I love Shelley Parker-Chan. Their writing is so vivid, so moving, and funny in places. There's so much heart to this duology. After She Who Became the Sun, I had high expectations for the sequel. I was not disappointed.

The very worst thing about this series, is that it was only two books - and now it’s over!! I mean, I’m happy to be told that I’m wrong, and that book three is on it’s way. THAT’S how much I loved it.

Zhu Yuanzhang is the Radiant King and is now after the throne she needs to crown herself Emperor. All power to her, I say!

There are battles, feats of cunning to outwit stronger and more numerous enemies, acts of heroism, friendship and love.

This book is my crack, and I would happily have read on and on, but it ended, I was sad, and then I came here to tell you all to go and read it. Because if you haven’t, then you most certainly should.

Oh, and I’m still waiting to be told that there’s a third in the pipeline (🙏🏻!).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I initially found this a bit difficult to get into, even after reading a recap of the previous book. But eventually the narrative sucks you in. The concept behind this story, the idea that the founder of the Ming dynasty was actually a woman, allows Chan to explore all aspects of gender and delve into the concepts of femininity and masculinity in a really clever way through the various character POVs. She also doesn't hold back on the violence and gore that accompanied this time-period of war and rebellion. It's a modern take on a very traditional story of ambition and power which works extremely well.

A fantastic book. Includes an intricately detailed plot, allowing the reader to become fully submerged into the world. The characters where very well developed, and I enjoyed the character arcs. A solid 4.5 star.

"He Who Drowned the World" by Shelley Parker-Chan is a stellar addition to the world of historical fantasy, earning a solid 4.5 stars. In this epic sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling "She Who Became the Sun," Parker-Chan delivers a masterful tale that combines elements of Mulan and The Song of Achilles, set in an alternate China that is as vivid as it is captivating.

One of the standout features of this novel is the brilliantly developed cast of characters. Multiple queer characters enrich the story, providing a refreshing and much-needed diversity in the realm of historical fiction. The main character, Zhu Yuanzhang, is a revelation – confident, self-assured, and fully realized, transcending the tired tropes of identity crisis that often plague queer characters.

The intricate and riveting plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with political maneuvering, power struggles, and alliances that shift like quicksand. The world-building is rich and immersive, bringing this alternate China to life in exquisite detail.

The character arcs are expertly crafted, and the story's conclusion is a fully realized and satisfying denouement. "He Who Drowned the World" is a testament to Parker-Chan's storytelling prowess, offering readers an enthralling, queer-inclusive, and historically immersive experience that is nothing short of exceptional. This is a must-read for fans of the genre.

An excellent follow up to the first book in this series, following the rise of protagonist Zhu as she has ambitions of becoming emperor. I really liked Zhu as a character throughout this series as I found it interesting to see her development from the very beginning to where she is now. I would recommend this to any fans of the first book as this rounds off the series nicely!

4.5 stars

"Nobody would lift a finger to change the world for us. To make a place for us. What choice did we ever have, but to do it ourselves?"

A brilliant end to this highly original duology. The characters are so well-developed and the plot is complex and thrilling from beginning to end. It is wonderful to see so many queer characters in historical fiction, fully embodied and realised and Parker-Chan is bold in their centring of these narratives. There is a lot of pain inherent in these stories that are too easily recognised in today's society, particularly as represented by Ouyang, Baoxiang and the Third Prince. This pain festers in all of them but Parker-Chan makes each one empathetic despite their flaws.

On the other hand there is Zhu, a character so steeped in joy and self-belief and a refreshing lack of agonizing over their identity. But they are far from ideal, and it is an great achievement to keep your readers thoroughly rooting for a character who can be cruel and merciless in pursuit of their goals as well as witty, intelligent and determined. Zhu is perfectly paired with the wonderful Ma, who really comes into her own in this second installment.

4.5*

I'm so surprised by how much I enjoyed this one after being disappointed in the first book in the duology. This had all the aspects I enjoyed from the first, including the incredible writing, and also had much tighter plotting, and character arcs.

I loved the ending, and how it all came together, it felt like it was such a natural conclusion that had been laid out since the beginning.

Content Warnings: Self-harming, sexism, homophobia, rape, miscarriage, death, war

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, despite my love of the first book in this series, this one fell flat for me. Overall the story is still interesting and I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and watching how alliances were formed and fell apart and how people were used and used others. I particularly enjoyed watching Baioxang Wang's journey in this book. However, this book is too long, I considered DNFing a few times but was invested in the story and wanted to see the ending. I would definitely have enjoyed the book more and given it a higher rating of it had been 150 pages shorter and I don't think any substance would have been lost.

I was excited to receive an early review copy of the fabulous He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan from @blackcrow_pr and @panmacmillan. This queer historical fantasy of war and destiny set in an alternate China, is the roller coaster sequel to the brilliant Sunday Times bestselling She Who Became the Sun.

