Wu Cheng’en’s 16th-century novel Journey to the West is celebrated as a cornerstone of Chinese literature. In Julia Lovell’s engaging translation, readers are introduced to one of the novel’s iconic characters: Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. Gifted with extraordinary abilities such as shape-shifting, immortality, and an unmatched knack for insolence, Sun Wukong’s daring adventures elevate him within the celestial hierarchy. However, his overconfidence soon draws the scrutiny of the Buddha, leading to dramatic consequences.