Queer Book Club Vienna – She Who Became The Sun

Step into Power, Fate, and Queer Reimaginings of History

** UPDATED START TIME**

For our May 2026 Queer Book Club, we’re diving into epic fantasy with She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan — a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty.

Join us for an afternoon of thoughtful discussion, shared perspectives, and queer community as we unpack themes of identity, destiny, survival, and ambition.

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About the Book

In a famine-stricken village in 14th-century China, two children are given fates: greatness for the boy, nothing for the girl. When the boy dies, the girl refuses her assigned nothingness—and takes his place.

What follows is a sweeping story of reinvention, power, and the lengths one will go to claim a future. She Who Became the Sun blends historical fiction with fantasy, while interrogating gender, queerness, and the construction of identity.

Expect:

A story that refuses easy binaries

Complex queer and trans-coded characters

Political intrigue and war strategy

Questions around fate vs. self-determination

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What to Expect

• Guided but open discussion
• Space to share reflections or just listen
• Community-focused and low-pressure atmosphere
• Mixed group: regulars + new faces always welcome

You don’t have to finish the book to join—but it helps.

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Accessibility & Community Care

• Step-free access available
• Accessible toilet
• This is a queer-centered, respectful space
• No tolerance for discriminatory behavior

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Collaboration

The Queer Book Club is hosted In collaboration with o*books & hint.wien. Once you’ve joined, you can order the books to read at a discounted rate at o*books.