I loved being back in the Celestial Kingdom with Sue Lynn Tan! Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior are
two of my favorite fantasy books and although these stories did not match the epic scope of those books (because of course they couldn’t), it was lovely to spend time with the characters again. I especially enjoyed the retelling of the origin myths of Chang’e and the sunbirds and the chapters that provide an epilogue to the original books. While that ending was beautiful in and of itself, it was so great to see the characters together here. A must read for fans of the original books!

This was everything I could’ve ever wanted for expanding on the original duology! Tales of the Celestial Kingdom contains around 10 short stories separated into three sections based on the timeline of the first two books. There’s a prequel section that features the story of Houyi and Cháng’e, a section that gives new POVs to events that occur in DOTMG and HOTSW, and the final part providing an epilogue and complete conclusion of the story. I absolutely loved this, and if I remember correctly, in my review for HOTSW I essentially beg for an epilogue that is now in existence and complete perfection. I love the world Sue Lynn Tan has built and I enjoyed being back with the characters that left such an impression on me. This is a must read for anyone who has read or plans to read the duology - it adds so much to the original story!

Thank you SO much to Harper Voyager and Sue Lynn Tan for providing me an early copy, I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is exactly what my soul needed to feel like the series was complete. Especially the last few chapters. Any questions the readers may have had or conclusions a reader may have wanted are answered in this novella. Sue Lynn Tan did an amazing job putting together this novella that crosses before the series begins, during, and after. A beautiful edition to series and a must read!

Thank you to Sue Lynn Tan, the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this arc!

Title: Tales of the Celestial Kingdom
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Source: DRC via NetGalley (Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager) in exchange for a honest review
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Other books in this series: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (TCK #1), Heart of the Sun Warrior (TCK #2)

Why did I choose to read this book?

I will read anything Sue Lynn Tan writes. I mean anything. Each of her books is a feast for the senses. Read my reviews of her other two works if you want to know what I mean. This book popped up on Goodreads for me last year, at which point I stalked its arrival on NetGalley, then I requested it and waited very patiently until it was granted to me this past week. At a cool 165 pages I couldn’t be mad that I only had 2 weeks to complete it, and then proceeded to read it all in one day.

What is this book about?

This small collection of individual character POVs that were absent from the original duology are about the feelings and experiences of the characters that interacted with Xingyin. It introduces her mother (Chang’e) and father (Houyi) in a more detailed way as well as how they came to be separated. Her three closest male companions: the Celestial prince Liwei, and her fellow soldiers Wenzhi and Shuxiao are seen, and their own thoughts and feelings related to Xingyin are made more clear. And finally we get a true epilogue to the duology from Xingyin’s POV.

What is notable about this story?

This collection should be treated like a companion book to the original duology and I would even suggest reading the stories alongside them. Each of the stories says when it occurs, so you can wait until the events happen before delving in for more information. I wish other series did this in such a well organized way.

Was anything not so great?

I didn’t feel like I needed the Twilight collection (Liwei, Wenzhi, and Shuxiao). Everyone’s feelings were very clear in the original books and the ambiguity that was left there encouraged investment on the part of the reader.

I think that, rather than publish this as a separate collection, I would have liked to have seen these inserted into the original books and then released those as special editions or something (now with new points of view!). It’s been so long since I read them that understanding the context of these separate stories made me want to re-read the duology, so might as well just put these in there.

What’s the verdict?

4 stars on Goodreads – gorgeous writing, amazing storytelling, I just wish it had been a part of the originals. Just feels a little late is all. If you haven’t already read the other two books and are planning to pick them up, get this one too. You’re gonna want it.

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺.
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.

Tales of The Celestial Kingdoms is separated into three parts - Dusk, Twilight, Dawn, which capture 9 different moments in time set before, between and after the events of Daughter of The Moon Goddess and The Heart of The Sun Warrior.

The 9 mini moments are kind of like behind the scenes snippets and one of the most important ones to me has to be Liwei's POV "A Rival Spirit". In this scene we see the crucial moment between Liwei and Wenzhi (that is not shown in Heart of The Sun Warrior) as they are both at their weakest, trying to move on with whatever that is left for them and of them. Clearly one holds more power and choice in the matter and even though we already knew the outcome, it's interesting to see the mental and emotional struggle it took to get there.

The best scenes would be Wenzhi's "Sun Moon Teahouse" and Xingyin's "Home" scene as we finally discover what happens between them after the conclusion in Heart of The Sun Warrior. It is a beautiful little anthology that sums up the series quite nicely, complete with illustrations from Kelly Chong @afterblossom_art.

Thanks to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for an ARC of Tales of the Celestial Kingdom!

I absolutely adored this. The last two chapters really hit me in the feels. It was great to get a little more out of the world and these characters. I’m so glad Sue Lynn Tan is writing more in this series! And it’s wonderful she’s donating all the proceeds to charity from this book! ❤️ Also huge shoutout to Kelly Chong for for stunning illustrations!

Oh wow, it was such a joy to dive back into the world of the Celestial Kingdom! I enjoyed every single page of every story. I love that we get a short prequel of Houyi and Chang'e, and THAT epilogue had me kicking my feet, and there may have been some tears of joy. It's definitely a must for those who read Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, magic, short stories, xianxia fantasy, Daughter of the Moon Goddess

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 1/20 and will be posted to my review blog and Instagram on 1/23.

I was so excited to get approved for this! It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and let me say it does not disappoint.

The book is split into three sections, each with a set of short stories. Dusk takes place prior to DotMG, Twilight takes place during the events of DotMG and HotSW, and Dawn takes place after the ending of the duology.

Dusk is an overarching story told in three chapters, alternating between Chang'e and Houyi's POVs, and telling a reimagining of the Mood Goddess myth. I really liked getting a glimpse into their mortal lives and how they fit together prior to everything that happened in the Celestial Kingdom duology. We get to know Chang'e through Xingyin's eyes in the duology, and I liked getting things from Chang'e's POV here and seeing how fiercely she'll fight for those she loves. I also think Houyi's chapter humanized him somewhat and gave a glimpse into the kinds of things he enjoyed and the way he felt about his duty as an archer for the king.

Twilight has 4 stories in it told from various POVs and can be informally split into a section for 'things that happened during DotMG' and 'things that happened in HotSW.' The first story is from Liwei's POV and is a cute story of him and Xingyin going to get the snow ginseng root for the empress. I enjoyed the lightness of the story and getting insight into Liwei's tumultuous feelings regarding Xingyin and his own duty as heir to the Celestial Kingdom. The second story is told from Wenzhi's POV and details how he and Xingyin lured and battled with the Bone Devil, a powerful creature that escaped imprisonment. It was an interesting contrast to see Liwei's regard for Xingyin and Wenzhi's regard for her back-to-back, and how they're similar and different. I definitely feel more sympathetic toward Wenzhi after this short story and feel it gives a better understanding for why he was doing certain things.

The third story in this section is from Shuxiao's POV and takes place in book 2 when she goes with some of the Cloud Wall warriors to liberate the Celestial Court prisoners. I liked this one a lot because Shuxiao is a friend to Xingyin but isn't a character we get to know too much about, so it was nice seeing things from her POV. She's extremely loyal to Xingyin, which comes through here. She's also an excellent strategist and I liked seeing how she led battle/raids. There was also some good banter in this one that I found enjoyable. The final story in this set is again from Liwei's POV and takes place during the last chapter and epilogue of HotSW. In it we get a chance to see Liwei as emperor and how he's changed from when he and Xingyin were younger. He's definitely more benevolent than his father, but he also has complicated feelings for everything that went down in HotSW and before. I liked seeing Liwei in a more complex light and getting to know more of his inner thoughts and feelings about things.

Dawn is the last part of the book and is an extended epilogue to the duology. The first story is from Wenzhi/Zhao's POV and tells of his and Xingyin's first outing together with him as a mortal. His thoughts and feelings are so similar to his earlier chapter, but at the same time they feel slightly different as his time as a mortal (and lack of memories of being Celestial/Demon) have changed him. The second story in this section is from Xingyin's POV and tells of her and Wenzhi's life together. It's a nice HEA for them both and I liked seeing how in love they still were with each other, even with Wenzhi being sentenced to mortality until he proved himself.

Overall I enjoyed this collection of stories and feel it added to the duology. It was nice seeing things from other characters' POVs and I liked getting some additional background information on Chang'e and Houyi, as well as some additional closure for Xingyin and Wenzhi. I definitely recommend!

I don’t even know if I can describe how happy it made me to be back in the world of the Celestial Kingdom. Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior were two of my favorite books from 2022. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom was so beautifully written. I think each story added so much depth and nuance to characters I already adored. I loved how we learned more about Chang’e and Houyi, the backstory was amazing. I love how Tan is able to absolutely transport me through her writing. It’s so descriptive, without being overly flowery, and I got so swept up in each short story. The last two stories were my favorite by far and my heart was doing backflips.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a journey The Celestial Kingdom duology (plus this novella) has been.

