Finishing any series up? I enjoy a good conclusion. And Amélie Wen Zhao's "Dark Star Burning, Ashes Falls White" just wrapped up.

Soooo the two protagonists kinda want to stab each other at the start of this one. Mostly because one sacrificed a ton of people...and is going to kill a lot more. Zen has the Black Tortise bound, Lan the Silver Dragon. That leaves 2 Demon Gods on the table for the Elantians to try and aquire. Which could spell the end to any chance of saving their kingdom. When their independent hunts lead them to the same city via different sources what will they find the the ruins?

Thank you Netgalley and PRH audio for the ARCs. Got to split my time reading at work and home on this one.

Narrated by Annie Q, rather enjoyed the terse side characters voices when they crack a bit.

Reasons to read:
-Hey look a finished story
-Little bit of giant creature fighting
-Sweet demons described
-The importance of reading the full passage of a book for context before taking actions based on it!
-Scummy dudes get some comeuppance

Cons:
-Wish there had been more giant creature fighting...But it's bad for property livelihood

This is the sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and is the conclusion to the series. The story continues with both Zen and Lian following their journeys to take back the city for their people…. Back from the Elantians and others who are greedy for power. This duology explores the question… “Does the end justify the means of getting the goal accomplished?” Where do you draw the line… This ending was unexpected and had me tearful at 12:38 AM….
If you like historical Chinese dramas or K dramas… or even if you don’t, I highly suggest this series from @ameliewenzhao. 5🥭. #bookstagram #books #darkstarburningashfallswhite #netgalley #read

Song of the Last Kingdom duology comes to a conclusion with Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White and after days of trying to finish it I finally manage to do it and I have mix feelings about it.

I was struggling the 1st half part of the book, the pacing is too slow. The last part also seems too rushed but I prefer that where I got to know more about the origins of the Four Demon and more action scenes with a new villain introduced here.

I also feel slightly disappointed of what to become of the previous villain on the 1st book since he didn’t get to appear often and seems to be pushed aside with this new villain character.

I had a feeling this one won’t have an entire happy ending for all the characters. I have to admit I shed a couple tears while reading the last few chapters when everything was coming to an end.
While I wish things are different, this ending is a fitting end to the story.

I gave this one a higher rating because of the action scenes and also the bittersweet ending which makes this book more memorable compare to the 1st book.
While this duology didn’t work for me, but you’re welcome to give it a try if you like YA fantasy with demons, magic and slow burn romance.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death and war

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🫑(one closed door scene)

This is absolutely a beautiful, action-packed, and heart wrenching ending to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology. I loved book 2, but I loved this one even more.

I felt the pacing in book 1 was a little slow and the world building confusing for a large portion of the book. Since the world building had already occurred in the previous book, this one took off and never stopped. Lan and Zen are each on a quest to find the remaining Demon Gods, but they have chosen different paths.

There are twists and turns throughout the story along with some revelations and heart wrenching moments. The ending is both devastating and beautiful.

The battles with the Demon Gods reminds me of Pacific Rim or Godzilla with larger-than-mountain creatures battling at the command of their human host, which could only be viewed in my head as anime (seriously, this duology would make a great animated series).

This might have matched my love of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan that I read last year. Both are stories based on Chinese Mythology and Folklore. And both are heart wrenchingly beautiful.

Dark Star Burning Ash Falls White is the sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night - a pretty new wuxia 武俠 and xianxia 仙侠 duology.

I was blown away by the first book and the second book continues immediately where we left off. Pacing of the sequel didn't seem even as it was really dragged out with a world building that didn't seem important, and too many descriptive action scenes that didn't really move the plot forward.

We still go back and forth between different POVs of Lan and Zen for a bit before their paths cross again with some awkward romantic tension.

Character growth was not as implied this time around as much of the book was spent on all the different schools of practitioning and the grey areas into which the magic falls into. It feels mostly like a battle of the best practictioner with Lan, Zen, Erascius and new character Hong Yi trying to prove whose method and usage was the most justifiable in the war, with what they wanted to achieve.

The interesting villain/villain love interest trope felt a little overplayed this time and I felt like the book was rushed to conclude.It takes awhile for the different plotline ends to tie up before we culminate in what happens to Lan and Zen. Whether the ending is sad, happy or bittersweet, was hard for me to pinpoint though they did pave the way for a better future.

I have yet to compare it to the final version that was just released last week as I'm still waiting for my copy to reach. That aside, this duology is a good intro to wuxia and xianxia for readers who are curious.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's for the ARC.

