Thank you, @penguinteenca, and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.

Review: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Quote: All endings are found in beginnings

This book left such a mark on me, I can’t stop internally sobbing and I am still reeling from reading it. To say that I was not looking forward to this epic conclusion was an understatement.

Migod, it’s like watching a freaking Xianxia drama with all the angst, sweet love, internal turmoil, wrenched fate, magic, sacrifice, and strong familial bonds all thrown in. Ironically, I just came out of drama-land only to jump into this book - ahhhhh!!!

The story picks up where last left Zen and Lan in opposite goals. Lan is seeking the godslayer to destroy the four demon gods while Zen is seeking more power and an army to overthrow the colonizers that have invaded their land. As fate would have it, they keep meeting in unexpected circumstances with Zen coming into Lan’s aid every time. However, would they finally align in their goals when they realize they are on the same side of the coin?

If the first book is made of world building, character introduction and plot focused, this book is very heavily character driven, with a huge focus on Zen and Lan. Those moments when they meet…the angst, and the strong emotions and their growth! I can’t put the emotions into words given Amelie’s wonderful poetry writing. Their story is one of fate and destiny, one of yin and yang - it’s like the red thread of fate keeps bringing them together unexpectedly.

While the first book had some humorous moments, this book was completely focused on the love story of Zen and Lan and the emotions that it brings forth. I lost track of the amount of annotations I made throughout the book….

Since this book is very heavily character driven, my only small issue is that the plot took a small back seat especially with the character building of the colonizers. The world building is present but the colonists were only present in the start and end of the book. There was also an introduction to another character that did play a heavy part in the book and it felt very rushed in that aspect where they appeared, disappeared and reappeared in the very end. So, this part felt somewhat anticlimactic to me.

(SPOILER) AND THAT ENDING!! Talk about an ending almost similar to the drama, Til The End of The Moon. While I understand the nuances of it, that doesn’t mean I have to like it (SPOILER)

My only regret is not having a physical copy as I annotated this book so much that it’s full of my notes and reactions - I guess I’ll have to go back for a re-read when the book comes out on 2nd January 2024

Read this if you want:
- Intricate world-building of a Chinese Dynasty
- Xianxia: the mystical realms of the Chinese spiritual dimension
- A nod to historical themes, particularly the foreign invasion or colonization of an empire
- A play on mystical Chinese Gods of Direction, Fate and Destiny
- Star crossed lovers (angst alert)
- The haunting and elegant writing style

"If I have only this one night with you, Sòng Lián, it would still be better than a lifetime without you."

Much like the first book we are immediately immersed into a beautifully written world that is steeped in ancient Chinese mythology and folklore. The characters are developed further and I came to love them even more. This sequel with take you on an action-packed adventure with twists that you won't see coming.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White takes place right where we left off in Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. Lan and Zen are trying to accomplish their separate missions. Lan wants to finish what her mother started and destroy the demon gods, whereas Zen would like to find the power to unleash his great-grandfathers undead army on the Elantian colonizers whom stole their land. Ultimately their missions collide as they work together towards a common goal.

This finale made me so emotional. The last few chapters had me sobbing. Although this is much more than a love story, the eternal bond between Zen and Lan is heartbreakingly beautiful. A bittersweet ending to one of my favorite duologies.



Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte for an eARC.

Book Two in the Song of the Last Kingdom Duology picks up shortly after the climatic ending of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. Lan and Zen continue their journeys to free their kingdom from the colonial rule of the Elantians. While they both strive to achieve the same goals their methods and ethical views on how it should be done keep them at odds with each other for a majority of the book. And, to be honest, it hurts because all I wanted was to see them happy together!

I enjoyed getting to see and get to know more characters that we were introduced to in the previous book and they started to really grow on me- but I needed more substance and deeper relationships between characters! There were so many parts that I should have felt an emotional reaction but just didn’t, because I didn’t get the developed relationships between characters.

Pacing seemed to be an issue. It took a long time to get going and was working well in the middle- but then hit fast forward and the whole thing was neatly wrapped up in a flash. The Chinese mythology and folklore is strong and central to the world building, which ranges between delightfully enlightening to unnecessarily redundant (there are only so many ways to describe qi).

Overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to this YA duology, but I felt like it was missing some emotional elements that could have brought it to a higher level. I would recommend for 14+.

The conclusion to Lan and Zen’s story will overwhelm your tear ducts.

Following the events of the first installment, “Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White” revolves around Lan and Zen as they seek out a way save their kingdom from the Elantian colonizers. At the center of both of their journeys are the Demon Gods and the immense power they have. Only, they are no longer fighting together. Now on opposite sides, Lan and Zen will have to face each other and the choices they made to free their people.

Inspired by ancient Chinese history and mythology “Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White” is just as lyrical and atmospheric as its predecessor.

Having done all the heavy lifting in terms of world-building in the previous novel, Zhao focuses mainly on Lan and Zen’s relationship. Their star-crossed love was captivating, making it difficult to put this book down even as my heart was breaking.

The internal struggle Zen faces throughout the book - losing himself completely to the Demon God devouring his soul, yet wanting to give Lan his heart - absolutely wrecked me. Seriously. Reading from Zen’s perspective was almost painful because I grew so attached to his character and understood the cause he sacrificed everything for, which is a testament to Zhao’s ability to heighten emotions in her readers.

Much like “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night,” this book’s ending is equally beautiful and devastating. While bittersweet, wrapping it up any other way would have been unsatisfying. Make sure you have tissues on hand!

The beautiful cover won me over and the description sealed the deal. It's a sequel so I grabbed the first book (Song of Silver, Flame Like Night ) from the library and excitedly read it all in one weekend. To be quite honest, I almost didn't read this one because of it but I was interested enough in the story to keep going. (And frankly, I hoped some of the issues I had with the first book might be resolved in this one.) I found the characters flat and their choices did not feel organic. Dialog (internal and between characters) seemed like missed opportunities to give us context and insight that could have helped flesh out the people we're supposed to care about. It did not help that I lack the cultural knowledge to fill in the blanks and did not understand many of the references, but that doesn't normally detract so much from my reading experience. All in all, the story itself was compelling enough for me to see it through.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is a sequel about power and the future. About the ways we think we can achieve a better future and what are necessary consequences. Sacrifices that have to be made. And what happens when our version of who gets sacrificed is different? When we think we can afford to lose someone we can't? It's a story that explores what lengths we will go to for power and for change.

This is the strong sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. The basic summary is that, starting where book one left off, Lan and Zen must find the remaining Demon Gods and fight to free their land from the Elantian regime--but their paths have diverged in opposite ways.

The absolute best thing about this duology is the magic system. It's very visual and as a result very cinematic and epic to read, and the magic itself is conjured in very diverse ways that are often connected to family heritage and arts. The descriptions of the world are luscious and immersive. The themes of imperialism and resistance in this book are also really good. I'd recommend these books to readers who aren't quite ready for R.F. Kuang's Poppy War trilogy but still want similar themes and settings. I also really loved Zen's character and his struggle with his Demon God and the legacy of his family. The romance for me was pretty good. There were definitely a lot of moments where it really tugged at my heart. Sometimes it fell a little flat but on the whole it's really tender and I love the dynamic between Lan and Zen.

The main thing I struggled with was the pacing, which I also struggled with in book one. For some reason it took me a long time to read and it was hard to keep my attention. The plot itself is replete with action scenes and awesome settings and really cool world building, and I don't really know why I felt like I was slogging through. Maybe it's just me. Some of the writing was a little bit repetitive--lots of mentions of a romantic scene from book one, which of course is such a lovely and iconic scene. But those are my only gripes.

The ending was spectacular and I loved how all the subplots and different pieces of the magic system came together in an epic conclusion. I did tear up in the second to last chapter. I'm not sure how I feel about the last chapter (more of an epilogue) since it would have been such an impact to end with the second to last one. But overall I'm so satisfied with how the story turned out and the culmination of everything that's been building since book one. I definitely recommend this duology even if you're just reading for really cool magic and characters.

