I absolutely loved the conclusion to this story! I loved the mythology and the culture weaved into it.

Unfortunately despite remembering what happened previously, this sequel felt like a jolt of lightning and I was extremely disoriented. I really like the characters but I felt like there was something missing. I just couldn't connect to the story and didn't feel invested. I think that possibly I could try again at some point, but for now this is a book that I think wasn't meant for my mood at this time

My heart has been in my throat since the ending of book one and I’m so thrilled to finally have the sequel in my hands. Zephyr’s defiance of fate, even at the cost of her own eternity—can’t get higher stakes than that! And her battles-of-wits with Crow are far more compelling than most romance scenes I’ve ever read.

The inspiration for Sound the Gong is from an even earlier era: the famously epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Here, He continues the story she began in Strike the Zither, in which strategist Rising Zephyr plots a course for her lordess, Ren, to become the Empress and unite the warring kingdoms. As smart as she is, though, Zephyr didn’t see how her own fate would transpire. Nor did she realize her true identity. After her own untimely death, she wakes in the body of Ren’s swornsister, Lotus—but only after Zephyr has remembered her true divine nature. In the sequel, Zephyr balances precariously, playing the roles of both strategist and warrior, and then more as she realizes just what her divine abilities will allow her to do.

There’s one person Zephyr knows stands in Ren’s way, and it’s not the other warriors vying for the imperial position. It’s Crow, the double-agent strategist working for one lordess while truly advancing the cause of another—and both of his lordesses need Ren to fail. The problem is that Zephyr might well be in love with Crow; that won’t stop her, however, from doing whatever it takes to place Ren on the throne. Even if it means losing everything that makes her who she is. The novel is at turns glorious and heartbreaking, a powerful and beautiful homage to Romance of the Three Kingdoms and yet something entirely itself. The way He raises the stakes here makes the finale well earned. Choose this duology if you like the idea of gods defying fate, and becoming more like mortals in the process.

Joan He's Sound the Gong, the sequel to Strike the Zither, continues the story of Zephyr, the war strategist of a woman who doesn't want to be queen but just wants to serve the people. A woman we can always root for.
Zephyr's story in this book is just as wildly unexpected and twisted as the first book. I just don't know what to expect and sometimes, it can get a little too much. While I appreciate the plot, especially in terms of the war and where it was heading, the characters and emotional pieces felt lacking. It felt choppy to have some pieces of the characters and not all. Aside from that, the rivalry between Zephyr and Crow, our two main characters (of sorts), was stilted and I genuinely could not understand how the two had the relationship they did. I'm someone who prefers uncomplicated and it threw me off, the levels of complication with these two.

Can't believe I'm going to say this but the one person I felt I knew and liked properly was the villainous Miasma. She was consistent in her villainy and that was most reassuring in this whirlwind of a story.

Overall, an easy read that needed more cohesiveness and pieces to glue the different parts of the story together.

🌟🌟🌟💫/5

This brings Joan He's amazing Kingdom of Three duology to a thrilling conclusion. And what a conclusion it is! The sequel to "Strike the Zither" continues the saga with relentless action and heightened stakes. This feels so incredibly dense and action-packed!

One of the highlights of this book is its poetic prose, which beautifully captures the essence of the story's setting and themes. Of course, my favorite aspect was Zephyr and Crow. They are so enraptured with one another and yet they also are terrified of giving up ground to one another. They will never be vulnerable enough to realize something deeper so while I gobbled it up - it's also sad. And that meant the ending was incredible and so fitting.

While the ending may leave some readers craving for more closure, there's a satisfying resolution that ties up most loose ends and is sugar sweet and sassy on He's website. I highly recommend it after you get through this because it's a much-welcome shift. He's decision to offer this short story is amazing and I love her notes about the story.

This is a fitting finale to an exceptional duology. With its blend of military fantasy and Chinese literature, it offers a compelling story and is a damn good time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the copy. This review is honest and voluntary.

From PerfectionistWannabe.com. Full series review.