This young adult fantasy story weaves a tapestry of ancient Chinese mythology. It's set in a world where Lan fights against Elantian colonizers to fulfill her mother's legacy of destroying four Demon Gods. The book captivates with its depth and cultural richness. Zen, who trades his soul for the power to save their kingdom, adds a layer of tragedy and love to the narrative. The book starts slowly but accelerates into a fast-paced conclusion. This rapid pacing sometimes feels overwhelming. The central love story is poignant yet distant, adding a layer of longing. Zhao's skillful world-building and poetic prose create an immersive experience, making this sequel a compelling read for young adults, especially those intrigued by mythology and epic fantasy tales.

Had a little difficulty getting into this sequel, probably because the two main leads were separate for quite a chunk of the book, but eventually got drawn in by the end. The author definitely has promise and I look forward to reading her future books!

It's fitting that I start my new year feed with Amelie Wen Zhao who exactly around this time of year, had me on a chokehold with her Chinese fantasy novel featuring Lan and Zen who truly stole my breath. Now, a year later, I finally get to know how it all ends.

And frankly.... what did we do to Amelie Wen Zhao for the emotional rollercoaster she sent us through?

When we last left off, Lan and Zen are now on opposite sides of the war, with two different powers inside of them, both as powerful and as soul-sucking as they ACTUALLY are with a battle against the Elation government for justice. We get to revisit some of our cool side characters with new characters and the forbidden love story between Lan and Zen blossoms into something devastatingly beautiful that by the end, my heart definitely hurt, but there was this sign of hopefulness because all works out... somewhat.

Tears were shed. I may never forgive the author for what happened, but I still enjoyed the bittersweet ride she created and it's a series I will inevitably come back to because of how beautiful and magical it is.

Overall: 4/5 stars

My rating: 3.5/5

This book was short, but it took me fews days to finish it. For the first quarter of the book, Lan and Zen were often going in two different directions to seek answers to questions posed in the first book.

Lan was looking for ways to get rid of her demon god, while Zen used his demon god to fight the colonisers. It painted a very interesting picture. This dichotomy followed throughout the book.

Our characters were often questioning about power and the lengths they’d go to attain it. It showed how one can be selfish but still put their powers to good use. Zen’s character was proof of that.

This being a historical fantasy on colonialism, I loved how it differentiated magic from Hin practices as art form. It’s such a subtle way of fighting back, and that’s what made me like this duology more.

Some parts of the Shamanism in the book reminded me of the Poppy War trilogy. I couldn’t help but compare Nezha with Zen. They were two different characters who reacted differently to colonialism. Would things be different if Nezha had fought the colonisers and spared my favourite characters? Just wishiful thinking. While the Poppy War trilogy is close to history, this duology gives us an alternative one.

Overall, this book was a good conclusion to this short series. Although, it did feel a bit disconnected to the first book with leaving the Elantians on the back burner, but it does have an intriguing ending. Just as the first book, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White was focused more on the plot than the characters and was repetitive. However, their sacrifices and the epilogue made it a good read for me.

Thanks for the DRC of this book Delacorte Press and TBR and Beyond Tours!

in this sequel to song of silver, flame like night, lan is continuing to carry out her mother’s mission of destroying the demon gods. this is not an easy task from the start, but it’s made harder when others are searching for the demon gods for their own purposes. meanwhile, zen is willing to do whatever it takes to save the kingdom, and lan, including losing his own soul.

i have been eagerly awaiting this book for over a year, and i am so glad that it exceeded my expectations! the angst from book one was multiplied in this book and i was 100% here for it. the beautiful prose in this book also drew me in and i found myself unable to put this book down. i can’t wait to read what amélie went zhao writes next!

Characters: 7.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Worldbuilding: 7/10
Writing: 10/10

Score: 4.25

This might be the first time I liked the second book in a duology more than the first. They fit together well, concluding the story without giving the feeling that it’s unnecessary or unfinished. Of course, I wouldn’t have minded if certain aspects were expanded, for example, I’d have loved to see more of the northern steppes. I’m not happy it ended like that, but it is suiting. At least Zen was able to redeem his clan and fix their reputation. And they saved the world, obviously.

The pacing was on the slower side, but I didn’t mind it at all. I also found this much easier to read than originally Chinese novels because I’m not used to their writing style. It’s a more Western storytelling approach. It might be a good start if you wish to explore xianxia and similar genres. But, to be completely honest, you just have to throw yourself into it.

You can definitely see how much Lan and Zen have changed as characters since the beginning of book 1 to book 2. In this one, they spend a lot of time apart, having chosen different paths. Zen on his own was a bit boring. I preferred Lan’s POVs.

Surprisingly, Dilaya really grew on me. Her expressions were funny. I love how she was now referred to as Lan’s friend and was protective of her. There was a little less of the other side characters compared to the first book.

