This was such a pleasant surprise!

This story follows a girl who in order to fulfil her dead brother's destiny, becomes him and therefore begins a quest to great victory. The pacing is just too good and I was so hooked throughout. The representation was amazing and I loved the General! There was some great banter in here too!

Highly recommend!

Brilliant epic adventure - I could not put this down. I loved the way the author brought the characters alive - they felt real to me and so the book was gripping. A few shocks in this and twists and turns - keeps you reading all night. Amazing debut

** spoiler alert ** Well this fell as flat as a pancake. All the queerness couldn’t save this either. Currently between 2.5 and 3 stars.

Following our girl Zhu as our Mulan reincarnation in residency; this book promised a mind blowing reimagining of the story and the Ming dynasty but just transformed it into a boring melodrama with a psychopathic anti-heroine who you can’t root for.

The rest of the characters generally blurred into one with little to no difference in boring characterisation. Apart from the hella gay angst between Ouyang and Esen who just also happen to be enemies to brothers to they desperately wannabe lovers.

The story and timeline also jumped all over the place with no real reason or thought behind it. It left me feeling disconnected and struggling to immerse myself in a plot that was disjointed.

Further, add a fake marriage into the cards for fun and watch that add another unnecessary layer. Her wife Ma deserved better but was left as a ploy to assist the men of this book whilst the author tried to present she was more than that before pushing her back in her assigned box. Why are queer women still suffering in 2021 hmmm? Happy ending I THINK NOT APPARENTLY.

Overall this just didn’t work for me on a multitude of levels and is one of my big let downs of the year. If you don’t go too deep into it it’s a fantasy that passable but look beyond the gloomy exterior of the pretty cover art and problems start to appear quickly.



10 Feb 2021 - IJUST GOT APPROVED FOR AN ARC HOLY SHIT 2021 KEEPING QUARANTINE INTERESTING

WOW. This is a stunning and phenomenal debut. The premise itself is exciting alone, but the execution is FLAWLESS. The story focuses on a girl who has taken over her brother's identity in order to fulfil his fate, and what ensues is a tale of perseverance and fortitude.

The descriptions are vivid and so seamlessly detailed that it is easy to imagine 1350s China, somewhere I am still yet to visit! The historical background is intriguing and captivating and makes you want to learn more about it. What is even better is that you root so hard for the main character, and you enjoy seeing her journey especially towards self-acceptance.

I cannot wait for the second book in this duology and I eagerly await the release date of this so that the critical acclaim can shower Shelley Parker-Chan!!!!

While I can see why She Who Became the Sun has drawn comparisons to Mulan (we have Zhu ‘posing’ as a man), The Song of Achilles (we have a ‘close’ bond between two soldiers, one a lord the other a general), and The Poppy War (harsh backdrop + war/battles + main characters who do questionable things), what this novel really reminded of Mary Renault’s historical novels (like her Alexander the Great trilogy). But brutal. I mean, x1000 more brutal (so, think Mary Renault + you are being sucker-punched).

In this reimagining of the life of Zhu Yuanzhang, the peasant-turned-emperor founder of the Ming Dynasty, Parker-Chan transports her readers to Mongol-occupied imperial China. Famine, poverty, plagues From the very opening pages we are plunged into a harsh and unforgiving world. In 1345 the Zhu children, a boy and a girl from the famine-stricken Zhongli village are given opposing fortunes. The boy, Zhu Chongba, is promised ‘greatness’, his “deeds will bring a hundred generations of pride to [his] family name”. The girl’s fate? “Nothing”. Yet, after a bandit attack leaves them orphaned it is the boy who is unable to recover while the girl refuses to succumb to despair. After his death, the girl claims his name and fate. The ‘new’ Zhu Chongba refuses to accept her former fate and will do whatever it takes not only to survive but thrive. Zhu goes on to become a novice at the Wuhuang Monastery, and as the years go by the more her conviction that she will be great is cemented.
When the unrest against Mongol rule grows Zhu, now a monk, joins forces with the Red Turbans, a group of peasant rebels. In her ruthless quest for greatness, Zhu will stop at nothing. Driven by the certainty that she will be great, Zhu slowly rises among the ranks of rebels, demonstrating time and again that to win a war one needs more than swordsmanship or physical strength. The more powerful Zhu becomes the more she craves, but how far is too far?
We also follow Ouyang, a eunuch of Nanren blood, formerly a slave and now a general in the Mongol army (the people responsible for exterminating his family and enslaving him). Ouyang too is following what he believes to be his fate, even if he knows that this path will lead in pain (my pain, Parker-Chan, if you are reading this you broke my effin heart).
As the narrative progresses, Zhu and Ouyang’s fate become irrevocably and terribly entwined. One is hungry for greatness, the other, revenge.

She Who Became the Sun is an epic historical fantasy and probably one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. While I was not familiar with this era/setting (predictably, the little I knew about Mongolia concerns ‘the’ Genghis Khan, aka Temüjin, and I knew next-to-nothing about 14th century China—I love wuxia films but they are not entirely reliable) Parker-Chan does a fantastic job in immersing her readers in this period of Mongolian/Chinese history. In that way, she brought to mind Renault who also excelled in evoking ancient cultures and peoples without making her readers feel overwhelmed or confused.
Parker-Chan does not shy away from portraying the grim realities faced by people like Zhu and Ouyang. In addition to famines and plagues, we have battles between Mongols and the Red Turbans who seek to free themselves from their cruel rule. Rather than portraying either faction as inherently good or bad, Parker-Chan populates her story with characters who are all varying degrees of terrible (Ma, daughter to a Red Turban general, and Xu Da, Zhu’s monastery ‘brother’ are perhaps the only not-so-morally ambiguous characters).
Zhu and Ouyang are no heroes. They are, to different extents and purposes, self-serving, and willing to commit acts of horrific violence to fulfil their fates (even if it means betraying their loved ones). Yet, given what we learn about them, in other words, their circumstances, readers will have a hard time condemning or judging them.

Parker-Chan’s unadorned prose perfectly complements the severe world inhabited by Zho and Ouyang. For all its apparent simplicity, Parker-Chan’s writing packs a punch. We have emotionally charged dialogues, precise and clever descriptions about the characters (their motivations, fears, natures), and some fantastic fighting sequences. It just goes to show how talented a writer Parker-Chan is but I was gripped by scenes focusing on military strategy (something I am not usually all that wowed by). There are also surprising moments of humor that offer brief yet desperately needed moments of levity (Zhu’s ‘pious’ act was a delight to read). The narrative is otherwise fraught with tension. The fantasy elements were also very well-done. Although they are seamlessly incorporated into the historical backdrop they did add a certain atmosphere to the story.
In addition to a gripping storyline and a detailed historical setting Parker-Chan also brings to the table a complex cast of characters. Their shifting allegiances and dynamics made the story all the more captivating. Zhu is no hero(ine). She is hellbent on getting what she wants (greatness) and while she isn't wholly morally reprehensible she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Her relationship with Xu Da and Ma were wonderfully compelling, even heart-rendering.

Aaaand, now I have to talk about Ouyang and I cannot even. Dio mio. This man is terrible but that did not stop me from loving him. I swear, I felt ‘all the feels' each scene he was in. The man is literally haunted. His tortured self-loathing reaches highs not even Adam Parrish would dream of. My heart broke for him, time and again. His storyline managed to be even more devastating than Zhu’s one. I am never going to shut up about him. Just thinking about him makes me wanna curl in a ball and cry.

At its heart, Parker-Chan’s novel is about power, survival, and fate. Parker-Chan pushes Zhu and Ouyang to their limits, putting them in impossible situations and pitting them against each other (we have more than one scene where I could not for the life of me root for either Zhu and Ouyang, hoping against hope that they could just set their weapons aside and become best buds...I am delusional I know). In addition, Parker-Chan subverts traditional gender roles and notions of masculinity and gifts us with an A+ queer romance and a complicated relationship with a lot of yearning (when their hands brushed I was a goner).

It took me 40 pages or so to really get into the story but once I was ‘in’ I was 100% invested in both the story and the characters. This novel is gripping, brutal, poignant, distressing and full of jaw-dropping moments. The betrayals and political intrigue made the novel all the more engrossing. I don’t often use the word epic to describe a novel but She Who Became the Sun demands it.

ps : i am both terrified and desperate to read the sequel

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I wanted to like this far more than I did because a queer Mulan inspired fantasy in a historical Chinese inspired setting sounded like music to my ears. Unfortunately I found the writing (especially the dialogue) to be very clunky at times and the middle portion really dragged for me and I had a really hard time motivating myself to finish the book and found myself just skimming as I really wasn’t invested. The end picked up quite a bit. That being said I don’t feel any great enthusiasm about picking up the next book in the series.

