An equally enticing sequel and satisfying conclusion to a wonderful duology.

While not quite as action-packed as the first book, there are still moments of adventure as Xingyin's newly found freedom is threatened. From a brief period of peace, to new enemies and plots, and recovering from past betrayal, all while trying to fight for a future, there is no denying that this story doesn't move.

And although the magical world of the Celestial Kingdom is still explored, much of the narrative is focused on the characters and their relationships to one another. Their development is amazing. Working together, forgiving each other, and finding comfort are all the driving forces and focuses of this novel. And I found it to provide a really great balance for everything else that is going on.

So a fitting end to this cosy fantasy tale that is vibrant in heart and mythology!

It took me a minute to get into this book but by the end I felt very deeply for everything the characters had to go through over the course of their journeys. I personally didn't care very much for the love triangle but I could see why others would find it appealing. I just wanted Xingyin to be happy and she goes through so much in this book that it only makes the lovely hopeful note we end on more gratifying. The world this book takes place in is so beautiful and I love how many places and things we get to explore throughout the adventure. A fun sequel that I overall enjoyed

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year after finishing Daughter of the Moon Goddess in March, and I'm glad to say it did not disappoint.

Heart of the Sun Warrior has the same gorgeous prose and description that its predecessor had, and I was sucked into the world from the get-go. I am so happy that this book does not suffer from second-book syndrome, as both installments are equally developed and well-written.

After the events of the first book, Xingyin is ready to relax and spend time with her mother. However, those who want power and seize it affect the innocent citizens most of all. When she's forced to flee her home on the moon, Xingyin has to face new enemies while protecting the ones she loves.

I loved so many elements of this book. The love triangle is believable and fleshed out while demonstrating what direction it will take. After Wenzhi's betrayal in the first book, Xingyin is understandably upset, but there is such a good balance in this book of her conflicting feelings for him. The relationships between the characters, romantic or otherwise, are all developed, and each character has their own distinct personality. The ending and its meaning is pulled off incredibly well.

There were some parts that prevented me from giving this book a full 5 stars. Some plot points seemed too convenient and were explained through "reasons," and the villain does do his fair share of talking to Xingyin and company to explain his reasoning when he could easily just take what he wants.

Overall, I highly recommend this duology - it's among my favorites. If you haven't already, go preorder this book!

I didn't think this book series could get any better after the first book but I was proved wrong! I honestly kinda thought that Liwei and Xingyin were official at the end of book one so seeing the distance between them in book two was disheartening but also I get it. Both characters still have a lot to work through especially Xingyin. I was really on edge while reading this book just because I wanted everything to be ok for Xingyin and her family. I felt like everything was going wrong in this book. It made me really frustrated to see everything kinda fall apart (I don't want to say too much just because no spoiling) I will update once I completely finish this book

I did enjoy the first book in this series, but initially I was not planning on reading the sequel. After seeing this cover, I just had to request it. The one word that describes this series the best is disappointing. The premise is too good to be true, and it fell flat pathetically.
Honestly I'm going to forget these books ever existed.

"There might be a field of lowers, yet all I need is one."
"Some flowers have thorns, I said coldly. "If you pluck them, you will get pricked."
HIs gaze flicked to mine. "Those are the most precious of all."

This follow-up to Daughter of the Moon Goddess and conclusion to the Celestial Kingdom Duology retains all of the magic of the first book, while showing us new parts of the Celestial realm and introducing us to new characters, and uncovering new sides to old ones.

Xingyin has successfully freed her mother from the Celestial Emperor, but she clearly feels unsettled as the novel opens. Her love for Liwei is still strong, but political intrigue and conflicting needs seem determined to let a wedge come between them. Her mother's peace seems unsettled, and the Celestial Emperor is turning to new advisors who don't seem to have the realm's best interests at heart.

