Wow, what a story!!

What I liked about this book:
- I loved the detail and depth of every character.
- The world-building and descriptions were phenomenal.
- The plotline was intense and engaging.
- The story held so much history, politics and magic that I found myself learning as I read.

This book is a must-read this year!

Shelley Parker-Chan simply did not hesitate and went all in with this debut. Every page is dripping with mythologies, languages, traditions and beliefs that took me for a ride in a fantasy that is ever so rich in culture. Zhu is a main character that I deeply admire, and everything she went through in her journey are all important in the makings of her arc, and it did not disappoint with its gradual beautiful result. Her crippling struggles with her own identity in a world suffocated by patriarchy was done so well and for sure, successfully reaches out to women and to the queer community out there who suffered the same. I simply love everything that makes her as a fleshed out person: her determination, her will, her ambitions and her development.

On that note, we also follow another main, Ouyang, who owns my heart. He does and I can't do anything about it. His point of view, and perspective in how he views himself is tragic and heartbreaking. His feelings of yearning, loss and grief was transferred to me and it was a glorious experience for a reader.

These two people are complex, flawed, broken, but strong. It has been an absolute delight reading their story.

However, as much as I enjoyed this, I have one mild negative that I need to address. In the first half of the book, there were a lot of telling instead of showing in the author's writing style that ended up as a coalition of dragging fade to black scenes that can be immensely underwhelming, especially with all the expended build up before these supposedly exciting parts that we fail to experience first hand. This forces the reader to be very dependent on the narrator regarding what has happened that we did not see at all, which in this case, wasn't really effective for me. A few scenes were written very literal too for a book that was said to be lyrical, if one was skinned alive, it was simply described as "Character X was skinned alive" and nothing else. It was a hindrance in picturing these events because of the mechanical descriptions, and it can be quite disconcerting because what was currently happening is an important factor or pivotal point of the plotline and therefore, I should feel emotions over it but I find that I didn't as much as I think I should.

BUT THEN, everything went smoothly and beautifully starting in the 70% marker. The pacing increased, the relationships and dynamics evolved into something I never have expected. I felt triumph and pain and fear all at the same time. So despite the drags or the setbacks, this deserve everything including the full 5 stars.

The author has so much more to offer, and I can't wait for the sequel!

4.5 stars. WOW.

"You may have ended this, but you haven't ended me...Nobody will ever end me. I'll be so great that no one will be able to touch me, or come near me, for fear of becoming nothing."

I was so happy when Netgallery approved this ARC and god damn it won me over immediately. This was an amazing way to start my 2021 of! It was beautifully written and filled with complex, interesting characters. If you want something gripping, exciting, heartbreaking and filled with battles, politics and stunning writing add this to your 2021 anticipated reads.

Parker-Chan's writing style is the perfect balance of emotion, description and heartfelt growth. I really couldn't put this book down, it was fantastic.

4.75 stars

She Who Became the Sun is a stunning debut filled with charming characters, a fantastic and visceral historical setting with a fantastical twist and complex nuanced politics. We follow 4 main characters:

Zhu – Zhu is such a delightful character to follow, she strikes the perfect balance of cheeky, driven and resourceful. She is also very interesting study on gender, I believe she is non-binary, the author uses she/her pronouns when narrating but Zhu often refers to herself as he and has several dysphoric experiences regarding her female body. I think this book could mean a lot to people who are gender non-conforming, Zhu slow discovery of her true form is so beautiful to watch. Zhu is also posing as her brother for most of the book after at the start raiders kill her father and brother so she joins a monastery in order to survive but in order to get in she pretends to be her brother, she is also trying to become her brothers fate, as he was said to be a bringer of greatness whereas Zhu was told she would be nothing. Her drive to avoid being nothing is something I think is very reflective of the human experience. I also like the almost trickster elements of her character, there is something about those kind of characters that are always so charming to me. She has so much ambition and drive and I loved exploring the theme of creating your fate, even when the odds are stacked against you. I also really liked the idea of how you have to be an active force for change in your own life, rather than just a passive observer.

