For a highly anticipated read, this book definitely lives up and exceeds expectations. It’s a tale of gender nonconformity, fate and a quest for greatness. It tells the dual story of Zhu, a girl who, after becoming orphaned, has no choice but to seize the destiny she desires or be left to nothingness; and General Ouyang questions whether pursuing revenge and honour is worth the devastation left behind.
The author’s writing is the real highlight in this book, Parker-Chan’s ability to describe the setting in a way that fully immerses the reader is commendable. The warfare aspect was handled well, it wasn’t boring but still managed to be action packed and exciting. The two main characters that we follow express a refreshingly human moral ambiguity that is thoroughly explored; I loved the way the characters are developed, with their inner turmoils and complexities as they battle between doing the ‘right’ thing or seeking the outcome they want. I was very satisfied with the ending, though I’m glad it leaves room for more character and plot development. This was a fantastic debut and I’m excited to see how Parker-Chan will expand this story in the following book.

ARC provided by the publisher - Pan Macmillan - and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*4.25

“Becoming nothing was the most terrifying thing she could think of—worse even than the fear of hunger, or pain, or any other suffering that could possibly arise from life.”

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it definitely met and lived up to my expectations.

She Who Became the Sun is a reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The story begins in 1345, where China lies under harsh Mongol rule. In a famine-stricken village, two children are given two different fates; the son - Zhu Chongba - is destined for greatness, whilst the daughter is given the fate of nothingness. When a bandit attacks their village and orphans the two children, Zhu Chongba succumbs to despair and dies. The girl, propelled by her burning desire to survive, steals her brother’s fated greatness and uses his identity to try and claim a different future for herself.

She Who Became the Sun is a powerful, intriguing and brutal high fantasy debut that left me begging for more. Going into this book I didn't realise that it was part of a duology, but now I am so glad and excited to read the next instalment. This book is a character driven story with an ambitious narrative, that explores themes of destiny, gender, war, duty and love. The characters in this story are fantastically well-written - their character arcs, development and personalities

The real spotlight though goes to the fantastically written characters – their development, their arcs, their personalities was so beautifully done. One of my personal favourite characters when reading this book was Zhu Chongba. She was a pragmatic and engaging character who was willing to do everything in her power to defy fate and claim greatness for herself. She definitely made some very morally grey choices throughout the book, however this only contributed to her complex and wonderfully written character. Whilst Part 1 of the novel centres solely on Zhu's POV and explores her origin story, the novel shifts to a multiple POV narrative once it reaches Part 2. This shift definitely took me a bit of time to get used to, however each new perspective introduced added another dimension to the story. The multiple perspectives allowed the reader to see the conflict progress from both sides and this was incredibly engaging. The author has such an expert command of characters and their psychology. Now that I know what to expect, I definitely want to reread this book again as I believe that I will enjoy it even more a second time and my rating will probably increase over time.

A personal highlight of this novel was the author's incorporation of themes of gender and idenity that is woven into the protagonists' storylines. Both Ouyang and Chongba's experiences with their gender and identity was compelling, I loved how at times these characters seemed like two sides of the same coin.

The writer has such an admirable proficiency for storytelling and uses lyrical prose to paint a vibrant picture of a war-torn period. I really can't believe that this is the author's debut novel... Wow. Bold, lyrical and queer, She Who Became the Sun was a wonderful read and I can't wait to read the next installment.

I hardly know where to start with this, it was just... amazing.

This book has something for everyone; an epic story, brilliantly written lgtbq+ experiences, action and adventure, and historical details that are given in a way that you dont have to be a historian to understand. The characters feel real on the page before you, you cant help but empathise, love, hate and everything in between with them.

I was gripped by this book and the authors writing style straight away, and it was one of those truly rare books that I could not put down. I just truly hope the author continues this story, there is so much more I want to know, including what happens next!

Excellent book! I loved the characters, they felt real to me, which is an achievement, because their identities are so far removed from my own. Not only with regard to gender, but also geographically and chronologically of course. It became quite technical and political halfway through, and in that aspect it made me think of Game of Thrones, more so than Song of Achilles which it says on the blurb.