I saw people saying Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is similar to The Poppy War, and for the first book I honestly don’t see it. After reading this one I did notice some similarities, such as fighting against colonisation, battling the influence of Gods, balance of power and corruption. However, as a fan of The Poppy War, let me stop you right there. Song of the Last Kingdom isn’t as dark and graphic and leans more into fantasy. Moreover, Rin and Lan are very different protagonists.

Side note: the color schemes chosen for the covers of both books are perfect and fit their vibe.

This book was so beautiful, please 😭 the ending was both wholesome and heartbreaking.

This book picks up almost immediately after the end of book 1, and takes us to even more parts of this world. There's a lot more cool magic in this book + some very swoony/heartbreaking Lan-Zen moments.

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I was so excited for this after reading the first book last year. This was everything I could have hoped for in a sequel and to wrap up the duology. The writing is just beautiful and I will never forget this duology.





Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I vowed to myself to not buy more than one edition of a book until I’ve at least read it to see if I absolutely loved it. Thankfully I didn’t have that rule last year and got these beauties because they are unbelievably pretty to look at and the stories are beautiful too!

“The viper is only as venomous as its fangs.“

If you have not read this duo yet, book 2 just released and let me tell you - you will not be able to put these down. You’ll easily be immersed into the vibrant, lush Asian culture that’s full of magic and danger on every page.

“She had given her heart to a boy. And he had given his soul to a demon.”

The struggles our two MCs face are brutal and heavy but that’s what makes you connect with them so much more is how they overcome it and persevere. Their romance isn’t an easy one and I love how relatable it is. The side characters are amazing as well - Amelie does such a flawless job with her writing and it shows with how beautiful her stories turn out to be.

“In every life, whether in this one or the next or ten thousand more, Zen would jump with her.”

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for having me be a part of this tour!

A fantastic sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, this book picks up where book 1 left us and continues Lan’s and Zen’s respective journeys. Things start out on a bit of an uneven note due to *circumstances*, and it’s a bit of a dance as Lan and Zen learn to be around one another again. It doesn’t take long though, and soon they’re back on even footing in their quest to take back what’s theirs. With higher stakes, more to lose, more action, badder bad guys, and a fully recognized romantic subplot, this book had everything. I adored book 1 so much, but I loved this one even more. The ending brought a satisfying conclusion, and I’m happy with where our characters end up. 4.5 stars.

𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘈𝘴𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 follows Lan and Zen on their final adventure of righting the histories erased and overcoming the demons that surround them.

- ~ -

Hmmm... this felt a little lackluster in comparison to the first book.

Lan and Zen's character development fell flat this time around. I'd hoped Lan's sass would thrive but the characters seemed too preoccupied and for good reason but it all made me feel detached.

3.73 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I’ve read a few books by this author, and she never fails to hold me spellbound. The first book in this duology earned an easy five stars from me, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this sequel. My review will be brief in order to avoid spoilers.

This novel begins where the other left off. Lan and Zen are separated due to the choices they made. Lan is determined to complete the mission her mother started before her death – destroy the Demon Gods. Zen chose a Demon God over Lan when he sold his soul to the Black Tortoise in an effort to save the Kingdom. They both have the same end goal in mind, but it takes them a while to figure that out.

I’m still a fan of Lan and Zen. Emotions are heavy – guilt, sadness, love, disappointment, betrayal – but they continue on their individual journeys. When their paths cross again, initial encounters are awkward and a little violent, but they eventually relearn how to work together and trust each other. I adored Dilaya as a supporting character in the first book, and she still owns every scene she’s in.

Pacing is slower initially but picks up considerably around the 50% mark. The ending is perfect in my opinion. Other reviewers mentioned the need for tissues, but I smiled throughout those last pages at the beautiful way the author chose to wrap up this compelling duology.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you liked the first book, then you will really enjoy the second in this series. This book begins off right where the first book ends. I found the beginning a little slow, but it picked up by the second half of the book. I really enjoyed Lan and Zen’s journey and their growth throughout the book. I felt that the action and the romance had a good balance in this book. The ending was both sad and beautiful. It was a perfect way to end this duology.

Easily 5 stars.

What an explosive ending to this duology. I was not expecting the places this book went, it definitely hit the feels for sure. If you are a fan at all of Chinese mythology or martial arts style fables, I think this series will just hit the spot for you. While it is Young Adult, which many people feel they have grown out of, I think it doesn't fall into any of the early 2000's-feeling YA people are usually more familiar with. It will sweep you up in the story and never let you and I cannot recommend it enough. Such cool magic with different variations, Chinese gods among us wreaking havoc, a romance subplot with such twists and turns in the development....it is just so GOOOD. You should read it already.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to the publisher for my arc!


This book hurt me as i knew it would. I loved this duology so much and didn't want to say goodbye to these characters who i've come to love so much