I adored Daughter of the Moon Goddess, so I was thrilled to return to this magical world again. While this second installment doesn't quite have the sweeping scope of the first book, it's still a beautiful, heart-wrenching story. I loved spending more time with these characters and the ending was very satisfying! I will continue to recommend this duology to many of my customers.

4.5⭐️

I absolutely loved the first book and was soooo excited for this one! Heart of the sun warrior was just as amazing. I love the world and the characters. I already miss the characters so much.

I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely obsessed with the romance in this book. Both love interests are equally compelling, and I was surprised that for once I would be happy regardless of who Xingin chose to be with. I loved all of the characters, and bawled my eyes out when some of them didn't make it. The worldbuilding is of course stellar, and the tension in the plot kept me reading and reading. I flew through this one and loved every second of it.

What a great follow up to the first book in this beautifully written duology! I love the continue world building, but I hated some of the heart wrenching deaths that happened in this book. I loved the growth that is seen in the MC, and how she maneuvers her way through love, loss, and finding her own strength when all seems bleak. I will read ANYTHING that Sue Lynn Tan writes!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amazing amazing amazing. An epic conclusion to a beautiful duopoly. Magical and poetic, this was one of my favorite books I read in 2022 and one of my new all time favorite series. I can't wait to read more of Sue Lynn Tan's work!

Amazing, loved everything about this book!! This duology was absolutely incredible and I’m already planning to read it again soon.

Heart of the Sun Warrior is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I really liked Daughter of the Moon Goddess, but this book was everything! It was so intense throughout the whole book and it almost brought me to tears. I felt so many emotions while reading. This has possibly moved to my favorite read of the year and it deserves all the love.

Thank you so much Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After Xingyin saves her mother the Moon Goddess from exile on the moon she thrives in her home on the moon. She notices that there is a strange magic that is building on the moon after a strange visitor from the Celestial Kingdom. Xingyin ever ready for the challenge dives deeper in to find that there is someone who wants to take control of not just the Celestial Kingdom but the world. Along the way she struggles with many losses including some of her friends. Xingyin also tries to figure out her feelings for her two loves, the emperor's son and Wenghi. Who will she truly love? Will Xingyin be able to save the world from this power that seeks to destroy or take over everything that they know?

This book was one that I will never forget. It was another 5 star read for me just like the first book (Daughter of the Moon Goddess). I enjoyed the adventures and that I could not predict how it would end. Sue Lynn Tan knows how to write a story that is so beautiful it sucks you in and will not let you out. I have seen a few reviews talking about how the first book (Daughter of the Moon Goddess) was mostly a romance. To me that was not an issue, however for those that were not as interested in the first book because of the romance. I am here to tell you there are so many more adventures in this second book. These battles and tests are well worth the read. There is still romance however it is so beautifully written with no excessive details that you may find it worth your time. This book features a love triangle that is written in a way like no other love triangle. There is so much heart and desire written into each interaction you understand Xingyin the main character way better. I cannot wait to see if there is a third book in this series.

Read if you enjoy:
Love Triangles
Retellings
Strong female leads
Family relationships
Action/adventure

“How could I have wept in Wenzhi’s arms, the arms of my enemy? A betrayal of Liwei and myself.”

THIS was it. THIS was the book I was looking forward to MOST this year. I loved nothing more than the beautiful drama fantasy vibes of the first book and I was so so ready for that to continue for this book. Unfortunately - this book chooses to focus on the love triangle over anything else, to the detriment of the entire book.

This book is called Heart of the Sun Warrier - so it's fair to say some characters will be coming back from the past. Unfortunately, I felt like everyone's arcs, all the "danger", all the things that made Daughter of the Moon Goddess great were gone. Sadly, these were my favorite parts - the fantasy, the adventure. Even when Xingyin is attempting to save all of the realms, it still feels overshadowed by her love triangle and the two men being jealous over each other.

70% of this book was Xingyin debating with her heart over which boy to choose, the prince that's never done anything but love and show mutual kindness and respect to her OR the demon prince that kidnapped and lied to her. (I think it's fairly easy to see who I was rooting for!) This really stopped Xingyin from her own growth.

I do want to point out one of the BEST parts of this book - the writing. It is still so so lyrical and beautiful. It flows off the page as poetry come to life. Even with Xingyin fighting for her home and her life, I still felt like I was in a c-drama. There is no way to deny how lyrical this book is. I will always love the way Sue writes - even if it's not my ideal plot.

This duology is PERFECTION. Xingyin is my favorite kind of heroine: she is flawed, but that is what makes you root for her. She is loyal, compassionate, stubborn, unyielding, with a righteous sense of duty and justice.