An interesting and inclusive take on history! Loved it.

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles.? You mean, one of my favourite Disney movies AND one of my favourite fantasies? SHUT UP and give me the book!

She Who Became the Sun is the genderbent reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty written by Shelley Parker-Chan. For someone who loves her Asian-inspired fantasies, this was such a treat!

Let me preface this by saying that I have been sitting on this review for weeks, not knowing what I want to talk about because uff! this book made me feel so many things. This book just had everything I love - the writing is so unique and interesting. the protagonist, Zhu, may not be likeable but her ambition and thirst for greatness were refreshing to read, especially for me as a POC woman living in a society where women being ambitious is viewed in the negative. This book is also queer AF and the mix of fantasy and historical fiction had my heart from the get go. Zhu's character arc, her pragmatism, the morally grey characters and a certain other character's pining were some of my favourite things about this book.

I'm sure I've missed so many things and maybe I'll come back one day after rereading to update the review but just know that I loved LOVED this book! I'm pre-ordering this already and I would highly recommend it to everyone. I know things won't end well for many of my favourite characters in the sequel but gimme that book already! I'm ready for my heart to be ripped open.

Note: This comes with a bunch of trigger warnings and you can check author's review on Goodreads for the complete list.

When a peasant-born person believes in their fate for greatness, there will be no limit to what they can achieve.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Zhu family are starving peasants, but they have something to pride - Zhu Chongba is the eighth son of the eighth son, he is destined for a life of luck and greatness.
After an attack by bandits, Chongba loses the will to live, and fades into nothing. His younger sister, a nameless, worthless girl, decides to take on his name and his fate, because she has the stubborn will to achieve it.
She joins a monastery, and is raised as a man, until her home is attacked by the Mongols who rule China.
Zhu is the only known survivor, and makes her way to the Red Turbans, a peasant rebellion that follows the Prince of Radiance (a child who is one of the great chinese emperors reborn).

It was interesting to read about young Zhu, her life in the village, where only boys were worth feeding. And everything she had to do to hide the gender she was born with at the monastery.
But it took a while to truly click with the book.
I think this happened when I realised that Zhu is NOT a hero. She's not doing this to save her family, or loved ones; she's not being noble. Zhu is not doing this for the Emperor, or to please Heaven. She is doing it because she wants greatness for herself, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

There are some very dark moments, with questionable morals throughout the book, but I didn't think Zhu was a full-on anti-hero, she sees the flaws in other ambitious people, and attempts to reduce them in herself.
She is lacking in all softness and femininity, either because she has spent so long removing every trace of what does not belong to Zhu Chonga; or because she never had them in the first place. Zhu does recognize this weakness, and tries to find some balance... as long as it doesn't affect her grand plans.

The narrative is shared with Ouyang - the Mongol's eunuch general.
Ouyang is Chinese, his family killed by the people he now serves. As a young boy, he was castrated, but left alive, to suffer his humiliation forever.
Ouyang's story seemed quite straight-forward at first - he'd been elevated from slave to General by Prince Esen, the only person Ouyang has ever cared for. His duty is to his lord, and he is a cunning man who has earnt his place on the battlefield...
Except, Esen doesn't see the pain that Ouyang is still in, he doesn't see that his friend is still affected by the death of his family.

There's plenty of action in this epic story, but my favourite elements are the politics and the cunning shown by both Ouyang and Zhu.
Their fates are interwoven, and there is a certain recognition, as like can see like.
I was hooked to see who would come out on top, and what hidden plans they had. In the end, both remained ruthless, which was kind of a relief in a weird way.

I really liked how this story explored gender identity. Both main characters are non-binary, but with very different approaches. Zhu naturally relates more to being male, but refers to herself as 'she'; and poor Ouyang had this forced upon him, fueling his anger.
The book also views the role of women in this era, who are bound by duty to serve men as wives and concubines. The intelligent ones have to hide their influence.

Overall, I really enjoyed this debut, and I look forward to where the series goes.

