This was a very highly anticipated sequel I was super pumped to read, Daughter of the moon goddess because of the beautiful sounding story, and the stunning cover and it looks like all of that is being extended to its sequel/conclusion because this is only a duology so we have the ending here and honestly I have mixed feelings. The first one followed our main character as she escapes from the moon on a cloud to the world below and experiences humans for the first time, it’s all magical but she is surrounded by enemies but I couldn't connect to anyone here and felt an unsatisfying ending.

Really enjoyed this book, though not as much as the first one. The world is very beautiful and I enjoy the side characters. Main character love triangle was a little too much.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me the E-arc of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan in exchange for an honest review.
I had high expectations for this book going in. I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess and was so excited to see more of the characters, how they evolved and how the love triangle Xingyin, Liwei, and Wenzhi played out.
I love that the love triangle was more of a secondary plot line throughout this book. Xingyin chose her heart and stood by what she believed in first and foremost. I think she did as well as to be expected navigating such an emotional for a girl her age. I love that the author didn’t make her wise beyond her years.
My only criticism would be that the book continued through it’s quick past all the way through the finally. I did feel as though I had enough time the sit in the suspense and let the risks and stakes take over before the climactic end.
Plus I am always a sucker for a few more slower scenes that aren’t soul there for further the story but instead to let the reader have time to bond with the characters.
4/5 stars

I loved this book. I loved this duology. Honestly, I’m so sad that this is the end of this series because I love this world and the writing style so much. I can’t wait to read more of Sue Lynn Tan’s books!

Ok, that being said, let’s get into why I loved it. This series made me a believer in a love triangle! I usually hate them but it was so phenomenally done here I couldn’t help but love it. This book had it all and I can’t recommend it more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5-5 stars

Can you be devastated and happy at the same time because of a book?!

I think you can, if you read this duology. I'm having the biggest book hangover and it's hard to find words to describe this masterpiece, but it was... gorgeous. Epic. Warm. Heartbreaking. Healing. Magical. Unique. Unparalleled.

I feel a little hollow, because of the emotional punch it delivered, but also because of the beauty, love and warm and fuzzies of the HEA.

So. Yeah. I'm all over the place, I highlighted 3/4 of the book so sorry for the incoherent review.
But
thank you Sue Lynn Tann for writing this, thank you to my bookstagram friends for DEMANDING I read it and thank you to HarperVoyager for the early review copy.

I can't wait for my finished copy to arrive so I can hug it to my chest and re-read!


[Later edit]

I realized I never completed my review for this book simply because I was incapable of it. Of putting into words the magesty and amazingness. But I did get an ARC (and my own beautiful copies eventually too, because obsessed). So thank you.

One does not simply write a review for this book. You just give it the highest ranking, urge everyone to read it and move on, forever keeping it in your heart.

There really is not much I could say about it. It's slower than the books I'm used to, with a lot of worldbuilding, feelings, growing, relationships amd adventure, but I loved it. It was like I was under a spell that hasn't been lifted long before I read it. The writing has that magical, lyrical vibe Stephenie Garber or Circe has. You live the story. You are transfixed. You care about the characters. You adore Xingyin and want her too succeed. You are proud of her, of her resilience, spirit and badassery, but you also hurt for her beaten heart and want her to find the happiness she deserves.
And I guess you could technically call it a love triangle, but it has so many nuances and depth and feeling, it's not the bothering kind. Actually, for the most part I couldn't pick a team. I was just team X and whoever made her happy. Which at times, seemed none of the male characters capable of, I almost wished for a 3rd one to jump in and overshadow the two fools, much like Rowan in Throne of glass. But then the ending was perfect and emotional and happy, so it all made sense.

3.5 stars

I really want to love this series. I really enjoyed the storyline, but I think there was just too much going on. Just like book 1 there was jus so much packed into that it felt overwhelming. I would be following a plot line and then there would be another and the. Something else and then another fight. It was all good but it felt like my attention was too divided within the story.

I really liked the romance. I wish things could have been tweaked but overall I’m happy with the ending love story.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital ARC.

A beautiful sequel that fleshes out the characters and the world created by Sue Lynn Tan. The lyrical writing and engaging romantic subplot shines in this novel and cements this duology as a favorite.