If I could pitch this book, it would be Mulan meets the Celestial Kingdoms. The focus of Mulan's story would center around the battles and war efforts. Place this in a fantasy world where women are allowed to fight. They can become generals. They can lead armies and become warlords. But then, let's take out the ancestors part of this story and replace them with celestial gods. Next, let's throw this all into a retelling of the Three Kingdoms.

Now, let's create an ongoing chess match being played out between warlords, and each has a strategist whispering in their ear. Throw in a bit of a love story between two strategists from warring parties, Zephyr and Crow, and we have the elements that compose this story.

Just for clarification in the comparisons between Mulan and the story of the Three Kingdoms, the Three Kingdoms took place between 220-280AD. Mulan (a folk heroine) existed sometime in the 4th century, long after the story of the Three Kingdoms. This story takes place in 414 AD.

Strike the Zither starts right off within the fields of war. A betrayal. And Zephyr is in the middle of it all. This is her strategy to change what fate has determined in order to make her warlordess the next empress. But I will warn you, don't get too attached to Zephyr. She dies.

Crazy, right? She dies.

But isn't this story about her? Yes, it is.

There's more than one book about her. So how in the world does this get drawn out if she died?

Those celestial gods. I tell ya. They are not supposed to meddle in the affairs of humans, but every now and again, they do. In particular, Zephyr meddles in those affairs.

I'll leave the review at that. I'll be honest, when the celestial kingdom became part of the story, that is when I became interested in the story. I love stories about the gods. I'm not into the fighting or the war part of this book (which was literally the whole thing). Oddly enough, I perked up when Zephyr died. That is when the story had my full attention. Which, I know, is completely weird. But that is where the story really began for me.

This was a solid follow-up to Strike the Zither, which was in itself a beast of a book handling fascinating and delicate topics with a deft hand. Joan He is a masterful storyteller, taking the classic Chinese tale of The Three Kingdoms and rewriting it into a creative book for modern audiences. I just know my students would love to get their hands on this.

One of the major highlights of this book that Strike the Zither mostly lacked was Zephyr's presence as an overarching grey protagonist. While she knew right and wrong, she would do whatever it took to ensure the success of those she wanted to win the war - from trickery to murder. And there is plenty of gruesome murder to be had in this book. The romance is there, but it's the relationships between the sworn sisters - the found family - that take center stage in this book.

Sound the Gong works best as an immediate follow up to Strike the Zither in order to get the full effect of the storytelling.

If ever there was a book that should be read in quick succession to its predecessor, Sound the Gong is it. The followup to Strike the Zither builds on the characters and action from the first book. The world that Joan He has created is complex. And although informed by the Chinese classic tale of the Three Kingdoms, it’s a unique fantasy full of intricate world building and flawed characters.

In fact, Zephyr is about as morally gray as a character can be, but the author has crafted her in such a way that you want to know more about her. She’s compelling and multifaceted, and you’re left forced to come to your own conclusions about her.

Sound the Gong is a strong companion piece that creates a cohesive duology. It feels almost as if the author wrote the two books as one and then split into two. The pacing is strong and the overall flow feels right.

Sound the Gong also features map art by Anna Frohmann and black-and-white portraits by Tida Kietsungden.

For some reason, I thought this was book two in a trilogy, so I read all the way to the end, expecting a setup for a third book. Ha! The marketing copy does say pretty clearly that it’s a duology, so it must simply be my desire for more books by Joan He speaking there.

I really enjoyed diving back into the epic political landscape of this story world. Zephyr finds herself yet again bargaining for her very existence, and determined to pay whatever price she must in order to save Ren and her allies. Even if it means she must change fate.

I haven’t read The Three Kingdoms, which inspired the duology, so I’m not sure which elements follow the original versus which are the author’s reimagining. There’s an extensive author’s note at the back of the book that outlines some of the ways the characters in these books relate to the original novel. I really appreciated that information– it’s a lot of names to digest, so I had to read it a couple of times, and I’m still not sure I followed every reference, but I love that the author offered the explanation and shared so much about the original work.