A good solid well written book, looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Good strong characters, plenty of twisty plot lines and well written revenge storytelling. The author knows their stuff about Chinese history and it shows in the quality of the book.

Highly recommended to all my good read friends who read fantasy.

It’s so hard to put my thoughts on this amazing book into words. Every scene, every character and every sentence absolutely shone and the level of research the author has put in is commendable: I felt as if I was immersed in the setting. What I loved as well was how no character was clear cut. I had mixed emotions about all the main characters (except Baoxiang my man) but despite how much I disliked them, I still loved reading about them. That is the sign of a character well written for me. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

3.5 stars

History, gay romance, ambition, war, backstabbing and dead people everywhere 💀

This book was so elaborate, so complex, with exceptional historical representation and I’m shocked this is a debut. The talent™!
The choice of putting these characters with contrasting personalities together was also very smart: I mean, a prince loved by everyone and a broody introverted general? That’s an easy win. A cold-hearted sarcastic resolute monk and a kind altruistic maternal woman? No need to say more.

I found the subtle discourse on gender identity to be just awesome. Having two characters on the opposite specter but dealing with their bodies and society norms in a similar way was pretty clever. You see two sides of the same coin which definitely makes you appreciate a bigger picture of the issue.

When I started this book I had no idea what I was getting into. Part 1 has a very different feel from the rest of the book. During the period at the monastery you have the time to get to know Zhu while she grows up and I really enjoyed seeing the way she changed through the years (which I now know that was only the tip of the iceberg, so you have way more shenanigans to look forward to than that 😬).
From Part 2 the book completely changes direction and goes deep into war and brutal politics. I love that at one point I started wondering if anyone would stay alive by the time the end would come around.

Despite having liked this book, the writing and I.....let’s say we didn’t mesh well. It’s elaborate and complex, and it perfectly complements the historical setting, but it was too dense for my tastes. These are some issues I had during my reading experience:
- The writing was very descriptive but I still had trouble visualizing places and characters in my head.
- I wasn’t able to really warm to any of the characters because they felt too distant.
- Some elements of the plot/world building are given for granted (in particular a thing that concerns Ouyang) and there’s nothing to do apart from ignoring that it’s not explained and getting used to it. Those are big plot points though, and not understanding where they come from is confusing and very far from ideal.
- There are a lot of time skips after the first 50 pages and at that point the narrative started to feel kind of diluted for me because I couldn’t directly read about the struggles the characters were going through. This happens especially with battles: you rarely see them actually fighting, you only learn about the outcome.

I’m pretty sure this is a duology and with the way this ended I’m really interested to see where the conclusion will go. Those last chapters were wild! However I’m going to have to find the courage to pick it up because this one took me a month and it’s only 400 pages lol. I hope the next one has more magic ✨

She Who Became The Sun is a slow moving, intricate story that starts with a girl being destined for nothing, while their brother, Zhu Chongba, is destined for greatness. When their home is attacked by bandits and their father killed, Zhu Chongba succumbs to the sorrow, leaving the girl alone. Stuck in a place impossible for a child to survive, the girl takes the brother’s name and makes their way to the monastery to be taken in as a monk. As time passes, the new Zhu Chongba leans more and more into the role, in the hopes that Heaven will not notice the deception and put their life back on track for nothingness. And as danger comes closer and closer to Zhu, they have to decide what they will do to achieve greatness.
Ouyang, a eunuch general, is on the other side of the war. Fighting with the Mongols, Ouyang is betraying his murdered family by working with the Prince of Henan's son as his right hand man. When Zhu and Ouyang's paths cross, their fates become intertwined, and the battle of wits and strategy begins. Though on opposing sides, they have more in common than they know.
As debut’s go, this one is fantastic. The intricacy of the plot, the moral greyness of the characters, the tension woven through-out, all of it was addictive. I loved the spin on history (it’s a part of history that I am not so familiar with) and the inclusion of genderqueer characters added a new conversation to the overall story. I loved how magic was so delicately placed within the world without it overpowering other elements while still remaining a critical part of the story. The characters’ flaws were realistic and inhibiting, which fleshed them out so well that I was rooting for them even as they did things that were questionable, and at times downright horrible. Zhu was cunning and resourceful, determined to reach the greatness that the original Zhu Chongba was destined, while Ouyang, the eunuch general, was so focused on the end goal that nothing could stop him from achieving what he set out to do, even if it meant betraying those closest to him. Each flaw was integral to their character arc and none seemed forced or unrealistic. It was a relatively slow moving story, relying more on interactions and a match of wits than full-force action. The way that Zhu's mind worked and how they thought their way around confrontation in conflict was so clever and made me love them more than if they went it all guns blazing. That being said, the action scenes didn’t shy away from the grotesque and they perfectly captured the gruesomeness of war.
If you have an interest in Chinese history, love a book that focuses on brains over brawn, or just like the sound of any of the points above, this book is perfect. I loved every second of reading it, and can't wait for the sequel.

