She Who Became the Sun

By Shelley Parker-Chan

She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan
  • Release Date: 2021-07-20
  • Genre: Historical Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 141 Ratings

Description

Two-time British Fantasy Award Winner
Astounding Award Winner
Lambda Literary Award Finalist

Hugo Award Finalist
Locus Award Finalist
Otherwise Award Finalist

"Magnificent in every way."—Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

"A dazzling new world of fate, war, love and betrayal."—Zen Cho, author of Black Water Sister

She Who Became the Sun reimagines the rise to power of the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor.

To possess the Mandate of Heaven, the female monk Zhu will do anything

“I refuse to be nothing…”

In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Looking forward to book 2

    4
    By Yvette Br.
    I enjoyed this book more than I thought. It left me a little sad because I can already see how Zhu’s quest got greatness will eventually destroy her and those she loves. I hope not as she’s gone through so much but I can already see she’ll do and give up everything to achieve greatness. Looking forward to seeing how the story continues.
  • Absolutely brilliant.

    5
    By Playin hard to get them coins
    This book was GORGEOUS. While it starts slow, it’s something that you push through and fall in love with all at once, without even realizing you’ve held your breath. It really kicks into gear when you get to the other characters PoV and are truly able to dive into the world. Zu and Ouyang are beautiful and bitter foils in a fantastical historical fiction that explores gender identity, femininity, desire, political intrigue all while peppered with battles. Esen i felt was himself a perfect highlight for Ouyang, loved by the world just as his friend (and perhaps love) is reviled, the perfect man in all aspects despite his same inability to have a male heir…ugh just a wonderful book. I wanted so badly for Ouyang to stop and find peace, but we knew from his introduction and haunting that his fate was as sealed as Zhus was free. UGH! So many times I was aching for the characters to make different choices, holding onto my helpless rickety raft, steered by a lovely author. This is the type of book you want to discuss to pieces.
  • She who became the sun

    5
    By Ken Follet
    Absolutely fantastic. Historical novel with a touch of fantasy. Epic in scope, beautifully plotted with fierce protagonists and non-stop action. Hope there will be sequels.