Reviews

She Who Became The Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan

tangoscore's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

heeraniki's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.0

eya_b's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

askamarudzi's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

carleeiigh's review against another edition

3.0

I think if this got a major edit I would enjoy it much more - but for now it was a long, only half interesting story about a girl pretending to be a male monk in early China with such conviction to live that she ends up leading an army against the Mongolians.

When it's focused on Zhu - her life, her determination, exploration of gender and lovers, her beliefs and strategy - it's really really good. I loved the character of Zhu! Her in the monastery developing relationships and desperate to "hide from heaven and her fate" is super interesting.

But a lot of this is bogged down when she joins the rebel army after she gets promoted to commander. It's a ton of names that I couldn't (and didn't really want to) put the effort into memorizing, sieges on cities, and another POV from the eunuch she has a grudge against. I'm not against developing the "antagonist" of this story, but it's always sooo boring. More names and cities I don't care about. The whole last half of the book really dragged and it was a total shame.

Loved Zhu and the story when it actually focused on her, hated the droling war talk and misplaced focus on the eunuch rival.

lyserature's review against another edition

I WILLLLLL but it's so fucking slow

vane_be_sleeping_zzz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

aurora69006's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

hyac1nthgirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

very slow & less fantastical than i was led to believe. i found myself feeling very detached from the story & characters, so much so that i really didn't get the ending.

natalie_bee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75