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A review by bennysbooks
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
5.0
Review to come, but for now I'm just sitting here with a bewildered smile on my face repeating "oh my god" endlessly so...
Took me forever to circle back and write a review, so I won't bother with a full one until I have re-read the book. For now, I will just say this: the book keeps you at a distance, and for some this will work, for others it will not. As someone who typically loves character depth, I can understand why people might struggle to connect. I think after reading this, and working my way through the Dandelion Dynasty (which is similar in a few key ways, though decidedly more epic in scale), I think what I love about these characters is the roles they play, rather than who they are. They feel like characters rather than real people, but in a good, soapy, Shakespearean sort of way. Not for everyone, but the impact can be incredible when done well. They're more than archetypes, but their place in the story is more important than a sense of interiority.
Pair this with the swelling action, the complex political scheming, the operatic moments - I perish. I love what Parker-Chan pulls off here. It feels fresh and ancient, all at once.
Took me forever to circle back and write a review, so I won't bother with a full one until I have re-read the book. For now, I will just say this: the book keeps you at a distance, and for some this will work, for others it will not. As someone who typically loves character depth, I can understand why people might struggle to connect. I think after reading this, and working my way through the Dandelion Dynasty (which is similar in a few key ways, though decidedly more epic in scale), I think what I love about these characters is the roles they play, rather than who they are. They feel like characters rather than real people, but in a good, soapy, Shakespearean sort of way. Not for everyone, but the impact can be incredible when done well. They're more than archetypes, but their place in the story is more important than a sense of interiority.
Pair this with the swelling action, the complex political scheming, the operatic moments - I perish. I love what Parker-Chan pulls off here. It feels fresh and ancient, all at once.