Book guide
She Who Became the Sun
A queer historical fantasy retelling of a legendary Chinese ruler’s rise, where a nameless girl steals her dead brother’s fate and fights ruthlessly for the throne.
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About She Who Became the Sun
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty plain, a seer shows two children their fates. For a family's eighth-born son, there's greatness. For the second daughter, nothing. In 1345, China lies restless under harsh Mongol rule. And when a bandit raid wipes out their home, the two children must somehow survive. Zhu Chongba despairs and gives in. But the girl resolves to overcome her destiny. So she takes her dead brother's identity and begins her journey. Can Zhu escape what's written in the stars, as rebellion sweeps the land? Or can she claim her brother's greatness - and rise, ruthlessly, to take the dragon throne? This is a glorious tale of love, loss, betrayal and triumph by a powerful new voice. She Who Became the Sun is a reimagining of the rise to power of Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu was the peasant rebel who expelled the Mongols, unified China under native rule, and became the founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Reading signals
- Spice
- Medium
- Darkness
- Dark
- Pacing
- Balanced
Series
The Radiant Emperor · Book 1 of 2
Content warnings
- famine/starvation
- war
- violence
- death
- child death
- dysphoria
- misgendering
- homophobia/internalized homophobia
- amputation
- castration
- torture
- on-page sex
- ableist language