This is hands down the best love triangle I have ever read. both Liwei and Wenzhi are well-suited for Xingyin in different ways, bringing out different qualities in her, but both have previously betrayed her trust. Somehow, Sue Lynn Tan writes the romance in a way that has me constantly second guessing which “team” I’m on and switching sides. At one point, I would’ve been happy no matter which one she ended up with…but the resolution absolutely THRILLED me.

But this book is so much more than romance. It is about Xingyin’s love for her family, her desire to choose her own path, and her willingness to sacrifice her own safety and happiness for the sake of others. It is epic adventures and action and magic. And it is so many tears, of both the sad and happy varieties. I cannot recommend this duology enough. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a fantastic debut at the beginning of the year, and Heart of the Sun Warrior proves that I have a new series and author among my all time favorites.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted eARC.

WOW.

I cannot believe that this is Sue Lynn Tan's debut duology. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was excellent, and I think Heart of the Sun Warrior was even better.

The beginning of the story starts a year after the events of the first book, with Xingyin enjoying her calm and settled life with her mother on the moon. But the political plottings and maneuverings of enemies in the Celestial Kingdom soon force Xingyin to take action to protect those she loves the most.

The pacing of this story is incredibly well done, with plenty of battle action, aptly-timed revelations, and heart-breaking losses.. Just as in Moon Goddess, the rich descriptions of setting, clothing and food add so much to real-ness of this story, and is one of the reasons why I love books based on Asian mythologies.

All of the characters in Sun Warrior are really well developed, and I think Xingyin is one of the most subtlest strongest female characters I've ever read. I will admit that about halfway through, the love triangle in this story was causing me major stress, mainly because both Liwei and Whenzhi are incredibly honorable and noble characters.. And I don't know how she did it, but Sue Lynn was able to resolve these relationships in the most beautiful way possible.

This book is about much more than the love triangle, though. Sun Warrior is a story of family, honor, bravery and forgiveness. It's the kind story that stays with you and makes your heart hurt in the best way possible, because it touches on the most vulnerable and emotional parts of what it means to be human.

I will be recommending this duology for years to come.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy, Chinese Mythology
Age Level: Adult
Content: kisses

I feel so conflicted by this book and I'm honestly not quite sure how to review it. I'm left feeling similarly to how I felt at the end of Mockingjay - emotionally spent and unsure of whether or not the book was actually good or if the characters were just put through the ringer.

The pacing was choppy, the wins didn't feel earned, the villain was completely random and weak, and this installment was missing a lot of the elements that I loved about the first one, to the point where it all just felt...unnecessary? Daughter of the Moon Goddess resolved the plotlines I actually cared about, and while it was fun to see the love triangle develop and for certain characters to get a bit of a redemption arc, I don't think it was needed, or at least strong enough to carry an entire additional book.

I will say that I actually did enjoy the love triangle element. I could see why people would be frustrated, but I live for the tension and drama. This plotline was really the only thing that kept me going at some points.

So yeah, I'm just left feeling a bit confused. I definitely enjoyed certain parts, and I thought the beginning was pretty strong, but too many things bogged this one down for me unfortunately.

I read the first one of this series and was a bit disappointed but I was intrigued enough to want to continue this series, unfortunately this book was the same for me. I was disappointed by the rapid pace of this book and had a hard time feeling investing in the characters and the story. I think the first really was an epic story and this book did not pull me in like the first one did.

This lush and beautiful story is based on the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess and it is, in my mind, the perfect mythology-based fantasy story. If the trend in fantasy is toward incorporating world mythology, I am ready for more of these stories. The fierce female protagonist reminded me of Shiori from Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon’s Promise. Where Lim’s story is based on fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this duology delves into the beloved Chinese mythology of the moon goddess.
This spectacular fantasy duology is a must read – Xingyin is a fierce female warrior who will fight for her family, love and what is right. The second novel in this beautiful fantasy world is full of action and adventure. This is a most satisfying conclusion and resolution to this amazing story.

Beautiful covers always bring me in and I’m so glad i was given an ARC of this book. It motivated me to read the first by the author and I’m so happy i did. These books are wonderfully written. Such great characters. I highly recommend.

This is a much heftier book than it’s predecessor, but that’s not why it took me a month to read it. The real reason it took me a while to get through this book is because several times I found myself going back and re-reading passages; especially those that depicted the fantastical landscapes and environments of this novel.

