She Who Became the Sun

In a version of Yuan dynasty China where magical mandates and ghosts really exist, a “worthless” little peasant girl refuses to accept the fate laid out for her.

At first, I found the prose detached, and somewhat inaccessible, but it grew on me and after reading about 150 pages, I was drawn in, and found it engaging. The setting feels fresh and intriguing, the story is interesting, and the characters are complex and flawed.

A good read about an ambitious protagonist, and now I have to read the sequel to find out what happens!

Vibes of Circe. Driven characters push forward without the book becoming too heavy-handed. An exploration of identity and desire.