She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan [Book #1]

Content Tags: War, Death, Historical Fantasy, LGBTQIA+

A book-toker I follow included this book on a list of books he is planning to read in January, so I decided to check it out from my library. (Mostly because it was the only one on the list that my library had or that I didn't already own.) I don't usually read historical fiction, so I was a tad worried I wouldn't really be interested or drawn into the story. My worry was completely wrong in this case though - I was almost immediately pulled into the story and needed to know what was going to happen to the main two characters.

Shelley Parker-Chan crafted a wonderfully, interesting alternate/fantasy history story with queer representation and emotional themes surrounding identity, shame, and fate. Most stories have clear "good" and "bad" people and perspectives; in this case though everything was a bit more gray. People are capable of good and bad actions, but those actions don't always distinctly define how the people are as a whole. Life is complex and multifaceted and that was captured very well in the characters and all of their choices and actions.

I am always worried to give too much away and risk spoiling, so I don't want to say too much. The story is predominantly told from two different perspectives - a general on one side of a war/conflict and a monk on the other side. While it seems like they are seeking different outcomes, the more you learn the more you realize how similar their focuses might actually be.

And now for some reflective questions:

If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?

Why did you include one really random, explicit sex scene at almost the very end of the book when it had no bearing on the plot and nowhere else in the book were there scenes to that degree?

What are your thoughts on the book's structure? Did it serve the story well?

I thought the structure was perfect for the flow and structure of the story. It flowed very well.

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Below I'll include one of my favorite quotes from the book. 

(I don't really think it's spoil-y, but you've been warned just in case.)

"Learn to want something for yourself, Ma Xiuying. Not what someone says you should want. Not what you think you should want. Don't go through life thinking only of duty."