I want to try to write this review without spoilers because I do want people to be able to read it, but I obviously can't include a lot about the plot past this point. I will say, I appreciated that this is a sequel with a clear purpose. Sometimes duologies seem stretched out, and the second book feels unnecessary or like a side edition to a completed story. I think this book successfully demonstrates why Xingyin's story was unfinished, and provides what I consider to be an incredibly successful ending to the duology.

As with Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the prose is incredibly descriptive, which is a specific style I think the author is going for in order to show us these enchanting kingdoms and mythical creatures. The series retains a magical feel, romantic and sweeping, while also introducing new adventures and conflict.

I'm so excited that this series not only exists but is so popular and so successful at this point because I truly see it opening so many doors for even more mythological retellings and fairy tales from around the world, and I can't get enough of those.

Finally...I really have to congratulate Sue Lynn Tan on a gorgeous, gorgeous ending. I found myself with tears in my eyes, and I think these landings can be incredibly hard to stick, especially with such grand and epic stakes.

this was the zuko redemption arc i wanted thank you. i would not have the ending any other way. i almost just put the book down multiple times because the emotional damage, i wasn’t gonna continue if it would end that way. and i was happily surprised by how things were settled, all i needed was a little bit of emotional stability.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book! Below is my honest review:

Man, this book really put me through it. It ripped out my heart, stomped on it, and then slightly put it back together 😂

First off, I want to say that this is an almost perfect duology. My only real complaint (other than getting my heart destroyed) was the pacing. I often wished the author took a beat and slowed the plot down a bit to really grapple with what was happening. I think this series could have been three books if the author wanted to do that, but I would rather have a series be too short than too long so I’m fine with this.

The author’s writing in this book is so lyrical, almost resembling a fairy tale, just like the first book. I love Xingyin as the main character as well. She has a lot of heart and the way this book tackles her grief is both heart wrenching and deeply moving. Her journey as a character was truly wonderful and I think the ending did her justice.

I highly recommend this duology (which will be completed when this book comes out in November!!), especially if you love fantasy that reads like a fairy tale and that’s heavy on the romance.

Every once in awhile the perfect story falls into your hands. I felt this way with the Daughter of the Moon Goddess and yet again with Heart of the Sun Warrior. I wish I could read them both again for the first time!
Thank you to the author and publisher for trusting this advance copy to me! 5 perfect celestial stars.

Oh my goodness, I want to gush about this who book but I don't want to give it all away. It truly has to be experienced without any spoilers going in. But this was a fantastic end for this duology and it couldn't have ended in a better way.

The writing between this and Moon Daughter flows perfectly together as a story. Things that I needed answers for in the first book were all wrapped up nicely. The love triangle had me crying in the middle of work. It was just beautiful and I know I am going to go back to read this series a few times because of how much I enjoyed all of it. The writing, the imagery, the characters. Perfection.

Is this book as good as book one... depends.

The writing is incredible and Tan is 100% on my watch list! The characters are so well written and morally grey (which we love!). The romance was MUCH better/bigger in this book (very PG still though). However, the plot in Book 2 wasn't it for me.

It took me a long time to care about the plot in book 2, honestly I don't think I really was into the book until the final chapters (the ending is tragically beautiful). There was no proper lead up to book 2 in book 1. To me, book 1 felt like it's own standalone book despite the characters are the same and it really was truly a continuation of Xingyin's journey. It just seemed like a lot of random things happened in book 2 where there was no lead up to it in book 1.

With that being said, once I accepted and treated book 2 like it was it's own separate book, I really enjoyed it - ESPECIALLY the ending - UGH! 10/10 so glad she chose who she chose. So if you're on the fence, I say read it, just go into it without the expectations of book 1.

I'm hoping Tan goes into her next series considering the entirety of the series, so they don't feel like standalone books. Her writing is incredible and either way I'll be grabbing her next book!

Themes: murder, resurrections, second chances, love triangle, healing, grief, coming of age/finding oneself, morally grey, revenge, generational trauma, bittersweet Happily Ever After (it's so good)

Give me more, I’m not ready to say goodbye to such a fantastic series. Also, can I thank Sue Lynn Tan for not making us wait an AGE for both books?!

