This book was a great sequel to the first! I rate it a solid 3.5-4 stars due to some content things.

There is some swearing, and there is a vague open door scene. It is vague, but, obviously heavily implied what is happening. I don't really think YA should have any kind of open door, even if it is vague. That's personally my opinion. There is also a brothel mentioned, again, nothing really described. But, not really needed.

I gasped at multiple points during this book. The plot is crazy. The star-crossed lovers is so beautifully tragic. I overall really did like this book. I think it is written well, and the ending was beautiful.

Thank you, nergalley, for this ARC. I really enjoyed the first book and looked forward to reading this. Story picked up right where it left off. Was captivated by the characters, story well told and perfectly paced. I'm not unusual fond of love stories but I'm sad to see this series end.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is the second book and conclusion in this high fantasy duology and the author did not hold back one bit; readers keep your tissues nearby because it's going to hurt.

This series is a must read if you are a fan of the tv show Alchemy of Souls.

In the wake of new bargains, bad decisions, and a split group of unlikely allies we pick up around where we left off. Zen has come up with a plan of his own to save the world from disaster. However, it means coming to terms with his regrettable decisions and shattered trust .

While juggling what to do with the mess she was left with and plans gone awry, Lan decides to continue moving forward in search of the god slayer and the phoenix. Along the way Lan and her friends come across places and beings that were rumored to be myth and legends and begin to unravel how it all fits in with their plans.

In order to accomplish what they set out to do Zen and Lan have to put their differences aside to work together or everything they have done will fail in the worst way possible.

To start I love the details such as the maps and verses at the beginning of each chapter.

The first few chapters are catching us up with Zen and going deeper into his family's history, it was fitting and definitely necessary. My heart hurt for him this entire book, his struggle with the darkness slowly consuming him, turning him into a bit of a villian, an antihero. He reminded me of Anakin Skywalker and Jang Uk (Alchemy of Souls ) .

There was a lot of character development between Dilaya and Lan and I'm here for it, loved it a lot. The banter we came to love from book one remained heavy and made me wish we had more scenes of them together.

The amount of action and lore was rich, intriguing, and a perfect amount. It flowed from page to page well.

While it hurt my heart I was really satisfied with the particular reunion of Lan and Zen towards the middle end and how that left its mark in the epilogue.

What a way to end this series, I'm heartbroken yet also so incredibly glad to have read this duology. I highly recommend this series for those who love Asian inspired shows and movies such as Alchemy of Souls.

A massive thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book!

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao was a sequel that I was looking forward to since reading the first installment at the end of last year/beginning of 2023. But I never imagined that the sequel would have topped my experience of book 1.

The book kicks off right after the events that ended the first book, and things start escalating quickly. The two groups that were split by some drastic, desperate decisions continue their search for answers and a way to reclaim their homeland - at any cost.

Dark Star Burning introduces some new characters - some good, some not - and widens the scope of what we know about the country. I would love to explore a few of the newer characters more as they have some pretty interesting backstories that have the potential for their own series.

The duology wrapped up in a bittersweet way that was a worthy conclusion to the scale of the story told. I really enjoy Amélie Wen Zhao's writing style and I look forward to any new books she brings out in the future!

I loved this book, I just wish it was longer. I adored the characters and wished we had more time to dig deeper with them. The plot was so exciting and well written, but started to feel rushed by the end. But you can tell it’s a good book that you should recommend when you just wanted to read more!

I love Amelie Wen Zhao's writing style. The first book, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night absolutely hooked me and was my introduction to Asian fantasy. The author's writing style of very fast-paced and immersive and I constantly felt like I was wondering what would happen next.

After the cliffhanger ending of the first book, I was interested to see what the future held for Lan and Zen. They picked opposing sides and now have to deal with the consequences. I agree with other reviewers though, I do wish that we saw more of the aftermath and resolution. A trilogy might have better suited this story.

Dark star burning, Ashfall’s white is a wonderful conclusion and stunning sequel to one of my favorite books. I’ve read this year. The authors wonderful worldbuilding and excellent character development skills really shine as this duology comes to a close. I cannot wait to see what this writer will do next.

A beautiful fairytale.
1 bell pepper on the spice meter
The last 3/4 of the book is the best. It is a bit like coming into the story in the middle. The rich history unfurls slowly and the characters are only privy to parts of their own past. Diving in, the dual POV clashed with the vibe in the beginning. It was incredibly hard to process what was happening and where. But once it got going, the action never stopped. Only rating it lower because the beginning is so confusing and the story is predictable.
Happy endings win every time. Even though it was a prediction end, I absolutely loved seeing it.

I was floored by the first book when I first read it, but upon rereading it, it fell a bit short for me. Chinese culture is very permeated within Vietnamese culture, because China ruled Vietnam for 900+ years, but since I grew up in the States, I didn't grow up learning about any of the mythology. I think I enjoyed this so much because it was my first introduction to it.

I find Lan fine as a character. She isn't as Mary Sue as some of the other YA protagonists we keep finding in Asian YA fantasy, much of which falls flat to me. Perhaps I hold it to a higher standard than whiter YA fantasy. While I adored Zen the first time around, I found myself annoyed at the lack of his character growth. For about two solid minutes, I fell for the actual villain of the story, but that ended up in disappointment.

The last 1/3 of the book moves much quicker than the first 2/3. I wish the pacing would have been more even. Honestly, it moves so fast, a lot of it feels like infodumping, if you can infodump at the end of a series versus the beginning. Perhaps this will be edited out in the final version. We shall see.

I would recommend this for a younger audience. The first one I would almost recommend to a middle grade audience, but this one gets a little spicier. Like, not that spicy. White people spicy. One chili pepper.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, NetGalley, for this book.

This book is the sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. Was so excited to read Lan and Zen's continued romance.

The booknis fantastic, incredible, wonderful, and worth the wait.

I cried so much reading the ending and am so sad to have the series end. Wishing this were a trilogy.

Need more, need more.

Can't wait to read what Amélie Wen Zhao has for us next.

Five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Words cannot describe the amount of emotions I went through reading this book. At all times, I was either giggling and kicking my feet, screaming and biting my fist, or lost in the sauce of the insane worldbuilding and intricate plot. I devoured “Song of Silver, Flame like Night” but with “Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White”, I absorbed it into my body and am now carrying her with me everywhere. Zhao’s writing is taken to a whole new level in terms of character development, plot, and prose. Oftentimes, I find myself unengaged in sequels because the bar was set too high with the first book but this was definitely not the case. The worldbuilding and lore are so rich and deeply rooted in subtle truths about Chinese history and mythology. Lan is a strong, compelling leading character and my girl forever and Zen is my pookie I want to carry him around in my pocket I love him so much. I typically love duologies because I feel that when executed correctly, it becomes the perfect formula for telling a well-rounded story. And that’s exactly what Zhao has done with the Song of the Last Kingdom duology.

The epic sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is a fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
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If you enjoyed the first book, this one is even better. More, please!

A monumental conclusion to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology. This second book is filled with action, betrayal, reconciliation, lust, passion, and devotion. If you loved the first book then you won’t be able to put down the sequel. All the questions left unanswered, all the heartbreak, all the challenges the characters faced in the first book are back for book two. Familiar faces return for their heroic chance at protecting the kingdom, destroying the demon gods, and restoring the 99 clans. But the demon gods are gods for a reason, their power is unmatched by any.

This book if rife with folklore magic, fantastical and vibrant locations, and villains hellbent on getting their way even if it means destroying everyone and everything in their quest for power. What a spectacular conclusion!

Oh, my goodness! Love this story!
Lan and Zen’s story continues with more adventure and heartache. How will they fight against the Elantians and the Demon gods and save their people? Lan and Zen make great sacrifices in their quest to find the secret to fighting the Demon gods. The world building is still great and the development of the characters is fabulous. I don’t want to give away the story and take away the reader’s enjoyment of watching the story unfold. I really enjoyed this book and I would say if you enjoyed the first book or just like fantasy, definitely pick this book up. You won’t regret it!

"Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White" by Amélie Wen Zhao is a thrilling and fast-paced sequel that continues the captivating journey of Lan and Zen in a vividly imagined fantasy world inspired by ancient Chinese mythology and folklore.

The story unfolds in the wake of the rise of the Demon Gods and the fall of Skies' End to the colonizers. Lan and Zen, both possessing extraordinary powers, have chosen different paths. Lan believes that the Demon Gods are the root cause of the ongoing conflict and turmoil and is determined to eliminate them to save her kingdom. To do so, she embarks on a quest to find the mythical weapon known as the Godslayer, which is said to be capable of destroying these formidable beings.

On the other hand, Zen sees the power of the Demon Gods as the key to liberating the Last Kingdom. He has already bound one of these beings, but to harness their strength further, he must make a tremendous sacrifice. To bolster his fight against the colonizers, Zen seeks a magical army of demonic practitioners hidden in the ruins of the northern Mansorian lands.

The central mystery revolves around Shaklahira, a city with a hidden location and a connection to both Lan and Zen's quests. As they navigate this perilous world, their paths intersect, leading to challenging decisions, including a potential confrontation that could change everything.

Amélie Wen Zhao's storytelling is both immersive and action-packed, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The world-building is rich and layered, drawing on Chinese mythology to create a unique and vibrant setting. The characters are well-developed, and their internal conflicts add depth to the narrative.

One of the novel's strengths is its exploration of themes such as sacrifice, power, and the consequences of one's choices. The tension between Lan and Zen, torn between their love for each other and their conflicting beliefs, adds emotional depth to the story.

"Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White" is a gripping addition to the series that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you enjoy YA fantasy filled with magic, complex characters, and epic battles, this book is a must-read.

This novel picks up where the first one left off! This was a very beautiful book! It was very action-packed and the conclusion was very satisfying! My only complaint was that it seemed very long and should have been split into two books. Nevertheless, it was a very fun and emotional ride! It made me care for the characters, especially Lan and Zen! The world-building was very original and intricate. Overall, this was a stunning debut, and a must read for fantasy fans! I recommend this for fans of Marie Lu, Joan He, and Xiran Jay Zhao!

The book was enjoyable, but it felt too short. While the ending was bittersweet and satisfied a proper conclusion to a series, it had the potential to be a trilogy, especially since the fight at the end felt resolved way too quickly.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao is an exhilarating narrative brimming with action, love, enchantment, and the relentless pursuit of demons.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White in exchange for my honest review.

This book made me cry, several times. I cannot say why as that would give away several important moments in the sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. I loved the first book (and it was one of the first arcs I ever received) so I was extremely excited to get my hands on the arc of the second book in the duology. Amélie Wen Zhao has such a lovely writing style, a beautiful way with words.

She made me care so much about the characters she wove through the world in this series that I was extremely sad to see them go. And they went all too soon. I really wish this book was longer or maybe the addition of a third book. The scenes in this book felt choppy and moved at a pace that didn't give me enough time to really process what was going on. Once one thing fell into place, we were teleported somewhere else and that made it hard to absorbed in the world.

I feel like the final conflict/resolution wasn't done enough justice. And i rarely say this about series, but i really wish we had gotten another book in this series. Even with the epilogue at the end, I wish we had seen more of what happened after.

All that being said, I still loved the book. It made me cry. It made me smile. It made me want more! I will definitely be checking out more of Amélie Wen Zhao's works in the future.

The world, characters, and magic system were great. Reading this book felt like catching up with old friends.

This duology should have been a trilogy. The first book I found too long, and this book I found too short. It's too unbalanced for a duology. There were plot lines that could have been explored more, and the others that could have been moved and explored in a third book.

The ending was incredible. It can be hard to end a book/series in a way that seems authentic and Amélie is able to do that here. It felt organic, and matched the high stakes of the plot which explores what people will do to regain their homeland from colonizers.

Thank you to Random House Children's and Delacorte Press for giving me an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.