Book Stats:
📖: 448 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Berkley
Format: ebook from Berkley
Series: Book 2/2 of The Dragon Spirit Duology

Themes:
💫: Oppression and Freedom
💫: How Power can Corrupt
💫: Overcoming Addiciton

Representation:
🩸: Addiction
🩸: Chinese mythology/characters

Tropes:
💗: Spirit Worlds
💗: Suppressed Power

🥵: Spice: 🌶️
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

General Thoughts:
It overall really enjoyed the ending to this duology. The first 50% of the book was a little slow going. It's a lot of set up for what comes later in the book and where the plot eventually ends up taking us. It was still interesting and the political interworkings were enough to keep my attention.

This book had much less of a "Mulan" feel than the first book. But I was OK with that because this book would've taken place after the movie so it made sense that it would separate further. I do like the progression of the plot and the development of the characters throughout the second book.

This book is much more fantasy forward than it is romance. I would not call this Romantasy, but fantasy with romance. So keep that in mind if you are looking for something more fantasy forward.

I was starting to get worried that the book would not wrap up well around the 85% mark when we still hadn't reached the climax. I do feel like the ending was slightly rushed and suffered for that. But it was still an overall satisfying conclusion, even though I wish I've gotten a little more time with it.

I recommend the duology as a fun dragon fantasy that has solid characters in world building

Disclaimer: I read this book as a eARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Dragon Wakes with Thunder was an explosive sequel to The Night Ends with Fire. A beautiful and emotional retelling of Mulan if she weren't to get her happily ever after after saving the world. A passionate story about the fight for equality, the corruption of government, and a fierce battle for a better world. I am personally very entertained by political fantasy's as I find that it makes a story seem a little more realistic, and K. X. Song really delivered a perfect blend of politics, fantasy intrigue, and love,

It was beautiful to see Meilin's character development as she tried to keep her humanity at the centre of her priorities, while constantly being fought against from seemingly every angle. I really enjoyed seeing how she was using her past experiences to shape her future decisions and choices, which showed incredible growth. The story did not "beat around the bush" as one would say, but instead jumped right into the action, the fantasy, the betrayal, and the difficult choices that Meilin had to make.

Most of the side characters were relatable and I found myself invested in each of their side stories as well. The friendships and love formed in this book were fragile and delicate in the most beautiful way, and were perfectly written.

There were a few reasons that I rated the book 3 stars instead of 5. Firstly, I liked reading about Meilin's internal mental struggle to maintain control of her mind but I would have enjoyed a little more description behind her initial connection with Qinglong. Multiple times it was mentioned how she wasn't aware of the toll it would take on her once she accepted the connection from a carnal spirit, but the moment she accepted the connection wasn't significant in my mind. Secondly, I also would have liked more detail behind how qi worked because it seemed to only be a few sentences from book one and I was expected to understand the depth of how it affected the characters, Lastly, the story was somewhat predictable and repetitive. An example would be that every time Meilin got slightly ahead, I could count on something bad happening to bring her back a few steps. The amount of times that she was making progress, but then fainted or blacked out was slightly irritating. Also, maybe I am overthinking it, but parts of the fantasy plot seemed very similar to The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. Primarily, one making a connection with a spirit (a God), fighting to maintain control over one's mind, and having different spiritual realms that one could enter to converse with others.

All things considered, The Dragon Wakes with Fire was a satisfying conclusion to The Dragon Spirit duology, and I will be looking forward to more of K. X. Song's work in the future.


Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic conclusion to an incredible duology. I loved book one, but book two completely stole my heart. From Meilin’s powerful character arc to the action, court politics, emotional struggles, and the ending—it was everything I hoped for and more.

The war may be over, but Meilin is not the hero she once believed she would be. Instead, she finds herself shackled and punished for daring to fight as a woman. Freed from one prison only to be cast into another, she’s forced to navigate the treacherous world of court politics, learning when to speak and when to stay silent. Of course, with Lei by her side, trouble is never far away.

What stood out most to me was the stunning character development. The author has a way of breaking your heart and then piecing it back together again and watching Meilin’s growth was such a rewarding experience. She faces her darkest moments but remains cunning, determined, and unwilling to be broken by the confines of court life. She strives to choose what is right for her future, even as her heart begins to pull her in a different direction. I also appreciated that she didn’t rely on Sky or Lei to steer her path—her resilience carried her through. That said, some of her decisions did frustrate me at times, but I had to remind myself: she’s still young, and her flaws make her growth all the more real.

