What would you do to obtain the destiny of greatness? That is a question answered by Zhu Chongba as she takes the opportunity to become her brother after his death and change her fate from nothingness to that of the divine right of heaven in She Who Became the Sun.
At every twist and turn, I was enthralled by this story, from its Mulan-esque beginning as Zhu cloaks herself as a monk living among men and moves forward throughout the book, keeping that persona as she shifts from monk to commander to marriage and a complicated love story that is both touching and heartbreaking.
The writing and storytelling captivated me with each turn of the page. While I was ultimately shocked by Zhu’s decisions, I applaud the author’s ability to craft a world that pulled me in so deeply, leaving me guessing what each flawed character would do.
I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the sequel!
Happy reading!
Chris Kauzlarich 