey, which I think is what makes her so great. Her character is very driven and has a great determination to survive and achieve the greatness she desires, no matter what she has to do to achieve it. Another prominent character is Ouyang (who i also love) and is presented as an antagonist in part two of the book. One amazing thing about this book is how complex each of the characters are, with each of them playing a crucial role in the development of the story. The character development is also amazing and does not feel rushed at all.

Another amazing thing about this book is the setting- 14th century China. This book is a reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty and you might recognise the main character is based on the founder, Zhu Yuanzhang. However, you definitely do not need any prior knowledge on the Ming Dynasty to understand and enjoy this book (I was unaware of this history until doing some research after finishing the book).

PLOT TWISTS. SO. MANY. PLOT. TWISTS. It was a rollercoaster of a book that left you guessing at what would happen next. The ending was also amazing and definitely shows the events that the next book will follow. There is no major cliff hanger but I hate that I have to wait so long for the next book😭

Finally, I just want to give a warning that this book is very dark and graphic, dealing with heavy themes and so please be cautious when reading this book! I will leave a list of trigger warnings below.

BOOK TRIGGER WARNINGS: swearing, death, physical violence, war, murder, mass murder, alcohol consumption, graphic sex, character death, death of children, ableism, torture (non-graphic), starvation, dysphoria, misgendering, amputation, internalised homophobia