This was such an adventure, What a fantastic way to wrap up a duology. Sun Lynn Tan has such a way with dragging you in, captivating you within their world and never letting go.

Heart of the Sun Warrior was one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not fail to disappoint. This book was so beautifully written and added so much more depth to the current and new characters within this world, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed reading Heart of the Sun Warrior. Did we need a love triangle? In my opinion, no; however, it didn't take away anything from the story.

This was a fitting conclusion for this duology and i so excited to reread it in the future

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the earc (apologies for the delayed review)

Loved this continuation of the series. The character development was just out of this world for Xingyin and her journey to coming to terms with her parents suddenly being back in her life is harrowing and makes me root for her all the more. She is one of the more mature badass female characters out there and I loved that ending, So sweet.

At the start of Heart of the Sun Warrior, Xingyin is finally home, but things are no less complicated than her time spent in exile. The action kicks off immediately, and what that means for me is that there was no downtime before I dove into worries for my favorite characters. I am often stressed by big-hearted but action-oriented characters who take on dangerous tasks, and Xingyin is no exception. And when reckless decisions are made out of desperation and fear with just enough hope dangerous, it's hard to fault her. Basically, the emotional turmoil is real.

And on that note, Xingyin's love triangle is a web tangled in history and what each person stands for. Where a shared sense of honor and duty draws her to one, it is also a barrier between them. And for the other, a shared ferocity and protectiveness make them kindred spirits, though past harm makes these threads of connection feel weaker. Since Xingyin is such an honorable and (literally) straight-shooting woman, it's especially painful for her to be struck by such confusing and potentially hurtful feelings. How can she protect herself and those she loves when not everyone can be happy?

Though the romantic struggle is a main prong of the story, reflected in the title and the way it keeps worming through Xingyin's thoughts, it's not the only peril she's facing. The author is such a master of capturing political intrigue, mythological feats, and epic fights. All have a role to play as Xingyin is forced to make decisions with the highest stakes. Not a hero out of a desire for glory, she puts herself in harm's way out of necessity and love. You can expect the love of family and friends to play as important a role as her romance. All these bonds lend Xingyin strength as she faces off with a genuine psychopath with a nearly unconquerable army.

Fair warning to fellow tender-hearted readers, this book made me CRY. Like, on multiple occasions. I was afraid even before misfortune inevitably struck, and afterward was no joke. After all that, did I get the ending I wanted? It was a brutal journey from start to finish, but yes. I especially appreciate the author's choice to include a slow, winding ending for a clear sense of closure after such a high-intensity battle. This book is everything I want from a fantasy adventure-- from world-building and politics to magical adventures and big feelings. Thanks to Harper Voyager for my copy to read and review!

Ms. Tan did it again! This beautiful sequel has the same gorgeous imagery as the first and did not disappoint. I found this book to be more soap opera like than the first which caught my attention because the angst, oh the angst! We learn more about each character without it feeling overdone or dragged out. I also enjoyed how the more violent aspects of the book were handled and appreciated how the main character was not afraid to get her hands dirty. Xingyin is a strong main character who so well developed and thought out. It was a great end to this duology.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads and it truly did not disappoint! It was so nice to reenter this magical world and follow Xingyin through another adventure. This was the perfect way to end a duology and I can’t wait for the novella!

A mesmerizing continuation of Xingyin's epic journey, seamlessly picking up where the first installment left off. The narrative unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense, magic, and emotion, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Sue Lynn Tan weaves together elements of Chinese mythology, creating a rich and immersive world that captivates the imagination. The story explores the consequences of Xingyin's past actions and thrusts her into a new adventure fraught with danger, mystery, and unexpected alliances. The unfolding events reveal a masterful plot that intricately connects with the established lore, adding layers of complexity to an already compelling storyline. As well as creates an even deeper connection to the love interesets.

What truly sets "Heart of the Sun Warrior" apart is the depth of character development. Xingyin's resilience and determination shine as she faces new challenges and confronts shocking truths. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted, with each character contributing uniquely to the unfolding drama. The dynamics between them evolve organically, reflecting the complexities of loyalty, friendship, and rivalry. As the plot intensifies, so does the emotional resonance. The themes of love, sacrifice, and hope are skillfully interwoven, tugging at the heartstrings of the reader. Xingyin's internal struggles and external challenges create a poignant backdrop against which the overarching conflict unfolds.

I wanted to love this but this book was somewhat disappointing. This felt more character driven and the love triangle was just okay. I fet like this took me so much longer to read. Unsure if it was because of my mood or what.


Im giving this book a low 3 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and publishers of Avon and Harper Voyager for this ebook for an honest review!

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange of my honest review.