Both books seem strange, not in a bad way. Some of it comes from including deities in the story and some supernatural workings. The author strikes a good balance between the characters and their relationships and the political machinations driving the plot.

I’m glad I stuck with the duology from start to finish. Joan He’s debut, The Descendant of the Crane, is still my favorite of her books, but I enjoyed this one, too.

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Historical FantasyPages: 320Series: The Three Kingdoms Duology Book 2Rating: 5 Stars (Duh!)

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR Strike the Zither AHEAD!!!

About a year and a half ago, when I first read Strike the Zither by Joan He after finding it on BookishFirst, I had no idea that I’d just discovered a new favorite author! And reading the sequel, Sound the Gong, reaffirmed Joan’s venerated place on my list of all-time favorite authors! As readers, every now and then we’ll come across a book that is on another level when compared to other books, a book we think everyone should read, a book that changes who we are. Both the books in the Three Kingdoms duology are those kinds of books!

As if Strike the Zither wasn’t enough of a rollercoaster ride, Sound the Gong had my stomach jolting in surprise with all the twists and turns. Zephyr and Crow are two of the most morally gray characters I’ve ever read, and I really appreciate how He didn’t hold back with their morally grayness. At the same time, she juxtaposed a strong sense of justice in both of them. The contrast adds a higher level of plausibility and makes you root for them all the more.

Similarly, anyone would have a hard time convincing me that Joan He isn’t an absolute genius! You don’t have to read her books super closely to enjoy them, but if you do, your mind will be blown at all the subtle references and foreshadowing. As someone who’s just starting to explore writing, it is authors like Joan who inspire me to be a better writer. The flood of joy I’d feel whenever I found a little clue that alluded to the previous book or foreshadowed a later event was thrilling.

Additionally, Joan’s sense of humor with her writing is so memorable. I love the way she takes what could be a pretty depressing story and infuses it with lightheartedness and hilarious moments. Simultaneously, she does not shy away from addressing deep emotions. I particularly enjoyed Joan’s depiction of Zephyr working through her grief for Lotus.

As a whole, you NEED to read both Strike the Zither and Sound the Gong if you haven’t yet! In my mind, they are masterpieces! (Also, your heart will need the bonus story “In Another Life,” after reading STG. Just to forewarn you.) :)

I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan for giving me access to an early copy of Sound the Gong. It was such an amazing read and I'm so happy to have picked up Strike the Zither. This ARC is what pushed me to finally start working on my backlog of books.

Having read these two almost back to back I'm now tempted to read the three kingdoms to see the source material for this epic tale. Zephyr and Crow are two dynamic characters that play off each other in the best possible ways from their rivalry to the strained romance.

Mixing gods and spirits into the mix made this more exciting, and gave the story an extra dose of life. And even if any of that hadn't been a part of the plot and we were just dealing with a Zephyr and Ren versus Crow and the others I would have loved it all the same.

There were some characters I wish we could have gotten to see more of, but in the end, I was more than happy with how things played out. The ambiguous ending reminded me a lot of the end of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan. And while I'm not a super big fan of these kinds of endings I will say that it was the perfect choice.

So please go pick up Strike the Zither and Sound the Gong. You won't be disappointed!

My anticipation for Sound the Gong was sky-high after the cliffhanger of book 1, but Joan not only subverted my expectations again and again but somehow managed to exceed them. A perfect balance of tension and catharsis, Sound the Gong is Joan He’s best book yet and easily my favorite of hers.

Joan’s strength has always been her characters and the cast of this duology is no different. Every single character is wonderfully complex and multifaceted, constantly challenging, subverting, and redefining my conception of “protagonist” and “antagonist.” Main character Zephyr is the most complex of them all, and even as her decisions become more and more questionable (some of them downright wrong and violent), Joan leaves ultimate judgment of her character up to the reader. Every author should take notes because *this* is how you write a morally-gray character! While it can be frustrating and downright upsetting that Zephyr isn’t a more traditional “good” protagonist (down to the very end!), I personally loved how she, like the rest of the characters in this book, can’t be boxed into a single category or archetype. Zephyr is brilliant, arrogant, and truly human.

