Reviews

Lei che divenne il sole by Shelley Parker-Chan

alli_the_bookaholic13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

claireviolet's review against another edition

4.5

this feels like reading a proper historical epic and i really enjoyed my time with it! zhu and ouyang both serve as really wonderful contrasting point of view characters, their relationships with gender and sexuality are some of the best stuff in the book. zhu's contemplation on what it means to be in her body as it is and move through the world with it is a standout moment.

dipspread's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cryptik's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

wodime's review against another edition

wanted to like this, but i hit a point (at less than a third of the way) where i was like "what if i just skipped all the zhu chapters and read all the ouyang ones?", which i think means i should quit. because this one's a slog! the pacing is agonisingly, bizarrely slow; the prose is mostly dreary; but my real beef is the character work.

ouyang is a decent character, but zhu is fucking insufferable, and i cannot imagine anything i would enjoy less than watching her win. she has one character trait (willing to do anything for "greatness"), which is constantly narrated to us in the least subtle ways imaginable. i like protags who are ruthless schemers, but with zhu, those aspects never felt earned to me; i was just constantly being told she had them. constantly being told about Greatness, and The Path To Greatness, without any effort to endear her to the reader. and i'm sure there's some cultural stuff i'm missing, but i don't think any amount of context could make zhu likeable or interesting to me. what a relief to no longer be dragging my feet on this novel LMAO

nm_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

_jared_19_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

simply_jxde's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I can't believe Zhu actually managed to gaslight gatekeep girlboss her way to becoming the Radiant King.

This was a beautiful story and I loved how real the characters were and how much I related to them. Zhu's relationship with her body and gender identity was especially fun to witness. She wasn't a man in a woman's body, she was just her; with a body that couldn't be a woman's as she wasn't one. She's so ruthless on her journey to greatness and I'm here for it

__anna_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sara_isabel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 If "Game of Thrones", "Mulan" and a hefty dose of Chinese history had a baby it would result in this masterpiece. 

A peasant young girl in famine-stricken 14th-century China destined for nothing takes her fate by the balls and decides to steal her brother's identity to survive and claim the great destiny that was promised to him. 

Parker-Chan's writing is intense and immersive. The prose is poetic without being too flowery, perfectly balancing the gritty realities of war and survival with moments of beauty and introspection. The character development is top-notch, especially with Zhu, who is complex, ruthless, and so deeply human.

One of the coolest things about this book is how it tackles themes of identity, gender, and ambition. Zhu's journey is not just about survival; it's about redefining who she is and what she can achieve in a world that constantly underestimates her. 

The plot is full of twists and turns, political intrigue, and epic battles. It’s the kind of story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. Plus, there's a really interesting dynamic between Zhu and Ouyang, a eunuch general with his own complicated motivations.
The sapphic romance is the cherry on top of this already delicious cake :3