To say I was excited for Heart of the Sun Warrior is a huge understatement. The action? The characters? Everything was unparalleled. From the very beginning, I loved how Heart of the Sun Warrior gets to heart of betrayal. How difficult it is to open up our heart again and the ways a relationship is irreparably changed. As someone who has a very hard time trusting, this theme resonated strongly with me. All the tricks we see disguised in smoke and mirrors, good intentions overshadowed by our past.

At the same time, I loved how Heart of the Sun Warrior deeply explores Xingyin and what she wants. The fact that the court still won't accept her and her mother wounds her deeply, but can they ever get through it to be with the one she loves? As someone who has often felt on the outside, it is such a vulnerable and isolating position to be in. Throughout this theme, Heart of the Sun Warrior examines the nature of stories. Not only who gets to be the victor in the end, but also who gets to tell the story.

This is the second book in the Celestial Kingdom duology. I listened to the first book and was excited to read the sequel. The stakes are higher in this book. It’s not just the Celestial Kingdom that’s in danger, but the entire Immortal Realm. Meanwhile, the love triangle from the first book is still going strong.

The cover is gorgeous and it has a map in the front, which is always good. It helps to have read the first book to be familiar with the characters, but you could read this on its own and be fine.

It was good! I enjoyed the story and the character growth. Sometimes I thought one thing was going to happen, but then it went another way. There are parts that make you smile and things that make you cry. It comes out November 15. Thanks to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for my copy.

A follow up to Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Heart of the Sun Warrior returns us to the world of the Celestial Kingdoms and to another epic journey for Xingyin. To me it almost felt like the pace of this story was slower (especially in the beginning). As someone who really loves book with deep and rich characters and character development, I just think this story wasn't for me! The writing was absolutely beautiful and evocative, but there wasn't a lot of exploration of the characters in the way that I wanted to see.

I grew up largely nurtured by fairy tales; my parents keen on limiting screen time before it became as necessary as breathing. The landscape of these fantastical stories was easily as important as the dramas played out within them, whether in castles among the clouds, under the rivers and sea, in forests inaccessible to most mortals, or in mountain kingdoms so remote they might have been only entered in dreams. No real life escape was as all encompassing or satisfying as these fables and legends, and to an extent that still holds true. So the lush terrain of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan, the second book of the Celestial Kingdom duology, reawakened that old thrill of “not being in Kansas” anymore.

Sue Lynn Tan excels at creating settings rich and exquisitely peppered with details and wrapped in remnants of folktales, whether it be the luminous landscape of the moon, the blazing trees and sunbird in the Fragrant Mulberry Grove, or the courtyards of the Jade Palace. These all make for a read that is easy to get lost in, where the thrill of the location can override some uncertainties about character, plot, and dialogue. These gorgeous scenes prod the imagination to run wildly through them, and if love triangles are your particular cup of tea, you are in for a long, strong brew. Here the ongoing struggle is between crackerjack archer Xingyin, daughter of Chang'e, the disgraced moon goddess; Liwei, the prince and heir to the Celestial Kingdom; and his arch enemy, Wenzhi, the heir to the Demon Realm Kingdom. And there be dragons, and undersea kingdoms, which can only be accessed through tears that have transmuted into pearls, and battles with undead soldiers, and immortal alliances made and broken, flying clouds and a magical tree which can restore life. Underlying the welter of these conflicts, super powers, political maneuverings and magical wonders are the lives of mortals, relegated to a somewhat ant-like status, played against the lavish backdrop of immortal living, which gives context to the scale of these extravagant dramas.

Sue Lynn Tan, shows great facility in setting scenes, intriguing political agendas, and in quick character sketches of a large and ever-expanding cast. However, the internal monologues of Xingyin and her dialogues with Liwei and Wenzhi, her love interests, can be stilted, repetitive, and clichéd, which interferes with the progress of the narrative. And while Lynn has introduced many rich subplots involving a large cast of secondary characters from these diverse worlds and kingdoms, these are often only given a surface treatment. They are often overlooked, in favor of battle scenes montages and the care and feeding of that insatiable love triangle. Eventually it does get resolved though, and in an unpredictable manner, which is sure to invite strong opinions both ways. Though I was I’m glad I was allowed entry into these magical kingdoms, and their splendid settings, I wish the other elements of the book were more in balance with them. Still for the reader that likes the comfort of long epic escapist romances, laser focused love stories triangles with abundant plot twists and uncomplicated villains, Heart of the Sun Warrior is a pretty good book to shut the rest of the world away.