I don’t know what to do with myself now. Beautifully written, lots of wars/battles and losses. An emotional rollercoaster

That ending though, very The Mortal Instruments.

If I could change one thing, it was how many times 'moreover' is used - I don't know why that word sticks out to me

I wish this ARC came with a packet of tissues. Holy cow. I read Daughter of the Moon Goodness around two weeks ago and I had one complaint- I felt that things happened so quickly. I rationalized this by saying that everyone is an immortal so time is different, but it was hard to understand the love aspect because everything seem so fast-paced. That was not a problem in this book whatsoever.

Heart of the Sun Warrior was everything I loved about Daughter of the Moon Goddess and more. I loved how there were subplots within each of the parts but there was one, clear overarching plot for the entire story. I also thought it was so clever and masterful for some of the seeds planted in the first book to flower in this story. Additionally, as much as I hated it in the moment, I think the book was made better by the higher stakes and the loss.

I cannot wait to see people debate on whether they are team Liwei or Wenzhou (the latter for me). I also cannot believe that I spent the last few chapters trying to read through my tears. What an absolutely flawless story that is so full of heart and also so incredibly heart wrenching. I am going to be thinking about this book for a while.

The overall story and the lore behind it was great. But it felt incredibly tropey, and wading through those parts to get back to the main story felt tedious. The characters were well developed, and it definitely tugged at my emotions at times. I would have enjoyed it more had it not been for the overbearing trope.

Heart of the Sun Warrior ARC spoiler-free review 🌞⚔️

Heart of the Sun Warrior by @suelynntan is the second installment in the Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology, a YA historical high fantasy based on ancient Chinese mythology.

HOTSW is the perfect conclusion to this duology. The imagery and writing across both books is so immersive and descriptive, it really feels like you’re right there experiencing this lush world with Xingyin. While this makes for a slower read and pacing, it is so worth it! The second book is a lot of the same as the first, with quests and battles and challenges galore. The action and adventure are constant, but in this book the stakes are definitely higher, with the fate of the world in Xingyin and her friends hands.

Then there’s the romance 💕 Boy is this one a slow and painful burn full of lots of groveling and love confessions.. A certain love triangle begins in book one and only heats up in book two. While I was always rooting for my fave, I thought the tension between all the characters was really well executed and believable and my heart was aching the whole time wondering where things would end.

Finally there’s the emotional damage. Yes, this book made me cry numerous times. At one point sobbing to the point I could not see the page 🥴 But boy oh boy did the ending stitch up all the wounds to my heart in the sweetest ways.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I cannot wait for you guys to get your hands on this book. If you haven’t read book one, now is your time to dig in and savor it because this sequel releases on November 15, 2022!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager Publishing for providing me with an eARC of the book for my honest review!

I honestly don’t know how to praise this book in the way it deserves. I was left an emotional wreck upon completing it, and I'm still not over it. What an absolutely beautiful way to finish off a duology.

This sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess picks off right where the first book left off. Chang’e and her daughter, Xingyin, continue to live their life on the moon. Xingyin has freed her mother from imprisonment and she wishes to be left in peace. She dreams of an easier days, maybe marrying Lewei, the crown prince of the Celestial Empire, and her longtime friend, and living their lives quietly. But there’s treachery brewing in the imperial palace, and Xingying is forced to flee her home with her loved ones and fight for the freedom of the empire.

There were times I couldn’t read through my tears. I was also that character who “released a breath she didn’t know she was holding,” so often I became a cliché. I put the book down numerous times in efforts to prolong the read. The world was just as magical as the first time and everything I look for in a good fantasy novel was present: magic, magical creatures (yay dragons!), magical objects, beings of power, romance, beautiful world building, interesting characters, minimal politics. The writing was exquisite. I loved getting lost in this fantasy and having my heartstrings tugged.