Ma – When we first meet Ma she is engaged to General Guo, one of the Red Turban rebellion leaders, although this is clearly an unwanted arrangement. Ma is such a sweet character and her kindness and resilience really shine through, especially in a world not particularly friendly to women. I also love how she subtly defies gender roles imposed on her at the time, this is much more understated than Zhu but done so well. At one point she is described as having fierce compassion, which I think summaries her character perfectly. She is caught up in the tides of war and power, very much against her will but shows beautifully the toll it takes on the people supporting those in power, especially those with soft hearts and the choices and sacrifices she makes for those she loves.

Esen – Esen is the son of the prince of Henan, an important figure in the Yuan empire. At the start of the book he is very optimistic and pure-hearted, but certain events lead to him becoming a bit more jaded. His family has a very complex dynamic, he has an adopted brother who is a scholar who has been looked down on, by their father and Esen for being more of a scholar than a fighter and not conforming to traditional masculine roles. Esen and his brother have a lot of resentment and distrust but you can lso see the love, which I think makes for a complex and nuanced relationship.

Ouyang – I don’t think I’ve ever flipped between liking a character and hating them so much as I did Ouyang. Known as the Eunuch general, he is Esen’s battlefield commander and very renowned. He is a very haunted character, and you can feel his simmering fear and resentment for the situation he is in, as well as his reluctant acceptance of his pre-ordinated fate (or at least what he thinks his fate is). He is also very emotionally repressed, and you can tell he is in love with Esen but he refuses to act on it. He also comes across as slightly misogynistic, he is very woman hating and I think part of that stems from his resentment of being a eunuch, but seriously if a character ever need therapy it’s him lol.

I really liked how at the beginning of the novel we follow Zhu growing up, both with a scene at the beginning which is pretty harrowing but then also Zhu growing up in the monastery. I loved the monastery scenes (I’m a sucker for that setting), Zhu’s friendship with another character called Xu Da was SO PRECIOUS and you can see the elements of Zhu’s personality that will continue to blossom whilst also seeing her be basically an insecure teenager doubting whilst also trying to desperately prove their place in the world.

The setting of the novel is also fantastic and I think a testament to the authors writing. You can really see the historical influences (from my limited research I believe it is set around the time of the fall of the Mongol Yuan dynasty) and it seems incredibly well researched. The atmospheric feels so vivid, you can feel the despair of this worn torn land whilst also having little glimmers of hope. Her writing is also stunning, it’s very beautiful and evocative whilst also being simplistic in the best way, and some of the emotional dialogue is GOD TIER and will rip out your heart. I also loved the inclusion of ghosts in the book, both literally and metaphorical ghosts. I always love ghost elements in books so this was a nice surprise, and some nice foreshadowing for certain events.

The relationships between the characters are so well written and nuanced, and the romantic relationship (between Zhu and Ma) was so well done and so sweet, although I did think it happened quite abruptly but it fit the tone of the book. Also there was a steamy scene I was not expecting but was so here for hehe. The other relationships were very well written as well, especially the family relationship with Esen and Zhu and Xu Da friendship (as previously mentioned).

Another element of the book I loved was the politics. There was a lot going on, and I don’t think this is the best book for fantasy beginners but for an avid fantasy reader like me it was SO JUICY. There is also quite a bit of military strategy which is not something I always love, but I thought there was the perfect amount in this book to keep me engaged but not too overwhelmed. There were betrayals left and right and you really didn’t know who to trust or what people’s true goals and motivations were. Also the subtle political set up of the ending was woven in beautifully throughout the novel, so you really felt the impact when certain shocking events took place. On that note the ending was rough T_T but also made me so excited for the next book!!!

One con I had was at one point in the book, about 25% there was a slight jar in pacing and characters, as we go from following Zhu growing up in the monastery to suddenly being thrust into the middle of a war and a complex political situation with new characters. So at this point I felt a little lost but soon I got back into the story again.

In conclusion this is a fantastic debut, I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it comes out in July and hopefully it will get all the hype it deserves!!