I honestly knew before reading this one who was the FMC endgame so I was predisposed already when I picked this one up. I loved book one so so much and to be honest I did not enjoy this one. I felt like Xingyin was just making the wrong decisions one after the other. I don't think a lot happened through the book other than character development and some action here and there. I honestly did not like Xingyin in this one and after how she treated the situation with Lower I liked her a lot less. I really disliked love triangles and this one ruined the book for me sadly specially how Xingyin broke Liwei's heart. I really love a MMC morally gray but Wengzhi was not it. That's the other thing, for most of the. book it didn't even felt like he was the MMC and then boom poor boy died so now Xingyin realizes she was sooo in love with him *eyeroll*

Although that I did not like what I previously mentioned I still enjoyed the writing style and the development of the story between the moon goddess and the Sun warrior and the glimpses of world building and politics we get.

All in all I think this one was a 3.7 stars for me

RATING: 3/5

I LOVED the first book but couldn't get invested in this sequel! Maybe if I had read it immediately after DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS.... nevertheless the writing is so lush and beautiful .

This book was magical. I love stories based on mythology and this one really doesn't disappoint. The Heart of the Sun Warrior was an amazing follow-up to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. The story was able to get so much richer and more detailed and the characters more complex. This has inspired me to research more into the story that this series is based on. The story itself is thrilling and keeps you hooked and engaged and emotionally invested in the characters the whole time. Definitely worth the read.

Heart of the Sun Warrior is such a gorgeous sequel and ending to The Celestial Kingdom Duology. The writing is captivating and creates such a vivid picture for readers to enjoy, which in my opinion is no easy feat! While the second book in this series did not contain as much action, the story was still gorgeous and fun to follow. I definitely think this duology is great to pick up for those who are looking for a read that gives a breath of fresh air!

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. The writing, the story, it was all wrapped up in a wonderful package!

There are many, many things that I loved about Heart of the Sun Warrior, and only a few things I disliked. I'll start with the dislikes, first.

-The love triangle took up far more space than it needed in this novel. I'm an avid romance reader, so I don't mind romantic subplots in other genres, but what bothers me is when the romantic subplots eclipse the bigger narrative taking place. Such was the case with Heart of the Sun Warrior. There's a really cool, fascinating conflict that Xingyin and her family must navigate, but so much page space is spent on Xingyin's divided feelings between her two beaus.
- I didn't love the way the triangle resolved, either. Xingyin made a choice by not making a choice, and I feel that it detracts from the supposed strength of her convictions.

We got some LGBTQ+ representation... tacked on to the very end of the novel like an afterthought. This is one of my least favorite ways to introduce queer characters. It feels like Tan may have gotten to the end of the novel, realized she had only heterosexual romances represented, and smashed two characters with barely a hint of chemistry (and certainly no page space to develop feelings for one another) into a relationship. Cool. It's not quite as bad as certain writers proclaiming characters to be gay long after books have been published with literally no supporting evidence for their gayness. That said, it was disappointing.

Those two major complaints aside, a lot of what I loved about Daughter of the Moon Goddess was present here in Heart of the Sun Warrior as well. The worldbuilding is exquisitely done without falling into the habit of being overly-descriptive. The different immortal kingdoms have unique identities that set them apart from one another. And, in spite of the fact that I was disappointed by the amount of pining taking place throughout this whole apocalyptic conflict, I would still recommend this novel (and of course, its predecessor) to anyone in need of a vivid and delightful fantastical romance.

This ended up being a bit of a slow start for me and I’m setting it down for now. Loved book one so will try again later

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I absolutely adored this duology. There was so much that happened in this book, and yet it still ended in a way that was satisfying. This book continues where book one left off, but felt like its own story as well. The characters are so deeply developed and have so many facets - its wonderful. I don't want to spoil anything but one of the ending climactic battles that happened? FANTASTIC! I was at the edge of my seat, and also I definitely cried at some of the character deaths (sorry spoiler - people die). The story Sue Lynn Tan wove was so captivating, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next. Now I also have to go read the original myth! 10/10

A stunning conclusion to a beautiful duology. I'm adding Sue Lynn Tan to my automatic buy list because I'm obsessed with her writing.

What a magical story! I started this story and was able to complete it in just a little time as I was wrapped up in the plot. I think this was a great sequel.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book.

What an adventure. You definitely feel transported to a new yet familiar world as the author provides lush descriptions and characters that you can relate to in some shape or form. The pacing of the plot wasn’t too rushed or slow and I found myself flipping the pages eager to know what would happen next.

I hate to say it but I had higher hopes for this book. I kept picking it up and putting it down, It didn’t hold my attention like the first book. Now don’t get me wrong it was still as action packed and full of drama as Daughter of the Moon Goddess was, but something in this book was just lacking.

Towards the second half of the book things started to get better and more interesting but still didn’t have that spark that the first book have.

3.5/5 (rounded down)

Unfortunately, this was a bit of a let down of a sequel. It felt very repetitive which made the plot feel unnecessarily long and slow. Several times it felt cliché and heavy handed, as well. The ideas were still there, but this one just didn’t deliver the same way the first book did for me.