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culpeppper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The plot of this story is pretty straightforward and simple on the surface: a pirate captain dies, the world is changing due to aggressive colonial actions, and a tired woman is just trying to survive all the shit that happens between it all. There's a lot going on in the in between. Shek Yeung is a complex character, someone who spent most of her younger life isolated, brutalized, and/or controlled by abusers but soon has a chance at a kind of freedom when her first husband dies in the beginning of the book.
Her agency, or lack therof, sticks out to me amongst all the other topics Chang-Eppig covers in the story. Shek Yeung's whole life is controlled by others, their specters hanging over her and shadowing almost every choice she makes. Her husbands, living and dead, give reasoning for her choices she makes. Notably when she makes choices that harm others, she may recall with a pride and maybe a little guilt that she choices she made would have been the same choices her dead husband would have made. It cheapens her actions; just once, I wanted her to say she wasn't making a choice regarding the fleet without checking it against what He would have done.
Her relationship with Yan-Yan feels particularly imbalanced throughout the narrative in a way that isn't really explored.This is solidified at the end when Shek Yeung leaves a now implied to be disabled Yan-Yan to live a life she has expressed she didn't want previous to her doing this. Though she maybe feels conflicted about it, there's no real interrogation of what Shek Yeung (and Dawa but she's hardly a character) is actually doing by choosing this life of motherhood over employment for Yan-Yan, who has little to say after getting injured for the sake of Shek Yeung's child until she is forced into her new life. Kinda weird.
There are a lot of things that I'm just taking as fictionalized elements of historical reality (as I have very little knowledge on this particular part of time and space) but the lack of meaningful interrogation on what it means for Shek Yeung to have this power, and the continued lack of agency, means a lot of the other elements fall a little short of what I think Chang-Eppig was going for.
On the surface, if you don't look too deep, it's a fine book. Pacing can be weird, there's time jumps back and forth, there's some interesting mythical interludes that add a little depth to the world, side characters are all kinda one dimensional, the lines of leading questions made me roll my eyes, and I don't think it dug as deep as it thought it did— but overall, I eventually got invested and liked the attempts at serious conversations, even if I would have liked it do have gone a little deeper.
Her agency, or lack therof, sticks out to me amongst all the other topics Chang-Eppig covers in the story. Shek Yeung's whole life is controlled by others, their specters hanging over her and shadowing almost every choice she makes. Her husbands, living and dead, give reasoning for her choices she makes. Notably when she makes choices that harm others, she may recall with a pride and maybe a little guilt that she choices she made would have been the same choices her dead husband would have made. It cheapens her actions; just once, I wanted her to say she wasn't making a choice regarding the fleet without checking it against what He would have done.
Her relationship with Yan-Yan feels particularly imbalanced throughout the narrative in a way that isn't really explored.
There are a lot of things that I'm just taking as fictionalized elements of historical reality (as I have very little knowledge on this particular part of time and space) but the lack of meaningful interrogation on what it means for Shek Yeung to have this power, and the continued lack of agency, means a lot of the other elements fall a little short of what I think Chang-Eppig was going for.
On the surface, if you don't look too deep, it's a fine book. Pacing can be weird, there's time jumps back and forth, there's some interesting mythical interludes that add a little depth to the world, side characters are all kinda one dimensional, the lines of leading questions made me roll my eyes, and I don't think it dug as deep as it thought it did— but overall, I eventually got invested and liked the attempts at serious conversations, even if I would have liked it do have gone a little deeper.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Toxic relationship, War, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Islamophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Cannibalism
Takes place just prior to the start of the Opium Wars, at the end of the height of piracy. All the topics are what are to be expected, more or less, from reading the inside flap and having a general understanding of how brutal we can be as a species. There are multiple battle scenes, which include blood, injuries, and death. Multiple accounts of sexual violence, including rape, not overly graphic but frequent. Colonization hangs heavy on the narrative. Sexual slavery:lindsayreads21's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-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
3.5
This book started out super strong. I was drawn into Shek Yeung’s story immediately. Unfortunately, the momentum dragged a bit after those first few chapters. This is a book about a “legendary Chinese pirate queen” so I expected it to be full of adventure and excitement. Instead, it was a lot of time in the head of an almost reluctant pirate queen. Stolen from her family and forced to sell her body only to be “chosen” by the leader of a pirate fleet - yeah, I’d be pretty reluctant too. This book was really interesting and often had me writing notes in the margin. Shek Yeung is not the kind of queen or mother that you might expect, but she is the kind of queen and mother that the world made her.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Kidnapping, Suicide, and Violence
mari_library's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
This is was not what I was expecting. But it was still enjoyable and a great read. It had the perfect blend of information and intrigue. While I wasn't itching to pick the book back up every time I put it down, I still felt compelled to read it and never felt a dull moment. It takes a bit of time to get into it but it is worth it.
I don't think this book was trying to be revolutionary, it said what it was going to do and it did it flawlessly. I loved the conversations on womanhood, girlhood, and motherhood with the cultural implications. Coming from the west, the difference and similarities in the conversation was interesting to hear. I loved the commentary on the complex relationship women have with the culture of Imperial China at that time, and how a woman who breaks away from it also has a complex relationship with themselves regarding the way they grew up. I do wish some more aspects were delve in deeper, but since this was not a plot-focused book and instead character-focused, everything that happened felt organic to the character we were following. To be frank, I could probably have read 100 more pages of it and not have gotten tired. Shek Yeung is such an interesting characters and up there as one of my favorites.
I don't think this book was trying to be revolutionary, it said what it was going to do and it did it flawlessly. I loved the conversations on womanhood, girlhood, and motherhood with the cultural implications. Coming from the west, the difference and similarities in the conversation was interesting to hear. I loved the commentary on the complex relationship women have with the culture of Imperial China at that time, and how a woman who breaks away from it also has a complex relationship with themselves regarding the way they grew up. I do wish some more aspects were delve in deeper, but since this was not a plot-focused book and instead character-focused, everything that happened felt organic to the character we were following. To be frank, I could probably have read 100 more pages of it and not have gotten tired. Shek Yeung is such an interesting characters and up there as one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Death, Murder, Rape, Torture, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Violence, and War
jinmichae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's really well written, and an interesting story of the main character warring with her identity and what she's become. But it just wasn't for me. I'm too much of a romantic who wants happy endings after succeeding against the odds, and this is a tale of how cruel reality can be. There isn't always a happy ending, and sometimes the sum of all your scheming is just emptiness and a polite defeat.
My main problem I should have seen coming: it's hard to feel sympathy for or connected with a main character who's a fairly ruthless pirate, even if she internally struggles with her actions, or isn't as terrible as others she nonetheless allies with. She wants to fight against the emperor's stranglehold on the country, but what does that mean to the individual peasants? They either die of the emperor's famine, or the ones caused by her raids.
I guess that's part of the book's message about the cruelty of society and fate, so go into the book expecting such. It was my own hope for something more like Robin Hood that disappointed me, not the actual story.
My main problem I should have seen coming: it's hard to feel sympathy for or connected with a main character who's a fairly ruthless pirate, even if she internally struggles with her actions, or isn't as terrible as others she nonetheless allies with. She wants to fight against the emperor's stranglehold on the country, but what does that mean to the individual peasants? They either die of the emperor's famine, or the ones caused by her raids.
