Book description
She Who Became the Sun Review
Let's be honest-when you hear "reimagining of ancient Chinese history through the lens of fate, power, and gender," your first thought probably isn't "Finally, a book that speaks to my soul." But here we are, dear listener, with Shelley Parker-Chan delivering a tale so audacious, so dripping in ambition and betrayal, that even the ancestors would pause mid-scroll to take notes.
Narrated with the kind of vocal precision that makes you forget you're sitting in your car for ten extra minutes just to hear one more chapter, She Who Became the Sun follows Zhu-a peasant girl who decides the whole "fate as destiny" thing is bunk and opts instead to steal her dead brother's identity, gender, and future. It's like identity theft, but make it dynastic.
Parker-Chan doesn't just retell the rise of the Ming Dynasty; she flips the script with flair, turning a dusty historical footnote into a glittering saga of rebellion, romance, and ruthless self-reinvention. Our protagonist isn't content with being "nothing," so she sets out to become everything, even if that means leaving a trail of broken hearts, severed alliances, and questionable moral decisions in her wake.
The audiobook performance captures every twist of Zhu's ascent with such vivid intensity that you'll find yourself Googling "how to join a rebellion" by lunchtime. It's a story where fate is less a guiding star and more of a suggestion, and Zhu? She treats suggestions like speed bumps-acknowledged, then promptly run over.
With nods to mythology, politics, and the kind of emotional complexity that makes you rethink your own life choices, this is historical fantasy that doesn't just wear its research well-it struts. So plug in those headphones and prepare to be enthroned.
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Despair
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience