"She Who Became the Sun" is a 2021 historical fantasy novel by Shelley Parker- Chan that reimagines the rise to power of Zhu Yuanzhang, the peasant rebel who expelled the Mongols and became the founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
. The story is set in 14th-century China under harsh Mongol rule. It follows a young girl who, after a seer predicts greatness for her deceased eighth-born brother but nothing for her, takes on his identity to escape her fate of nothingness. Disguised as her dead brother Zhu Chongba, she embarks on a journey from monk to soldier to rebel commander, striving to claim the greatness that was foretold for her brother and to rise as high as she can dream
. The novel explores themes of gender identity, power, destiny, and personal agency, blending historical fantasy with complex politics, military strategy, and theological discussions of fate. It has been praised as an epic, tragic, and gorgeous tale, often described as a queer reimagining of history with rich character development and immersive storytelling
. In summary, "She Who Became the Sun" is about a girl who becomes the sun by assuming her brother’s identity and defying the destiny written for her, ultimately rising to claim power in a turbulent historical era
