Reviews - She Who Became the Sun

16k reviews for:

She Who Became the Sun

Shelley Parker-Chan

3.98 AVERAGE

ddescamps's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 24%

I just did not click with the way this book was written, it was so repetitive and slow. DNF’d at around 20%

ctrl_alt_read's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

cheyreadsthings's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thirdhalf's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

They be giving that mandate of heaven to anyone

crin_d1nk's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

An impoverished girl refuses to accept her fate of being nothing. Instead, she steals the destiny of her brother, Zhu Chongba, determined to achieve greatness in his place. She is driven by an unrelenting desire to earn the fate she has stolen—no matter the cost. On the opposing side, a eunuch general is torn between his admiration for his prince and his duty to avenge his family. Can either of them shape their own destinies—and at what cost?

First off, I think it's misleading to compare this story to Mulan. In my opinion, aside from the fact that both feature characters disguising themselves as a different gender, the similarities end there. This novel is far darker and centers heavily on political intrigue.

Shelley Parker-Chan does some exceptional character work. This story is all about the characters—their motivations, relationships, and what (or who) they’re willing to sacrifice. The narrative unfolds in third person, following multiple characters on both sides of the war. Parker-Chan skillfully explores themes of sexuality, gender identity, fate versus choice, and cultural identity. My book club had a great time discussing these aspects and diving deep into what the story was trying to say.

That said, the world-building is a weak point. The setting felt underdeveloped and largely inconsequential to the story. Additionally, for a novel centered around war, there’s surprisingly little action. Much of the book focuses on characters strategizing for battles, only to skip ahead to the aftermath. The few battle scenes we do get are difficult to follow, with muddy descriptions and a lack of cohesion that dulls their intended impact.

I’d recommend this book to fans of tense political dramas who are interested in deep character studies. While I’m glad I read it and plan to read the sequel someday, this wasn’t always an enjoyable experience. The characters aren’t designed to be likable, and I often found myself frustrated by their selfishness.