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ka_cam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Main character Zhu brings some
seriously power hungry she/he questing energy. I enjoyed the exploration of gender in Zhu and Ouyang’s body-mind experiences, and the ever lurking themes of trauma and social/cultural violence and oppression that (sometimes literally) haunts these characters. I felt parts of the book dragged or stalled, and the greater world building or depth of other characters (esp Ma) could have improved some of the slower parts. I’d have enjoyed more development of the ghosts or other spirit world elements but that’s just me. Will definitely be on the lookout for #2!
seriously power hungry she/he questing energy. I enjoyed the exploration of gender in Zhu and Ouyang’s body-mind experiences, and the ever lurking themes of trauma and social/cultural violence and oppression that (sometimes literally) haunts these characters. I felt parts of the book dragged or stalled, and the greater world building or depth of other characters (esp Ma) could have improved some of the slower parts. I’d have enjoyed more development of the ghosts or other spirit world elements but that’s just me. Will definitely be on the lookout for #2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, War, Murder, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Minor: Ableism, Sexual content, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, War, Death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Child death, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Animal death and Alcoholism
miyalynn06's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is Mulan if mulan was a psychopathic liar and murderer and nearly everyone else was too. The beginning set up the story perfectly and I think the plot overall was intriguing. War, betrayal and slow burn, painful romance really kept the story going. It wasn’t a bad book by any means but I literally did not like a single character (even the nice ones) and there were a few things that really pissed me off. For being a book about war, the author found a way to skirt around writing any actual fight scenes until the very end. Also with a metaphor every other sentence, the writing felt like it was trying to be beautiful and profound but ended up beating a dead horse to oblivion. Half the time I had no idea what the author was saying and the other times they were just telling you what I would’ve rather picked up on subtly. It got really frustrating and dragged in the middle part but the pacing at the end was really attention-grabbing. Zhu and Oinoing were perfect foils for each other and their characterization was immaculate - but i still didn’t like them or really feel bad for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexism, Murder, and Misogyny
caitlinbutcher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I’m honestly speechless. This was one of the most elaborate, sweeping, and epic books I have ever read.
I was hoping for a little bit more fantasy elements, but with how amazing this book was I honestly didn’t mind at all.
This book has it all: politics, complex characters, character growth, sapphic romance, mystery, inspiration, beautiful action sequences, and plot twists.
I was hoping for a little bit more fantasy elements, but with how amazing this book was I honestly didn’t mind at all.
This book has it all: politics, complex characters, character growth, sapphic romance, mystery, inspiration, beautiful action sequences, and plot twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, War, Body shaming, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Misogyny
Minor: Cursing and Sexual violence
mythos365's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. While I am glad I read it, I can't say that it's one I'd pick up again. The characters were interesting but I didn't really care for most of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Sexism, Racism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence
generaljinjur's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.5
WOOF what a journey! It delighted me and broke my heart along the way, and though the ending felt a little quick (after every other major event happening over the course of years, anyway), it was emotional and fitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Sexual violence
heartbrekker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"Salt is fire, and salt is life, and without it: even an empire falls to nothing."
Note: I will be using she/her pronouns for Zhu because they are the pronouns during her POV. There's a long complication over her identity since she took her brother's name and has pretended to be him for so long. Zhu constantly mentions how she knows she is not a man but also believes herself not to be a woman. While I am a cis-woman, I do think that her identity was handled with care. This is certainly not another cross-dressing Mulan tale, but a complex story about identity, especially when your identity is innate to your survival.
She Who Became the Sun is pitched as The Song of Achilles meets Mulan, and I think that is a marketing genius description. A round of applause for whoever came up with that! Obviously, I think this story is more complicated than that description. The Mulan reference could lead people to think this is simply a crossdressing situation, but it is DEFINITELY not that in the slightest. I mentioned above the complications a bit if you need a refresher. Now I'd personally add The Poppy War as a comparative title because while I don't think this is as grim dark as TPW, SWBTS gets very brutal at times. I'd recommend you look at other content warnings of reviews because it is probable that I missed a few.