Something that particularly stood out to me in this book compared to book one was the depth of the relationships between characters. The cast is bound by a complex, every-changing web of loyalty, alliance, and animosity that kept me tense and intrigued throughout the book. STG is a true rollercoaster of a ride–just when you think you know where it’s going, a character acts out (though still in character!) in a way you won’t anticipate. I was completely invested in every relationship and character, from the slow-burn tension between Zephyr and her rival strategist Crow, to the strangely endearing mentor-mentee relationship between Zephyr and Sikou Hai, to the complex and historied frenemy alliance of Ren and Cicada. For such a mid-sized book, Joan packs incredible depth and nuance in her large cast of characters.

Lastly, I truly admire the care Joan took to faithfully convey the source material’s messages while maintaining her own originality and themes. The author’s note is just a brief insight into her thought process, yet I was so impressed by how much thought and care she used when crafting the story. Make sure to read the author’s note after reading! Also, if you’re like me and need fluff in lieu of therapy, do yourself and read the bonus epilogue posted on Joan’s website. While I completely understand and appreciate the way STG ended, I loved the characters and world too much to let go. Although the bonus epilogue isn’t canon, it’s author-endorsed fluff, which is more than enough to satisfy me 🥲

Overall, Sound the Gong is Joan He’s finest yet. Everything (pacing, characters, narrative arcs, etc.) is hard-earned yet so so satisfying, and her writing continues to impress me. This duology has quickly earned a spot on my list of favorite series of all time.

4.75/5 stars

First I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Publishers for sending me this arc in response for a review.

I read this book so fast! I have waited over a year for the second book to come out, and I was so excited to get the arc. The continuation of the story we are left off with Zephyr and her will to change the fate leaves a story not really about who is good or not. The three kingdoms is a tragedy, and Joan He beautifully writes a duology that takes that history and creates her own compelling story of it. I loved the characters, to have Crow, to see the betrayals that the characters face. And to see how Zephyr will give anything to change the fate of the swornsisters and empress. I will come back to read this series again, and I can't help but love how we have so many surprises and moments I felt like it was impossible to take a break from reading.

I am absolutely enthralled with this book. Having read the first book, I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this arc. This book is unpredictable, a lot of action, and I just couldn't put it down. So sad it's just a duology. But I always feel this way when I finish a Joan He work. I really liked that there wasn't a lot of repeat of the backstory from book one and it just start off where the reader gets left off. I really do think it's a book to be read one after another. I had to look up a quick summary of the book to be caught up again, but I don't mind. I wish I had time to read the first book again, but as a librarian, that is not a luxury we get!

I'm going to lightly spoil Strike the Zither, so consider yourself warned.

Ok, so I really really loved the first book, kind of UNTIL the twist. And then, for me, it wasn't as fun. Obviously, because of how time works, the events in this book happen post-twist, so it never really spoke to me like the first half of book one. But still, the strong characterization, light tone, chicanery and scheming kept me extremely entertained. If you liked the first one, you absolutely shouldn't miss this one. 4 stars - I really liked it.

Sound the Gong is out today! Thanks to Netgalley and Roaring Book Press for the egalley, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Roaring Book Press, and Macmillan Children's Publish Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up Sound the Gong on April 30, 2024.

What a thrilling conclusion to Joan He's Strike the Zither duology! Seeing Crow's perspective and being inside his head added so much to this book and really made me appreciate Zephyr in a new light. I loved the drama, the romance, the action, and that ENDING? Criminally good.

For all my political fantasy and C-drama fans, this book is for you. Don't hesitate to pick it up!