In this second book of the Celestial Kingdom duology, we see Xingyin facing a new threat to her world. The evil Minister Wu, now General Wu, plots to takeover the Immortal Realm using the most heinous means. By deceiving Xingyin and her mother, Chang'e, Wu is able to gain access to the powerful laurel that grows on the moon and use its seeds to grow his army.

We also see Houyi, Xingyin's sunbird slaying father, still alive in the Mortal Realm.

Xingyin is forced to flee her home and search the realm for a way to defeat Wu before he takes over completely. Of course Liwei, Wenzhi, and Shuxiao are along for the ride, helping Xingyin in any and every way possible.

Since the first book did not end on a cliffhanger, I was very anxious to read this one. I laughed. I cried. I audibly gasped. This book had all of the magic and amazing world building of Daughter of the Moon Goddess while also giving us some great character development.

I rate this book a 5/5!! I highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Chinese mythology and unique magic systems!! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!!

This was a great second book after Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Thank you to Harper Voyager for providing me with an Advanced Readers copy through Netgalley. Another volume of an action packed storyline and advancing the relationships between the main characters. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but it has given me food for thought! I would highly recommend this duology!

One of my most anticipated sequels of the year was Sue Lynn Tan’s Heart of the Sun Warrior. I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess. So no one is more surprised than I am by how much I struggled with this one, and I’m disappointed that ultimately it was a DNF. From the portion of the story I read, I actually liked the writing. My problem was more with the actual contents of the story. Some frustrating choices were made, which, at points, almost seemed out of character for the development they received in the prior book. I gave it a hundred pages, but I kept setting it aside. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, but I encourage you to check out other reviews and make your own decision.

This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Harper Voyager) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

This second in the duology gave us more insight into the larger world created by the author. Magic and power and violence abound, with drama and love making this a quick read. The biggest downfall of the book is it’s length: it’s too long for me! If you found the story quick and don’t mind length then it’s worth it. The climax was somewhat quick, we spend most of the book working up to the “big” fight and I felt slightly let down. The ending of the love triangle was surprising and satisfying!

Thank you to the publisher for the free NetGalley eARC

[4.5 stars rounded to 5] Sue Lynn Tan's debut novel, DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS, was a delightful read full of adventure and sacrifice. But this sequel shines even brighter than its predecessor. Without a doubt the overarching theme of HEART OF THE SUN WARRIOR is love accompanied by sacrifice and hope. And with each of these things comes growth, which which is evident in the characters as well as the author.

One of the first things I noticed was the elevated eloquence of Tan's writing. It was already lovely in the first installment, but I felt that it flowed more smoothly here, that more confidence exuded from the pages. Though quotable material isn't a requirement for a good book, I found myself highlighting a lot of beautiful passages or 1-2 sentences of wisdom. The calm confidence I noticed in the writing extended to Xingyin, who came into her powers and showed the Immortal Realm not to underestimate her. (Which I suppose could be analogous to Tan coming into her own after writing the first book.) Xingyin is more confident in herself and her abilities, which is evident in her responses to the challenges she faces. I really loved seeing this aspect of her personality on full display.

On the moon Xingyin has been recuperating her life force and enjoying her and her mother's newfound freedom. This allowed her time to heal as well as attempt to sort out her feelings about Liwei and Wenzhi. Unfortunately, though, she uncovers a deception years in the making that threatens to destroy both the Immortal and Mortal Realms. As each sinister goal reveals itself, it becomes a herculean effort to persuade the monarchs of each kingdom to be selfless. Each favor comes with a price and Xingyin tensely navigates the conditions of support.

Where love is the dominant theme of the book, vengeance is its counterbalance. In a realm where time is aplenty, death is the ultimate retribution. And immortals hold long grudges which can be all consuming when one has no love and therefore nothing to lose. But, in a tale as old as time, love runs deeper than its inverse and, coupled with hope, knows no bounds. It is Xingyin's love for her friends and family, and their love of her, that spur them to succeed at seemingly impossible tasks.

All of these events heighten her confused feelings for Liwei and Wenzhi. Surprisingly, I haven't read many books that included love triangles. Personally, I thought Tan wrote this one very well. I appreciated the maturity of the characters, the occasional barb, and their ability to recognize when to put aside their differences. Xingyin's processing of her conflicted feelings was adeptly conveyed. But sometimes one doesn't realize how one truly feels until it's too late. Tan made some difficult decisions with some characters and I commend her for it. It was sad. I cried. But the ending was perfect.