Anyway, to be honest, this book was a masterpiece of a debut. Parker-Chan comes in swinging with all of her might, and it pulled on my heart strings in a variety of scenes. It's so interesting to see Zhu take up her brother's identity for survival. From the beginning, we see just how willing Zhu is to live and fight for her life. She's one of the most determined characters that I have ever met, and I cannot wait to see her in action more. Not to mention, the other POVs and side characters are extremely fleshed out. I physically felt like all the characters were visceral and tangible, which I cannot say for many books. Their personalities were completely their own as well as their intense desires.
Going off of the *intense desires* mention, the political game was my favorite part of this book besides Zhu's overall journey. At first, I just wanted to continue on with her story whenever a separate POV showed up, but of course, Ma and Ouyang are quintessential to this plot. I found myself rooting for both of them in different situations. Ma never led me astray because she's such a loyal, gentle soul, and then Ouyang just tugged on the heart strings with his backstory of non-consensual castration. He's constantly torn about his identity and status as a eunuch. He's so damn confused for a variety of reasons (*cough cough* spoilers), and while not all of his decisions are the best, he really needed a hug. It's always a testament to an author's skill when they can make characters on opposing sides enjoyable and sympathetic. Parker-Chan could of very well made Zhu the fan-favorite and left Ouyang out to dry as the evil villain, but she is too good for that. You'll see this world is built off of a foundation of greys, and I certainly prefer my reads that way.
I may add more to this review in the future, but for now, without spoilers, I'll end it here. Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
"There are no kind solutions to cruel situations."
Note: I will be using she/her pronouns for Zhu because they are the pronouns during her POV. There's a long complication over her identity since she took her brother's name and has pretended to be him for so long. Zhu constantly mentions how she knows she is not a man but also believes herself not to be a woman. While I am a cis-woman, I do think that her identity was handled with care. This is certainly not another cross-dressing Mulan tale, but a complex story about identity, especially when your identity is innate to your survival.
She Who Became the Sun is pitched as The Song of Achilles meets Mulan, and I think that is a marketing genius description. A round of applause for whoever came up with that! Obviously, I think this story is more complicated than that description. The Mulan reference could lead people to think this is simply a crossdressing situation, but it is DEFINITELY not that in the slightest. I mentioned above the complications a bit if you need a refresher. Now I'd personally add The Poppy War as a comparative title because while I don't think this is as grim dark as TPW, SWBTS gets very brutal at times. I'd recommend you look at other content warnings of reviews because it is probable that I missed a few.
Anyway, to be honest, this book was a masterpiece of a debut. Parker-Chan comes in swinging with all of her might, and it pulled on my heart strings in a variety of scenes. It's so interesting to see Zhu take up her brother's identity for survival. From the beginning, we see just how willing Zhu is to live and fight for her life. She's one of the most determined characters that I have ever met, and I cannot wait to see her in action more. Not to mention, the other POVs and side characters are extremely fleshed out. I physically felt like all the characters were visceral and tangible, which I cannot say for many books. Their personalities were completely their own as well as their intense desires.
Going off of the *intense desires* mention, the political game was my favorite part of this book besides Zhu's overall journey. At first, I just wanted to continue on with her story whenever a separate POV showed up, but of course, Ma and Ouyang are quintessential to this plot. I found myself rooting for both of them in different situations. Ma never led me astray because she's such a loyal, gentle soul, and then Ouyang just tugged on the heart strings with his backstory of non-consensual castration. He's constantly torn about his identity and status as a eunuch. He's so damn confused for a variety of reasons (*cough cough* spoilers), and while not all of his decisions are the best, he really needed a hug. It's always a testament to an author's skill when they can make characters on opposing sides enjoyable and sympathetic. Parker-Chan could of very well made Zhu the fan-favorite and left Ouyang out to dry as the evil villain, but she is too good for that. You'll see this world is built off of a foundation of greys, and I certainly prefer my reads that way.
I may add more to this review in the future, but for now, without spoilers, I'll end it here. Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
"There are no kind solutions to cruel situations."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Cannibalism
More content warnings: non-consensual castration (sexual violence), starvation, public execution, depression, mass death (war themes), misgendering, dysphoria, and the physical abuse/ violence partly refer to a life-altering injury. One of the child deaths is offscreen whereas another is suicide.
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