I admittedly had a hard time getting into this book since it has been a while since I read (or listen to rather) A Bright Heart, and so it took me a bit to get reoriented with the plot and characters. I enjoyed seeing Mingshin being her clever self as well as learns that she has magic and learns how to use her abilities to her advantage. I also love a lot of the characters in this book as they bring in a found family aspect. There's a lot of political intrigue similar to the first book, which I found to start to get a little slow and dull at time. The times that Mingshin would get into predicaments did make up for it when there was more action. I felt that the relationship between Mingshin and Jieh was mostly static throughout the book since they established themselves as a couple in the first book, and not much changes in their relationship until Mingshin finally has the courage to tell him about her magic. I also thought the ending was rushed; there was all this buildup for this final fight to defeat the main villain, and I thought it was done and over with too quickly. Overall, this was a good book, but not as good as the first.

A Fiery Spirit takes a different route than A Bright Heart, shifting focus to Mingshin’s hidden power and the growing court intrigue.
The stakes feel much bigger this time—not just about Mingshin, but entire kingdoms, along with a fresh cast of characters.

The story is split into two parts, and I have to admit, the first part felt repetitive.
The constant cycle of attacks, failures, and retries started to wear on me, making it feel slow at times.
But thankfully, everything changes once we hit the second part. That’s where the real action kicks in, and I finally got the answers I’d been waiting for.

That said, while the second part delivered on the excitement, the pacing felt too rushed.
Major events kept unfolding back-to-back, leaving barely any time to absorb what just happened before moving on to the next.
Meanwhile, the first part dragged due to those repetitive attack sequences, making the transition between the two a bit jarring.

Another thing that left me wishing for more was the romance.
Mingshin and Jieh’s relationship seemed to take a backseat to the larger conflict, when I wished it had been highlighted more.

I had really high hopes for this book after loving the first one, and while it wasn’t a bad read—it even had a pretty satisfying ending—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing when I finished it.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: torture, kidnapping, confinement, death, grief, violence

One thing I love about this book is the chemistry and relationships between the characters. Mingshin-Jieh's relationship development especially in building trust and acceptance was relieving. Well, at first I doubted their chemistry because I remembered their chemistry being better in the first book but then they progressed as the story goes on :) I did also love Mingshin's talks with her mother and grandmother that exude warmth and reassurance. Such was also the case about the friendship between the characters. It was because of these I was able to root for the characters when they were facing obstacles and was genuinely sad when they were in agony. That's another strength too, I personally think the writing at some parts succeeded in portraying and conveying emotions. I was also satisfied about the resolution.

But this book is not without flaws. I felt frustrated as I read the first few chapters of the book because there were a lot of things happening, a lot of characters showing but I had difficulty remembering them. Not having clue about who these characters are made it difficult for me to get immersed into the story. I almost gave up reading. It was like until so much later in the book I got to remember the characters. But as I reached half of the story, the pacing started to feel too rushed especially in the prison arc. The power-channeling and the use of blood magic felt a bit too easy. The characters' realization and turning point did also feel too sudden and unnatural.

As her second book, the author still did a good job. Despite the lacks in this book that I've mentioned above, I still enjoyed it so I'm giving it a 3.5 star as a final rating.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for providing the ARC.

A Gripping and Magical Sequel That Raises the Stakes

This book is a thrilling continuation of Mingshin’s journey, blending mystery, magic, and emotional depth in a way that’s both captivating and satisfying. The stakes are higher than ever, with the chilling mystery of Prince Wen’s death and the looming threat of the Night Dragon. The plot moves at a perfect pace, keeping readers hooked as secrets unfold and alliances are tested.

Mingshin continues to be a strong and relatable heroine, torn between duty, love, and identity. Her internal struggles—especially around revealing her growing magical powers—add real emotional weight to the story. The tension between her and Jieh feels authentic and meaningful, making you root for them even as uncertainty grows.

The world-building is rich and imaginative, especially with the use of magical elements like the Divine Stone and the olfactory-delivered poison. It’s clear that the author has crafted a layered universe with high stakes and complex characters.

This installment delivers on every front: action, heart, and suspense. I can’t wait to see how Mingshin’s story continues

A Fiery Spirit was a sequel that I was looking forward to since I really enjoyed the first book. But in the end it just left me unsatisfied. First, there wasn’t the same built-in tension as the first book since there was no revenge plot this time around. Secondly the pacing wasn’t stellar, so the story felt both rushed and like it dragged on, because it never felt like the group accomplished anything until the very end.