Xingyin is still grappling with her feelings for Prince Liwei, complicated by his family absolutely despising her father, and for them having imprisoned her mother to the duties of illuminating the moon for the mortal world every night. Meanwhile, despite her greatest efforts, she still finds herself drawn to Wenzhi as well - once she pledged her future to him, but his betrayal has left her untrusting of his intentions, but the feelings she has for him as still unshakeable. While she has all this to deal with, she also has to protect her Mother, the Moon Goddess Chang’e, be there for her family, defend the Immortal Realm, and figure her own feelings and future out.

Sue Lynn Tann is an ABSOLUTE MASTER of the fantasy genre. This novel ends up connecting the dots from the first novel, furthers the narratives, deepens your connection with the protagonists, and even provides more insight and endears the reader to even those who may have been considered antagonists in the first novel - and to top it all off, an emotion-drenched love triangle! I’m team Wenzhi, no matter what, because I believe in second chances, but it’s up to you to decide which team you’re on. All in all, DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS DUOLOGY, it comes HIGHLY recommended!

This sequel suffers from a lot of the same issues as the first one in the series. The pacing is so fast that I never got a chance to really connect with the characters or care what happened to them. The story is unique and engaging. I really loved Chinese mythology tie in and parts of the world are described so beautifully.

Well this book had a lot of ups and downs for me. I didn't know where it was going to go or how it was going to end and I have to admit I'm a little sad for the person she chooses at the end because I am such a stan for the other character. I loved the first book so much so this one was a lot to live up to but I did enjoy it. It had a satisfying ending and I really enjoyed the main character getting more time with a certain family member. I would recommend this duology to fantasy lovers, it was so atmospheric and beautifully written!

The only reason it's not a 5 star for me is the romance I don't much care for the back and forth.

BUT

Aside from that this book was just as amazing as the first..... thought the dragons might be more of a key factor but alas was not, but I absolutely love it.

I would love for more from this world ...past or future

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

Heart of the Sun Warrior tells the story of an immortal Xingyin, the daughter of the Moon Goddess and a mortal warrior who passed away saving the mortal world. The story takes place after the events of Daughter of the Moon Goddess where Xingyin won her mother’s freedom and made enemies of the Celestial Emperor. Now, both of them live on the moon where their work is to light up the candles that light the moon for the mortals to see every night. During this time, Xingyin is visited by Liwei, the son and heir of the Celestial Emperor who has declared his love for her.

Since the ban on the moon ended, visitors have started to arrive on the moon from time to time. The latest is a group that consists of a musician, a winemaker, and some sisters who want to look at the stars. Xingyin distrusts the visitors, especially the winemaker, but everyone enjoys the wine he has provided. One night she wakes up to find the musician, Master Gang, chopping the Laurel trees in the grove which regenerates quickly.

As she tries to stop him, he attacks her. He manages to flee, but the peace that existed in her home has ended. She must find what people want with her home and hope it doesn’t have to do with the Celestial court.

Heart of the Sun Warrior was a very entertaining story to read. With the internet making foreign shows more accessible, I have recently become a fan of Chinese fantasy dramas, and when this book became available, I knew I had to read it. This book is the continuation of the Daughter of the Moon Goddess and while it is encouraged that you read the previous book, in this new story the author briefly explains past events.

I liked following Xingyin’s travels across the immortal realms to save her home on the moon and learn about the secrets from her father’s death. We get to meet many characters that are different from Xingyin but have the same ideologies, and friends of hers that will help her along the way. But we also meet kings and queens that will sell innocents to save their subjects.

We find out the identity of our main villain quite soon at the beginning, but as we continue, we get to learn more about the motives for its plans and somewhat the pains that caused all this. Master Gang is quite evil and will do anything to become the most powerful being in the realms or destroy everything.

Heart of the Sun Warrior had a lesson that we sometimes forget, all stories have a different point of view, the hero can be the villain to the monster, and the monster was someone’s child. Xingyin comes to learn this lesson later in the book when she meets the Goddess of the Sun Lady Xihe and must ask for her help even if Xingyin’s father slays the Sun Goddess’s Sunbirds.

I really liked the mythology in the Heart of the Sun Warrior book, the gods and immortals were very interesting. How the marriages among them connected all the clans and the difference between those who were elevated to immortal and those who were born. Xingyin is a special case with both of her parents being born mortal and her mother being elevated when she was pregnant with her, and the power of all immortals’ manifests in different ways.

I liked the Heart of the Sun Warrior and while the ending was somewhat sad, the author leaves it open to a possible next book to have Xingyin find her love.

If you like fantasy-based stories, then I recommend Heart of the Sun Warrior. Here a woman will face off against all immortals to save her home, her family and free her friends.