In 14th century China, Zhu Chongba is destined for greatness, as the eighth born son. But when his father dies and he gives up on life, his sister takes his name and his destiny. Starting with joining a Buddhist monastery, then joining the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu pursues their greatness - all whilst keeping their secret.

It's quite simply brilliant. The relationships through the book are so good - Xu Da, who is Zhu's friend from when she arrives at the monastery, who keeps her secrets and calls her "little brother". Ma, the under-estimated daughter of an executed general, who falls in love with Zhu. The Mongol general Ouyang, a eunuch who both loves his Prince and hates him for what his family have done. So many of these characters feel trapped by gender expectations, but transcend those and become more. There's no shying away from the complexities of the decisions made, of lives taken and the fallout from that.

It's historical fantasy, but the fantasy element is mainly the gender-swapping aspect, it's more of a sweeping epic. And it's so good - read it.

he Who Became the Sun is an intricate, brutal and gorgeous high fantasy which will be sure to linger in a readers mind long after the last page is turned. I can’t quite believe this is a debut novel in the genre because it’s so self assured and just all around incredible.

There’s so much I enjoyed about this novel, the first being the characters themselves, they’re so complex, well written and so beautifully realised. Our two main characters, who find themselves on opposing sides of the conflict; Zhu and Ouyang. We start our story with Zhu, as she lives a dreary existence, caring for her father and brother, where she has no prospects and life grinds on – until everything changes and she takes the opportunity for growth and greatness upon herself and forges herself a new path.

I loved Zhu so much, her ambition, her bravery, her loyalty, just everything about her as a main character was so well executed, making for such an intriguing narrative. Even in the most morally grey moments, where Zhu makes questionable and almost impossible decisions, it feels true to this character and their motivations – which are above all to pursue ambition and greatness. I’ve noticed a new trend of sorts in fantasy with characters who are ambitious and unapologetically so and I’m enjoying it a lot. I think at times it can be a bit difficult to understand Zhu’s motivations, in terms of why actually she craves this power so intensely.

Ouyang too, his life and existence being a constant reminder of the subjugation of his people and having to live and serve the very family who killed his own is such a fraught but fascinating dynamic on the page. Ouyang has added stigma due to factors outside of his control and reading as he navigates these and what he feels he must do to restore his honour and avenge his people is tragic and compelling. Especially as he has grown up alongside Esen, who despite being his best friend and the person he loves the most , is also a daily reminder of everything he has lost and the life he cannot possibly have. The yearning in this book is unparalleled and utterly heart wrenching.

Many of the characters in the novels are in the attempts of figuring themselves out; their choices, their identity, their next moves and Parker-Chan has such a deft touch when it comes to these issues. Issues such as gender, queerness and identity are reflected in such an unapologetic and impactful manner, there are few books out there which manage to do this and it’s amazing to read.

I also enjoyed the heavy political and military focus, and how Zhu, Ouyang and the other characters find themselves entrenched in machinations and power struggles. I also enjoyed how both of them were such vital and major players in it all, they were on the front lines and their actions have such far reaching impacts, on each others stories and the wider world. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the repercussions of what happens in this book are felt in the next instalment, because that ending was just beyond it all.