Although I place most of my attention on the plot and character development, the clothing descriptions were divine. I'm not incredibly familiar with traditional Chinese dress, but I still loved imagining all of the vivid designs. My only tiny quibble with this book is that I felt some of the interactions were a bit too stoic; I would have liked to see more heartfelt conversations, but that's clearly a personal opinion.

I overwhelmingly suggest HEART OF THE SUN WARRIOR, the epic conclusion to the Celestial Kingdom duology. There is character growth abound, a lust for vengeance, and a fight for the survival of the world. One can go far with power alone, but reach new heights with the strength of hope and love, in all its forms.

4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this sequel! It was honestly better than the first book. I enjoyed the other characters in the story but wasn't keen on the love triangle. I'm not really into those.

The story was action packed so I wasn't bored. I had read this story off and on for 2 weeks because of work and my 5 month old but even just picking it up once a week, it felt like I never had a large gap between readings.

I would definitely recommend. I can't wait to get my finished copy!

tl;dr
Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, a strong follow-up to the previous book. Romantic endgame might be divisive.

About
After winning the Celestial Emperor's pardon (although not his favor), Xingyin thought she'd be returning to her quiet life on the moon with her mother. But political turmoil rages in the Celestial Kingdom, churned on by her previous actions. With her home on the moon threatened by old enemies and new magic, Xingyin must once again take up her bow and fight for the ones she loves. And maybe even the ones she thought she gave up loving.

Thoughts
The first book of this series was largely an adventure punctuated with romance. This one is definitely a romance punctuated with adventure. Xingyin is already an accomplished fighter, and so we see very little by way of her development in that area, with more time spent on her growing emotionally and learning how to process different kinds of grief. There's a lot more at stake here, with several deaths, and the loss of potential lives lived, with no one coming out entirely faultless in the process. The moral depth and complexity definitely outshines the first book in this space. The romantic triangle from the first book takes front and center here, with Wenzhi, Liwei, and eventually Xingyin all being way more honest about their feelings than the first go-around. There's a clear endgame this time around, and your enjoyment will probably hang entirely on who you cheered for in the first book. Action scenes move quickly, with fewer "epic" set pieces and more subdued fights (on average). There's also more time spent on Chinese lore, which I really enjoyed. Overall, I feel like it's a really good conclusion to the previous book, and it ties up all the loose ends really well.

(spoiler)
Also, I am aware there wasn't really time for it, but I am devastated that the entire enemies-to-lovers romance between Shuxiao and Menqi happened off screen. I would have loved to see that develop.

I went into The Heart of the Sun Warrior guarded. I had high hopes for Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and I was gravely disappointed. It was still a three star ranking, which isn't bad by any means, but I thought DOTMG was going to be one of my top reads of the year in 2021. My biggest issue within the first book was the chaotic pacing, especially because of the shift between Xingyin's youth and adulthood. I still believe this duology could've been a trilogy and that probably would've fixed my pacing issues. We did not get that much time with Wenzhi when both were battling for the army, especially in comparison to Liwei, so again, I think a meaty part of the first book was lost in not exploring that period of Xingyin's life. Anyway, I went into The Heart of the Sun Warrior hoping that pacing was a bit more natural since the time frame is smoother than the time jumps in the book before. And I am incredibly excited to say that it was!

To elaborate more on the pacing—I loved that this whole book revolved around Xingyin's loved ones, specifically the villain's vengeance being tied to Chang'e. The plot wove together seamlessly and drove the story the entire time. One of my critiques of the first book was the lack of scenes between Chang'e and Xingyin, and in this sequel, I didn't have that problem one bit. We actually get to see both of them in an individualized lens because Xingyin has been on her own for so long in contrast to Chang'e's emotional pain from losing her husband and daughter. Xingyin actually babies her mom in a couple scenes, which was an interesting and realistic take due to her trauma in having to become an adult at a young age, but Chang'e actually rejects Xingyin multiple times in response to Xingyin's babying actions. Chang'e asserts herself as her own individual, and I really liked that because we've only really talked about Chang'e as this mythical figure and never once as a human being.

