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A review by heather_harrison
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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
4.25
This book is the sequel to the novel “She Who Became the Sun” and rounds out the Radiant Emperor Duology.
The book picks up shortly after the end of the previous one. The land is ruled by the Mongol The Great Kahn. It very helpfully begins with a synopsis of the standing of armies and alliances in their search for power;
1. Zhu Chongba, (who took her brothers identity after he died and became a monk)
2. General Ouyang, unic and former slave.
3. Lady Zhang is a second group.
4. Lord Wang Baoxiang, the prince of Henan and brother of Esen.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Ouyang and Zhu - and the exploration of gender and identity attached to it. They are so different and yet have so many tangents. With the absence of Esen it did really highlight I only appreciated Ouyang as a foil to others characters, and not on his own merits.
On the flip side, the relationship between Ma and Wang Baoxiang practically gave me an emotional breakdown and I still don't know how I feel about it. Wang Baoxiang was a train wreck - in that it is catastrophic and yet I cannot look away.
The ending gave me goosebumps and I know I'll need to organise a re-read once I've emotionally processed just *everything*
The book picks up shortly after the end of the previous one. The land is ruled by the Mongol The Great Kahn. It very helpfully begins with a synopsis of the standing of armies and alliances in their search for power;
1. Zhu Chongba, (who took her brothers identity after he died and became a monk)
2. General Ouyang, unic and former slave.
3. Lady Zhang is a second group.
4. Lord Wang Baoxiang, the prince of Henan and brother of Esen.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Ouyang and Zhu - and the exploration of gender and identity attached to it. They are so different and yet have so many tangents. With the absence of Esen it did really highlight I only appreciated Ouyang as a foil to others characters, and not on his own merits.
On the flip side, the relationship between Ma and Wang Baoxiang practically gave me an emotional breakdown and I still don't know how I feel about it. Wang Baoxiang was a train wreck - in that it is catastrophic and yet I cannot look away.
The ending gave me goosebumps and I know I'll need to organise a re-read once I've emotionally processed just *everything*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and War