I have not had a single day since I finished reading She Who Became the Sun a full week ago where I have not thought about this book. This might be a bit incoherent because of that, honestly. This book has some of the best political intrigue and scheming and fights for power I've read, which is something I absolutely love. The plotting and the planning and the threat of the very people our characters must work with is soooo good. There's drawing-and-quartering, which is also a win in my book!

I think one of the strongest of many strong-points here is simply Shelley Parker-Chan's incredibly well-crafted characters. I am obsessed with all of them. They each have so much depth and nuance, and even when the characters were making frankly brutal decisions, I understand why and was still rooting for them in some capacity. Zhu's incredible drive and wits, combined with the humble-monk persona she puts out, makes her an absolute delight to read about. I especially enjoyed her interactions and friendships with those around her, especially Xu Da and Ma, were so authentic and really had me rooting for her so so much. I'm excited to keep following her on her battle for greatness! I am also deeply obsessed with Ouyang. I haven't had the chance to read about basically any eunuch characters before, and the exploration of his role in society and how deeply that's shaped him just absolutely fascinated me!!! It's such an interesting look at gender. Without spoiling anything , I am just so into his whole entire deal and I can't get enough of him. ALSO the theme of "like recognizes like" is so incredibly delightful and seeing it play out throughout the narrative in different ways is so interesting, especially with Zhu and Ouyang being character foils. It makes all of their interactions and the differences in their arcs and narratives all the more interesting and I just want to dig my teeth into it.

I loved the action, I loved the battles, I loved the scheming!!!! I loved all the moments where the characters can just sit and breathe. I just. I really adored this book, it's simply so well-constructed all the way throughout, and has such a natural, well-done progression of scope and stakes. I also love it when trans people and gay people plot and connive and backstab or just regular kill. On that note, the gender stuff within this book is so well-done (like everything else). It's done in such a way that it really feels natural for the actual time and place of the Yuan dynasty, while still being clear enough that it was recognizable. 

I might come back and add to this review because I know I have even more to say about this book because it's just that good, but in conclusion: I loved it. I will be rotating it in my mind for the foreseeable future, and I'm so excited He Who Drowned the World has been announced!!! I am so deeply invested in these characters and this world.