Overall, I know this is a book I won’t get over anytime soon and I’ll be thinking about the characters and that ending – because wow just wow – was just something else. I can’t stress how much I recommend this book, especially if you’re into sweeping historical epics, this is one you won’t want to miss.

In 1345, China was under Mongol rule. For the starving Zhu family where only three members remain, their eight-born son, Zhu Chongba, is destined for greatness, a feat only capable by the few. But nothing is said for their daughter. When a bandit attack results in Zhu Chongba’s death, his sister takes on her brother’s identity to enter a monastery. There, in this alternate-history, she takes her opportunity to achieve what her brother failed to do: survive, and take control of a fate that would see her be nothing.

Judging from other early reviews, my expectations were through the roof. Pitched as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles and while that is a fair comparison, I just feel like there must be some other way to describe this. I’m quite literally speechless. I don’t think one book has ever shot up my all-time favourites list so quickly. Usually, I let a book marinate on my mind before casting a final judgment, but She Who Became the Sun didn’t need to wait. It was that good.

This book stands out because its character, each crafted and built to perfection, while not being entirely perfect. Zhu’s determination to survive is intense. Her peers at the monastery are confused by her actions, but what they don’t know is that she also has the ability to see ghosts, which loom over her in silent judgement. There is a cost to pay in her decisions, and she takes them head-on regardless of the reaction she knows she’ll inevitably receive because in the end, she knows what she wants and that is to rule. She might have been fated to be nothing, but she determined to let nothing stop her from achieving the goal her brother should have done. She is this perfect balance of driven and powerful while also being rather cheeky and very sweet. Zhu’s storyline introduces us to Xu Da, a fellow monk, who Zhu comes to see as her own family. Later, you’ll meet Ma, a young woman whose fierce compassion takes a toll within the backdrop of war and power-plays.

The story chronicles Zhu’s journey from monk to the leader of the rebellion against China’s Mongol rulers. But we also see the opposition in the form of eunuch Ouyang, a feared general who tore Zhu’s future apart and set him on a path that makes them intertwined. I was enthralled by his character the most. But the relationship between Ouyang and Esen, the prince of Henan, is so complex, considering the history behind them. Esen is much more optimistic than Ouyang, and can never seem to understand why his friend would keep his distance. The tension between them is just perfect.

The writing is so atmospheric, you could feel the impact of the landscape resonate with each character. Especially with Zhu as you witness her climb from a nameless child close to death to a well-rounded leader with men of her own. A child with no hope to a monk that can rally the people of this war-torn land to her words. Also, I loved the nuanced exploration of gender identity, and how Parker-Chan does not shy away from anything. For anyone wondering, this is from the author: [Zhu] is assigned female at birth (but doesn’t identify as female), and [Ouyang] is assigned male at birth and identifies as male (with a gender-nonconforming appearance). [Goodreads] I used she/her pronouns for Zhu as reflected in the novel.

Overall, She Who Became the Sun is one story you must watch out for. It’s bold, imaginative and highly thrilling. A fantastic reimagining of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

'She Who Became the Sun' follows a girl destined for nothing while her brother, Zhu Chongba, is destined for greatness. Starving and desperate, an unexpected event changes the trajectory of her entire future. She refuses to be nothing, seizing her brother's identity and assuming his fate in the process.

In her debut novel, Parker-Chan blends history with fiction in her re-imagining of the rise to power of Zhu Yuanzhang and the rise of the Ming Dynasty in 14th century China. The main story follows two main characters: Zhu Chongba (or the 'girl' who seizes his identity) and her journey to greatness and Ouyang, a eunuch general for the Mongols tormented by his terrible fate.