As for the side characters, Lei absolutely stole my heart. His steadfast presence, even when Meilin resisted it, made me adore him even more. Sky had a few great moments, but honestly… most of the time I was over him (lol).

This retelling was phenomenal. If you’re looking for a story with rich world-building, layered emotions, and unforgettable character arcs, this duology is an absolute must-read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to review this book.

First, thank you to Netgalley and the publishers at Berkley for my digital ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.

I loved The Night Ends With Fire, so my expectations were high for this sequel and it did not disappoint! It picked up right where TNEWF ended, so if you’ve slept between finishing that book and starting this one, I would go read a quick recap to refresh. If you don’t (I didn’t), it still guides you along and you can pick it up again really fast. Which is great, because just like the first one, this was a fast-paced action book that was pretty full throttle for most of the book. I appreciated that it felt like a strong duology that the author wanted to cover a lot of ground quickly without stretching this into a trilogy when it didn’t need one.

This book is split into 3 parts and each part felt distinct but flowed really nicely in escalation towards the grand finale. Here are a few things that really worked for me without spoiling this book:
-As I mentioned, the pace was great! I never felt too much of a lull but it also matched the pace of the first book so it didn’t feel rushed.
-I appreciated that it also kept the violence and grit the first book had. This is a violent, magical war with evil spirits - despite being a Mulan retelling, this is NOT the beautified, silly Disney movie. I felt Meilin’s character and desires were taken care of well in her arc and we kept all the “dark” parts. I don’t think any bit of this needs a trigger warning despite being violent/showing death because it was written so well.
-Going back to Meilin’s arc, I noted all the times that greed/a woman’s societal role was mentioned in the first book and did the same with this one and thought it carried on her arc so well. Those themes are so present and I think the personification of Meilin’s desires as her dragon was a great parallel.
-New characters! A few characters from the first book carried over, but for the most part there was a large new cast and I didn’t think it was jarring - it was a natural continuation of the story and would’ve potentially felt stuck if we were with the same troops as the entirety of the first book. However, my fave was back in full force and present the whole book. THANK YOU for that!
-The ending was a perfect ending. It stayed true to Meilin’s character, despite hurting my heart. Well done.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this duology if you want a smart, creative, magical world that takes a beloved Disney princess and popular mythological character and turns her into a true badass warrior that you absolutely have to cheer for.

I enjoyed most of this book; as a sequel, it did a great job escalating the broader world stakes while also balancing Meilin's personal journey. While some portions of the book dragged, Song's attention to detail is a strength and not a flaw in her work. Overall I would very much recommend this to anyone who enjoys a complex plot, nuanced characters, and deeply rooted world-building.

This second book in the romantasy Mulan retelling saga was a bit sad and felt a little like a filler book that focused more on the FMC's struggles with addiction to power at the cost of all else. There was some romance and less action in this one as the story focused more on character building and back story. That said, it was still a great listen as an audiobook with SUPERB narration by Natalie Naudus. Will I keep reading this series? Of course but I doubt this one will be my fav, even though I am OBSESSED with the cover and gorgeous sprayed edges! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC!

This is a good follow up to the first book. And I believe that the ending signals at least a third book, which I will likely also read. This is adventurous and tense. The characters all have fairly complicated motives. Some are honorable. Others are nefarious. It makes for a good story that reveals itself over time, rather than being predictable. I enjoyed it.

This was an absolutely stunning conclusion to The Night Ends with Fire duology. I have to say I enjoyed this book more than the first one. This story felt more original as it goes much more in depth into the politics of the world and explores the consequences of the events of the first book.

I will say I did struggle to get through part I, the pacing felt slower and I had a harder time connecting with the plot. I also found the romance to be predictable despite the love triangle the main character is in. However, as the story continued on, part III and the ending absolutely blew me away. Watching the conflict Meilin endures both exploring the politics of the world she’s in and in her own mind as she grapples with the effects of spirit influence on her is captivating and leaves you questioning everyone’s motives. I appreciate the exploration into characters who are not wholly good and how the effects of fear, greed, and pride can corrupt one’s actions. Overall the last half of the book really made this story for me; I think this was an incredible conclusion to this duology and definitely worth the read.

Thanks to Berkley - Ace Pub for the gifted copy of this book!

THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE was one of my very favorite reads of 2024, making THE DRAGON WAKES WITH THUNDER one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I am happy to say that I went in with high expectations and K. X. Song still blew them out of the water.

