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A review by glitterdeww
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
Set in historical 14th century China, this is an engaging epic built around the concepts of fate, gender, desire, and control. (4.5 stars)
The narrative of this story follows a gradual ascension to power, successfully mixing plot-driven and character-driven elements. I found the clash between difference and sameness, the way those instinctively attract and repel, to be the most interesting aspect of this book. That interplay was found in every single character relationship along the lines of culture, family, gender, virtue...
This is a war-torn story both in actual events and internal emotional states. Love warring with duty. Desire warring with fate. Morality warring with selfishness. The throughline of each conflict is the need to exist, both with other people and in the world itself.
The narrative of this story follows a gradual ascension to power, successfully mixing plot-driven and character-driven elements. I found the clash between difference and sameness, the way those instinctively attract and repel, to be the most interesting aspect of this book. That interplay was found in every single character relationship along the lines of culture, family, gender, virtue...
This is a war-torn story both in actual events and internal emotional states. Love warring with duty. Desire warring with fate. Morality warring with selfishness. The throughline of each conflict is the need to exist, both with other people and in the world itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Colonisation