I really wish that the book kept the pacing of the first half of the book, since it was enjoyable as a YA fantasy court intrigue story. Meanwhile the second part was basically just a hunt for the Night Dragon, where every step forward resulted in two steps back. Not to mention that the big battle that serves as the climax of the story was given less space. I also wish that more focus had been dedicated to the characters, especially Yunle and her life maneuvering at the unstable court. She and Fei were my favourites, and the best part of a book that could have been better if it had maybe been split into two books instead.

I genuinely don't know what happened here. The previous book was a really good YA fantasy novel which I rated 5⭐, but this one ... Everything was so rushed, a lot of sequences were just passed over, everything was so easy to accomplish by everyone, so many telling not showing. The impression I got was that it was not crafted with as much care as the first book. There's enough material for two books here, if only things were properly paced and described. There was also no clues or hints in the narrative to help the readers re-orient themselves to who's who from the first book, which made the reading experience even more confusing because the cast was relatively complex. It kinda got worse towards the end because the pace only got more rushed.

eARC provided by NetGalley and Union Square & Co.

I enjoyed the first book, and I was happy to get the sequel! . The book was written very well, and I liked the characters . I did not like that most of the problems are solved way very quickly in the book. The conversation between the characters felt off , and the plot wasn't as engaging as the first one. I would give it a solid three rating

Thank you so much for allowing me to review this title.
I loved the first book and I was so excited to read this title.
I love Asian themed books and loved how this one develops.

“A Fiery Spirit” by Kate Chenli is a the companion to “A Bright Heart,” one of my favorite reads of 2024. While the dynamic between Mingshin and Jieh was a highlight of the first book, their relationship takes a backseat in this installment. The story is packed with twists, betrayals, and unexpected turns that will keep you hooked from start to finish. With a fast-paced plot and plenty of action, there’s never a dull moment. Though not without its flaws, this sequel is an enjoyable and entertaining read.
Thanks to NetGallery and Union Square & Co. for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

i really love the art of this manga, the story was very interesting and really fast-pacing
the story and the development of the characters are really impressive.

I need the second volume right now!

A bright heart was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and to say i was disappointed by its sequel is an understatement.

A bright heart was delightful and made my chinese webnovel heart happy. The characters were endearing, the romance cute and it felt complete by itself despite the unanswered questions.

A fiery spirit takes place immediately after and I really wish I hadn’t read it. The digital arc was a mess, the writing felt different, the pace was uneven and the characters gave me nothing. Between the abrupt transitions between scenes, the plot armor and the ridiculous deus ex machina twist, this was not the sequel book one deserved and not even Yunle could save it.

thank you to the publisher for the e-arc of this book!!

A Fiery Spirit is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of this year. i love myself a chinese historical fantasy with all the court politics. i'm not sure how my mindset has changed over the past year but this book didn't hit the same highs as the first one.

getting it out of the way first,, the politics felt watered down, yet somehow it took up at least half the story. who didn't like who in court, Yunle getting shut down in meetings, and Mingshin fumbling her new magic in secret with Hanxin. it really took a good chunk of the story for it to finally get interesting for me, especially since the politics felt like a lot of rehashing what we already know from A Bright Heart.

the romance between Jieh and Mingshin didn't particularly speak to me either. i loved the moment when Jieh overcomes his prejudices against magic and accepts Mingshin. that has to be the big high for me, and that whole scene of him being poisoned was super dramatic. but every other time, it just kind of felt like they were off doing their own thing and while the romance isn't the biggest part of the story, i admit it was one of the things i liked most about the first book.

a lot of convenient moments in this book, where their plans go awry only to right itself again quickly, or having someone save Mingshin at the last moment, or even just (spoilers!!) her gaining All the Powers and becoming op. and i don't want her to die, i promise, but that ending felt like she should have. the world will go on because it's cruel and she will be forgotten by everyone but her loved ones. Jieh will rule with Yunle in memory of her. that's how i felt it should have gone.

but of course Nüwa ex machina and all that. haisss. i wanted to love this book so much more than i did. while i didn't hate it, it bored me at parts. still, there are some highlights. though i wouldn't have minded more Yunle/Fei content or even just Yunle maneuvreing in court while the rest were off on their quest instead of just a couple of paragrapgs of exposition. so much exposition.

One of my favorite books that came out last year was A Bright Heart. It was a fun read, and I had zero expectations because it’s really underrated—I didn’t see anyone marketing it. So, I was so excited when I found out about the sequel, A Fiery Spirit, and I’m glad I got to read it early. Shout out to Union Square & Co.!

Now, let’s talk about the book!
This book picks up not long after the ending of the first one. And oh, it starts with a funeral—because why not? The funny thing about this book is that the cover is bright, colorful, and cheerful, but the actual story is full of murder and backstabbing. It was a wild ride, and I really enjoyed it. Of course, there are pros and cons, and I think I liked the first book better, but I’d say this one lived up to its older sister.