I *love* a fantasy duology and this one will forever be one of my favorites. It’s a dark fantasy retelling of Mulan, and it’s such a dynamic story with raw characters, so much action (war / spirits / sexism / court intrigue) and romance. It’s completely immersive and I love that even though these are thick fantasy books, I fly through them because I am incapable of putting them down.

The development from book 1 to 2 in all areas was phenomenal, with a little spotlight on the romance. While this is definitely a romantic fantasy and not a romantasy (there’s a difference!), the relationship here was just dreamy… but I won’t say more.

Now… that ending. I read it twice. Kudos, K. X. Song. It took my breath away. I am both satisfied and unsatisfied… and I would absolutely (is it too soon to say turtley?) read more in this world like if maybe there was another connected duology or something. 👀

Probably my most anticipated sequel of the year! And it did not disappoint! I was wary of no longer having the ~ pretends to be a man ~ aspect of book 1 (a dark retelling of Mulan) but book 2 delivered on the girl power. This book packed in so much action, politics, and magic. The FMC and romance stands out from other books in the fantasy space (love an FMC who prioritizes herself and her own ambitions).

Overall K.X. Song’s writing (from plot, to characters, to setting the scene, to balance of action/politics/drama) is amazing! One of those authors where I’d read her grocery list.

The Dragon Wakes with Thunder by K.X. Song is the second book in her The Night Ends with Fire duology. The book picks up at the end of The Night Ends with Fire, with Hai Meilin exposed as being a woman in the army; now being imprisoned in spite of securing a victory for the kingdom of Anlai. Eventually, Sky will come to free her from prison, as he plans to marry her.

Meilan is not sure who to trust; Sky, who she wants to help him win the throne, or Lei, a former enemy, who reveals the real truths: with both having strong feelings for her. Meilan also continues to feel the dragon spirit that lives within her; and Qinglong has his own plans to drain Meilan’s life and control the spirit.

In the palace, Meilin is an outcast and a social pariah, as she is pulled in all directions, with the family fighting each other to win the throne; she cares about Sky, and wants him to win. I loved seeing Meilin’s feelings for both Lei and Sky; but slowly Lei will be the one she who will help her escape.
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder was an exciting, breathtaking, heartbreaking, power, myth, magic, war and harrowing story. Meilin was a fabulous heroine, who was determined to find the truths, defeat the dragon spirit; and fall in love. The Dragon Wakes with Thunder was very well written by K.X. Song. This was a terrific epic fantasy.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and to say that I'm disappointed is an understatement. But before I get into the critiques, I'll start with some positives.

First, I liked that this book picked up right where we left off in book 1, with an ending that torn me into two. Meilin is at rock bottom in the beginning and her perseverance to dig herself out of her circumstances was something the reader could easily root for. Unfortunately, this is the only time I enjoyed her character and considering she's the main narrator, it kind of made this book unbearable to read.

Lei's back must have been hurting from carrying this book on his back, he was my favorite character and the only person who didn't routinely piss me off. I also feel like there are a lot of unanswered questions where he comes in and I'm frustrated we didn't dive deeper into his lore.

Meilin's selfishness caused me so much anguish. She was truly tormented by her powers and even with that knowledge, fought to the end, to near death, not to part with it. Even after seeing how much pain she caused the world and the people nearest to her, her selfish desires won out and this is what made me dislike her the most. Her character growth is nonexistent and after reading 800 pages of her nonsense, it's safe to say I'm glad this is over.

The Dragon Wakes with Thunder was another whimsical fantasy with court politics and treachery. A love triangle aching to be broken, and an ending that has me questioning if another book will join the series, as I was left with additional questions about many of the characters. Meilin battles with herself in this book, but she also sees through more of the lies and oppressive nature of men after she was betrayed in The Night Ends with Fire. Her growth is substantial, and you can’t help but root for her. There was a lot of expansion on the Spirit Realm and lore in this book as well. I really enjoyed it.

experiencing a little motion sickness from the change of alliances, love interests, and personal goals of these characters. still, a satisfying-enough ending to this duology.

This was a good conclusion to the dragon spirit duology, Though i think i enjoyed the first book better i liked the process and after the initial slow pace of the beginning found myself interested in the world again. The love triangle in this second book was on full display and it played a huge role in the character and plot development. Even though it played a huge role i found myself a bit irritated at the love triangle especially at Skye's character. I did like the action, war and magic aspect of the book especially the expanding worldbuilding. I liked the climax of the book even though I'm still unsure of the ending i loved that this was a story being told of this formidable mmc that dressed up like a man to join the army.

