A review by dweoport
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Honestly, I might have read too many historical fantasy books in a row, but this seemed very similar to the other ones I've read yet didn't hold up. I found the story hard to follow and didn't really understand why the characters who were involved were involved at all? I liked the beginning, when Zhu was pursuing monkhood and living her life at the monastery, but after the war started, a lot of decisions made seemed convoluted and unjustified - I understand that her greatest desire is greatness, but perhaps I don't agree that having power over a nation symbolizes that greatness. I liked the juxtaposition yet parallels between Ouyang and Zhu. The relationship between Esen and Ouyang was very homoerotic and I thought it was extremely interesting to see Ouyang's motivations for pretending to be on Esen's side; however, I think that the war logic wasn't immersive enough for me to be super interested in a major part of the story. Ultimately, the story was fine, and I enjoyed it for what it was.
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