From the Bookshelf of Turn of a Page…

She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1)

Shelley Parker-Chan

Start date: March 9, 2022

Finish date: April 9, 2022

Discussion: Buddy Reads 2022

Why we're reading this: March Buddy Read
[close] March Buddy Read

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 56 topics — 1,183 comments total

Buddy Reads 2022

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* December Buddy Read Requests
By Patti and Deb… , The Dream Team · 21 posts · 111 views

last updated Nov 23, 2022 12:38PM

* Buddy Read 2022
By Patti and Deb… , The Dream Team · 13 posts · 328 views

last updated Nov 25, 2022 11:46AM

showing 9 of 9 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jul 16, 2022 Tawallah rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, fantasy

This is a low fantasy debut novel set in China in 1345-1356 reads more like a historical fiction. It is the re-imagining of the battles between the Mongol- led dynasty (Yuan dynasty) and the rebel fraction which becomes known as the Red Turbans. This main trope here is the fated Chosen One. The story begins with a peasant family where a boy named Zhu Chongba is destined for greatness and his more enterprising sister is meant for nothingness. But life is a series of upheaval and the first begins This is a low fantasy debut novel set in China in 1345-1356 reads more like a historical fiction. It is the re-imagining of the battles between the Mongol- led dynasty (Yuan dynasty) and the rebel fraction which becomes known as the Red Turbans. This main trope here is the fated Chosen One. The story begins with a peasant family where a boy named Zhu Chongba is destined for greatness and his more enterprising sister is meant for nothingness. But life is a series of upheaval and the first begins when a rebel army enters their city and pillages the village.

The overall story is complex drama that is very compelling initially that tapers off as the plot progresses. The political intrigues and the development of the characters was fascinating. Often I wanted to research the true story behind this plot. But there were also times when the story was disorienting, especially the transitions from certain key events felt abrupt on listening and then as the plot progress my interest in the battles and intrigue waned as it felt repetitive. There are essentially two major protagonists that this story follows - Zhu Chongba and General Ouyang.There are some scenes with General Ouyang that were uncomfortable for this reader((view spoiler)), even as I understood its purpose. These main characters are not truly likable but that wasn't the problem for me. I appreciated them as mirror images struggling with their professed faith and how society viewed them. Unfortunately, there are other significant secondary characters but their presence was diluted and/or flat.

As much love as this book has received, it is not for everyone. It has some of the rookie mistakes with pacing and switching between characters. This novel would be enjoyable if you like historical dramas, slow burn novels and don't mind characters that seem to have events twisted for their benefit. There is a major explicit sexual scene in the part 3.

My current rating - 3/5 - I like it enough to research the historical events but had issues with pacing and certain character development. Am I interested in the sequel ?- undecided. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 17, 2022 Toni rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook-read, lgqtbia, buddyread2022

3.5 stars
5 star for the great narrator of the audiobook - Natalie Naudus.

This was exactly what the book blurbs stated it was going to deliver- Mulan meets the Song of Achilles. But it's so gritty at times with all the political intrigue of Chinese warfare and I felt like I had listened to an almost factual history tho I knew better!

One thing that kept tripping me up was how Zhu Chongba was able to keep his identity a secret for his entire life...it wasn't a sticking point in the book actually, ...more

Like · see review