Now if you're curious about the romance, you're either going to groan or be super excited. Me personally? Love triangles are not a trope that I usually like, but in this instance, I was a ride or die for it because Wenzhi STILL HAS A CHANCE. Ever since Xingyin left Liwei to pursue the Celestial Army, I've never wanted them to be together. The desire evaporated out of me and never returned. Xingyin deserves to be with someone who will choose her above all else, and sadly, Liwei cannot do that due to his responsibilities as the heir to the emperor. Then, to see the tension between Liwei and Xingyin in this book only solidifed further my previous book opinion. It wasn't fun to see them argue because both deserves to be happy, but it's interesting that Xingyin continues to deny Liwei via marriage proposals and taking that last step in confirming their relationship to one another. The even more interesting aspect of that is Xingyin cannot ever voice what feels wrong (besides the fact that she'll be abused by the Celestial court) about her relationship to Liwei. *cue Wenzhi strutting in because she can't get over him even after his betrayal BAHAHA* If you aren't a fan of love triangles, you'll probably get annoyed by this since Xingyin is very indecisive and confused about both men throughout the entirety of this finale. But I'm ultimately very happy with the end results because it felt realistic and genuine.

The best part to this finale is the final 35-ish pages. Basically, once the climax scene begins, I could not put this book down. Xingyin is forced to make an extremely hard decision, and the ramifications change the outcome of her life forevermore. It was also poetic to return to the moon for the climax because it's a reminder that this book began on the moon and will end there too. A full circle moment if I ever saw one. Everything has culminated to this moment, and it was fantastic. Moreover, the fallout events of the climax were also my favorite scenes. Sue Lynn Tan is a master at the personable moments between characters, and I was near tears reading those final few pages. I don't think this book could have ended in any other manner, and I'm so happy to find this as the ending for Xingyin. It's open ended but beautifully hopeful.

My main critique for this finale does fall back in line with one of my critiques of DOTMG—a lot of unnecessary scenes and disruptments take place. While I can see the reasoning behind the Elixir of Immortality scene, I still don't get why that couldn't have been in the previous book as the final scene or the VERY first scene of this book. I was certain that Xingyin's father wasn't him because I was convinced someone was pretending to be him to steal the elixir. Then, when that wasn't the case, I had to quickly switch gears to figure out "okay, why is this included" and disrupting the tension with Wugang. It felt random to have it thrown in the midst of the book's tension with the actual villain, and it disrupted the flow of the villain arc. I had to reposition myself as these new plot points revealed themselves, and I would've liked for the scenes to flow together better.

Overall, I am very happy with this finale. HOTSW definitely redeemed the Celestial Kingdom duology in my eyes, and I'm honestly going to consider bingeing the duology sometime next year to really experience this world. Maybe I'll enjoy DOTMG more the second time around.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really beautiful conclusion to the duology! This book was a lot more emotional for me than the first one and there were several heartbreaking moments. There were new evils to defeat, more adventures, loved ones lost and found, magical battles, and great sacrifices. I loved how Xingyin’s relationships developed through the book and I was really pleased with how the love triangle played out - I was unsure where it was going for a while but Sue Lynn Tan really wrote the perfect ending. I will say that these books were a bit long for me and I got a little impatient at times, but the ending definitely made up for it. Overall this is a lovely duology especially for those who like Chinese mythology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the 2nd book in her Celestial Kingdom Duology. Heart of the Sun Warrior starts a year later from where it left off in the first book. Xingyin has recovered from her injuries, and is happy to have returned home with her mother (now free) on the Moon. The love triangle between Xingyin-Liwei- Wenzhi continues to escalate, especially when Liwei visits her on the Moon often, and Wenzhi is determined to prove that he loves her, and learned from his previous wrongdoings. To Xingyin’s shock, she learns that her father is still alive, though in the mortal realm; but he returns to the Moon to see C’hang and Xingyin. Her peaceful time is shortened, as a new threat to the realm has been discovered, threatening all of immortal and mortal realms.

Xingyin is forced to leave her home again, when her mother was sent to prison, and Xingyin must find a way to save her. The Celestial Emperor has been overcome by evil, and the throne is now been usurped by the terrible Wugang, who is now in charge. Xingyin and her companions, which include, Liwei, Wenzhi, her father, and others to convince other realms to join the fight and save the world.

What follows is an exciting, tense, emotional, action filled attempt to stop an evil being and his army of death. There is so much going on in the last third of the book, as I held my breath as to who will survive, against the devastation of terror that threatens the realms. To say too much more would be spoilers and you really need to read this without me spoiling it for you. I did enjoy Xingyin’s feelings toward both Liwei and Wenzhi, but the love triangle was somewhat bittersweet.

Heart of the Sun Warrior was a fantastic duology with an amazing conclusion. The Celestial Kingdom was a excellent high fantasy that was set in Asian mythology, with a wonderful heroine, and great secondary characters, villains, excellent world building and action-packed adventures. Sue Lynn Tan wrote a magnificent, intriguing, captivating story, which was so very well written.

Holy heck to the moon and BACK this book is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I’m not easy to cry while reading books but yeah, this one made me cry. I always worry (specifically with duologies) that the second won’t be able to live up to the expectations that are so often set in the first book, but this one absolutely does (and more so). I think my favorite part is that it’s more character focussed than the last one and we really got to see their development throughout the book. If you loved the first book you’re going to be insanely happy with this one. Boy do I wish I could stay in this world a little longer.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2

What I Loved:
· Sue Lynn Tan is a master story weaver. She did not disappoint with her descriptions, just as in DOTMG.
· Shuxiao and Xingyin’s friendship deepened in this novel.
· New, surprising alliances.

What I Didn’t Love:
· Much was revealed in this novel about an evil person - a side character in the first book- whose power ballooned to exorbitant levels. So much so, that main characters who had incredible powers in the first book are reduced to rubble by this evil character.
· Xingyin’s family characters did not seem to have much depth, and they felt a bit one dimensional. I was really hoping for more backstory and history of her family...

Take Note, Readers:
· Read this duology in the order in which Sue Lynn Tan wrote.
· This was slower-moving than DOTMG.

The Most Thought-Provoking:
· The love triangle! I expected this to have been resolved after finishing the first book but it was most certainly not. It has taken me a few days of processing to come to the point of being satisfied with the closure of the love triangle.
· There is MUCH sacrifice on the part of most of the characters.

The Question:
Will I keep a gorgeous copy of Heart of the Sun Warrior - published by Fairyloot - on my shelf? Yes. Absolutely yes.


Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Voyager, and Sue Lynn Tan for providing this ARC.

This was such a beautiful ending to the duology, and I am so thankful to have received an early copy! Thank you so much. I will be posting for my followers closer to release day!

Heart of the Sun Warrior continues Xingyin’s story and that of her companions, venturing to unexplored places in the Immortal Realm, encountering friends and enemies—old and new—as their world is plunged into peril. Xingyin is trying to enjoy the peace she fought hard for, while still feeling tense and changed after everything she’s gone through and the continuing looming presence of an Celestial Emperor she defied. There were lots of new adventures and trials that Xingyin faced, while also having her heart split between two princes.
“For the fools do not fear the odds, the reckless do not care—and only the truly brave proceed regardless.”
I don't want to spoil anything but... should prepare yourself to be emotionally destroyed.

This book was pure perfection. How the details are cared for and well manicured made me really sit and absorb the book. I couldn’t sit and fly through the book within a matter of days. This was a purposeful slow read. To ensure I was immersed in the world that Sue Lynn Tan created.
This book has me feeling all kinds of emotions. I would be heartbroken, frustrated, angry and also felt like I was getting deep hugs of affection. Again, I credit this to Tan’s ability to not only write emotions and drama beautifully but to convey it so you as a reader take each action personal.
This book perfectly (how many more times will I use the word perfect for this book?) wraps this whole story together. This book gave you the opportunity to focus on the characters since so much of the world and magic building was set up in the first book.

If you loved the first book, runs don’t walk and read this book.

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the second book in her amazing new duology, The Celestial Kingdom Duology, and should be read in order. This Chinese mythology-inspired fantasy had me enthralled from the very first page.

Story Recap:
The story starts as Xingyin is living again with her mother on the moon after she won her mother’s freedom from the Celestial kingdom. Life is back the way she lived it before, except now she gets frequent visits from her friend, Prince Liwei who helped her save her mother.

However, all is not well in the Celestial Kingdom as the power has shifted and Xingyin’s enemy, General Wu is rising to power, and even her friends back in the Celestial Kingdom are worried about the changes.

My Thoughts:
I didn’t know what to expect with this second novel as the first one ended without a cliffhanger. Xingyin was at home with her mother and all was well. But, as soon as I started this book a sense of unease was immediate and I knew something terrible was about to happen, and it did.

The love triangle in this continues as both Liwei and Wenzhi fight for her heart. Xingyin has refused to see Wenzhi after his betrayal in the first book, but he continues to beg for her forgiveness and will do almost anything to win her heart. Liwei is by her side, but ultimately must decide between her and his family, and the throne.

This book is beautifully written with lovely descriptions and world-building. I also loved that the book comes with a map! I was able to follow the story as it flowed from one realm to another. The battle scenes were exciting and well-choreographed. The intensity of the battle and the extremely high stakes were interspersed with emotional moments of connection and friendships, making this a well-balanced fantasy novel.

Recommendation:

I highly recommend Heart of the Sun Warrior to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.