I was very surprised when I realized that Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White was a duology and not a trilogy, as the first book very much had trilogy feels. After finishing DSBAFW I stand by my expectation - this totally should have been a trilogy. There is so much lore and history to explore! It almost feels like a waste. Not that I didn't throughly enjoy this book, but I think it would have been so much more impactful had the characters and plot had more time to develop. Zen in particular. I really loved his path to villian in the Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. It was a slow burn, will he won't he, with tiny hints sprinkled along the way. I would've loved to an entire book with him actually being a villian before we are introduced to a new one. Which also, the new villian? Had so much potential! Seriously an entire book dedicated there would've been great.

Anyways, I digress. Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is a great sequel. I know I am complaining about wanting more, but I did finish the book very satisfied. It ended in the way I wanted it to end and I honestly would have thrown my Kindle if it hadn't .

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5
Thanks to Random House/Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

"So long as we live on, we carry inside us all that they have destroyed. And that is our triumph; that is our rebellion. Do not let them win today."

And thanks to Amelie for hitting me right in the feelings with this finale!! Dang it all, I really was hoping she wouldn't really go there, but I completely understand why she did as this is an impactful, heartbreaking and yet ultimately uplifting end to the story. I have certainly fallen in love with Lan and Zen and this journey to save the Last Kingdom has everything you want: twists, danger, friendships, loyalty, bravery, battles and plenty of demon gods and magic. Throughout both of these books Amelie has brought Chinese history to life as you feel completely immersed in the Last Kingdom, from food, clothing, military tactics, to the different peoples and clans, plus the descriptions of the landscapes and cities, it's all beautifully written. Lan and Zen are complex people who are easy to root for as they struggle to remake their world while trying to stay true to themselves and safeguard their friends. There are no easy choices and each of the characters makes flawed decisions, bringing about an ending that feels right and not easily won. I would highly recommend this duology to all fantasy fans as the world building, magic systems and character work are all superb and this is a wonderfully satisfying read.

Amelie Wen Zhao is a force to be reckoned with. First of all, I don't think this book should be YA. The complexity of the story, the depth of the lore, and the detailed magic system make it a much more "hefty read" than I would expect from YA. That being said, I loved every minute. Though Lan by herself is a little bit of a typical MC, her interactions with Zen are delightful. I was highly anticipating this book, and while I do feel like I enjoyed the first book more, this was very satisfying.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I really liked the first book in this duology, and was anxiously waiting for the sequel. However, said sequel, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White left me with somewhat mixed feelings, especially upon realizing the conclusion to a duology, which compounded a lot of the issues.
The world is still quite interesting, and I enjoyed the Chinese historical and mythological influences. The history and lore was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to explore the world more. The characters were pretty good, and I did get the sense that Lan and Zen grew a lot over the course of this installment, as well as over the course of the duology overall.
However, I found the plot and pacing underwhelming. The early part of the book moved at snail’s-pace, only picking up towards the end. But on the flip side, it’s also one hundred pages shorter, and with so much of the truly interesting stuff happening at the end, it ended up feeling too slow and too rushed at the same time.
While I found this book somewhat underwhelming, there’s still a lot to like here, and I’m hopeful for Amelie Wen Zhao’s future work. If you enjoy Asian-inspired YA fantasy, I’d recommend checking this out!

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is an excellent ending to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology by Amelie Wen Zhao. I read Song of Silver Flame Like Night last year and loved it. The dynamic between Zen and Lan was so perfect, but in the first books they are still just kids and don't yet to see the full scope of the roles they are destined to play. Here, we pick up right where we left off, with Zen and Lan now on opposite sides, each wielding the power of a God, but to different ends. Both have been the victims of a legacy of violence, but will they be able to break the cycle or simply perpetuate it through revenge? And at what cost?

I must admit, I remembered little beyond how much I loved these characters and the feel of the book when picking up this second chapter. It took a little time to get acclimated and remember some of the significant pieces in the original book, but once I got into it the story really takes off. The book is loaded with action, from battle scenes to hand to hand fighting. It is bitter to see Zen and Lan on opposite sides and yet they still clearly love each other deeply. Their connection is undeniable. All of this builds to a great conclusion that had me in tears and smiling at the same time. There is no question that Wen Zhao sticks this landing! Chinese mythology, romance, epic landscapes and intense action, this duology is likely to stay in my all time favorites. 4.5 Stars!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for access to an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great continuation of the series. I absolutely loved this first book and was so excited to continue the series. And it did not disappoint me. The romance in the book was so good and the plot was very well thought out. I would highly recommend this book!

This was a very meh follow-up to the first book. The characterization continues to be strong, and the magical system is fascinating. The idea of the contracts and the Gods opens so much for interesting characterization. The problem for me was that I could often see how things would play out before the plot got to the point. It left me with hundred of pages of a book where I felt like I could easily sum up their personalities and fates in a few sentences.

It was a fine read, I took off half a star because the epilogue annoyed me that much.

“You do not only live for yourself. You live for those that you have lost. You carry their legacies inside you.”
~~~
Rating:🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉
Hi yea so I’ve been emotional scared by Amélie, again!
I had so many emotions going through my head. The romance, the world building, fight scenes, AND THAT ENDING!
I can’t wait for yall to get back into this world. You will not be disappointed. Also have I bought every single edition…maybe…don’t tell my husband.
But Dark Star Burning; Ash Falls White is available for preorder! Releases 1/2/24, GO GET IT!
Thank you Underline for the chance to grab this AMAZING ARC at YALLfest, AND to Amélie for signing it too!

A beautiful and heartbreaking conclusion to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology! Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is a lyrical story of power, of resistance, of survival, of sacrifice, and of love. The themes of colonialism, legacy, and persistence resonate with current events and I highly recommend reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Man, where do I begin this review. I started out my year with Lan and Zen and now I’m ending the year with them. . . Feels rather fitting since this is the ending of their tale. 💔

I loved the new settings that Lan and Zen’s journey took the reader in this book. From the cold and wintery steppes to the hot deserts of the kingdom, it felt like the world got bigger without getting too overdone. 🗺️

Lan and Zen’s characterization and relationship took a step up, though I did feel like Lan was refusing to see the grey area of her grand plan and Zen’s role in it all. When the two finally met up and did find myself squealing with delight while quietly saying to myself “FINALLY!” Their lovers-to-enemies-then-back-to-lovers plot line really took over here and it honestly was so sweet. And their ending? . . . Yep, I should’ve expected the pain but not in the way Zhao did it 🥲

Tài, Dilaya, and Shàn’jūn are back and are beautiful side characters to the shooting stars that are Lan and Zen. I thought the banter between Tài, Dilaya and Lan was on par for a group of teens on a quest to find demon gods, but Shàn’jūn’s unending kindness to Zen was so heartwarming. I do hope we get a spin off with Tài and Shàn’jūn as the main characters as they are just too cute together. 🥰

The addition of Hóng’yì was both an interesting choice and man did he add to the complexity of the demon gods and their binders. He’s also a great example of what happens to those who are born privileged and will do anything for power. ☄️

In all, I was so happy to be back in this story and with the characters, and I’m deeply saddened to know it’s over. I really hope that this isn’t the last time being in this world! 🤞🏼

Big thank you goes to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for accepting my request in exchange for an honest review and the author, Amélie Wen Zhao, for ripping my heart in the best way possible. 🥹

Pub. Day: January 2!! ✨

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

*An advanced digital copy was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review*

Preface: I have been waiting for this second book in this series, and was so happy to be given the chance to read it. This is the second book in the duology. As I've said in a previous review, I am a huge fan of books created by Asian American authors. After reading the first book in this series (Song of Silver, Flame like Night) I had been patiently waiting to see how Lan and Zen's story continues.