I really wanted to love this book. It popped up on in my recommendations because I'd loved The Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea. Unfortunately, I'm not the right reader.

The worldbuilding in this series is rich, and the mythology is intriguing. However, I didn't connect with the writing style of the first book in this duology, so I was unable to complete the sequel. Readers of this series will love it though!

I fell in love with Daughter of the Moon Goddess and the sequel, Heart of the Sun Warrior, DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Sue Lynn Tan has such an eloquent writing style and will forever be an auto buy author from me going forward!

Heart of the Sun Warrior follows Xingyin’s continued journey into peril and back again. Readers are filled with the awe and excitement of Chinese mythology, family reunions, love triangle’s done tastefully and more! A true gem of a book and wonderful conclusion to the Duolingo. Brava, Sue Lynn Tan for another epic fantasy masterpiece!

Beautiful second half of the Celestial Kingdom Duology. With how packed the first book was, I really didn't think this book would have a lot left to work with-and I was very wrong! Sooooo much happens and I could not put the book down because I just had to know what happened next. The love triangle unexpectedly continues in heart wrenching ways, major change is coming in the celestial realms, and lots of magical surprises! I did not expect the ending and I totally cried in moments. I have really enjoyed exploring the unknown-to-me folklore through this duology.

Overall I'd rate this 4.5 stars, rounded up to a 5. The pacing and fractioning of the story was slightly choppy at times, but only enough to rank it below Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Highly recommend.

This sequel was amazing!!! I’m so obsessed with this whole story and will definitely give it another read. The characters and just the story itself is so beautifully written. Bravo!!!

Heart of the Sun Warrior was such a beautiful conclusion to The Celestial Kingdom duology. This book had me in tears, and I do believe I enjoyed it even more than Daughter of the Moon Goddess. The world building was immaculate. The character development was so beautifully executed. It was so easy to fall into the story and completely immerse myself in Xingyins journey. Sue Lynn Tan is a masterful storyteller and I don’t have enough nice things to say about her books. I will definitely be picking up anything she deigns to write.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order next year and will recommend it to students.

I sadly did not end up enjoying the first book nor this one. They just weren't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eArc.

This was a fitting end to The Celestial Kingdom duology. I did feel like it dragged and bit in spots and should have been about 50 pages shorter. But the story wraps up neatly.

With how packed the first book was I really didn’t think this book would have a lot left to work with-and I was very wrong! Soooo much happens and I could not put the book down because I just had to know what happened next.

The love triangle unexpectedly continues in heart wrenching ways, major change is coming in the celestial realms, and lots of magical surprises!

I have really enjoyed exploring the unknown-to-me folklore through this Duology.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

i really loved the first book of this duology, it was such a unique universe and such endearing characters, just such a good fantasy read. i was eager to pick this one up since i enjoyed the first one so much, but ultimately was left feeling like maybe this wasn’t necessary, or could’ve had more interesting developments.
it felt a bit redundant, the complications felt contrived, and the conversations had between characters felt repetitive and prolonged.
i do really enjoy the writing and the universe building, it’s unique and atmospheric, but the plot and character development was lacking and left me wanting more or just for this book not to have been necessary.

i would definitely read more from this author but i think this story is better as a stand alone, unless you really feel connected to these characters.

A gorgeous continuation of Sue Lynne Tan's story, and a brilliant book on its own. Tan understands fantasy writing, with gorgeously detailed prose and vivid characters. Brilliant work.

So everything I loved about the first book, Daughter of the Mood Goddess, I loved in the second book. The vibrant world and storytelling, the fun YA fantasy aspect (again think ACOTAR without the sex and more lyrical writing), and the action is great!

That said everything I didn’t like about the first book was manifested tenfold in the second. The love triangle that’s not really a love triangle (a la Twilight), and how that wraps up wasn’t very satisfying. Felt performative at best, and honestly contrived. It was apparent who the author wanted and therefore felt forced. The main character is still just as wishy washy and her mother and father were just annoyingly pointless.

So all that said is this a perfect Duology no… but it’s also one I enjoyed reading (even if it both books were a bit too long and could have used some editing down)! Objectively there are flaws but subjectively I just didn’t care in the end and enjoyed it!

Thank you to Harper Voyager via NetGalley for my review copy. All opinions are my own!