Overall this was a 2.5* for me.

Mulan-ish reimagining of the rise of the 1st Ming emperor in 1300s China - feat. monks, ghosts, war & fate.

Covering such a long period of time can be tricky to do but I thought that, overall, it was well done. We start with the young Zhu siblings - Zhu Chongba is the eighth son - destined for greatness - but following famine that claims most of the village & the death of their father at the hands of bandits, he gives up. His young sister takes up his name and destiny - determined to survive & achieve greatness. This Zhu Chongba becomes a monk and the period of time following the training at the monastery was my favourite part.

The other main character is Ouyang - a general in the Mongol army and a friend to Esen, son of the Prince of Henan- he ended up in the household after his family were slaughtered by the Mongols and he chose the shame of living as a eunuch rather than death. I think in the latter half of the book Ouyang is the more interesting character - full of self-hate, a thirst for revenge conflicting with complicated feelings of love & respect for Esen. At the same, the shift in focus for Zhu to more of a war setting seems to make Zhu a more distant character even as they reveal more of their secrets to those around them.

This is not a fluffy fantasy - deprivation, starvation, abuses, war & death aren't shied away from. But the characters are engaging & varied. Zhu is full of charm, wit & cunning. The other main perspective of General Ouyang, a eunuch in the Mongol army, is complex, brooding & intense.

A difficult book for me to review. I enjoyed it overall but, because it is, very much, part 1 of an ongoing story my overall thoughts and ratings will depend on what happens next. I'm keen to see how the story develops- how the stories of Zhu and Ouyang will converge again, what significance the Mandate of Heaven and the ghosts haunting the characters (so far the only fantastical elements) will have.

A gripping, page-turner. Genuinely tense as characters struggle with their fate and the ever present threat of betrayal.

I really enjoyed the setting and writing style. The side Charakters we're more interesting to me than the MCs though. I felt more connected to them and their motivations. Curious about the sequel.

This book was breathtaking. A tale described as Mulan meets Song of Achilles and is all that and yet so much more. It stands on its own as a stellar novel expressing war, love, betrayal and ultimately fate's ever-elusive and yet somehow concrete nature.

Shelley Parker-Chan has created a masterpiece with this as we follow Zhu as she strives to claim the greatness her brother threw away. The story depicts Zhu's journey from peasant girl to monk to a giant at the centre of a battle for power, weaving around her reckoning with fate and its entanglement with her own identity. We also follow the warrior eunuch General Ouyang as he finds himself at odds between love, duty and the cruel mercy of fate. The story weaving together their narratives just as their fates are inextricably entwined together.

This book starts and ends strongly. However, I found myself feeling as though the story came to something of a lull in the middle; I think it was the confusing politics that I found stalled the account for around 5 or so chapters in the middle. However, when the story comes back, it comes back with a punch so strong and remains strong. SWBTS concludes with a climax that has me breathlessly expectant for the sequel and the conclusion of this duology.

She Who Became the Sun is a stellar debut from Shelley Parker-Chan and a new favourite for me.
An arc was kindly given to me through NetGalley.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan/Tor.com to providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Full RTC: but this is a debut novel? Parker-Chan wrote this like it was their billionth fantasy novel. It's gritty, graphic, dark and twisting. The topic of gender within the character's psychology is done brilliantly and the ending was spectacular. All I want is the sequel right now. I love Zhu, she's snarky and ambitious and ruthless. General Ouyang frustrates me, you love him, you hate him but he is very, very interesting and being in his POV is one of the highlights of the book. I love how their paths mirror each other, even with their wildly different fates.

