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She Who Became the Sun  By  cover art

She Who Became the Sun

By: Shelley Parker-Chan
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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Publisher's summary

Read by fan-favorite narrator Natalie Naudus

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan's She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

To possess the Mandate of Heaven, the female monk Zhu will do anything

“I refuse to be nothing…”

In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books

©2021 Shelley Parker-Chan (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Lambda Literary Award - Nominee, 2022

“The characters are bold and complex in this story of fealty, family, and self. Epic worldbuilding, high action, and ruthless shades of love and desire make the tale at turns tragic and inspiring... Parker-Chan’s debut is forceful, immersive, and unforgettable. This inspired queer retelling of Chinese history is an exciting read.” (Library Journal, starred review)

“Parker-Chan’s gorgeous writing accompanies a vibrantly rendered world full of imperfect, fascinating characters. With every turn of the page, the book offers a new set piece, a new revelation, a new horror.... If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, you can’t miss this one.” (BookPage, starred review)

"Natalie Naudus delivers this epic of fate, ambition, and identity set in thirteenth-century Mongol-ruled China." (AudioFile review)

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One of the biggest questions listeners have when it comes to approaching a new audiobook is whether or not they'll enjoy the narration style. This is understandable, as audiobooks are at least a few hours long (with many clocking in at 20 hours long—or more!), and sticking with one person's voice for that time period can feel like a big commitment. We rounded up some of the best female narrators with a robust list of audiobooks under their belts.

What listeners say about She Who Became the Sun

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Difficult to listen to

The narrator was very difficult to listen to. Irritating voice patterns and breathing. Over acting in the characters.

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wonderful

I loved it. did someone say morally grey sapphics? because I live for that. it was fantastic.

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Liked the story...when I could follow it.

I wanted to like this book and did. I find Chinese history and the ancient lifestyle fascinating. However, the names were very difficult for me to follow. Throughout the entire book I was only able to consistently recognize 3 or 4 of the main characters. I realize this difficulty would likely not be a major problem for readers familiar with Chinese names, but the confusion did often take away from my enjoyment of the story.

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Basically Mulan, but so much better.

I enjoyed this book. I didn't realize how committed I was to the story until the end and I noticed I was sad it was over lol
The narrator has an amazing voice and I loved hearing her talk

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Worth every penny

The way the story line of each character unfolds after each chapter is riveting.

The narrator on this audio book is amazingly talented. The way she shifts from character to another and back to being a narrator, you’d think there’s more than one person reading it.

I’m excited for book 2.

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Queen of Narration

The book's fabulousness speaks for itself. Natalie Naudus KILLED this narration. She was able to match the compelling narrative word for word. I am starting the next book immediately.

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AMAZING

Naudus is a phenomenal narrator and this story is exceptional. The word “epic” is overused but this truly is.

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Slow Burn

Took me a while to get the into the story. Names were a bit confusing but after more than half the book, I felt properly invested. The eunuch general Ouyang was my absolute favourite take from this book. Zhu Chongba, the main protagonist, is not a very likeable character but her virulent energy and drive is undeniable and contagious. Overall a good read, great narration, could've been a bit shorter.

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So good

I couldn’t stop listening. Narration was lovely, plot kept me hooked, dialogue was culturally accurate while staying modern through the translation… I’m taking a second listen to catch the foreshadowing I know I missed… so great

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Liked the Book, but the ending left me wanting

I liked the story, the different people in THE Book that felt totally different from other books I have Read before. But I wanted more from the ending...

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