Review: 'She Who Became the Sun' by Shelley Parker-Chan

The hype around She Who Became the Sun has been building up steadily, at least in my corner of the blogosphere. Usually I'm very hesitant to dig into a book so widely praised but I simply couldn't help myself with this one. Thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date: 7/20/2021
Publisher: Tor Books

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.

As some of you may know, I lived in Shanghai for four years and absolutely fell in love with it's culture and history. Both run so deep and have known so much change that they offer up endless stories. For me, She Who Became the Sun is one of the first Fantasy books that truly goes all in and revels in that history and culture. As Parker-Chan states herself in her prologue, in part this novel engages with the history and historic characters of the fourteenth century, but it also harks back to Chinese costume dramas and their vibe. This mix makes for a thrilling book that feels deeply rooted in history and tradition but also isn't afraid to fly and ask you to believe in the impossible. So much of Fantasy writing is steeped in traditions and tropes that are, upon inspection, either incredibly dated or straight-up offensive. To see this new wave of Fantasy writing from different cultural spheres, different kinds of authors, new and strong voices; well, it all makes my Fantasy-loving heart sing.

Where to begin with She Who Became the Sun? From the moment Zhu Chongba dies from despair and his nameless sister takes on his fate and identity, this novel blazes with a desire and a determination that is expressed in almost every word. Zhu is at the heart of this novel, her actions (usually) carefully calculated to help her reach the destiny she has claimed for herself. Parts of the novel are also narrated from the point of view of General Ouyang, a eunuch fighting on the other side. It is the combination of these two characters, Zhu with her drive towards greatness, her willingness to sacrifice (almost) everything in order to achieve it, and Ouyang with his relentless will, sharp mind and twisted loyalties, that kept me reading into the late, and then early, hours. The confrontations between Zhu and Ouyang are some of the highlights of the novel. First as a monk, then as a warrior, Zhu strives for a destiny that isn't hers but is within her reach. Alongside this we see the Mongol rule in China falter, rebellion rise and people's loyalties questioned. Solidly set in the "real" world and known history, Parker-Chan manages to create a story that soars.

She Who Became the Sun is Shelley Parker-Chan's debut and it's one hell of a debut. It is so tightly paced and plotted, with beautiful descriptions and dialogue that cuts you to the core. There were moments I wanted to gasp, there were moments when I squealed. My head is full of images from this book weeks after I have finished it, my mind racing with warrior monks, the Prince of Radiance and hunts across the Mongolian Steppe. Gender identity is a key theme throughout She Who Became the Sun. While Zhu was born female, she stops identifying as such early on and it changes her whole outlook on the world. Her fear about being discovered/found out/tricked back into her previous identity was fascinating to read and gave me a whole new insight into people who are gender non-conforming, etc. Much of the praise for this novel has been about its LGBTQIA representation and I did think it was beautifully done. Parker-Chan is capable of being so gentle to their characters while they are at their lowest, most vicious point that it almost hurts as a reader. I was quite honestly blown away by Parker-Chan, despite my expectations having already been raised significantly by all the hype. Don't let this one get away from you!

I give this book...

5 Universes!

She Who Became the Sun is worth all the hype it is getting. It is a beautiful book with a gripping plot, astounding characters and brilliant world-building. Let yourself be swept away and keep your potential greatness always in mind.