Instagram Review: Thanks to @panmacmillan and @netgalley for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book, all I want to do is read it again when the physical copy finally comes out. I constantly had to remind myself it’s Parker-Chan’s debut novel they wrote graphic war, yearning romance and the psyche of these characters like this is their hundredth historical fantasy. This book has a wonderful premise, which is completely correct - advertised as The Song of Achilles meets Mulan, the tragedy of the former blended with 1300s China. Meet Zhu, a young girl who was destined for nothing. Upon her brother’s death, she steals his identity as he was destined for greatness. So begins her journey from nothing to greatness, not only convincing herself but Heaven too. Zhu is so stubbornly determined, smart, resourceful and ambitious, she grasps every opportunity to become more, but it never felt selfish. You love her and you root for her, yes she is not a Saint, but who is when at war? On the other side of the war, we have Ouyang the feared Eunuch General who is also compelled by his fate, rather tragically. Both of these characters are Genderqueer too; Zhu having lived most of her life as a man feels disconnected from womanhood and spends a lot of time looking at herself this way, whereas Ouyang has been connected to femininity through his beauty and the fact he is a eunuch this weighs a lot on both of them and as a genderqueer person myself it was touching to see it in historical fantasy. There are other major characters, my favourite being Esen, he reminded me so much of the sweet but burdened princely characters I always fall for. For all of these characters, we are allowed an extensive look inside their heads, and I feel like I knew them quickly. While this book was politically dense, it was also the perfect length any longer and it would have dragged. The graphic descriptions were a bit too much for me at times but they were part of the vibrant and vivid imagery that encompasses the whole book. It was clear Parker-Chan did her research with the setting too, this book is mostly historical and it shows in its accuracy, but I can’t wait to hopefully see more fantasy elements in the sequel. (Will post closer to the publication date)

She Who became the Sun is what a expect of The Song of Achilles when mixed with Mulan.

The main character Zhu, does everything she can to survive even disguising herself as her brother and is well fleshed out like the majority of the characters (even the Villains). However each character has some type of underlying issue/s. Not a bad thing but it is always there.

The writing itself was very good, but just as a general sort of warning some of the topics are heavy in the sense of the intensity of murder, sex etc.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new voice of the historical fantasy genre.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Move this book to the top of your tbr IMMEDIATELY. She Who Became the Sun is one of the most anticipated books of 2021, and for good fucking reason. Deeply enriched with the culture of Imperial China in the 14th Century, this incredible historical fiction (with an absolutely stunning cover) is the perfect blend of fantasy and real human history. It ignited in me such a fierce desire to read it right to the very end, I was actually upset that I had finished the book. This is one of those books where you lose track of time and forget your surroundings because your wholly and utterly immersed in the story. Without even being halfway through this book, I already knew I must get my hands on the sequel. There are far too many things I loved about this book, too many to put into this review. Though the book details the events of an ongoing war, at its core it’s a wildly intense story about self-discovery, and how you will use that discovery to change your fate and your life.

”You won’t be the one to make me nothing. I refuse.”
-Zhu Chongba

The first thing I need to get off my chest is how exceptionally well our main character, Zhu Chongba, is written. From the very first chapter, Zhu is presented as a remarkably resilient character who desired more than the dead-end life she was given, a life she didn’t deserve, all because she was born a daughter instead of a son. Women in this society aren’t worth much and are not given the same chance at greatness as men are, but this didn’t stop Zhu. Transcending the restricting limits of being a man or a woman, we witness Zhu blossom into a new and more whole being, whom the rules of gender roles do not apply to. Going through hardship after hardship, she still maintains her fierce determination to reach her goal of greatness. However, the assumption should not be made that Zhu is a one-dimensional character with only resilience to describe her. As Zhu’s sense of purpose grows, so do her plans for greatness, and by the end of the book she is more than just determined, she becomes pragmatic, willing to do things that make her less of a war hero and more of a self-serving person with a skewed sense of morality. I really hope this aspect of Zhu’s character is explored more in the sequel.

Beyond Zhu’s character, the secondary characters of Ma, Lord Esen, Lord Wang and our second primary character General Ouyang are given just as much attention as Zhu. Parker-Chan does not neglect characters and ensures that they give the secondary characters just as much development, depth, and dimension as the main character. As soon as multiple POVs were introduced, I was worried that the book would get messy and confusing. But my worry was entirely unfounded, as they only served to advance the plot and introduce more information about the personalities of our characters.

One thing that stood out for me and many other readers is the skillful way in which Parker-Chan includes queer rep in the story. With our nonbinary/genderqueer main character Zhu, Parker-Chan writes about Zhu’s journey to find her gender identity in a way that doesn’t feel like a forced side plot just for the sake of representation. Zhu’s journey to self-discovery is a crucial part of not just Zhu’s character development, but the entire plot of the book, and Parker-Chan writes it in such a natural way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of the book. As well as this, they include both a sapphic and achillean romance, also written in that natural way as to not stand out as queer romance.

