Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

I can't quite put my finger on it....but I just couldn't get into this one. I loved the first book in the duology but this one.....I*m not sure, it just didn't click for me.

DNF at 30%

It’s a dnf for me. Why because I can’t connect with the characters. Perhaps if I read the first book it might help but even then they just aren’t speaking to me. The audiobook is really well done. I enjoy the voice actor, she’s done a ton of other fantasy books I’ve really enjoyed. I got half way through the book before I really rely decided to drop it. I appreciate NetGalley for letting me review it however this one was just not for me and that’s okay. I would suggest it if your more on the younger YA side of books and you really enjoy Asian entertainment. The writing is good it does flow pretty well. I would recommend you giving the series a try.

I think this is a good YA fantasy; however, I just didn’t love it. Natalie Naudus’s narration was a standout, bringing the story to life. After defeating Prince Ren, Mingshin learns a new threat looms as the Night Dragon, a dark sorcerer, is after the Divine Stone she carries. To stop him, she must reveal her magic and trust her friends. While the premise was strong, the execution fell short. The pacing was uneven, the plot overcrowded with subplots, and key twists lacked proper buildup. Much of the character development was told rather than shown, especially with Mingshin’s magical training. Most characters felt flat, and the villain Xiangyu became a generic power hungry figure despite hints of a deeper backstory. Still, the poetic justice for Mingshin’s uncle and cousins was a clever and satisfying touch.

I’d like to thank the amazing @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for the amazing opportunity to listen to audio copies of these books. I am forever thankful ❤️
From the beginning of the Synopsis of book 1 I was gone with these books. 😵‍💫
Add on:
1️⃣Court Intrigue
2️⃣ Chinese Mythology
3️⃣ A Fierce and Strong Female Main Character
4️⃣Swoon Worthy Romance
And girl these books are ones you want to add on to your TBR asap!🤭
We follow Mingshin, a woman who helped a man she love become king but doesn’t see the betrayal coming until the blade is sheathed in her body. Dying lying in a pool of her bed, she makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to change her fate.
But with any change of time, the chances of destruction are always near by…
I loved how Kate is able to weave Chinese mythology into a unique and engaging story that it’s always a shock when you reach the end of her books. Mainly cause it flows and wraps its way around your heart that you don’t wanna leave the world she created.
The narrator brought an extra layer to this story and was the perfect choice to give this book life.
This series is a solid 5 star duology that I would recommend from the roof tops ❤️

The sequel to A Bright Heart, it starts off after the ending of the first book. Mingshen's trials are only ramped up from here, trying to discover the truth surrounding the murder. I was glued to this, and the audio was great!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of the audiobook.

Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite narrators and did a fantastic job.

I enjoyed Book 1 a lot and this picks up right where it left off. There were times I was a bit annoyed with the FMC for not trusting those around her enough, I feel like things could have happened differently if she had. I do understand the reasoning but it dragged out a little too long.

Overall though I enjoyed this book and thought it was a great conclusion to the story.