A fortune teller once gave two siblings very different fortunes: the son was destined for greatness and the daughter was destined for … nothingness. However, when a bandit attack leaves both their father and the son dead, his sister steals his name—Zhu Chongba—along with his fate. She then flees to a monastery and trains to become a monk. Years pass and as a rebel group rises against the Mongol empire, Zhu must use her wit (and either a pinch of luck or Heaven’s divine blessing) to overcome insurmountable odds. She must decide what lengths she’s filling to go to and what sacrifices she’s willing to make to fulfill her stolen destiny. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a gripping fantasy reimagining of the founder of the Ming Dynasty’s rise to power—pitched as Mulan meets Song of Achilles . I’m not so sure about the Song of Achilles comparison, but The Poppy War comes more to mind to me. Brace yourself. This story is a ...