This book hits the ground running right where we left off in Strike the Zither. Zephyr’s godly powers have got her this far, but will they be able to take her all the way to the end and see Xin Ren seated at the throne of the three kingdoms? With her guts, daring, and tenacity - she just might succeed. Readers will be delighted to get more one-on-one time with our favorite swornsisters (Cloud, Tourmaline, Ren), more face time with enemies Miasma and Cicada, as well as some very personal time with the competitive strategist, Crow. Zephyr faces complete destruction of the realm, her leader, and her own immortality.

He does an excellent job at packing a punch in the span of two books, and this installment is particularly brutal. While readers can imagine there is not a perfectly happy ending where everyone rides off into the sunset, the conclusion is open-ended and extremely satisfying. I love these morally grey characters with all their quirks and flaws, and I’m sad to part from them. Once again, this book travels at a breakneck pace with plenty of twists and turns for the readers who love to try and predict where the plot is going.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Thank you so much to Roaring Book Press, Joan He, and the Macmillan Influencer Program for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
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I cried. I heard reimaginings of Three Kingdoms are sad. I didn’t listen. I fooled around and I found out. On another note, it was SO good! It was a lot more fast paced than the first one, which I really enjoyed, and I quite literally almost fell asleep several times because I didn’t want to stop reading at night.

We got to see how Zephyr’s story played out, and I think we all thought that it wouldn’t end particularly well, but regardless needed to see the ending. I quite literally zoomed through it. I think I read it in maybe two and a half days? But it didn’t even feel like that long. I was so completely consumed by the story that it felt like no time at all.

There were so many things I loved about this book, Zephyr first and foremost. She was so unhinged all the time and I loved her for it. I enjoy reading books from the point of view of characters like her— characters where the ends always justify the means. It’s so interesting to see the lengths they will go to in order to accomplish their goals, no matter who or what gets in their way. I loved her sarcastic thoughts that we got to see as well; those types of thoughts and reactions are always things I like to see.

I also loved Crow, much for the same reasons I loved Zephyr. He was such a good rival to Zephyr because they’re basically the same person in a different font. They’re so similar, so motivated by the same things, that it almost felt like I couldn’t tell who to root for! I think I wanted them both to prevail, even though I knew there was no way it would happen.

There’s so many reveals in the last, like, five percent of the book. I found myself gasping several times, and I felt like I understood so much more. It was such an amazing experience reading and I think it’s one of my favorite fantasy duologies to date.

And the ending… ouch. It really made me cry way too much. It left things open to interpretation, which I usually hate with a burning passion, but I LOVED it. It was done SO well, and I can tell this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time. I like to believe it was. And that’s something you’ll understand once you finish the book.

Joan He has written my favorite duology.

It’s no secret that Joan is one of my favorite authors. And with SOUND THE GONG, her sequel to STRIKE THE ZITHER, she creates a YA fantasy series as divine as it is thrilling.

Really, it’s SO riveting. This fast-paced, twisty novel has so much momentum as it follows Zephyr at her most determined — and most ruthless. (That one scene!! You’ll know it when you get to it!).

While Zephyr does incredibly questionable things, He excels at still making her sympathetic as she pushes herself past
her limit all out of loyalty. Behind Zephyr’s sacrifices is the question of if it’s worth it, making the novel as poignant as it is relatable for those who get too caught up in their goals.

While this sequel is darker than the first, it’s still incredibly fun! Sharp dialogue, deception, and war intrigue abound. He also packs in plenty of great moments from the Three Kingdoms classic that the series reimagines (the chess scene!).

And I love seeing the return of so many wonderful characters, such as Cloud and Tourmaline, and greater explorations of Crow, Miasma, and Ren. I really enjoyed getting to see more of Crow and his incredibly complex relationship with Zephyr — plus, they have such wonderful banter.

The climax is cinematic, riveting, and emotional, powerfully delivering on character arcs and tensions. And while I loved the very sweet bonus epilogue online, I’m glad the print novel caps off with its bittersweet conclusion — it perfectly fits the themes and Zephyr’s arc. Yes, I’m that reader.

SOUND THE GONG is as compelling, action-packed, and rich as its predecessor, making for a stunning series. And like Zephyr, it doesn’t hold back.