A satisfying conclusion to a fun duology! This sequel is action packed and filled with lush imagery, much like its predecessor. I wasn’t quite ready to leave this world or these characters!

4.5 stars

Oh man, oh man. Thank you, THANK YOU to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this before publication.

Okay. CDrama fans who read this - Till the End of the Moon meets Back to the Brink, right? Because I was FEELIN' those vibes. Heavily.

This picks up right where we left off. Our lovers separated due to their choices of the gods they became bound to. Both on different paths to end the conflict or the upcoming doom that is to take place.

I'm a little sad this was a duology because I feel there is more here that can be expanded upon - world building, characters, conflict. I mean, the saddest bit was having build the villain up in book one to find him non existent in this book. I would have liked more conflict thrown their way in terms of him or his minions.

However, the book ended beautifully and the way that the book SHOULD end. Though if you had seen Till the End of the Moon (and listened to the bonus audio), well, you know that's the ending I wanted for them. BUT STILL, it was good, and I loved this duology and I'm ready for any other cdrama-esque stories the author is gonna write.

3.7 stars! this was one of my most anticipated releases next year, so i am so happy i got to read this earlier than expected! whereas the first book was epic and steadily constructed this beautiful, immersive world and where the second book was set to go, i was still pleasantly surprised by this book's twists and how much emotion it invoked from me. even though the transitions to certain scenes was confusing to follow, the pacing never let down. this was an adrenaline-packed book, which was engaging. this book definitely isn't perfect, like how i wished the secondary characters were more fleshed out and how i wish there were more slower moments in the second half (the latter half more than made up for it with its sentimental, poignant moments), but i still loved this book nevertheless, so you're going to hear me rave about it!

i'm not going to lie - the main reason why this was one of my most anticipated reads was because of lan and zen's romance which did not let me down in this book. their love just leapt off the page. it's not burning passion, but this steady stream of dedication and understanding and choice that i couldn't help but be soft for. the angst in the beginning was delicious to read, and i couldn't help but be hyped for their reunion after how the first book ended. i'm glad i didn't have to wait long in this book because their chemistry on the page is too good. and then the angst near the end? this book actually stabbed my heart. i was very much hurt because zen is so in love with lan. it shows in every chapter he leads, in his thoughts, and in his actions. and zen near the end of the book? [chef's kiss] so epic. i adore these characters and how they fit together because they are such a strong couple.

i did not know this was the last book in this series? the way the book ended made it seem that way, so i'll just go based off what i know and say that the ending of this series made me laugh and cry. also, this book made me literate again after not reading anything for a month (my longest book slump ever). so, i'm grateful for this book and the bittersweet feelings that rise in me when i think about everything it has put me through. so, even though there are mild criticisms that float in my mind, it really doesn't matter in the end because i adore this epic book so much.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc for an honest review!

The imagery in this book is absolutely glorious.

On the very first page, the reader is immersed in cold, quiet snow, "white pines in the gray of ash", "the quiet of a winter caught in rosewood and rock, sky and ice".

Amelie Wen Zhao weilds words like a paintbrush and calligraphy pen. With each moment, the reader is swept into the pages. Almost like being caught up in the story itself.

Remember the feeling of becoming part of The Neverending Story? Amelie's writing holds that kind of sway.

This story is the best kind of high fantasy, the kind that moves with adept strokes of color and action, across time, and through a world that feels almost familiar, but brilliantly artistrated to become something wholly unique.

Lan and Zen are two sides of the same coin, the perfect YA archetypal protagonists. But their journeys are far from perfect, and their end is uncertain.

"Gently, Lan touched her fingers to the last painting... 'I understand now,' she said."

Highly recommend.

This series broke me in a good way but also not a good way😂. I cried through almost this whole book it was really good. Not exactly the ending I would’ve wanted but an ending that was perfect for the story and the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night; Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White...Much like the second title of this duology builds its rhyme from the first, so does the story of the second book build upon the bedrock of the first. This sequel picks up the pace of action a bit too. Since the foundation of the world and its magic system was mostly laid out and we know our main characters, there was less time spent laying groundwork. We pick up with Lan and Zen shortly (about a month) after we left them, each following their own path, each taking their own approach to their destiny and their Demon. Their paths converge, since their destinies are intertwined, and we get closure to the romance that was slowly built up in the first book. Perhaps it is not the relationship that some may have expected but it is an appropriate outcome in my opinion. We also discover the remaining Demons and the myth plays out, yin and yang, beginning to end the tale of Lan and Zen, Dragon, Tortoise, Tiger, and Phoenix is complete. It was a nice, easy to read romantic fable, and much like yin and yang need each other to be complete, so do Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

#chinesemythology #ownvoices #xianxia #fantasy
“In this life and the next, and ten thousand more, I would choose you.” — DARK STAR BURNING, ASH FALLS WHITE
Epic , Sublime , Devasting ,Beautiful sequel and conclusion to the Song duology

Amelie Wen Zhao has crafted an epic sequel to her song duology .This duology draws from the rich history and mythology of China and Zhao has poured her heart and spirit into this duology and its evident to see. The characters are all so awesome and Lan and Zen have my heart . Iconic star crossed couple.

The stakes have been raised higher as Lan , Zen and her friends race against time to defeat the Elantians , Zen is possessed by a Demon God and hunts for a secret army of slumbering demon practioners that can eliminate the Elantians and Lan hunts for a weapon that can kill the 4 Demon Gods , who she believes are tools for the Elantians to be unconquerable . The place that holds what they seek is Shakhlahira , a long vanished stronghold of the Imperial court . Does Shaklahira hold all the answers ?, Will the Hin find their freedom ? And , What sacrifices will Zen and Lan make for their freedom....and their love ?


Dark star burning , Ash falls white is out January 2nd 2024 !

Exceptional sequel. Much like everything Amélie Wen Zhao writes.

This book also illustrates a gap in the YA fantasy industry. Longer fantasies with worldbuilding that you can actually sink your teeth into. While lots of teens I talk to love trope-y YA, they often comment that they ring hollow or feel false (and become tired very quickly.) Here, there isn't an overreliance on tropes, gimmicks, or poorly-written romance--everything feels fresh, well-written, and crisply wrought. An interesting world and magic system (built off from the first) with an engaging story that kept me interested the entire way through.

This was such a good read! I was fully sucked into the story right away and I really enjoyed the characters. The journey the author took these characters on was exciting and unique which is something I am really interested in with books now. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.