Ouyang and Zhu quickly become each other's nemesis and the war confronting the Mongols and the Red Turbans offer plenty of opportunities for both of them to scar each other's fate. Yet the book is so much more than revenge, wars, and political plotting (which, btw, there is a lot of - plenty of backstabbing in here. A lot of drama. I recommend bringing popcorn to this show); this is a book about gender identity. Ouyang is a eunuch with a gender nonconforming appearance who despises his femineity. Zhu rejected her own identity to become her brother - a man. And then, we also have Ma - who identifies as a woman, but feels slaved by her own gender until Zhu opens her eyes to her own chosen destiny. And Wang Baoxiang, a son never seen as a son for not acting like a "real man" should, yet choosing to live this failure on his own terms.

This book is a masterpiece. The writing is lyrical and impeccable, Parker-Chan writes deeply flawed characters with desires that aren't easily attained yet reachable - if sacrifices are made. When reading it, I found myself loving every single character (except Chen) - their emotions are explored beautifully, and their actions are justified and significant. They all suffer their fate as much as owe it and, some of them, even claim it. If you feel destiny is against you (you know, the usual "life is a soup and I am a fork") or you feel locked into something you aren't comfortable in, maybe this book will spark a fire for you to change things.

And now, just to have my oh-so-usual emotional word diarrhea: Wang Baoxiang and Zhu Da are my baes. Reading about them made me smile big time. Wang Baoxiang is such a flawed little asshole, I can't agree on anything he said or did, but I felt for him a mixture of pity, understanding, and respect. Zhu Da is just adorable and we all love him in my house. And, yeah, well, I got an ARC for this and I was very excited and all but now I'm just not cool with knowing I have to wait MORE time for the second book. Like, I need the second book yesterday if not now. Please.

This was a great debut, pitched a mix between Mulan and the Song of Achilles. It took me a little while to get fully invested in it, but after roughly a 1/3 of the book I was. I enjoyed this, but didn't love it as much as expected.

This book has been all over my Twitter feed for the past one month and I was eager to see what the hype was all about.
She who became the sun is the queer gender reversed retell of the founder of fhe Ming dynasty. It was promoted as Mulan meets Song of Achilles and I would say that it perfectly describes the book.
There are multiple points of views but we mainly follow Zhu our heroine and Ouyang both of whose fates are greatly intertwined with each other. Zhu reminded me of Rin from the Poppy War but much more level headed with a lot of cunning and deviousness which I found I loved. Zhu is also ruthless to the extreme which I had a bit more difficulty stomaching. She is very well complemented by Ma, who is actually my most favourite character in the book. I loved loved loved their romance!!!
Ouyang the other main character, had me all twisted up in knots. I am still not sure how I feel about this character, it’s all a field of grey.
I enjoyed the world building and the vague glimpses of the magical system we get to see and would love to read more about both in future instalments. The first book dod a great job of setting up the stage for the actual story to unravel in the sequels.
Although I was gripped from start to finish, the overwhelming feeling I was left with at the end of reading was grim resignation to the horrible fate that might befall all the characters and that’s not a great feeling to end a book with. So for this one I am going with 3.25 stars .

This book was recommended to me and so when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it immediately and i'm so glad I did. The exploration of gender non-conformity was something that was really interesting for me to read and it was done in such a great way. This high fantasy book had numerous complex characters who knowingly did terrible things to further their ambition and to try and debate fate. We are able to see the conflict of this war story on both sides which really keeps the reader hooked and with that ending I cannot wait for the next instalment.

"If he took my fate and died...then perhaps I can take his, and live."

The fortune telller says that the fate of the girls brother is greatness, and her fate is to be nothing. When tragedy strikes she seizes the chance to take her brothers fate as her own, but how long can keep her true identity from Heaven? She Who Became the Sun is a queer re-imagining of Zhu Yuanzhang’s rise to power as the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 14th century China. We follow her from her childhood in a famine-stricken village, her time in a Monastery, and through the battles that follow as the rebel army grows.

"How could her body be a woman’s body, if it didn’t house a woman?"

This is historical fantasy novel (though I would say more of a historical gender-swapped fiction sprinkled with fantasy) based on true events, with two queer main characters. Whilst the main storyline is the rise of the rebels and Zhu Yuanzhang, their struggle with gender identity and acceptance is woven throughout the book and is just as important to the plot.

