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  • He Who Drowned the World

  • The Radiant Emperor, Book 2
  • By: Shelley Parker-Chan
  • Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
  • Length: 18 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (8 ratings)

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He Who Drowned the World

By: Shelley Parker-Chan
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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Publisher's Summary

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan - an epic queer historical fantasy of war and destiny set in an epic alternate China, and sequel to Sunday Times bestselling She Who Became the Sun.

What would you give to win the world?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory – one that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.

However, Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial aspirations. Courtesan Madam Zhang plots to steal the throne for her husband. But scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang is even closer to the throne. He’s maneuverered his way to the capital, where his courtly games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history. In the process, he’d make a mockery of the warrior values his Mongol family loved more than him.

To stay in the game, Zhu must gamble everything on one bold move. A risky alliance with an old enemy: Ouyang, the brilliant but unstable eunuch general. All contenders will do whatever it takes to win. But when desire has no end, and ambition no limits, could the price be too high for even the most ruthless heart to bear?

©2023 Shelley Parker-Chan (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

He Who Drowned the World blew me out of the water. Deep, dark and peopled with deliciously complex characters, this book will draw you irresistibly into a world of tragedy and triumph. Shelley Parker-Chan is a genius (Jen Williams, author of Talonsister)
A powerful historical fantasy filled with complex people and high stakes. . . . Paying equal attention to fierce battle scenes and deep conversations and filled with desperate decisions and brutal actions, this book is immersive and intimate (Library Journal, starred review)
A heart-racing, emotional story that is also heartrending and shocking . . . The conclusion of the Radiant Emperor duology makes use of every last word and stamps this series onto the map as a new must-read of the fantasy canon (Booklist, starred review)

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Incredible

Technically and artistically brilliant, gorgeously read, wonderful sequel to the first book. I have too many feelings

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Epic

Beautifully written & beautifully performed. Quality C-drama feels, queer AF. Searingly tragic, epically heroic, tender & brutal. Great finale to this duology of terrible, fascinating people chasing their fate.

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A heads up re the sex scenes would have been appreciated

I think it’s should be adding this is a LGBTQI based book in the key words / title search
A bit of a shock I could have done without.
It’s everyone choice to be informed and decide if the do or don’t want to read about male sex and S&M

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Exceptional doesn’t cut it

The Author enters her Game of thrones era (but without a disappointment ending like GOT)
This book starts Carrie’s on and ends perfectly I LOVED THIS SERIES the Narration is also perfect she narrator absolutely nails every single character = so much range!

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