Five out of five, ten out of ten, a million out of a million, this book is phenomenal in every sense of the word. It was written so well, I’m shocked that this is only a debut novel. I’m very mad that this is only a duology, I expected at least 25 books in this series. I urge everyone to buy this book when it’s released, you will not regret it. Yep, I’m definitely going to be thinking about this one for a while.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

First off, this book was incredible. I came into it with the promise that it was a mix between Mulan and The Song of Achilles. It certainly was.

This is a story ultimately about desire, about wanting, desperation, the ascent into greatness and the descent into nothingness and it truly is done exquisitely.

It begins with Zhu as a child, starving and desperate, mistreated by her remaining family and told that she would be nothing at all while her brother (Zhu Chongba) will become great. As fate would have it, Zhu Chongba dies of starvation. To survive Zhu takes on her brothers name and with it his identity going to a monastery to become a novice monk. Her monastery is then destroyed leaving her to not only survive but to claim her brother's greatness.

We are introduced to another voice, Ouyang who has his narrative voice from the second part. While these two are seen to be two opposites it is clear their similarities and how they are fighting for the same thing, though on different sides which is survival.

The description of both the settings and characters had so much detail without being boring or making the story seem long. You truly felt the emotions, desires and pain of every single decision of every single character without meaning to.

The politics were complicated without being impossible to understand, I found it easy to be a part of this world and the characters lives while understanding and anticipating what happens next since it is complex enough for it to appear real. The deep research and passion for the culture and history shone through as though it is not something I'm familiar with, it was easy to be immersed.

The characters were lovable and complex and for the first time, I think I like the main characters. You understanding the thinking, despite not necessarily agreeing with decisions and you feel their needs and desires just as much as they do. The side characters are just as strong as those with the narrative voice. They are so well fleshed out, that they appear as real people and have just as much depth as the main characters.

You are also able to critically think. Despite feeling the emotions of every character, you still think about whether decisions are right or not. The plot is fleshed out so well and decisions so realistic that it's not always clear and opinions change as does those of the characters. I like that I was able to engage with this book as well as be swept up in it.

It also explored topics that I didn't expect with consequences and feelings I didn't anticipate. The themes of gender, sexuality and expectations were discussed beautifully especially due to when and where this was set.

The ending of the book itself was shocking. I am still reeling with both things I hoped would happen and things I completely did not expect at all.

This was truly a literary masterpiece and the best written and most intricate book I have read in a long time. I recommend it and already want to read the next one.

This was just exquisite. I absolutely adored this book, the comparison to Mulan mixed with Song Of Achilles was spot on. The characters were so brilliantly fleshed out, at certain dramatic points I actually gasped out loud I was so taken aback. Cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Magnificent, brutal and haunting!

Shelley Parker-Chan delivered an epic, ambitious and strong character driven debut fantasy novel. The story begins with a very young village girl trying to survive a life of starvation, poverty and a fate of “nothingness”. After her brother dies she uses his identity to become Zhu Chongba and to change the fate she was given. This determination to succeed is made all the more perilous against the backdrop of war, rebellion, politics, culture and the crumbling of an empire. Into this mix comes the complex character of General Ouyang who is a battlefield commander. An unfortunate twist of fate saw his family executed while he endured the forced punishment of castration. His character is darkened by his need for vengeance, a muted emotional state and at times eerie callousness.

Zhu Chongba and the eunuch Ouyang drive the novel and are well supported by a host of interesting and fascinating characters. Set in 14th century China, this historic time period creates the unique and spellbinding backdrop for this bold work of fantasy fiction.

A sprawling, historical tale, She Who Became The Sun is a reimagining of the rise of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In this retelling, Zhu is actually a girl who steals her dead brother's identity in order to survive.

This book is a gripping and richly imagined story. The threads come together for a truly jaw dropping finale, with characters constantly keeping the reader guessing as to their allegiances. Though based in truth, I didn't know enough about the real story to be able to guess anything about the plot - but I suspect that even if I had, I would still have found the book just as compelling!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So I finished She Who Became The Sun, and immediately wanted to read it again. It is a brilliant book, both in terms of content and writing. I really am falling for this new trend of queer historical epic fantasy, it is everything I want in a book. If you loved Disney’s Mulan as a kid and now you want to recapture what you loved about it, this is the book for you – the grown up version based on history. Zhu Chongba is the Mulan equivalent, but they are ambitious, ruthless and smart.

Zhu takes her brother’s name after his death, and becomes a monk, and a politically important person over time, thanks to their tactical prowess. They are the kind of character that, as a reader, you don’t know whether to love or hate. Ma, the wife, the only person who knows that Zhu was born a woman, is probably the only “good” character in the story. She is a cinnamon roll and I just wanted to hug and protect her. Together, they make a brilliant power couple, challenging each other and becoming powerful.

There are few books that I had such visceral emotional reactions to. Shelley Parker-Chan is definitely a writer to watch out for – her debut is brilliant, and I can’t wait to read more of their writing. Plot: compelling. Characters: strong and evoking emotional reactions. Writing: beautiful and poetic. She Who Became The Sun is a must read.

She Who Became the Sun is a truly wonderful book, full of complex characters, conflicting loyalties, and a captivating plot.
The way this novel is written is stunning, the language flows and changes to suit character and tone without ever feeling unnatural. The characters themselves are written with depth and care, each with their own motives and desires.
The central character Zhu is the main focus of the book, and has a significant transformation of character that is beautifully written in a way that you don't notice the change until you think back to earlier chapters and realise the difference, it is completely natural whilst being easy to sympathise with. It is refreshing to have a character with a pragmatic and morally grey perspective on life.
In part II, multiple characters are brought in to narrate the story, and each are developed just as much with their own unique stories and emotions.
Scenery is described in such a way that vivid images of the scenes are easy to picture, adding another layer of depth to the novel.
The pacing was quite slow, allowing more time for character interactions and growth, but the novel does not feel as if it is dragging.
There are scenes of starvation, death, mass genocide, murder of a child (offscreen) that may be hard for some to read. There is also misgendering within the book.
Overall, a very good book that I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction!

*I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I finished this eARC, immediately preordered the physical copy and, even though I only just finished it, I am eagerly awaiting my copies’ arrival in July. This was SO good that I’m actually struggling to put it into words.

Shelley Parker-Chan’s writing is so gorgeous and as the tale unfolded, seeing the progression of Zhu’s life from peasant, to monk, to rebel, to commander and finally to leader unfold was really stunning. There wasn’t a moment that I wasn’t completely engaged in the story and, despite it being historical (and me having looked up the life of the real Zhu Chongba beforehand), everything that happened felt new and surprising.

I also didn’t expect to feel for the opposition characters so strongly - as much as I loved Zhu’s story, it was Ouyang and Esen that made me cry! The conclusion to their arc was so emotional, and even though I knew why it had to happen in the same way that Ouyang did, I wanted them to somehow find another way.

Also, while I’m here? I’m in love with Ma Xiuying... and also her relationship with Zhu. Her realisation that, with Zhu, she would have freedoms that she wouldn’t otherwise be afforded and that she would be able to live life her own way made me so emotional for her, and the combination of tenderness and gentle teasing in their relationship is a perfect dynamic.

5/5 Stars, and 100% recommended!

4.5/5

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review*

Dark, twisting, political and tense. She Who Became the Sun follows two central characters:
a girl who receives a prophecy of nothingness and after a pivotal event, takes her brother's prophecies greatness and works to turn it to herself; a eunuch general, the last male of his blood line, caught in the violent trappings of his fate.

The wild ride of following fates and characters with complex and often hidden or suppressed desires, I regularly failed to predict what would happen next. Also, interesting insight into Chinese/Mongol dynamics and history of the region.

The Good:
- Characters with depth, personality and their own interests, some of which make for brilliant inter person and internal conflict.
- Interesting political intrigue and moving allegiances.
- The fantasy elements were well scaled for the story and didn't feel out of place.
- Beautiful descriptions of the physical settings.
- A fun catalyst for independent research into Chinese & Mongol history.
- LGBTQIA+ representation done well.

What could have been improved:
- This is a violent story and that it fine, struggles for power usually are. Some moments of violence seemed disproportionately graphic and unpleasant which took me out of the story. This won't be a problem for some but it did affect my engagement with the story.
- The build up to the finale was amazing but the ending did feel just slight rushed.

She Who Became the Sun is going to be released in July 2021 and I highly recommend picking this book up.

CW: Graphic violence & murder. Death through violence. Sexual content. Body dysphoria. Misogyny.