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Ellie's Reviews > She Who Became the Sun
She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1)
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Ellie's review
bookshelves: asian-insp-inf-fantasy, historical-fantasy, historical-set-in-the-past, lgbtqia, debuts, bipoc-ownvoices-fantasy, own-voices, recieved-for-review, antiheroes, fabulism, lgbtqia-sapphic, retellings-and-reimaginings, trans-nb-or-genderqueer-spectrum, lgbtqia-achillean, friendships, adult-lit
Mar 19, 2020
bookshelves: asian-insp-inf-fantasy, historical-fantasy, historical-set-in-the-past, lgbtqia, debuts, bipoc-ownvoices-fantasy, own-voices, recieved-for-review, antiheroes, fabulism, lgbtqia-sapphic, retellings-and-reimaginings, trans-nb-or-genderqueer-spectrum, lgbtqia-achillean, friendships, adult-lit
She Who Became the Sun is one of my Top 5 Anticipated Releases of 2021, and the first of those 5 that I've read. And I'm utterly delighted that it did not disappoint at all.
A historical retelling that follows a lowly girl as she steals her brother's name and illustrious fate to rise from peasant to monk to military commander (and in the sequel, emperor), it is a book that shines with Zhu's desire for the fate of greatness.
full rtc to come when it's not 2am.
(will say I'm not entirely sold on the use of The Song of Achilles as a comp title and I wonder why they used it, as the only similarities are that they're both loose retellings with strong military aspects . . . also pretty queer . . . also some trauma and heartbreak that made me cry . . . okay maybe I see it, a bit)
- still, my comps for this would be The Poppy War (determined heroines, military aspects, both influenced by Chinese history), Sistersong (both reimaginings with leads that engage with gender identity), and And I Darken (another historical reimagining where a prominent male leader is reimagined as a woman).
> 4.5 stars!
*
This contains SO MANY OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS that I’m vibrating of excitement
- founding emperors!!
- the Ming dynasty!!
- (kinda) Ancient China!!
- beautiful villain PINING AFTER A PURE PRINCE OH MY GOD
- lots of long, billowing sleeves
- it was comp’d to THE SONG OF ACHILLES so I’ll be crying in sorrow by the end I imagine
- the author likes the untamed so they’re my favourite person now
A historical retelling that follows a lowly girl as she steals her brother's name and illustrious fate to rise from peasant to monk to military commander (and in the sequel, emperor), it is a book that shines with Zhu's desire for the fate of greatness.
full rtc to come when it's not 2am.
(will say I'm not entirely sold on the use of The Song of Achilles as a comp title and I wonder why they used it, as the only similarities are that they're both loose retellings with strong military aspects . . . also pretty queer . . . also some trauma and heartbreak that made me cry . . . okay maybe I see it, a bit)
- still, my comps for this would be The Poppy War (determined heroines, military aspects, both influenced by Chinese history), Sistersong (both reimaginings with leads that engage with gender identity), and And I Darken (another historical reimagining where a prominent male leader is reimagined as a woman).
> 4.5 stars!
*
This contains SO MANY OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS that I’m vibrating of excitement
- founding emperors!!
- the Ming dynasty!!
- (kinda) Ancient China!!
- beautiful villain PINING AFTER A PURE PRINCE OH MY GOD
- lots of long, billowing sleeves
- it was comp’d to THE SONG OF ACHILLES so I’ll be crying in sorrow by the end I imagine
- the author likes the untamed so they’re my favourite person now
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Reading Progress
March 19, 2020
– Shelved
March 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
asian-insp-inf-fantasy
March 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 31, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-fantasy
March 31, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-set-in-the-past
March 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
lgbtqia
March 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
debuts
March 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
bipoc-ownvoices-fantasy
March 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
own-voices
March 4, 2021
– Shelved as:
recieved-for-review
March 22, 2021
–
Started Reading
March 22, 2021
– Shelved as:
antiheroes
March 22, 2021
– Shelved as:
fabulism
March 22, 2021
– Shelved as:
lgbtqia-sapphic
March 22, 2021
– Shelved as:
retellings-and-reimaginings
March 24, 2021
–
Finished Reading
March 30, 2021
– Shelved as:
trans-nb-or-genderqueer-spectrum
March 30, 2021
– Shelved as:
lgbtqia-achillean
March 30, 2021
– Shelved as:
friendships
March 30, 2021
– Shelved as:
adult-lit
Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)
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message 1:
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Virginja ↢ 99% imp
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Nov 16, 2020 10:33AM
Beautiful villain? Ancient China? THE UNTAMED?? I’m sold.
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Virginja ↢ 99% imp wrote: "Beautiful villain? Ancient China? THE UNTAMED?? I’m sold."RIGHT?
The Untamed and The Song of Achilles-say no more
Natalie wrote: "The Untamed and The Song of Achilles-say no more"
honestly the most excellent of comp titles, utterly *chef's kiss*
Billowing sleeves? *preorders 7 copies*
curtis :) wrote: "Billowing sleeves? *preorders 7 copies*"exactly
I WANT YOUR LIVE REACTIONS WHEN YOU READ IT
may ➹ wrote: "I WANT YOUR LIVE REACTIONS WHEN YOU READ IT"YES MAY WE WILL RELIVE THE TPW REACTION DAYS, PROMISE
This is one of my most anticipated read! I can't wait to get your full review! Quick question, do you know if it is a stand alone?
Amély wrote: "This is one of my most anticipated read! I can't wait to get your full review! Quick question, do you know if it is a stand alone?"Hi! Before reading I thought it was a standalone but the ending definitely shows it'll be a duology or trilogy as Zhu's journey to emperor is only half-complete
Giiirl what’s the love situation
Zahra wrote: "Giiirl what’s the love situation"tbh romance isn't the central focus of this book but there's a sapphic pairing and some intense achillean pining too!
I’m so glad you liked it! This was my most anticipated read of the year and I’m so nervous to read it that it’s been sat on my bookshelf for a month 😫 this gives me hope though
eddie ♡ wrote: "I’m so glad you liked it! This was my most anticipated read of the year and I’m so nervous to read it that it’s been sat on my bookshelf for a month 😫 this gives me hope though"yay, hope you enjoy!