He Who Drowned the World is an all consuming and richly woven tale, full of drama, political wrangling, ambition and vengeance. I loved it and can’t recommend it enough.

Shelley Parker-Chan is a master storyteller, effortlessly weaving together a web of intricate and complex narratives and relationships into an immersive, dark and utterly captivating tale. The writing is beautiful and the author brings everything from the landscape and characters to the epic battles to life in such vibrant detail that I could picture it. This duo would make the most amazing films.

The plot is tight and moves at a breathtaking pace, galloping from one exciting battle, drama or event to the next. It’s full of twists and turns that kept me guessing how the story would be resolved right up until the last chapter. And although the story is for the most parts bleak, it wraps up beautifully and ends on a high.

The characterisation is first class. Shelley Parker-Chan author has skilfully created a cast of complex, dark and troubled characters, all haunted by demons. Whilst protagonist Zhu is morally grey at best, most of the others are downright evil, with Wang Baoxiang winning the prize for flat out depravity. He made my skin crawl!

The story is dark and unashamedly brutal at times which made for hard reading, but it never felt gratuitous. Instead it gave key insight into the disturbing psyche of the characters and reflected their desperation for vengeance or power.

The underlying theme throughout all of the characters’ stories is their desire for ‘greatness’. The story delves into the suffering, sacrifice and pain caused in their individual pursuits of greatness and makes us question if it’s worth it.

There’s also great discussion into gender roles and how each character is shaped by their perception of gender and the damage caused by bigotry and prejudice.

He Who Drowned the World is a compelling and unforgettable read and the perfect end to a stand out duology.

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan is a bloody powerhouse of a novel, delivering wholesale on the major themes of the duology by having each POV character embody those themes in different ways. In the case of power, see Madame Zhang, who believes she can only rise to power off the back of someone else, or Baoxiang and Ouyang, whose lust for power only extends to how they can use it to get their means of revenge. And then there's Zhu, who wants to use her power to change the world (and others that seek power only for their own gain). Each will go to terrible lengths, and each will lose almost more than they can bear. My only complaint would be that too many important things happen in quick succession - we rarely get to see the protagonists outside of important or emotionally charged moments, which can get a little exhausting. Of course, the counter to that is that no scene feels wasted and the plot ticks along at a brisk pace. A great capstone to the duology.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is ready to make her next steps to bring her closer to the Great Khan and become Emperor. But to do this, she has to face up against her enemy, the General Ouyang, and convince him to work with her - all while at the same time other players move their own chess pieces to bring themselves closer to power and make it harder for Zhu to succeed.

This is a historical fantasy book that is so deep in character growth and journey as well as lore around the emergence of the Ming Dynasty - yet dipped in a bit of magic and identity exploration that makes it one of the most unique series I've ever read, and it's so well written. She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World are both books I had to read slowly. I needed to invest time into the world, and the characters and to understand them, their ambitions and their plans. I felt really invested in Zhu and I love her dynamic with many of those closest to her from Xu Da, Ma and Ouyang.

The way sexuality and gender is explored through a variety of characters in this book is excellent as the story looks at what it means to be a 'man' versus a 'woman' and how society can dictate how other look at you but also how you look at yourself if you allow society's ideas box you in.

I really enjoyed this second book - in a way I didn't even realise until I finished it and started to think about it more to review. I'm very excited to see what happens with book three and where Zu goes from here.

This books was brutal. Like it makes book one look tame. Following on from She Who Became the Sun. The political situation of the entire Mongol empire, and Mongol occupied China, have been completely and irrevocably changed by both Zhu Chongba and General Ouyang

Whilst they both have different plans, Ouyang against the Mongol Empire and Zhu against the world. Both will stop at nothing to claim their destiny.

Now that his life long plan had finally be set into motion, The general finds himself adrift in his own revenge. Now he has stepped to the point of no return, he just wants it to be over. For Zhu it’s all just beginning

Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. Whilst both are grimdark this one felt very sensationalist and really took away from the political tension and historical battles. There are LOTs of triggers in this one, so be careful before picking this one up. Despite this it is a great ending to the Duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Pan Macmillan/Mantle for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, violence, injury, pregnancy loss, implied rape, torture, sexual content, child death, homophobia, misogyny, transphobia, graphic self-harm

“She Who Became The Sun”, a retelling of the rise of the first Chinese emperor with a fantasy, gender-bent twist, is one of my favourite books so I was delighted to be approved for a digital ARC of the sequel, “He Who Drowned The World”. This book carries on from the events of the first, with Zhu Chongba claiming the role of the Radiant King (now using the name Zhu Yuanzhang) and waging war against the remaining Mongol forces while hoping to secure alliances with Madame Xhang, the lead controller of salt in the region. At the same time General Ouyang, who committed an unspeakable betrayal at the end of the first book against the man he loved the most, intends to gain vengeance for the destruction of his family- even if it means killing the Great Khan himself and ending up dead in the process. This book provides a new perspective, that of Wang Baoxiang who I found to be one of the most intriguing characters so I'm glad he was further developed; here he has decided, after working with Ouyang to betray his adopted brother, Prince Esen, that he will become the Great Khan that the Mongols never wanted: not a warrior but a scholar with a lot of anger, even if it means the destruction of everything he should hold dear. As Zhu and Ouyang are forced to work together to secure their own destinies, and Wang Boxiang digs deeply into the anger he’s held buried for so long, the world explodes, ending with an epic, tragic climax.

This series is brutal and beautiful, with characters that come alive from the first page. Emotionally I knew this book would ruin me, the first one had me stunned by the end, but "He Who Drowned The World" took everything a step further. The prose and lyricism of the language combine effortlessly to create a fascinating sequel to one of the best books of 2021. Mixing history with fantasy and adding a twist on gender, this series has gone from a monastery to the battlefields of ancient China, from politics, romance and tragic vengeance to the rise of the Ming dynasty. A character like Zhu Chongba is a once-in-a-lifetime one; the journey she goes on in this book, just like the first, is incredible. I have to speak about General Ouyang, who was my favourite in the first book; his aims and intentions are consistently tragic and heartbreaking especially because you hope he'll do something other than his nature. His journey in this book broke my heart from the very first page. The introduction of Wang Baoxiang's perspective and his aim to become the new Great Khan was so upsetting when you remember how he was with his adopted brother Esen. The depths of rage, arrogance and grief felt by these characters are so visceral, but here they have devastating consequences. This is how historical fantasy should be written, with all the epic scope and language of real life with the additional use of magic and divine right. "The Radiant Emperor" is unlike any duology I've ever read and I doubt there'll be one that grips me like this again.

I love this duology so much.

He Who Drowned the World is the perfect follow up/conclusion to She Who Became the Sun. The characters are so well written I truly felt invested in every single one, despite the fact that are a lot of POVs.

Almost every character is either genderqueer or fighting against the constraints of their assigned gender or body. Each struggle is fascinating and brilliantly told. There are no totally good or bad people, everyone is ruthless, flawed and complex. The writing is gorgeous and poetic without being pretentious.

I lost my way in the politics occasionally, but it all came together in such a satisfying way that it didn’t matter.

A perfect historical fantasy duology.

I really liked this book. I found the way grief was described happened to be my favourite aspect. As a whole I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book. I got confused on the plot ( although that might just be me) and I found it to be a little slow paced.

I didn't like this as much as the first one, however it was still enjoyable. There is a lot to follow, with the different characters and the different plots of the storyline all happening at once but at the end all come together. The main character Zhu was the same as the first book, but more sure of herself, however there were a few mistakes made that I don't think a character of her knowledge and confidence should have made, these had to happen though to feed into the ending. This could have been done better, while in-keeping her character and personality. I would have loved to see more of Ma, hopefully there will be a novella about her!

I liked the writing style of this book, and the way the book was spilt up with each chapter being a different plot line really helped ensuring the reader can understand it all. The ending does open it up to the possibility of the story carrying on however the conclusion was reached and ended well.

I tried really hard to love this book, and while I did enjoy it more than the first now that I knew rhe level of fantasy to expect, it still fell short for me.

I never felt connected to the characters and I kept getting confused and lost in the plot, both with who people were and what their story had been up to that point, and also as to whose point of view we were actually following. The pacing was also incredibly slow for me and I found myself getting slightly bored at times.

I did really enjoy reading about Zhu dealing with her grief though and processing this, learning how to see the world differently and change her priorities after Xu Da's death. I felt more connected to Xu Da through this after his death than I did when he was alive though unfortunately.

Absolutely fantastic!

I loved She who became the sun but I think I enjoyed this sequel more. It was just the right brand of grim tale that I love to devour.

The book starts with a bang, so many different parties, all vying for the throne and/or to become emperor, leading to some of the best political mechanisms, military actions and back stab betrayals.

The plot is engaging but it's the characters who steals the show. Ranging from morally questionable to outright despicable, these are some of the most interesting characters I have read in a while. On one hand I thought "gosh they are awful", on the other hand I also empathised with several of them and could understand how they became, what they became. I think it is a credit to Parker-Chan for writing down such nuance characters.

Definitely, one of the best historical fantasy that I have read and I look forward to read more from the author.

I loved She Who Became the Sun but just did not get on with the second installment. The plot moved too slowly and was thematically very different from the first novel. While I don't think this is inherently wrong, it just didn't link in feeling to the first book.