She Who Became The Sun is a stellar historical epic

[@Repulsiastorm]

I'm just finishing this book now and it's everything I hoped it would be. It is so beautifully balanced from the characters and their complimentary opposites to the descriptions of violence and tenderness without straying into gratuitous gore or explicit sex. The way the female characters are intelligent and resourceful while remaining true to their need for self-preservation was another tick for me. They didn't have to be either meek and helpless or wicked and vengeful. Brilliant book.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Theses are all such excellent points!

[@hannahgrippo5425]

I just discovered this channel, and thanks to you, am discovering so many books I didn’t know existed. I have so many new things to read. Thank you!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That's wonderful to hear! I really hope you enjoy what you pick up :)

[@adamwan0527]

Just gotta say I find it amusing listening to non-Chinese speakers pronounce Chinese names or words, and not in a bad way! It's just kind of fascinating to me, seeing the different ways people say or see things like names or words or symbols, the same way I find accents fascinating. Anyway, interesting review! This sort of male, not-male, female, not-female idea in the book also fascinates me. Listening to you talk about it sort of reminded me of my own confusion regarding my gender identity from then until now.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

When I lived in China I worked hard to get good at pronunciation, especially when reading pinyin, but if pinyin isn't used and tones aren't made clear, it's a shot in the dark and I know I'm doing a terrible job lol

[@sbritte]

This video is such a strong addition to the book. I think it's quite a difficult book to understand. (English is not my first language) so your point of view and explanation makes it a lot easier to understand.

[@sbritte]

10:50 really captures and validates what I'm struggling with indeed. Thank you for covering that as well.

[@kathleenbrady9916]

You've opened my mind to Japanese, Korean and Chinese books and turned me on to reading again. Thank you. 🪷📖

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That is so so wonderful to know! I’m thrilled 💜

[@kathleenbrady9916]

Love your channel, has made a difference to my life. 🕊️

[@jenntendo64system]

Ugh I really need to read this!! Loved your video and hope you are feeling better xx

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It's proper good! Get to it soon!

[@silja6838]

I’m so excited to read this, I’ve heard good things about this book from my friends, too! Retellings, history and all things queer are just the best things, aren’t they? 🥰

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I can't get enough of this kind of book either! I also just finished Ariadne and loved every page :)

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Thank you SO much for this review! I have finally finished this duology and am gutted it does not seem to be given enough love. Your did brilliantly explaining why this book is so good! I feel it did not get into the hands of the Epic fantasy readers but was marketed and pushed more towards the lyrical/ whimsy readers who wile might appreciate slow pace and details will be missing the fantasy magic. It is those who read Epics and political fantasy that need this. Those who like historical fiction Epics and those who love themes. I had a scroll through and can't see evidence of you having read he who drowns the world. Have you read it? It was everything I wanted! 💜📚

[@Rand0mBubble]

I just started this book and I am so excited to read such a gem of queer literature. Love your breakdown and channel!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks so much!

[@josephine4s]

Thanks for talking about this book! It is really enjoyable, and in the sequel the character exploration and drama actually get better!

[@filipab0oks]

I have just finished and I am obsessed!!! It was SO good in so many ways. Shelley Parker-Chan is doing an event in London at the end of May!!! I'm so excited, I hope we get to learn more about book 2!

[@PurityVendetta]

This story sounds fascinating, thank you so much for introducing me to so much literature I'd never have come across otherwise. Hope you're feeling better soon, and you did very well with the review.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Haha thank you. I got to the end and wasn't sure if the whole thing came out like a fevered ramble. I'm feeling 100% better now :)

[@c.5095]

I finished this book about an hour ago and honestly it was so good. I loved Ouyang’s character the most yet I wanted to hate him for the things he did. But quoting him ‘Pure emotions are the luxury of children and animals’ The way gender was shown and expressed was also one of my favourite points, especially both Zhu’s and Ouyang’s struggles to understand and accept themselves. As a fellow non-binary person, I understood everything they were feeling and it was just so real. And a little thing that I realised was how every time Ouyang was describing Esen, he put in the word ‘masculine’ in there somewhere. Esen, in Ouyang’s eyes, is the perfect man and son, which Ouyang didnt belive himself to be. And maybe that’s why they got along so well, like the pieces of a puzzle. Anyways, don’t mind me waffling. This was such a good book and I honestly can’t wait until the second one is out and to see what happens with Zhu and Ouyang

[@c.5095]

@Raven I didn’t claim she was. I just said that I could relate to how they both struggle with their gender (which is an actual thing as you know). I know that she is referred to as she throughout the whole book so as far as we know, she is a woman

[@KristenNicoleYT]

I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it! I can’t wait for the next

[@kashyap5186]

I have heard a lot from my Pakistan friend about this book and look forward to it

[@sabreenaelsiddique4647]

Very fascinating! Thank you for this review :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you for watching and enjoying!

[@lezeltunbridge7509]

Wow, thanks for this thorough review. After listening to you describe this story and especially the characters, I HAVE TO read it. 😏 I love reading about antagonists' stories.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Sounds like this is right up your street! Let me know what you think :)

[@rachel1021]

I did end up loving this book. My favorite moment was when Zhu and Ma have sex. That was fun to read. But the scene between Ouyang and Esen near the end ripped my emotions apart. 😭 And I found out that there is going to be a second book which I am so looking forward to reading!

[@trish996]

Thanks for this video ❤

[@YJSP893]

I've never imagined a novel based on CN history can refer to the idea of LGBT like this cool

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It really is special!

[@strilinga]

I finally read it and I am so impressed and so emotional. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, fast paced and so refreshing 💜

[@anniemeridian270]

It's actually interesting what does "female identified with male" means

[@宋庆礼]

I think this is Orientalism + history revisionism. The real Zhu Yuan Zheng was a great history figure who was cruel as hell and significantly changed Chinese history， the author just used his name and the history platform to tell a new story about Queer people which is fun, but this has nothing to do about Chinese history, it's more like a standalone novel

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It’s as if the “fiction” part of historical fiction is important or something

[@宋庆礼]

​@@WillowTalksBooks Not the fiction part, but culture appropriation and culture abuse, the author twisted the history to fit the narrative. Imagine someone writes a story that Civil Right movement was funded by USSR with Martin Luther King as a KGB agent.

[@lostsignals2985]

it's fictional and kinda alternate history + zhu in this duology is also ... not a good person? like they have multiple children killed for example😭😭

[@lostsignals2985]

this isn't new btw

[@宋庆礼]

@@WillowTalksBooks That's the whole point. Have you heard innuendo. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo