Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom Duology #2) 5 stars

A fitting end to the Celestial Kingdom Duology and a wonderful experience. While not as action packed as Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the relationships between the three main characters kept things interesting. I could totally see this as a xianxia drama – real actors or anime with some judicious editing. Kudos to Ms. Tan and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

**thank you published and NetGalley for an E-arc.

Xingyin has returned home to the moon with her mother. Leiwei is desperately trying to repair the damage his betrayal caused. Xingyin is just trying to heal from everything while trying to understand her feelings for Leiwei. When trouble starts in the kingdom blame is placed on Xingyin and her mother, and she must find a way to protect everyone she loves from the emperor and his new general.

This was an amazing end to this duet. The pace was perfect i felt like I could get lost and forget I was reading. The romance felt a little rushed a little too quick to forgive but still enjoyable.

There is just something so lyrical about Sue Lynn Tan's writing. Her first book was one of my top reads of last year, and now the second is going to be right up there this year. I am an avid fantasy reader, and there is just something so transportive about her writing. It is so unlike any other books that I have read that I just think it is truly in a league of its own. I loved this conclusion to the story and would absolutely love for this to be somehow adapted into a movie. Even though if I am being honest I am not too sure that I even need that to happen as the way she writes uses such imagery that the story really comes to life as you are reading. I will be a life long reader of Sue Lynn Tan and will never stop recommending this book. It was truly one of my most anticipated reads so I spent every free chance from law school sneaking in a page and it was worth the nights of no sleep.

I'll start by saying I absolutely adored the first book when I read it back in April. I was so excited to pick this one up and dive back into the magical world of the Immortal Realm. The writing style in this sequel is equally as whimsical and lyrical as the first book, which I do consider to be one of the duology's strengths. However, I really struggled to become as engrossed in the plot of this installment, particularly for the first 50% or so.

After that, the plot picked up and I found myself engrossed back into the story and the world. The plot was interesting the multiple quests all played a part in the overall story arc, which I loved. I was completely unprepared for the raw emotion that this book would evoke from me in the end. I both laughed and bawled my eyes out. SO happy I completed the duology, I loved this.

That you to NetGalley for the review copy.

This book was so beautifully written. I loved the way that this duology ended and I loved watching the characters grow and interact in this book.

Heart of the Sun Warrior is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess, a fantasy story based off of Chinese myth. I listened to the first book and quite enjoyed the setting and characters so I was very excited to read the sequel!

The setting is very cool. Just like the first one, I loved the descriptions of outfits, headdresses, and items in the world. Besides that, I thought this book was just okay. I kind of have trouble keeping track of the plot in fantasy books but often don't mind because I like the vibes of the book. This one just made me feel lost. I read the other book not too long ago but I really struggled to remember where it left off. This is very much a me problem but made my reading experience confusing and hard to get into the story.

My main problem with this book is the stupid love triangle!!!! Xingyin wins the hearts of two men in the first book and they don't really overlap or interact so it didn't bother me. In this book, most of the conversations from the two men are about why Xingyin should choose them instead of the other. That didn't make me get to know the men very well because they were just talking about who they were instead of showing. It's also a lot of these men talking about how great Xingyin is, particularly how smart, ruthless, etc. Xingyin is pretty cool, but it was so much that I got annoyed. It ended up in tell-not-show territory for me. I felt like the ending was out of left field and didn't seem to match up with the progression in the rest of the book.

Overall, I was happy to read another book in the series but found it hard to get through. 2.85 stars from me. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Sometimes, the best books are the hardest to review. The words just don’t come as easily and I’m left with all the feeling behind them, and reading this book is an example of that. This duology, to me, is nearly perfect. This conclusion hits all the right notes--it made me emotional, it made me rage, it broke my heart, and it made me cry happy tears. Truly, I felt the full range of human emotions while reading Heart of the Sun Warrior.

As a huge fan of the first book in the duology, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, I was just beside myself to discover that Sue Lynn Tan completely nailed the conclusion in all ways possible. I loved every part of it! I couldn't stop reading this book. The action is literally nonstop, there are no slow parts in my opinion. I think that the pacing really worked for this installment and really just made me read without caring about the consequences of reading late, late into the night. This book had me on the edge of my seat, my eyes attempting to devour the story as quickly as possible while simultaneously savoring it because I didn't want it to end. It was such a beautiful epic.

Xingyin is an unforgettable protagonist worthy of joining the ranks of the most beloved heroines in fantasy. Everything that Xingyin had to go through affected me deeply! Everything she felt, I felt, too. I think that shows the strength of writing and characterization from Tan. But make no mistake, all of Tan's characters were fantastic. I enjoyed them all and I loved getting to know some of them even more in this book.

And I have to mention that the romance worked for me. I loved it. I understand why readers struggle with love triangles, but here I really think it makes sense, and makes for entertaining twists and turns, and I obviously was rooting for a certain person and was absolutely squealing by the end. The ending was so strong and so memorable. I re-read it three times over to take it all in. It was overall just a fun, completely bewitching reading experience. I can't wait to see what Tan writes next--I will be first in line to read it. I have a feeling that I will want to reread this duology one day to relive the monumental story that is Xingyin's life. I highly, highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

Heart of the Sun Warrior is an amazing sequel to one of my favorite books!

Author Sue Lynn Tan gives us another action driven fantasy with engaging characters and a memorable romance. Now, I may not have agreed with the ending, but it did beautifully close the story and made the most sense for Xingyin.

The way the author weaves in myths is always fun to read. Highly recommend for fantasy lovers!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

The final part of The Celestial Kingdom duology, HEART OF THE SUN WARRIOR begins almost immediately after the ending of The Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Xingyin has embraced a life of peace with her mother on the Moon-- still healing from the loss of her power, she fills her days with tranquil walks with Liwei and enjoying time with her loved ones. However, a new threat once again arises and Xingyin finds herself fighting not only for her own life, but for the lives of all those she cares for and the kingdom itself.

Lush and emotional, SUN WARRIOR is a sequel worth of DOTMG. Its focus on interpersonal relationships and character development go hand in hand with the action filled plot. While some people will prefer to leave Xingyin's story with the end of DOTMG (and that is 100% okay! It's a beatiful story and is tied up so nicely at the end of the first book!), it was a fascinating opportunity to see how characters grow and ultimately change over the course of their journies.

The world of this is, for me, its greatest strength. The descriptions are lush and vivid, which really brought the story to life. I also loved the familial relationships, especially with the reveal that appears in Heart of the Sun Warrior.

I found the ending sweet, though I think there were quite a few moments throughout the story that were repetitive, specifically in regards to the dialogue.

Overall, I enjoyed these two books. Book one was a little stronger for me, but I still quite liked the second book, and look forward to what Sue Lynn Tan writes next.

"She does not walk the path before her; she forges her own."

This sequel continues the story a year after Daughter of the Moon Goddess. If you want to learn more about the story, here is my review. After the end of the first book, one would expect a little more peace for our protagonist, but there is a new threat to the kingdom and Xingyin is in for a rough ride.

This duology is breathtaking, I can't find a better word to describe it. It's magical, amazing, and the setting is so well developed that it manages to transport you into this world. I loved that every time I sat down to read, I forgot about the world and everything that was going on. It has a lot to do with the fact that the author's writing is beautiful, and the audiobook narration did such a great job of conveying everything our main character was feeling.

I feel like this book has really finished making the characters hold a place in my heart. Xingyin has changed so much since the first book, now she has lived so much more and had so much more to deal with, so she is a different person. I love her dearly, but it hurts me that she's had such a hard time. Regarding the love interests (because this sequel keeps the triangle, which I must say is the only love triangle I enjoy reading), I love them both. I feel like they both, both as love interests and as characters bring so much to the plot, and they both have a unique way about them, so you really get to appreciate them so much throughout the story. I feel like Wenzhi especially stole my heart, but Liwei had his moments as well.

The other characters, subplots and stories I really enjoyed. I feel like the political plot in this book doesn't overshadow the romance and vice versa, and both stories move forward hand in hand. I loved seeing all that was involved in fighting this new enemy, although I must admit I cried several times throughout the story.

Regarding the ending, I've read several reviews, and I agree with the fact that it's the best and the worst thing that happened to me in the year. I don't know how to explain it, I feel it's a very realistic ending and it's perfect, but that doesn't take away the fact that it hurt to read it, that it made me feel bad but at the same time happy? hopeful? It was a lot of emotions, but it was the best ending this story could have had.

In a story of fantasy, folklore, mythology and romance, Heart of the Sun Warrior closes one of the best duologies I've read all year, and I won't stop recommending it.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

This book was everything I needed when I picked it up, and was a perfect continuation of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

I had read the first book so quickly (like.. in a day, which isn't a thing that I usually do at all) because it was so enchanting and intriguing that I couldn't put it down. Well.. I did the exact same thing with Heart of the Sun Warrior. I literally listened to half of the book in a day. This book gave me the same feeling I got when I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this comforting feeling with a highly addictive fast-paced plot, a beautiful and lyrical writing and great characters that were easy to get attached to. It was just so enchanting.

This book was published as adult fantasy but do not expect like a typical adult/epic fantasy story with a complex and well developed world-building and lots of characters development. This book was more of a crossover between YA and adult and could appeal to both types of readers.

When I started this duology, I knew what to expect. Even though I would have liked to have a bit more explanations about the magic system, the enchanting story with the addictive fast-paced plot completely worked for me. I also absolutely loved the Chinese mythology retelling aspect and the ending of this duology was really satisfying.

Overall if you enjoyed Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you'll love this sequel, without a doubt.

This was a lovely end to the duology, and I have to say I enjoyed it more than the first. The characters have really grown, and we have learned to care and appreciate more of them. This is definitely set up so that a second duology or other book can be added, which is nice. The ending leaves a little bit of room that I would love to come to a conclusion.

5⭐️

<b>Perhaps at its core, heroism was a less pretty tale, words like honor and valor gilded over necessity and the harsh truth—that there was no choice.</b>

It felt so good to return to this world that I did not want this book to end. All had been calm for a year, until the Moon received unwelcome guests who had bent the Celestial Emperor’s ear and convinced him that the Moon Goddess had disrespected him. Xingyin and her mother, Chang’e, are forced from their home and must fight to save their realm from the evil Wugang.

Xingyin is as fierce as ever in her heroism and dedication to do what is right. There is so much that happens in this book, both good and bad. If you were hoping the love triangle would finally end between Xingyin, Liwei, and Wenzhi, unfortunately that is not the case. The love triangle does continue in this book and it does finally end when Xingyin realizes who she cannot live without. This book is just as beautifully written as the first and is full of love and heartbreak.

<b> To live a life with love, was to live without regret.</b>

What an amazing way to end this duology, I said it once and I say it again. Sue Lynn Tan is made to write fantasy. The characters were just exquisite and I'm so glad things turned out as I was hoping. We do have some loss and emotional moments that just kept me engaged throughout, along with light-hearted scenes and revindication for our main characters. We get a resolution for our love triangle and I'm so excited about the outcome, we have a family reunion, and we get to see our characters grow and evolve into these badass heroes. This book is totally a must-read epic adventure and I mean also look at the cover.

I want to start this review acknowledging how I absolutely ADORED Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Before finishing the book, I knew it was going to be one of my all-time favorites let alone a top read for 2022. So when I say that the Heart of the Sun Warrior is one of my biggest let downs at as a book is a gross understatement. There were at least two parts within this story where I strongly considered DNFing this book.

The writing in this book is just as lyrical and beautiful as the first, but it’s definitely more fluff than plot in this book. However, some of the dialogue didn’t flow and felt very unrealistic/unrelatable. There were numerous duplicate/repetitive moments and sentences where it made you feel like you were re-reading by accident. There were huge chunks from DOTMG repeated throughout this book. As a result, I felt absolutely no emotions from the characters, and everything felt like it didn’t have any actual weight to the story. My biggest disappointment with the writing is how such dynamic characters as Liwei (Emperor of the Celestial Kingdom), Wenzhi (King of the Mind Magic Kingdom), and her father (Infamous Slayers of the 9 Sun Birds) are depicted as useless, dumb man-children who exist solely for Xingyin’s protection and bidding.

DOTMG had some instances where Xingyin was aggravating, but it was in stride with her character development for the most part. In HOTSW, Xingyin was down-right disgustingly aggravating, selfish, self-involved, immature, arrogant, and stupid. She pushed me to the point of not caring about this story on multiple parts. Throughout the book, every character, including Xingyin, points this out, but she arrogantly ignores them all. She’s always placing herself in the middle of every situation because she’s selfish and only cares about the one problem that’s in front of her. Problems arise because she doesn’t care about anyone or anything else during that time, and she has no foresight to see how this decision may impact quite literally anything else. Book one had her learn how to work with a team and depending on someone doesn’t make her weak. In book two, she forgot all of that.

The pacing of this book was very painful to endure. I have an entire soap box about editors and publishing companies extending works to make more money, and I definitely think this was the case with this duology. It read like a CW superhero television show. The story beginning had absolutely the thinnest connection possible to the end. Most of the middle is the love triangle that I will talk about later. Characters that weren’t needed were brought back, and I’m guessing it was to invoke fond memories from the audience. However, it just strengthened the case that this book wasn’t needed.

Next is this goddamn love triangle. I love morally grey bad boys, so I completely understand the draw to Wenzhi. Personally, he was my favorite. I appreciated how he recognized his feelings early on and didn’t shy from them like Liwei did. He truly embodied the “I will burn down this entire world for you” energy that I love. Overall, I felt Xingyin and Liwei were a better match. Even the title of this book has you believeing the same thing, so we didn’t need 80% of this book focusing on who she was going to choose. Ultimately, I think Wenzhi and Liwei deserved better than Xingyin. She was totally in love with Liwei, but she didn’t want to deal with palace life and empress responsibilities, so she took every out she could to avoid it namely breaking Liwei’s heart. While I don’t agree with what Wenzhi did in DOTMG, the way Xingyin prosecuted him throughout this ENTIRE book was just overkill. While the book wants you to believe, it took Wenzhi literally dying for her to realize this; I think it was her first tasting her life as an empress. Do I believe she has love for both? Yes, but I also strongly believes she’s not IN love with either. I think they’re both better without her.

While on the topic of love, I was hoping for more from Xingyin’s parents. Their return to one another felt like filler where it could’ve been used as a very strong guide for Xingyin to decide on a love. Her mother felt even more weak and unnecessary in this book which is a huge disappointment. I was really hoping to see a stronger bond between mother and daughter. I also really wanted to see Xingyin’s relationship with her father, his connection to the dragons, and their connections with the jade bow develop into a strong story.

I’m just really overwhelmed with how empty this book is. I left this book feeling like the last chapter and maybe one plot point could’ve been the epilogue for DOTMG. This book was truly unnecessary. Also, why was this book named the way it was? Was the Sun Warrior supposed to be her father or Liwei?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Celestial Kingdom is a vivid world filled with monsters, villains, and magic. After so long, I loved returning to this realm, and it completely lived up to the hype. This book was action-packed right from the start when Xingyin tries to reunite her family, which never was. She's also forced to make a choice between her first love and the one she can't stop thinking about. I loved the end of this story so much! It was the perfect way to finish a fantastic duology.

This was a great sequel and conclusion to the duology! I really enjoyed this one, and I hope to see more in this world. I really loved the magical kingdoms, and Chinese lore. Thank you so much Netgalley!

Absolutely devoured this sequel! I loved DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS and this second book did not disappoint— it was action-packed and Xingyin is badass. Who cares if she wins all the time and excels at everything she does — I don’t mind it one bit! I also really enjoyed the retelling of Chinese mythology aspect of this duology. There were a couple of overly-dramatic / overly-angst-filled moments but overall, I stan this duology!

This book was a whirlwind of emotions, especially getting more into the second half. I easily get emotional from books but rarely do I full on cry so when an author can make me cry, I consider it a win, and Sue Lynn Tan did just that. She is also one of two authors who have made me thoroughly enjoy a love triangle. I can usually tolerate them, But it is one of my least favorite tropes and can easily bring a five star book down to 4 stars, but this books remains 5 stars even with the love triangle. For a while, I was team Liwei but as I read this book, I started warming up to Wenzhi to the point where I would be happy with either of them being endgame and ultimately, I am more team Xingyin than anything else. Whoever she decided, I would be happy with. One of my favorite things about this series is that while there are two prominent love interests, not once do either of them take away from Xingyin being her own person. She's stubborn in the best way possible, she doesn't let anyone deter her unless it will help her get what she wants in the long run, and it's clear that she knows what she wants for her life and will not give that up for love.

As for the ending. the direction I thought it was going in switched up so many times. From about a quarter of the way, through I suspected what the endgame would be, but then towards the end, in the final climax of the story, it suddenly was not going in that direction but I was happy with the direction it did take. That is until it seemed like something else was going to happen, and I wasn't too thrilled about the concept but not disappointed either, but the way it was done and written made me absolutely love how it ended. It wasn't easy and it wasn't too cut and dry, it was done in a way that made sense for the story and for Xingyin's character.

Overall, Sue Lynn Tan has become one of my favorite writers and I cannot wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!!!