She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor Duology, 1)

This book did disappoint me I'll be honest. After seeing all the hype and the buzz around this I really thought it was going to blow me out of the water, but it just kinda left me thinking meh 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ I always gage how much I like a book by how mad my imagination runs with imagery in my head and the whole time reading this it was just so colourless and monochrome. The main character was just so bland and one note and I just really couldnt connect with her at all. The only time I ever felt anything towards her was when she was with Ma, a character I actually kind of enjoyed. I felt like the MC had an absolute personality changed come the end of the book totally out of the blue and not really for the better in my opinion. She got more and more unlikable as she went along. I did prefer the other side characters a lot me more and was more intrigued and involved on their side. Ouyang was definitely more intriguing and so conflicted. The love interests on both sides I did like. Ma is such a sweet character and I liked how she brought a little something out of Zhu that I couldnt find anytime else. Although I was not expecting the spice that was just thrust upon me so out of the blue. My jaw literally hit the floor with what was being described to me. Again out of the blue hahahhaa I did enjoy the multiple POVs and the jumps in time. I know others found them very spontaneous and chaotic but I really dosnt mind. For it being a historical war fiction and wars are long. I was more disappointed at the lack of fantasy elements it really was more just historical fiction for me. I did pick this up as it was made out to me to be a fantasy. My interest would peek up and then just disappear but it did keep me picking it back up. I did want to see how it all faired in the end. I didnt originally know that it was a trilogy I believe in the making. I do think I will still pick up the next but maybe wont be in a massive rush to do so.

Wow...I cannot believe this is the end. It was only 400 pages but I feel like I have grown up with Zhu Chongba and experienced every moment and emotion of theirs. I am hesitant to even leave a review because it would be like recreating the Painting of Adam with a piece of chalk. Nothing I say can even come close to describing the beauty of this story. So, I will keep this short and sweet. Shelley Parker-Chan doesn't just describe people well. It's like she has gone inside the readers mind and pulled out secret feelings/wants/desires that they have never even admitted to themselves. Particularly with the character of Ma - although I do not claim to relate to a 13th century Chinese woman - her feelings throughout the book directly reflected my own. It was frightening how similar we were. The depth of the characters was immense. Every single person was grey - nobody was universally good or bad. The exploration of gender and sexuality is the best I have ever read. Every author aims to do this, but Parker-Chan has excelled. I never read about romance, or Asia, or war. Yet this is my favourite book of all time. It is incomparable - it will win many awards. I will stop my review now, so you can start reading this incredible book. Just one more thing, I will never forget you Zhu Chongba.

Where to even try to start with this review. This was a brilliant debut:- Adult, Historical fiction, queer fantasy, taking inspiration from the Yuan dynasty. . . You begin with a girl, her brother - Zhu Chongba - and father. Her brother was destined to greatness. However, both her father & brother died. So she became Zhu Chongba. The 1st big decision that changed her life. Her next was going to a monastery, where eventually she was allowed to join the Buddhist monks as Zhu Chongba. Throughout her time there, we get to know the things Zhu Chongba endures, the friendship she makes with Xu Da, and how she comes to then leave the monastery. From there, she bests General Ouyang (who we met prior to this) in battle, almost by accident. This sets up the continuing war that not only rages between the 2 factions, but between Zhu and Ouyang. Finally, we have Ma Xiuying, who despite initially being promised to another, ends up marrying Zhu Chongba. While others believe her to be marrying a man, Ma is fully aware at this point that Zhu is a woman. It initially is a marriage of convenience, but love does ventually blossom between Ma & Zhu. Zhu is driven to make certain decisions that are hard to read. Make no mistake, this book pulls no punches on moral choice. Zhu skirts through in the grey area most of the time. The start of a line towards the end really sums it up - "I didn’t mean to be cruel." Yet despite not meaning to, Zhu often has to take that path. Ma though brings light to the darkness. Zhu is Yin to Ma's Yang. Despite this, I found Zhu likable as a character generally. Ma though is who I loved the most. Her ability to read people & situations was a match to Zhu, and I just found myself rooting for her immediately. I was thoroughly absorbed by this book. It is pretty hefty in size, but I was so taken in by it, I was astounded to suddenly realise I was almost finished. I did buy the audible version after I read it & I'm grateful I did as it helped bring together a lot of the pronunciation, particularly to names & places. This is a duology, & while the end allows further exploration in another book, it isn't on a cliffhanger. It means it could be a standalone, although I for one can't wait to see how it concludes! I just hope Zhu doesn't become completely lost to the darker side of their choices, nor do those around her. 5/5 stars 🌟

This was unlike anything I’ve read, in all the best ways. It shines in so many areas. The exploration of gender is fantastic: this is no simple woman disguised as a man story, but rather a person born into a female’s body but living as the full mental and physical embodiment of a male, through every core of her being. Though she never changes pronouns, it’s very clear that she is becoming who she believes she’s meant to be. Gender is also explored through a character on the opposite side of the conflict, a eunuch who feels robbed of being the male he was born as, and struggles with both gender and sexuality as he doesn’t know whether he loves his best friend, hates him, or wants to be him. The second really powerful element is the belief in fate and desire, and the way Zhu ties them together as one: she in essence wants to steal the fate that was meant for her brother, and believes that if she wants something badly enough, she can fool heaven into believing it belongs to her. This theme is handled incredibly artfully, with a gradual progression from Zhu’s simple wish to survive to her slow realization that conquering someone else’s fate can go as far as her desire for it can take her. It introduces questions about what fate is, really, and whether it has ever meant anything more just wanting something badly enough and deciding to get it, no matter who or what gets left in your wake. It’s a dark message the way Parker-Chan writes it, and powerful every step of the way. One of the best Asian historical fantasies out there, hands down.

So I rated a 3 because i definitely didn't think it was a 5 or 4 star but I didn't think it was a 2 star either. In the begging the write captivated me with the articulate manner of her writing and enveloped me in the story of this young and starving girl but as the story progressed I didn't like what the story turned out to be. I dont want to give any spoilers but just incase this it does slip a bit dont read further **Potential spoiler alert** So the summary describes the book as Mulan meet The Heel of Achiles (never read this book) I thought Mulan, hero, female warrior, trials and hardship but ultimately over coming. What it slowly morphs into is a girl who will do anything, allow her loved ones to suffer even if it gets her what she wants (she wants what she wants and doesnt care if that hurts those she loves or love her. It's so selfish and dark. Such a let down. I think she is a villain and not even the redeeming type of one! Also the geberal turned in to a dark M/M with out the sexing scenes but innuendosand hints of it. Also he destroys his own last shred of goodness in his life. I don't want to continue with the story. It didn't leave me feeling good but instead depressed and anxious. Yuck! The writing is very good and plot is very well developed along with the characters but definitely not the good time story I thought it was going to be. The action scenes and battles and martial arts I was hoping didn't happen and instead it was dark and twisted and left me feeling off.