I guess that's part of the book's message about the cruelty of society and fate, so go into the book expecting such. It was my own hope for something more like Robin Hood that disappointed me, not the actual story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexism, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Suicide, Alcohol, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Vomit
ginny_lind's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a deep reflection on what one will do to survive, for those you care about, and for yourself. In a deep exploration of the life of Shek Yeung, a Chinese pirate leader, mother, and survivor, follow lyrical and mystical language along a brutal journey. Relatively slow as a read, but interesting and beautifully written with a complex main character and deep immersion into the time period and our character’s reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, War, Death, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Torture, and Death of parent
anniehayez's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
I think this book was done a disservice by the marketing. I came in expecting a high adventure book about a pirate queen. Instead I got a literary and reflective story about what it means to be a woman without defining yourself by men. It was a beautifully written story with a lush backdrop of piracy in the south china seas. And the piracy very much is a backdrop rather than a focus. Most of the book is politics and introspection. Which I enjoyed but was not expecting. By the second half I was fully invested and found the story poignant and satisfying. I only wish I had come in with more accurate expectations. I might have liked it even more than I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gore
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery
anniestar's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Listen, I wanted to like this, but I found it incredibly boring. Shek Yeung feels reduce from her historical power, more of a victim than someone who rises above the circumstances she was forced into. The ending was also very abrupt and dissatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, War, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Abortion, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Suicide, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt
kindra_demi's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In the end, stories were not, could not be reality. The storyteller decided where to start the story and where to end it, which parts to sink into and which to skim over.
Rita Chang-Eppig truly takes this into her writing style. This is the story of Shek Yeung and her journey to getting and maintaining the status of a pirate queen. Many have said that they aren't as big of a fan of the story because they thought it would be a story of action and adventure, but this isn't one of those stories. Parts are dedicated to the politics of piracy in the Qing dynasty with the Pirate Confederation. You'll get an initial introduction to the Opium Wars as well. But the primary focus of this story is Shek Yeung and her experience rising to her power.
I usually do not gravitate towards historical fiction or stories involving pregnancy, but I'm genuinely in love with this story. The lyrical nature of Chang-Eppig's writing and Shek Yeung is so beyond relatable. There were so many moments where I would pause to soak in how Chang-Eppig wrote a portion of the story.
I started the book as an audiobook (ft. a pterodactyl screech when I saw it was Emily Woo Zeller who narrated it. She was the first narrator I started following their work. If you have yet to listen to an audiobook before but want to get into listening to more, check out Emily Woo Zeller's work). I barely got to ch 4 before I texted my friend who recommended the book, saying I would probably want this as a physical book. I went and got it. Then, I went back and forth between the physical book and the audiobook (I'm impatient, but so is life, so the audiobook came in handy there). Both the physical book and the audiobook are beyond worth it.
Rita Chang-Eppig truly takes this into her writing style. This is the story of Shek Yeung and her journey to getting and maintaining the status of a pirate queen. Many have said that they aren't as big of a fan of the story because they thought it would be a story of action and adventure, but this isn't one of those stories. Parts are dedicated to the politics of piracy in the Qing dynasty with the Pirate Confederation. You'll get an initial introduction to the Opium Wars as well. But the primary focus of this story is Shek Yeung and her experience rising to her power.
I usually do not gravitate towards historical fiction or stories involving pregnancy, but I'm genuinely in love with this story. The lyrical nature of Chang-Eppig's writing and Shek Yeung is so beyond relatable. There were so many moments where I would pause to soak in how Chang-Eppig wrote a portion of the story.
I started the book as an audiobook (ft. a pterodactyl screech when I saw it was Emily Woo Zeller who narrated it. She was the first narrator I started following their work. If you have yet to listen to an audiobook before but want to get into listening to more, check out Emily Woo Zeller's work). I barely got to ch 4 before I texted my friend who recommended the book, saying I would probably want this as a physical book. I went and got it. Then, I went back and forth between the physical book and the audiobook (I'm impatient, but so is life, so the audiobook came in handy there). Both the physical book and the audiobook are beyond worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Grief, Blood, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault
nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
my book club and I agreed this is marketed incorrectly - it's not an action-packed pirate adventure! it's a detailed and well-researched historical fiction account of a real Chinese female pirate and so has a lot more to do with strategy, politics, gender, and the generational effect of violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
mirrorstorm_'s review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Kidnapping