Praises for the love triangle done right and the infinite layers to relationships and longings of the heart, as well as the remarkable character development. Romance is a very big part of the plot and I truly didn't mind reading about Xingyin wavering. I loved how she was written to not fall into the trap of sacrificing herself to have an easy love life. Most of the time relationships in stories are wrapped up in a pretty bow to be easily digested by readers, but I prefer the more realistic dilemmas and complicated problems. And thank god that this book tears down the notion of all girls wanting to grow up to marry the prince to become princesses, queens, empresses. There's nothing wrong with wanting to find who you are in the world, away from people's expectations.

Do yourself a favor and read this duology. It was beautiful, it was epic, it was everything.

How do I manage to put words to describe my feelings about this book? It was a wild Rollercoaster of chaos and mixed emotions. This was by far my most anticipated book of the year and it did not dissapoint. I loved every minute and the folklore was so rich. The world felt so clear despite how otherworldly it was. Highly recommend this book to any fantasy lovers. Thank you so much netgalley for allowing me the honor of reading this lovely book.

I have a lot of love for this story. It is one of personal growth, duty, and love. In this sequel, it was incredible to see the development these characters go through. To see the unexpected in these characters, and to come to an ending I wasn't expecting until it was over.

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you will love and cherish this second chapter to this story. My heart is so full and tearful, and I cannot wait for you all to read it.

To start, I loved the first book. The author has such a magical way of storytelling, and it is just as evident in this sequel. All of her characters are well developed and have their own shortcomings and flaws to overcome. I wanted to love this book just as much but this time around, I found myself less engaged with Xingyin's story. Whereas the first book had multiple journeys for our characters that lead to Xingyin finding herself, this time it felt more like a muddling of tasks to complete before heading to the final battle. As such, I found it difficult to push through the book, as I was unsure why Xingyin was more reckless than before and didn't understand her motives. I didn't understand the disconnect between the previous book and her father, I didn't feel the immediate danger from the ultimate bad guy, and I no longer saw her character growth.

All of these are minor issues. The strength of this book is clearly her writing, but this time I felt the weakness was the romance. The resurgence of the love triangle felt very out of place and a little bit forced, as I thought this was wrapped up in the previous book. Because of this, the last 15% of the book confused me even though I think it was an homage to a Chinese wuxia reincarnation stories. My final verdict is a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Xingyin (the daughter of the moon goddess) is back at it in book two, facing immortal villains in the most magical of settings!

Heart of the Sun Warrior begins at the Pure Light Palace, where Xingyin is recovering at home with her mother, Chang’e. She has worked so hard to obtain this peace and serenity at a great cost, however, the security does not last long. The action swiftly resumes, as our protagonist and her loved ones face a powerful enemy that is threatening not only their own family, but the entire immortal realm.

Just as in the beginning of this duology, this second installment is full of breathtaking scenery and magical elements. Possibly the most alluring ingredient in Chinese mythology is the travel by cloud. It excites me each and every time!. I also love the talk of auras, life-forces, healing magic, as well as the mythical beings that take part in this book: dragons, phoenixes, and the sunbird. The otherworldly features of this duology are what really make it unique and extraordinary, in my opinion.

Liwei and Wenzhi have also returned in Heart of the Sun Warrior. Love is certainly full of complications for Xingyin. The story really dives deeper into emotional complexity and ultimately, Xingyin does find clarity in her heart.

My only complaint is that the more serene, atmospheric scenes and descriptions were too brief. Once again, the action and conflict is the main focus of the book. This is likely a personal preference and impacted by the summer mood. I just found myself struggling to pick up the book some evenings, knowing that I would be plunging back into the pain and discord. Thankfully, Heart of the Sun Warrior will be released in November of 2022, which I believe to be perfect timing for a book of this length and intensity.

Overall, I would give Heart of the Sun Warrior 4.25 stars, and the duology as a whole 4.5 stars.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, and Avon & Harper Voyager for sharing this e-arc with me in exchange for my honest feelings!