Quick Synopsis: Set in a magical Chinese folklore inspired world. ~ The story begins where the first book left off, with Zen binding himself the Black Tortoise, and Lan learning she has the Silver Dragon. All the Demon Gods are released but Lan and Zen don't plan on fight on the same side. Lan's mission this book is to kill all the Demon Gods with the Godslayer. Zen's mission is to use the power of the Black Tortoise and face off against their oppressors, the Elantians. They have a lot to do in the ~368 pages.

So, to start the review, I do want to say that this book is very fast paced. The characters go through each step of their mission very quickly, and each chapter switches from Lan's POV to Zen's POV. I was able to finish the book fairly quickly, just because there wasn't a lot of downtime in between their sub-missions. With that said, the pacing might be too quick for others. It felt like the book's climax came very quickly, and might have also felt a bit rushed. Especially considering that Lan's mission was to 1. Find the Godslayer, 2. Find the other Demon Gods, and 3. Kill them all.

I personally love my books to be a bit longer, because I love being immersed in the stories. I also have a fondness for adventure books and following characters on an adventure, but this one just felt like it all fell into place.

Characters:
Lan and Zen are the two main characters in the book, but of course they have their side characters that join them. There's also some new characters that get introduced as well towards the middle of the book. To me it felt that there was a lot of sudden character development for Lan, almost drastic at times, especially how she views the other characters.

--SPOILERS AHEAD --

TURN BACK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE SPOILERS




Let's talk about the Crimson Phoenix character. The portion of the story that goes through his palace, and the fight at the palace with Zen felt way too rushed for me. Lan found Shaklahira, became engaged to him, learned the Godslayer, and he fled.. all within a day or two? It felt like there was not a lot of development of the Crimson Phoenix character, and it didn't give us a lot of time to truly understand his personal motives. At the base level he wants to stay alive and live in hiding from the Elantians. I think this would have been incredibly helpful to learn more about this character, and perhaps why he's hiding, or why he's afraid of the Elantians. Especially considering that he's the FINAL BOSS.

Ok the final battle. The demon warriors were super awesome, and I personally would have loved to learn more about their history, and the demons, but I digress.
The final battle was epic, don't get me wrong. But it felt wrong to me. Having the Crimson Phoenix as the final boss felt too sudden. The Elantian chasing them through the two books died too easily, and should have been more of a final boss IMO.

The ~5 years later~ style ending was a little cliche to me as well. It ended a little too perfectly, with her having a son and remembering Zen, etc, etc. I didn't hate it, but it did seem like a perfect bow at the end.

--END SPOILERS --





All in all I was quite happy with the book and I think it gave a nice ending to this duology. A lot of reviews of SoSFLN said there was too much worldbuilding in the first book, but then I think it gave this book just too much adventure and not enough breathing room. There were a few things in this book I think would have been great if it was explained a bit more, but I'm not too upset about that. I still thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese folklore aspect, and the magic system in the duology.


Thanks again Netgalley for the ARC!

I haven’t felt pain like this in a long time, thanks Amélie.

First and foremost, thank you Random House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

You all know that Song of Silver was my favorite book of 2023 and this was a book I’ve been dying to get ahold of with high hopes. I will say that while it didn’t grab me quite the way that Song did, the writing carried me away into a fever dream of ache and longing and love and for that I award five stars.

There were some parts that felt a bit repetitive in the way that events unfolded, and some of the new characters I could have stood some more time and development of, yet overall this duology has affixed itself squarely as one of my favorite stories of all time.

The magic system remains one of my favorites and unlike anything I’ve read before (which is important to me). The way that Amélie writes feels like a song, its lyrical and sweeps me off my feet. I loved this book, I love her writing, I love these characters. The ending was not necessarily what I *wanted*, but it felt like the only honest way this story could unfold.

This book is for the reader that values a strong voice, demonstrative writing, subtlety, and gentle, beautiful romance that makes you ache. It is not flashy and it is not fast-paced, but it is, in my opinion, art and magic.

This was a fun conclusion to a fun story. I loved the mythology of the gods and demon gods and seeing how the relationship between Lan and Zen. The interactions between the different demon gods and the interactions with the gods and Their hosts. I love a good monster possession store and this is no different.I like how the personal relationships evolved and that the story had a concrete ending. I will be rereading very soon