librarygirlreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
cyndqls's review
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is about Shek Yeung, the famous pirate queen who sailed the South China Sea in the early 19th century—her husband is murdered in front of her, she must insure a smooth transition of power, and she must content with motherhood, all while engaging in maritime conflict with the Emperor and foreigners. Chang-Eppig paints a really compelling portrait Shek Yeung's life and intersperses it with stories of the sea goddess Ma-Zou.
I really enjoyed Chang-Eppig's debut. I've always enjoyed stories about pirates and I think she did an excellent job at portraying Shek Yeung as a deeply flawed and conflicted person who is still very compelling, as well as balancing out interpersonal relationships with naval battles and the politics of being a pirate. I liked the dynamics between Shek Yeung and the more important members of the fleet, and I thought that the Ma-Zou stories were well-timed. On occasion, I found that the prose and dialogue could have flowed a bit better, but I found I didn't mind too much since I was invested in the overall story. Chang-Eppig did a good job at breathing life into her characters; there was a nice balance of the cruelty and humanity in the characters. I'll absolutely pick up a copy upon publication and I hope other people enjoy it as much as I did!
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is about Shek Yeung, the famous pirate queen who sailed the South China Sea in the early 19th century—her husband is murdered in front of her, she must insure a smooth transition of power, and she must content with motherhood, all while engaging in maritime conflict with the Emperor and foreigners. Chang-Eppig paints a really compelling portrait Shek Yeung's life and intersperses it with stories of the sea goddess Ma-Zou.
I really enjoyed Chang-Eppig's debut. I've always enjoyed stories about pirates and I think she did an excellent job at portraying Shek Yeung as a deeply flawed and conflicted person who is still very compelling, as well as balancing out interpersonal relationships with naval battles and the politics of being a pirate. I liked the dynamics between Shek Yeung and the more important members of the fleet, and I thought that the Ma-Zou stories were well-timed. On occasion, I found that the prose and dialogue could have flowed a bit better, but I found I didn't mind too much since I was invested in the overall story. Chang-Eppig did a good job at breathing life into her characters; there was a nice balance of the cruelty and humanity in the characters. I'll absolutely pick up a copy upon publication and I hope other people enjoy it as much as I did!
reading_with_sydney's review against another edition
3.75
A fierce female pirate?? Count me in!! I seriously squealed when I got approved for this ARC. Massive thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the eARC of this book!
The distinction between the characters was deeply thought out and I felt like the motivations of characters were extremely clear. Shek Yeung is a fabulous main character and watching her overcome continual hardships was inspiring.
I think the author Rita Chang-Eppig will become a standout voice in the historical fiction/fantasy genre.
The distinction between the characters was deeply thought out and I felt like the motivations of characters were extremely clear. Shek Yeung is a fabulous main character and watching her overcome continual hardships was inspiring.
I think the author Rita Chang-Eppig will become a standout voice in the historical fiction/fantasy genre.
yo_oying's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
3.75
cari_michele's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
A beautiful, meditative, fascinating read. This is exquisitely written and while I knew that the subject would be fascinating, I was unprepared for how much. Perfect for fans of Four Treasures of the Sky.
stolenmacaroni's review
3.0
I found this book to be interesting but difficult to follow. The main character is a pirate queen of sorts who tells you her story interspersed with the stories of god she calls Ma Zhou. The main thing I found difficulty was following the main plot line with the little stories all wound up with it. The story was just pirates being pirates mostly. I found it difficult to identify with the main character and saw her story as interesting but not very engaging.
gkaltam's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Rape
anna_m_k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig is historical fiction about Shek Yeung, the Pirate Queen of China. The novel focuses on a roughly two-year span of her life as she tries to hold onto the power she cultivated alongside her first husband as China’s political landscape rapidly shifts into something completely new. Naval battles, political intrigue among pirates and nations, and complex relationships feature throughout the character study of this complex figure. Both the legendary woman and the historical period she existed in are richly realized with beautiful, examining prose.
Shek Yeung is a fascinating figure to follow throughout the novel as it examines her identity as a social outcast, her hunger for power, her trauma, and her relationships. Though the numerous issues tackled in the novel could become overwhelming, the author does a spectacular job of grounding it all with Shek Yeung and her relationships. Themes of womanhood; the role of women and mothers; social outcasts due to religion, profession, and sexuality; sexual violence; criminality, violence and power; poverty and trauma are all given their due.
Overall, it is a riveting and intimate study of a complicated figure and the issues of her time that shaped and influenced Shek Yeung.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Colonisation, and Sexism
alisonburnis's review
adventurous
challenging
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
5.0
My first 5 star read of 2023! This book was phenomenal, somehow timeless and brilliant. Following a Chinese pirate queen, this is a story of adventure, politics, plotting, and the conflict of motherhood. Shek Yeung is newly widowed, her husband Cheng Yat murdered by the Portuguese. She has risen to command their fleet, but with his death, she seeks to consolidate her power and stick with the only part of her life she has known any power: being a pirate, and maintaining their alliances. She marries Cheung Po, her husband’s ward and heir, and steps into a new tier of intrigue.
This was so vivid and immersive. Skillfully told and full of compassionate adventure, even through the violence.
I received this ARC via NetGalley.
This was so vivid and immersive. Skillfully told and full of compassionate adventure, even through the violence.
I received this ARC via NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder