This book was just as enjoyable as the last! A strong group of side characters and an adventure that no one can complain about. I will say this one suffers the same problem as Daughter of the Moon Goddess in the pacing department. Certain things felt like they dragged on way more than they should and others zipped by but overall it didn't really detract from the story.

I just want to start by saying I'm so grateful for the ARC of this book! I got to read the duology back to back and spend a few months of time in this world and it was wonderful. I still love the writing (DotMG was 5 stars for me), the world building is still beautiful without being too over the top, the mythology is fascinating and the characters are so easy to fall for. I wasn't sure how this sequel would hold up to the first as the first seemed to be wrapped up nicely. (If you didn't care for the first, it could probably be read as a stand alone). However, if you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this book is another epic ride and I do recommend it! I will say, this one wasn't five stars because it felt a little slow to start (maybe that's a me thing?) Also because there's a part where one character's development seems to be thrown out the window in the name of a fresh start and that enraged me a little bit. I understand why, and it was "resolved" by the end, so that saved this from being a 3 star read!! Maybe I'm letting my emotions guide my review LOL. In all, this was a great read filled with love, loss, a little jealousy, and lots of adventure. Loved it.

I feel like Heart of the Sun Warrior did a good job at concluding the romance storyline from the first book, but with that being one of the few things not wrapped up in Daughter of the Moon Goddess there wasn’t much left to get this book rolling. As such takes about half of the book for it to feel like something’s actually happening, but at the same time it was hard to put it down.

Despite the slow start, this book/duology is a great read for anyone interested in fantasy and Chinese mythology

Rating: 3.5

I was excited to return to the enchanting world of the immortals created by Sue Lynn Tan. I picked up the book not sure of what to expect since the last novel did not end on a cliffhanger. Let me say that I overall enjoyed this story and genuinely cared to continue reading to find out how the story would end. It was definitely not a perfect book but it did not have to be.

The Good:
- fast-paced, plot-driven, and engaging with accessible writing
- exciting world with magic and Chinese lore as the character's faced one herculean task after another that kept the reader on their toes
- Xingyin evolved as a character as she interrogated what was important to her in the face of hardship and loss

The Bad:
- most problems resolved quite quickly and easily despite such high stakes
- this is an offshoot of my issue with the first novel but since the Xingyin's foundational romantic moments happened off-screen over the course of years, I simply did not care about the romance. I felt no emotional investment towards either main lead until the very end of the story because the author made it evident who was endgame
- Xingyin's internal dialogue for the love triangle felt like a broken record

Despite the story's shortcomings, it was worthwhile reading the conclusion of Xingyin's story. The ultimate battle was truly high stakes, unparalleled compared to prior challenges the main leads had endured. As well as, the heartbreak and resolution of the final chapters gave Xingyin depth as her struggle mirrored her mother's. It was a fun read and I was content with the conclusion. The ending left space for the readers to imagine the many possibilities of how Xingyin love story would continue. I honestly would definitely read a novella just for that!

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what the author releases in the future.

I wanted to know the ending from daughter of the moon goddess but this was disappointing for me. If you like low stakes fantasy books then this is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved "Daughter of the Moon Goodess" when I read it earlier this year. It was a surprise hit for me so I was eager to finish out the duology. I will say off the bat that I did enjoy this book. It was slower than I had hoped for however and took longer for me to read. The writing is beautiful and full of lovely imagery as is the first book. This story however is about a rare piece of magic being found and harvested from the moon. Someone overthrows the Celestial Kingdom and seems to be on a mission to do the same with the other kingdoms as well. When Xingyin's home and safety are destroyed and she suffers even more losses, she must try to find allies to help her stop the destruction. This starts another series of quests as she needs to make alliances and find magical objects to help in her mission. She must learn whether she can again trust the man who broke her heart and betrayed her and if she can find a future with Liwei the Celestial Prince. The action here was well and good but it seemed to go on for too long and the items that fell into her hands literally seemed to fall their too easily. The book absolutely broke my heart because there are losses here. I also didn't like that this book found us back in a love triangle that I just didn't care for. The ending where Xingyin was caught up in her grief was at once relatable and also somehow offputting. I also didn't like the easy out for once character at the end of the book. This book was pretty and enjoyable enough. I just don't know that we really needed a second book here. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is stronger as a stand alone.

This was absolutely beautiful and epic! The way she wrapped up the story really felt like coming home! I’m not usually a fan of love triangles especially when there’s a clear true love. I really couldn’t tell who she was going to end up with. And the twist at the end nearly destroyed me! Not a book you want to miss out on! The entire duology is like a moon cake. You just have to share it with friends and family! Thank you for the chance to review this epic story of life.

Reviews Posted October 2, 2022
Goodreads
Storygraph

This book broke me only to build me back up. I do think that the pacing was a little off, especially in the middle of the book, I just felt like there was a little too much moving around.

The characters had good development from the first book, and I am glad that no one forgave each other so easily. I also like that we got to see the main characters interact with side people more, it just gave a nice insight into them.

The romance broke me. Like I will never recover from the pain that the author put me through. I was balling like a baby, because of everything that happened. And I know most people don’t like love triangles, but I actually think this one is done really well. The ending chapter will haunt me and make me smile for the rest of my days.

The plot was a lot of fun, and I defiantly did not see parts of the ending coming. Again the middle of the book felt a little off, and it took a while for all the small subplots to finally come together. Other than that, I thought the book was a lot of fun, and once again the author's writing pulls you into a magical fantasy world.

How do I feel after finishing this book? In a word, conflicted. On one hand, the writing and the world itself are beautiful. I love the way Tan writes. But, I didn't feel as connected to what the characters were going through as I would have liked.

Maybe if I remembered more of the details from the first book before I read this one I would have felt differently, but I just wasn't as invested by the end of the book the way I was in the first.

It's just a bunch of small things for me that made it hard to root for the characters all the way through the book. I guess part of it is Xingyin's interactions with Wenzhi, I don't know maybe this says more about me than it does the characters, but I would've had a much harder time mustering any amount of forgiveness than she did. Wenzhi wronged her, and she deserved better. Maybe it's because I am a sucker for friends to lovers. One of the few things I do remember from the first book was how manipulative the romance felt between Xingyin and Wenzhi. Maybe, in the long run, it would be healthier for her to learn who she is without either of them.

I think I just wanted a different follow-up to the first book. The plot of this book just felt a little less focused than the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I was not a fan of this book, which is quite disappointing given the fact that I enjoyed the first one. The character motivations did not line up with the characters we were introduced to in the previous book. I can to some degree ignore this if you argue that the events of the last book greatly changed the characters, but my biggest grievance with this book was that it was a sequence of plot convenience after plot convenience to get to a specific endpoint that the author wanted, Not only did this dim the excitement but it felt not genuine. I’m very disheartened to say that this series did not need a second book and would have been stronger as a stand-alone.

Heart of the Sun Warrior was a very enjoyable sequel to one of our favorite fantasy reads of the year. While the pacing was a little slow until about the 60% mark, the ending made up for it plot-wise. So much happened in this book, similar to the first in the duology, and it reads quickly with all of the action. However, at times, we thought there were too many sub-plots going on that were obscured, such as Liwei's sister. It felt somewhat unnecessary in the grand scheme of the story.

We really enjoyed Xingyin's narration. She is real and honest, and not always morally perfect with her desire for revenge, power, and strength at times. Her relationships were enjoyable to read, and to be honest, the author somehow made a love triangle work. Usually we can't stand them, but the love triangle in the story was really well written. The ending was a great balance - not too happy and not too sad, with a nice resolution to the love triangle (although we did think Liwei's character had a really awful ending).

The worldbuilding was excellent too, with the descriptions captivating, especially in terms of food and clothing. The magic sometimes felt a little too convenient for us. We would have liked a little more clarification or clearer rules, or maybe some limitations. But objectively, this novel was a great sequel with enjoyable characters, well-written relationships, an enticing world, and a satisfying wrap-up to the duology.

Heart of a Sun Warrior is a beautiful conclusion to The Celestial Kingdom duology. Xingyin is finally back with her mother at the tranquility of her home when peace is threatened and her strength is tested beyond anything she’s known. The world in this fantasy is just stunning. The writing is captivating and the characters are wonderful. This picks up a little after where book 1 ends and it did take me a little bit to get into. I think at times the pacing felt a little rushed because there were just so many ideas. And I wish there was little more about the magics in this. But I thought the plot was really strong and I really loved the love triangle in this and the complexity. Xingyin is such a wonderful narrator too—she’s so brave and vulnerable and real. This is a story of love and family and it’s just so well done and tied up. It’s emotional and beautifully written and I just really loved this duology.

A lush, twisty sequel to one of my favorite reads this year. I am in love with Tan's prose. The character arcs were moving. I confess to be disappointed on the results of the love triangle, but this duology is amazing none the less.

Beyond loved this! Was so excited and it definitely lived up to expectations! I was sucked into this book!

Until the very end of the book (93%) the jury of my opinion on the story was still very much out… I WANTED from the very beginning to love this book, as I loved the first book. But the one thing that bothered me about the first book kind of…. Got worse in the second book.

Yes, I am talking about the (does it count as a love triangle?) situation between Xingyin, Prince Liwei (who I was rooting for) and Captain Wenzhi. While the situation did resolve itself and I honestly and truly loved the ending (I will not spoil it) I hated that whole part of the plot and how much of it was not resolved for so long and how I honestly felt a little led on.

That being said, overall it was a beautiful story and duology, Sue Lynn Tan did a wonderful job of story building and world building and I don’t in any way want to rain on her parade. This is a very well done story that will stick with me, and the ending was poignant and felt sincere ultimately for the heroine and everyone involved I’m just still kicking rocks a little.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an advance review copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Look at that gorgeous cover! Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the eagerly-anticipated final book in the adult fantasy duology that started with Daughter of the moon Goddess. The story revolves Xingyin, the daughter of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, and Houyi, a mortal archer who fell in love with her. In the previous book, Xingyin managed to win her mother's freedom from the Celestial Emperor. But now, new dangers are emerging and Xingyin embarks on a quest. Can Xingyin save her loved ones from destruction?

Here is a magical excerpt from Chapter 1:

"NIGHT CLOAKED THE SKY IN darkness, draping shadows across the earth. While this was the time of rest for the mortals, on the moon, our toils were just beginning. Winter white flames curled from the splint of wood in my hand. Crouching down, I brushed away a stray leaf from the lantern, wrought of translucent stone and twisted strands of silver. As I lowered the splint to the wick, it caught fire with a hiss. I rose, shaking the soil from my robe. Rows of unlit orbs stretched before me as pale as the osmanthus which flowered above—moon lanterns, one thousand in all, that would cast their glow upon the realm below. Through wind and rain, their light would not falter, until they were extinguished at the first breath of dawn.
Each time I lit the lanterns, my mother urged me to be diligent, to perform the task by hand. But I had not her patience. I had grown unused to such quiet work, to peace and calm. Reaching inward, I grasped my energy, the shining magic that flowed from my lifeforce. Flames rippled from my palm, streaking across the lanterns, leaving half ablaze in their wake. My Talent lay in Air, but Fire was useful at times as these. The ground now glittered like stardust and in the world below, the mortals would be lifting their heads to the curved wedge of light in the sky, its face partially hidden."

Overall, Heart of the Sun Warrior, just like the first book in the series, is an absolutely amazing adult fantasy that will appeal to fans of Chinese mythology. One highlight of this book is how it is an #ownvoices book. As a reader of Chinese descent, I am so happy to support this author. I hope that more fantasy books featuring Chinese characters will be published soon. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that there were times that I wished for more action and less dialogue. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of Chinese mythology in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in November!

I have such a soft spot for Eastern Asian mythology and folklore. Sue Lynn Tan’s ambitious world building is as engrossing as it is enchanting.

Xingyin is a capable protagonist and is really who carries the story for me. Love triangles are not my favorite but I felt Tan did well in genuinely fleshing out the conflicts of each corner. The romance was very present but not the only focus, thankfully, as I enjoyed all the action packed scenes much more (of which there were many!).

Some of the side characters still felt a little flat or static to me, I didn’t feel much growth or change in their character arcs and didn’t find myself very attached or invested in them. Aside from Xingyin, Liewei, and Wenzhi…maybe Shuxiao…the rest were kind of just…meh.. The fairytale like telling and world building are what made the duology a diverting read for me.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this sequel and devoured the ARCH copy Netgalley gave to me! Watching Xingyin continue to grow into the warrior she is, to see the war honestly weigh on her, it was very well done. The tension between Liwei, Wenzhi, and Xingyin was killer, and to say I am satisfied with the ending would be an understatement. Honestly, this book ended the duology very well, tying up all the loose plot threads and just leaving your heart full and warm inside.
The only issue I had with this book was that some of the plot points felt like they dragged a little, but it was not enough to take away from the reading experience.
I am so thankful to have been able to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Heart of the Sun Warrior has nearly left me speechless. The incredible conclusion to the Celestial Kingdom duology was an epic fantasy journey that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Xingyin captured my heart again as she was fierce, bold, and vulnerable as ever as she faced her own demons alongside real demons who threatened to ruin everything. There is a love triangle element to the story that was devastating and painful and beautiful all at once.

This book is written so beautifully. Every page is filled with the most dazzling, whimsical magic. Dragons. Traveling by clouds. Amazing powers. Heart of the Sun Warrior is packed with Chinese culture, political intrigue, love, and the rawest of emotions.

This duology is a must read for fantasy lovers.