Just like with The Night Ends With Fire, I couldn't put this book down! This sequel is well-thought out and executed, the characters and world vividly described. Looking forward to reading more of K.X. Song's work!

This book will only make sense if you’ve read the first one. Our heroine, Meilin, is a prisoner after being outed as a female sword-wielder, which apparently is illegal in their kingdom. Luckily, her beau Sky is a prince who wants to marry her. We get a whole bunch of political backstabbing and intrigue, along with a magical threat that needs to be dealt with. Plus, Meilin has waffly feelings towards Sky and/or the prisoner-prince from another kingdom, Lei. It’s messy and adventurous and loads of action.

Imprisoned for daring to wield a sword as a woman, Hai Meilin is a pariah within the palace. Beyond its walls, every rebel revels in her legend. A former enemy prince is also imprisoned and wants her help, and her first love, Liu Sky, wants her help in a bid for the throne. In addition, the sea dragon Qinglong has his own plans for the spirit realm. During the last war, Meilin wielded his power to cheat death and attain victory for Anlai; now the dragon has come to collect his dues. Meilin’s mother warned her long ago: The spirits demand blood. And Qinglong is ravenous.

This is the second half of the Dragon Spirit duology, following The Night Ends With Fire. It takes place a year after those events, with Sky still wanting Meilin as his bride. She is switched from the torture in a dank prison to the opulent backstabbing of the court in the Forbidden City. She stumbles, of course she does; this isn't a battle of swords and qi or luxia but of whispers, threats, and privilege. It's not one she's familiar with, and her journey in this book is not as clear-cut as it was before. She wants to be known, to feel safe, to be loved even when selfish and self-serving. It's a tall order, and the world around her is a different kind of wartime. Spirits and humanity are at war thanks to Qinglong, but it's a war that most humans are unaware of and can't fight in. Meilin’s motives shift over the course of the story, as do her loves and her allies.

I found this an interesting ending for the duology. People are rarely one thing, and the characters here are flawed and variable. It kept me riveted and hoping for a happy ending. Whether it's happy or not is up to you; freedom has its price, and it's different for each character.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I was excited to see where the second installment of this book would take me. You definitely must read the first to even understand what is happening with this one. It picks up right where the last book left off with Mei being held as a prisoner for her magical powers.
This one felt even slower than the first book. I truly thought it would pick up a bit with everything that finally happened at the end of book 1, but it really didn't. I felt like the story dragged and Mei kept finding herself right back where she began at the beginning of this book.
Her relationship with Sky doesn't change much. He tells her many times he loves her but I never really felt it, to be honest. And it was hard to gauge how she truly felt about him. Overall I found him insufferable more than anything else and I just wanted him to be gone.
The politics of the many brothers was interesting. This book definitely dove more into that and explained it.
The love triangle was predictable since the first book had alluded to it. But I couldn't really get behind either of the love interests to be honest.
The pacing was super slow. I kept having to put the book down to gear up for reading it again. At times I was falling asleep. I so wanted to love it but I just couldn't force myself to. Where was the emotional pull I felt in the first book? The momentum? It was so stagnant.
I found myself skimming the book after the halfway mark just so I could be finished with that. Unfortunately, this one was just not for me.

DRAGON starts right after THE NIGHT ends.

"History is always being rewritten."

Two words can resume DRAGON - power and revolution. Song dissects the complexity of power, the lure and the cost are explored through the main character Meilin. Books one and two share the constant struggle between own desire x greater cause and while book one feels more a retelling of Mulan, this book two delves deeper in the greatness, spiritual realm and intrigue of Imperial court.

The shift of perspective midway through makes the plot fast-paced and further enticing, loaded with fate intertwined, manipulation and power dispute. I enjoyed the focus on the secondary characters and my opinion was volatile regarding of my feelings for the characters (in a good way). When fighting for change amidst the broken system, witnessing the loyalty was heartwarming.

I personally would have loved a more nuanced exposition of the Four Cardinal spirits (especially the dragon), or perhaps a POV of any of the mythical beasts would make the story flavorful and with a greater capacity to fascinate. With compelling prose, THE DRAGON WAKES WITH THUNDER is a quite satisfying conclusion (with the possibility of book three) and at its core, it's a heroic narrative about the devotion and cost of ambition.