Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC of this book.

This is the second book in the Song of the Last Kingdom duology and what a fantastic end. I need more people to read this series immediately. It blends the mythology and folklore of ancient China into a YA fantasy filled with lessons about balance, loss, and love. The heart of the story truly is the romance between Lan and Zen as they keep being drawn back together as they try to save the kingdom from the Elantian colonizers and destroy the Demon Gods with the Godslayer. The Demon Gods consist of a dragon, tortoise, tiger, and phoenix, and we get to see each of them battle in this book. I would have liked a little more of the battle in the final faceoff, but the ending is very satisfying and made me cry. A must read for Romantasy fans.

Book Review
Title: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao (Song of the Last Kingdom Book 2)
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
The opening to Dark Star Burning takes place about a month after the ending of Song of Silver, Flame like Night with Zen and Lan going their separate ways. Zen has headed back to the stronghold of his clan to find out the secrets that the Nightslayer kept, while Lan is heading west in order to find the Godslayer hidden in the desert. The Winter Magician manages to survive his final encounter with Lan but he is seriously injured in the process than ever and even more frustrated because they haven’t come close to capturing the Azure Tiger and the Crimson Phoenix is still missing.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, I wasn’t enjoying this one as much as the first and I think that is because we are missing the dynamic between Lan and Zen that I loved in book 1. We are essentially following two different stories that are beginning to overlap now as Zen is at the Palace of Eternal Peace where he has been learning about his clan’s past and he’s a completely different character from book one. It is hard to tell how much of the anger Zen has is his and how much comes from the demon but we can clearly see that Lan has much more control over her demon than Zen does which is something brought up several times in book one. Meanwhile, Lan and the others are heading through the desert to get to Nakkar in order to find the Yue clan and direction to Shaklahira, the Forgotten City of the West to find Godslayer. The stories start to overlap here since Zen discovers the secret his clan had has been sealed by the Crimson Phoenix and he needs that Demon God to remove it and he believes that it is somewhere in the desert where Lan and the others are.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, I really liked the dynamic of the side characters and seeing Lan and Zen as two sides of the same coin but the best thing about book one was the dynamic between Lan and Zen and nothing has replaced that so it feels a bit lacking right now. Honestly, I’m not sure if it is because book one had so much action packed in and this one is moving at a slower pace or because the character dynamics are really different but it feels like a lot of the time, nothing is happening and what is happening feels exactly like book one. That being said, the plot is moving forward a little as Lan has managed to get the location for Godslayer from the Yue clan without the assistance of Tai and Dilaya but she has had another run in with Zen and the Winter Magician, which is starting to feel a little repetitive but I am hoping that the action kicks in again soon as we see the build to the finale start.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, I was getting very worried since this book seems to be suffering from middle book syndrome, where nothing is really happening and it is only drawing the story out for the third book. If that isn’t the case then I think the ending is going to be extremely rushed and unsatisfactory since we are halfway through the book and Lan hasn’t even got Godslayer yet, the Winter Magician has only appeared once and Zen hasn’t completed any of his goals. However, considering that Zen plans to go to war with the Elantian, reestablish the Ninety-Nine clans and much more I can see this being a trilogy because Amelie Wen Zhao can’t possible wrap this up nicely with only half the book remaining. We do also have a new character in Hong’yi, the Royal Prince who has been in hiding since the fall of the Imperial family and for good reason. The reason is because Shaklahina houses not only Godslayer but the Crimson Phoenix since it is bound to Hong’yi and yet we are aware that Zen needs the Crimson Phoenix to undo the seal of his clan’s history book with the instructions to summon the dead which I think Hong’yi isn’t going to do. I predict that Lan will get between them since Zen isn’t the same and Lan hates unnecessary death.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, I was getting pretty bored since nothing is really happening except travelling and learning. There haven’t been any major conflicts and even the minor ones have lasted a page or two at most. The only thing keeping me going at the moment is the characters and the mystery of what Godslayer actually is and if it actually works. Lan very quickly comes to learn the secret that Hong’yi has been keeping as his family has an ability that allows them to control and manipulate the qi of the mind, allowing them to create illusions in the minds of the people they use it on. Lan very easily counters this with the power of the Silver Dragon, Hong’yi around this time proposes to Lan asking her to be his empress because they both wield demon gods and she agrees in order to get the information she wants out of him.
It is around this time that Dilaya informs her that Tai has gone missing and the secret behind controlling the demon gods. Tai, Lan and Zen all find the river of the dead where the golden lotus seeds grow and consuming these seeds allows the person to control a demon god but like the power of the gods, these seeds come at a price, one which Zen and Hong’yi were both willing to pay but Lan was not. By the time everything comes to a head, Lan manages to uncover what the Godslayer is from Hong’yi’s mind and tries to use it to destroy the Crimson Phoenix but it is incomplete, allowing Hong’yi to escape. However, Zen is willing to give Lan the information she needs to perform the technique which his clan kept secret for generations if she uses it on him when the time comes in order to sever the demon god from him but his life might be forfeit and Lan would face the same fate since she changed the bargain her mother made with the Silver Dragon.
With only around 80 pages left and the Azure Tiger still unaccounted for and the Elantians still hunting down Lan and Zen, I definitely think this is going to be a trilogy since I don’t think everything can be tied up in less than 100 pages. I honestly stand corrected, everything I thought up until this point has been proven wrong. This is only a duology and that final battle and resolution of the story brought me to tears especially the epilogue. Despite my reservations, Amelie Wen Zhao was able to bring everything together in these last 100 pages, not only raising the stakes to extreme levels but bringing so many smaller storylines to their conclusions in ways I was delighted with. Overall, this was a brilliant duology and reading the books back to back honestly broke my heart especially the ending. The only thing I wanted more from was the relationship between Lan and Zen since they don’t get to spend much time together but I think that makes the ending even more bittersweet. Highly recommended!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

Side note: I couldn't be more satisfied knowing this is the last book I read in 2023. My eyes are puffy, my heart is full, and I feel happy/sad at the same time. As this is the final book in this duology, spoilers ahead for those who haven't read book 1~!

TL;DR: Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White was a satisfying conclusion to this duology. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think at the start because it took a direction that I wasn't expecting. I thought there would be more action but this is a slower-paced fantasy that includes more intricate world-building and in-depth exploration of historical and thematic concepts. That said, the culminating battles and the way the threads tie together in the end are bittersweet but no less rewarding. Lan and Zen were great leading characters who were easy to root for and made me love the story of the Last Kingdom.

As the second book in a duology, I can't go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. However, the second book delves deeper into the history of the Last Kingdom and we learn more about the heritage that was lost over the years under imperial rule followed by colonisation. Despite this progressing at a much more sedate pace than I expected, I would say being patient pays off in the end when the full story is revealed and the threads all tie together. This is a story about strength, bravery, perseverance, and overcoming adversity. I continued to love the way the author explored the themes of cultural loss due to forced assimilation and total eradication of indigenous peoples, alongside the insidiousness of existing under colonial rule. It explores the power-hungry greed of humans and how most of the time, we are ultimately responsible for our downfall. None of this is explored in a heavy-handed way but it's still sharp and poignant and gets the message across well. There's still a lot to learn about this world and the author gives us a lot of information but again, despite the slower pace, it never felt overwhelming. Wen Zhao knows how to weave a beautiful tapestry and she did a fantastic job in bringing this world full of demons, magic, and resilient people to life. With her well-balanced descriptive prose, I was able to picture scene after scene playing out in my head like a movie and I think fans of the Xianxia genre and even those who are new to it would highly appreciate it!

Following the events of book one, we see Lan and Zen power forward on their paths. There's a lot of anger, fear and sadness that follows them but they are resolute in their goal and the role they think they must play. One of my favourite aspects of their arc is that it always comes back to the red thread of fate that ties souls together—it's always been one of my favourite proverbs and the way it's used here to weave their story fit so perfectly. Throughout the book, they undergo a lot of personal and mental growth as they discover a new enemy, uncover unsettling truths behind the kingdom's history, and come to understand their balancing role in setting their world right. It's heart-achingly bittersweet and I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed some tears as the story came to an end. Ultimately though, my heart felt full by the time I got to the last page and I closed the book feeling satisfied.

As much as I enjoyed this sequel and conclusion, there were elements that I wished had been done better. Similar to what I felt in the first book, the side characters solely exist to push the story along and that even goes for some of their enemies. After a certain point, the Elantians disappeared from the story only to suddenly appear and 'return' to their pivotal role at the end. It would've been great to see what happens with them in the time our MCs are also figuring things out. I was also slightly disappointed that certain characters didn't get a bigger role here and even feel like it might've been a missed opportunity (especially with Shan Jun) and I was so sad when he was omitted from a good portion of the book. Surprisingly, there was one character who I didn't expect to empathise with or understand but grew to appreciate a lot by the end (I'm sure if you've read book one you'll know who I mean, lol).

Overall, despite the slower pace and the lack of secondary character development, I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology. There's a gradual build-up and intense climax which all leads to a satisfying end where the loose ends are tied up, and hope as well as joy shine through in new beginnings.

The bittersweet and gorgeous finale to the fantastic duology featuring a songstress and the boy she loves who must find a way to defeat the Demon Gods while holding onto their souls... but with great magic comes a price and they might have to pay the ultimate price. Picking up where the first book left off, Lan has inherited the power of the Silver Dragon and has made a new deal with the demon. She is determined to eliminate the Demon Gods forever in order to save her kingdom, but in order to do that she must obtain the only magical weapon that can kill the Demon Gods, the Godslayer. She is also still reeling from the murder of her newly discovered father by the boy she loved who also betrayed her, Zen. Zen has sold his soul to gain the powers to eliminate the conquerors who killed his family and stole his kingdom. Zen bound himself to the Demon God, the Black Tortoise... yet the more he uses it's powers the more it gains control of his body and soul.... yet there is one thing that Zen still yearns for, to be with the girl he loves, Lan. With two Demon Gods still on the loose and the enemy Elantian invaders trying to hunt down the same Demon Gods to bind, both Zen and Lan will have to face the betrayal that happened between them as well as the love that still remains. Can they find a way to work together to save those they love as well as repair the damage down between each other? Or will their bonds to their Demon Gods destroy them? This was such a fantastic and beautiful end to the series. I was devastated for them but I loved the journey and the story captivated me until the end. I loved the mythology and the world that was created and the romance between Lan and Zen ramped up in this book. I had a blast with this overall series and would highly recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Y'all it is soooooo good! I absolutely loved it. I want to say so much but don't want to spoil it. AWZ does a fabulous job, once again, building this world for us. New places with new battles are written masterfully. And just like in book one you'll be rooting for both Lan and Zen. The story had me on edge, reading as fast as I could because I was desperate to know the ending. Great series!

*4.5 stars, rounded up*

I didn't love this one as much as the first, but it was still very good! I loved the spin on ancient Chinese mythology and the setting of a fantasy version of ancient China. I loved the heart-stopping action and fast pacing; the plot held my attention for the most part (except during the initial quest part).

The only thing I didn't like was the fact that Zen had little to no character growth in this one. Lan, on the other hand, did grow as a character (I think she was braver, more confident, and stronger).

The ending was perfect, but also bittersweet. I loved it but also hated it because it was heartbreaking.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc.

I was so hopeful for a happy ending to this book until i read the lines "i'll find you in the next life" Talk about an emotional roller coaster that was the most beautiful way to wrap up a duology!
The story overall was pretty medium paced, some parts moved faster than others but overall the plot pacing was really well done and I felt as though all the storylines were well tied up. I was in tears by the end of the book because I just knew that there was no way I was getting the happy ending I wanted for these characters! The epilogue was well appreciated.
I wish we saw more of the gods themselves, i was very into learning about their lore and wish would could have seen more of the physical manifestations of the tiger and phoenix. I did really love the imagery at the end of the book during the fighting climax. The author did/does a really good job at painting a theatrical battle while making it easy for readers to follow along.

