mariemtck 's review for:

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

3.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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 I feel really torn about this book. On one hand, there were moments that were incredibly compelling, inspiring, and right up my alley, they made the story feel so promising from the very beginning. That’s why it was all the more disappointing that, for me, about half of the book fell flat. I enjoyed the dual focus on Ouyang’s story alongside Zhu’s, and I liked the supporting characters who surrounded them throughout. I also appreciated how the plot evolved, often in surprising directions. But despite all of that, I never felt truly invested in what was happening. Even if my favorite character had been killed off, I don’t think I would have felt much beyond a kind of distant acknowledgment. That said, I can still recognize the beauty of the writing itself, it’s a well-crafted story. I also know that my own context shaped my reading experience: coming out of a slump made it harder for me to fully engage with the book BUT I still think the book might resonate more strongly with readers who can more easily immerse themselves in it. 3 stars!