Things I liked about this book:
•Mingshin, our protagonist. She still has flashbacks to her life in the other timeline, and her trust issues play a big role in this book, with their own development—which I really liked. As someone with trust issues myself, I’d say it’s an accurate portrayal. She’s also very smart, kinda manipulative, and lies a lot… but that’s understandable. Her hatred towards Aylin, her cousin, is honestly hilarious. It’s like, “Hmm, maybe she would be different if she wasn’t raised by her evil dad,” but then immediately “Yeah, screw that, she’s too far gone.” She was such a fun MC to follow, and I love her as a character. It’s also interesting to see a book character be one step ahead of me (a book reader).
•Yunle, our princess, and probably the secret protagonist of this book. She’s amazing and really shines throughout the story. I think she might be the author’s favorite.
•Jieh’s mother is such a fun character. She’s the classic evil, manipulative mother-in-law you’d see in a typical Asian drama, but I feel like, in a way, she actually likes Mingshin—because Mingshin is just as cunning and manipulative as her. It’s kinda funny.
•The pacing is really fast, so I don’t think you’d get bored—there’s a lot of drama.
•It’s also a very easy read, even if you pick it up at 9 PM after getting home from work. If you’re new to English fantasy books, this is a great one to start with.
•I liked the ending.

Neutral… because I kinda get it:
•One of the things I disliked in the first book was the romance. Jieh is a green flag, but I found their relationship a bit flat. However, this book makes it clear that the romance between Mingshin and Jieh isn’t the main focus, and as someone who isn’t into romance, I respect that choice. Their relationship feels more like a comfort zone that Mingshin could easily lose if the kingdom found out about her magic. I feel the same about Fei and Yunle’s relationship—it’s there, but romance isn’t the main focus of the story.

What I disliked about this book:
•Speaking of magic, I didn’t like how overpowered Mingshin becomes. If this had been better established in the first book, it wouldn’t feel like she suddenly became a quick learner. She’s so close to being a Mary Sue, though luckily, she still fails sometimes.
•There’s a lot of convenience in this book. There’s plenty of drama, but most of the problems are solved way too quickly. They’re literally fighting a god in this book, yet the stakes don’t feel high enough because previous conflicts were resolved too easily.
•The repetition is annoying. One time, Mingshin narrated something, and then another character pointed out the exact same thing. It kinda feels like this:
Mingshin’s brain: “I think I’m scared.”
Character B: “Mingshin, you’re scared.”
Like… bro, I know.

Overall
I really liked this book. I don’t think I can rate it higher than 4.5, but definitely not lower than 4. I think 4.25 is a fair score. It has a somewhat closed ending, but there’s still a little gap in case the author wants to write a sequel. If they do, I’ll definitely read it!

A Bright Heart was one of my absolute favourite reads last year, so I was so excited for the sequel! And it (mostly) lived up to my expectations. I still completely adored the characters and the beautiful way the book was written, although the plot wasn't as unique and interesting as it had been in the first book. There was also a fair bit of plot that was relegated to a brief retelling rather than actually being on the page, which meant it wasn't as engaging as it maybe could have been. That said, I did still love the story and will waiting to see what the author writes next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The timing was extremely fortuitous because I came across A Fiery Spirit on Netgalley just as I was finishing A Bright Heart, and I knew I wanted to continue Mingshin’s story as soon as possible! She’s such a fantastic main character, where her strength is both in her cleverness but also in the people she surrounds herself with. I love seeing her growth from the beginning of A Bright Heart to A Fiery Spirit, and how this duology concludes. There is really great world building with the magic and the different cultures, and so much political navigation. I had a lot of fun with this book and found it hard to put down, because I just had to see how Mingshin would navigate her situation and come out ahead. I look forward to seeing what Kate Chenli will write in the future and definitely will be keeping my eye out.

Thank you for the ARC opportunity

With A Fiery Heart, , first I will say is a beautiful cover! Giving justice to the title of *bright* cover. Second, I did had trouble getting into the story in the very first chapters, I was kinda disappointed how the conversation and moving through the plot was taking shape of it, I did had some of the spirit from the first book but I was always waiting for more of it.

During the first half, I was not feeling the conversation/dialogue between characters, it felt too null for me in some points,
Like robots talking but as the book was flowing with the plot, this aspect started to get more easier to read along and to engage with characters.

But in the end, I enjoyed reading this book and the last few chapters were picking more my attention and enjoying how the plot was evolving to the ending.

3.5 towards 4*