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc!!

4.5 stars!
I loved this book so much I think it might even be better than the first one. The plot was so good and the world was so interesting. The mythology and setting were CHEFS KISS, the author did really well making it come to life. I could literally see it playing out like a movie in my head!! It kept me hooked THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH.

( only took off .5 stars because for this to be the 2nd book there was still a lot of world building in the beginning)

I pre ordered a copy immediately after finishing this and i WILL be rereading when it comes. This duology will be my newest recommendation to everyone.

4.5/5 Stars
Miss Amélie Wen Zhao… you’re going to have to pay for my therapy session after this book. I’m serious. I’ve been crying for about 20 minutes now and I still don’t know how to cope after reading this book.
I loved the first book in this series and was excited to receive more about this interesting world and learn where the plot was going especially after the end of book 1. In this book we gain more of an understanding of the folklore/mythology and I enjoyed every second. I’m so glad we got to learn more in this book especially as someone who loves learning about any form of mythology. I do wish this wasn’t a duology, I do think there is so much more we could build on in this world, but who knows maybe ( I'm praying ) we’ll get more??
As for the characters in this book, I loved Zen’s POV. Him still loving Lan although he is practically her enemy, him fighting the Black Tortoise. You can really tell he was fighting hard, and his character developed a ton for me and made him even more likable. As for Lan, I loved that she was constantly staying true to her cause even when it was hard at times. She is an amazing heroine and her pov’s were always my favorite. The characters' romance was there, not as much as I wished in this book, but what can I say, they’re on opposite sides. I wasn't expecting much but when we got it, I ate it up.
The last 2 chapters of this book have absolutely destroyed me but this is the ending we needed. Although it hurts, I’ll live.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Childrens Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this book early!

First off… the is just absolutely stunning.. I mean come on

I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to finish this duology. I was stunned by the world building and imagery in first book and this book did not let me down in those regards either. Beyond that, the book is hard to put down with multiple twists and high paced events that keep you sucked in until the end.

I also thought Ian and Zen’s romance was so sweet in the first book and this was one of my most anticipated reads because I loved these characters so much!

This is a great end to the duology, does the first book justice but is equally beautiful in itself!

I have several thoughts.

First of all, this was a really fun story that gave me another facet of cultivation novels/media to explore. I’ve rarely seen it in mainstream books before, so I’m so happy to have read this duology.

That being said, the story felt a bit rushed. Some places could have been stretched out to give us more information or add plot. I personally would have like to have seen more from Zen’s time in the Northern Steppes and his life there. Plus we could have learned more about Lan’s parents. I also would have liked to see a bit more of the side characters.

Still, this was a well thought out story. It was clear where it was going from start to finish with a badass female lead and her morally grey love interest. I wrote down quite a few quotes in my notes, and there were times that I forgot I was reading a book.

This story would be an amazing introduction for someone to get into Chinese fantasy novels or just fantasy in general. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a book filled with fantasy, mythology, and romance.

Picking up where it ended, the sequel to the Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is riveting, fast-pace, and a race to save their people, country, and way of life.

Diverging paths, Lan and Zen unearth lost secrets, armies, and a shocking truth that change their perspective.

The soul-aching love between these two hurt my soul. A foreboding feeling that these two fated lovers would meet a less fortunate outcome - for to save a world requires sacrifice.

Zen does a lot of groveling in this book. Not in the traditional sense but his actions and intent to right the wrong put him on the right side from how it ended the last book. So many many swoony moment. This man has a silver tongue. What a slow burn romance this was!

This book definitely reads like Chinese drama.

The ending *tears*
Bittersweet~

Highly highly recommend!

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

The second book in an Asian inspired fantasy duology is at heart a story of love. The love between a boy and a girl, between friends, of culture and a land, all twined together, weaving a tapestry of many joined threads. Lian and Zen love each other but they begin the story as enemies, determined to drive the invaders from their land and restore the control of their country to the clans who historically have lived there. In this quest, they will discover what sacrifice and love really mean. Highly recommended.

As expected from this author, the writing was beautiful, the flow of the story just right. The ending to this duology was bittersweet in the end, but was to be expected.
One thing I love of this duology is that it doesn’t shy from the sacrifices of the characters. There are consequences to actions and I’m glad that they weren’t resolved unrealistically just to please the reader. I will say, there were times where I wished we could see more of what was happening on the villains side. They were relevant in the beginning of this book and then again at the very end. It definitely should’ve been a recurring subject throughout.
I am very thankful that I was approved to receive this book, thank you so much to the publisher for accepting my request!

The first book in this series really surprised me and I loved it! Let’s see how it ends:

+ The story takes places immediately after all the chaotic events that happened at the ending of the first book. Zen is on a mission to defeat the Elantians by any means possible but Lan doesn’t believe that’s the right thing to do. Both have their own path and it keeps them apart, which is sad because I loved them together.

+ There is so much conflict in this story. The Elantians want to take over but Zen is fighting tooth and nail to stop that from happening – does this make him a villain when he uses his demon god to try and fight them? Zen’s storyline is heartbreaking and I didn’t expect that. Lan is trying to achieve peace but feels it’s wrong to use the demon gods they are bound to because the demons could overtake their souls and she doesn’t want that for Zen but he makes a choice and she makes hers. I liked all the questions about power and about choices, and doing the right thing.

+ The love story is tragic and made me want to cry! They love each other but with everything going on they know it’s not going to end well. I loved their moment together where they confess what they feel and what kind of future they could have but their love is heartbreaking. This is a bittersweet love story. 

+ I love the battles between the demon gods – they are so epic! Also I love the secondary characters and wish we had more time with them. I love Dilaya, who’s a fierce warrior and a leader. She becomes Lan’s closest friend and their interactions were so good.

~ There are a few villains in this story because of the way they are bound to a demon and want more power and will do anything to achieve their goals but I felt like the Elantians weren’t as present in this story as they were in book one. I actually feel like this should have been a trilogy and not a duology because some parts felt rushed. It’s such an epic world – I think it definitely deserve another book to at least feature more conflict with the Elantians.

My Thoughts:

I wish this series was a trilogy because I felt like there could have been more tension to draw out with the enemies because there are multiple. But despite that I enjoyed this book a lot because of the questions it asks about power and choices. I love the characters and all their different journeys no matter how hard it got for them. The battles between the demon gods were full of action and epic. And even though this is a tragic romance story between Lan and Zen, I loved them so much together and their love story almost made me cry at the end. My heart broke. Although it’s a bittersweet ending, I think it ended perfectly.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is the epic conclusion to the duology that started with Song of Silver, Flame of Night. This book is sweeping in its story and lyrical in its language with descriptions of powers, gods, and legends. At the heart of all these forces are Zen and Lan, the characters who a reader couldn’t help but to fall in love with. Their relationship is beautiful and painful all at the same time.

The author introduces some new nuances and explanations to the magic system and a few new characters, but all in all, this book really is the conclusion of the paths and journeys initiated in the first book. There are epic battles, heart-breaking decisions, pain, self-sacrifice, and resolutions. This is well-done, high-stakes drama, fantasy, and romance all rolled into one. Yes, epic is definitely the word for this book.

This is a read that is hard to put down and highly recommended, but be sure to start with the first book in the series.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy Provided by the Publisher

After their sanctuary is destroyed, Zen and Lan have fled, each on a separate mission, each knowing the other is an enemy even though the love between them remains strong.

Zen has leaned into the darkness, bonding a demon god to himself in his quest to free his kingdom from the invaders. To achieve his goal, Zen is willing to sacrifice absolutely everything, including himself.

Lan now knows the dangers of the demon gods, and after Zen’s betrayal, she knows she has no other choice. There’s a weapon that is said to kill gods, and if she can find it, she can bring all of this to an end, and finally put the world to rights. Will she succeed in doing so before the demon gods inside her and Zen take them over completely?

I received an advanced reading copy of Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is a young adult fantasy novel by Amélie Wen Zhao, and the sequel to Song of Silver, Flame like Night, which I read and reviewed late last year. I really enjoyed the first novel in the Song of the Last Kingdom duology, so of course I was thrilled to get an ARC of the second!

I think that what I really liked the most in this book was how much Zhao leaned into her morally gray characters, and Zen in particular. I feel like everything he did made so much sense, given his history and his goals, and it really made me root for him, even when he did a few more questionable things. But he stayed true to who he was throughout, which was the important part. And also, I loved how he would occasionally see himself and realize just what he was doing, and who he was turning into. He was very conscious of his every action, his very sacrifice, but that only strengthened his character in my eyes. I just love those morally gray and conflicted characters!

Speaking of conflicts, Lan is dealing with some pretty big ones herself. While she’s definitely sticking to the side of good, she knows that to stay on that side she has to kill the demon gods, and if she does that, she’s probably going to kill both herself and the boy she loves, since they both have tied themselves to demon gods. Not a decision I would wish on anyone, but Lan is nothing if not determined!

And besides these massive inner conflicts, there’s also the war with the Elantians going on, and so much more. There are some huge stakes in this novel, and the pace keeps moving fairly quickly throughout. I will say, though, that I thought it was strange that the main villain from the first book wasn’t as prevalent in this one as I expected, and I’m not sure if the way his story ended was as satisfying as it could have been. Actually, I wonder if this was originally planned as a trilogy, because an entirely new plotline appears halfway through this novel, and I wanted it to develop more than it did. I can’t tell you exactly what it is without spoiling the book, but this is just me wishing we’d been able to spend more time with the original villain and this new character to learn more about them.

So, how did I feel about the ending? Honestly, I thought that the ending fit the book and the character choices very well! I don’t think everyone will like it, but I commend Zhao for doing what she did here, and I, for one, was really pleased with how the plot ended. You’ll have to tell me if you feel the same way once you read it!

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White will be released on January 2. You can preorder your copy from Delacorte here.

. I really loved the first book in this duology, it was breathtaking and beautiful to read. I will say the first book is better than this follow up. I think mostly because this follow up is all over the place. Some random plots being woven and LAN and Xan are separated for like half of the book, which doesn’t work very well.

The writing is still beautiful and the message about colonization and the wiping out of culture is still strong. I did not love the ending though.

Major spoilers follow:
I was not surprised to learn that the four demons were actually four gods enclaves by humans for their own greed and thereby tainting the gods spirits. LAN learns this and learns the seal to destroy them but they aren’t really destroyed they’re being freed so they can be gods again I suppose.

The emperor’s son is still alive and a bad guy he’s been in hiding with the Phoenix. The Elantian gets the tiger and lan gives xan her dragon so she can do the gate seal on all the gods. She also gets pregnant with his baby and raises him in the new way that the clans who took over cast.

We don’t get like any info on the life that the remaining clan members set up. Disappointing considering that was a big point to the battle. Is there an emperor? Who is it? How many clan members are actually left? Also we. Get this big vow thing between lan and xan that’s like a makeshift wedding and they promise to find each other and honestly I thought the gods would have been grateful to her and given him back but I guess she’s still alone with her son…as I said a meh ending.

I enjoyed this book (and series). The magic is cool and the plot is interesting. Some of the characters make some dumb decisions, but they are like 18 or 20 I think, so some grace can be given. I’m thankful this book allowed the characters to make their own decisions a bit more compared to book 1 where there was a lot of “for your own good, we didn’t tell you xyz” overall, if you are looking for a good, YA leaning fantasy series set in an Asian inspired world, pick this duology up.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this work in return for a fair and unbiased review.

I really loved the first book so much, I was little scared that the sequel wouldn’t live up to it. But I’m so glad to have read it because it certainly lived up to the hype and promise of the first book. The stakes were high throughout the plot and I didn’t feel like dull or slow at any point. The characters and story also continued in a way that made sense and the characters grew naturally throughout the book. I was left an emotional wreck by the end (but in a good way)!