"I’m me, she thought wonderingly. But who am I?"

She Who Became the Sun is an incredibly well-written novel, with complex and realistic characters. You might not like everything they do, but you will like them anyway! Whilst the whole book is in third person, we flick between the perspectives of the two main characters.

I really enjoyed the first few chapters, and then there was a small section that didn’t grip me as much. This was where the scene was really set for the rebellion and current rulers, and there were several (necessary) army or political-related scenes. I am never the biggest fan of these parts, although I understand why you need them! There were also a lot of new character names that for obvious reasons Chinese. So it took a bit of work on my part to become familiar with these names. This is not a criticism though, more of a comment on my own lack of exposure to this culture and part of the world. The last two thirds of the book felt a lot more fast paced, and that was when I really got into it.

The only real disappointment was the lack of fantasy = whilst its marketed as historical fantasy, the fantasy element really is minimal!

Overall this was an amazingly well-crafted and gripping debut historical fantasy novel, and as the first in a duology I’m eager to see what comes next!

"Don't look down as you're flying, or you'll realize the impossibility of it and fall."

NetGalley kindly gave me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

In a world where women are the lesser sex, their only purpose to look pretty and pump out male heirs, a starving girl wants more. She has no name, knows she has no future, yet when an opportunity presents itself she seizes it. This makes the girl dangerous for she will stop at nothing to achieve greatness.

The girl will not accept the fate of a starving girl and takes on the role of a boy, a monk, a man. She will stop at nothing to achieve her goal.

The world is richly described, my only criticism being that I would have liked a map of the locations. The characters are also described very well and there is a real host of characters who go through very interesting development throughout the story, There was tension wondering if the girl masquerading as a boy would be discovered and what she would do to stop this. There were some nice supernatural elements to this book which I would like to see explored more in the sequel with some more detailed battles.

The book represents the LGBTQ+ community quite well. One thing to note is there is a slightly graphic lesbian sex scene that suddenly appears which goes into quite some detail. If you're not into this then just be aware.

A highly interesting and original concept that I recommend you read.

Set in 14th century China, the story is told from a third-person POV, and has two protagonists who play the two faces of the coin to each other. On one side we have Zhu Yuanzhang, a girl living the life meant for her dead brother Zhu Chongba, who was destined to the fate to greatness; and on the other side we have General Ouyang, the eunuch general of the army of the kingdom of Great Yuan.

And because I am terrified of saying anything more pertaining to the plot lest I spoil it for you, I will just give you the reasons as to why you should read this novel the moment you get your grabby ‘lil hands on it:

• This whole novel is a fantastic study in gender dysphoria, with a huge emphasis on the toxicity of preordained gender identities, the supposed rules that govern them, and the roles that are enforced on people because of it; and Chan handled the topic as delicately as it should be without sacrificing the brutality of the story.

• Both the protagonists are complex antiheroes, who you really can’t help but pass on the gasoline and matchstick to when they’re feeling like committing arson.

• The central couple of the novel are sapphic, so if you’re anything like me, whose heart starts freaking singing hallelujah at the first glimpse of the smallest girl on girl action on page, then you’re going to want to read this because even though romance is not the primary subject of the story— actually it’s almost less than 1% of the entire story if I am to be honest— enough of it is still there for you to enjoy the hell out of it.

• The angst is off the charts. Just when you think the hard parts have come to an end, another wave comes rolling in, and you’re dragged in again. I mean there was this scene towards the end, where someone had a sword in someone’s chest, and I was crying, because that was the cruelest thing I’d read in all of this year. If you read SWBTS and tell me you did not cry, then you’re a liar.

• Mind blowing ending. I honestly did not see that coming. And I usually see a lot of things coming: it’s like my superpower that ruins the reading experience for me, which failed me so grandly with this book that I was almost left winded. Or maybe that was just the ending. I can’t say. Either one is fantastic.

• Chan’s writing was absolutely brilliant. It grabs at you from the very first page and compels you deeper and deeper into the gorgeously savage landscape of Ancient China in all it’s war-laden glory.