When I first read Daughter of the Moon Goddess, it brought out so many emotions, my heart hurt quite a lot, and I left the story feeling untethered.

Then Heart of the Sun Warrior came by and I felt such a deep connection that it took me back to that untethered place of the first book and suddenly understanding was struck.

My perspective of the first book shifted in a way where I gained immense appreciation for it. I realized Daughter and Warrior are two halves of one whole. A beautiful, devastating, glorious whole.

My love grew tenfold for that duology upon reading Sun Warrior.

I ended Heart of the Sun Warrior desperate for more. Gods, I loved that book, and the ending, but like a spoiled child I still demanded more. I couldn't bear to leave that world.

Which finally brings me to this novella. I am so grateful Tales of the Celestial Kingdom exists. I received exactly what I yearned for next-- an answer to what happens after Sun Warrior! And not just that! We receive prequel and in-world stories of the duology. This novella is quite literally a dream come true.

Every story was so beautifully written. I received each like a poem to the heart. It's divided into three sections: Dusk, Twilight, Dawn. I laughed and cried, and I fell in love with all the characters all over again. These short stories allowed further character building for each of its centered stars, allowing the reader to broaden perspective, layer understanding, and gain appreciation. Much like my journey throughout the main duology.

It'll be no surprise to hear that Dawn, led by Wenzhi and Xingyin, was my favorite part of the novella. It features what I dreamed of most: what came after the ending of Sun Warrior. I won't spoil it, just know I thought it was perfect.

Oh! And there are illustrations throughout the book! They add such a vibrancy to the text, allowing imagination to soar upon the visual presented. A fantastic added fixture to the story!

This novella is the greatest gift to readers. It'll always be cherished in my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me physical and digital arcs in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
TW: grief, fighting/battles

It is no surprise to anyone at this point that I am a solid fan of the TALES OF THE CELESTIALl KINGDOM duology, so I was delighted to learn we were getting a novella collection from author Sue Lynn Tan. This novella is split into three sections: Dusk, which serves as prequel to the events of DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS; followed by, Twilight, which highlights and provides further insight into scenes from both books in the duo; lastly, we have Dawn, which serves as an extended epilogue to the series. Out of the nine total chapters we read from six different points of view, with only one belonging to Xingyin, our protagonist from this series. This was a nice touch as it allowed us to get into the minds of some of our favorites characters from the series and it offers new insight and layers to key scenes we either read in the duology or are familiar with due to the character’s memories.

Another added element which helped to enhance the story were the various illustrations by the talented Kelly Chong, providing a visual aid. I actually think there will be additional illustrations in the published book which were not included in the advanced reader’s copy (ARC), so I am excited to see what else is in store. There is not a lot I can say without spoiling the series in general, but the author does include a note which outlines what you should and should not read based on what you have already explored. Having already read the series, I can definitely say any fan will appreciate these additional nuggets of information and heart the author provides us with, but you may have a similarly enjoyable experience if you have not read this series before and follow her guide for reading KINGDOM.

The only reason I am holding this back from a five star rating is because there is one couple featured in this novella who I think needed to be mentioned in the Dawn section for this to feel fully well rounded and complete. The author has teased that she will be writing more in the world, however, it will feature entirely new characters and will serve as a completely separate storyline to what we have in the original duo. Either way, if you love this world and series and do not want to say goodbye yet, this is a must read. I loved it and honestly it just made me want to reread the series.

P.S. I will never stop holding out hope we get a Chinese Drama or a donghua for this beautiful series.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this gorgeous title in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I begin? These short stories are stunning. Absolutely stunning. And if I had any complaint, it would be that I finished too quickly, and I wanted more. I was immersed... I smiled, I gasped, I gnawed on my lip with anxiety. This was a perfect, quick read and a satisfying companion to the Celestial Kingdom.

Thank you, Sue Lynn Tan, for the wonderful adventure.

Strong fantasy set that’s really well written, especially the dusk ones. I would recommend this one so much! Thanks for the arc

This was beautiful and everything I could have hoped for as an extended epilogue. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom is a short quick read consisting of gorgeous illustrations and 9 stories told from some of our favorite characters. The timeline of the stories range from happening before Daughter of the Moon Goddess, during it and during Heart of the Sun Warrior and after the events of Heart of the Sun Warrior. I thought each tale while short was beautifully written and poignant. Some are heartwarming awhile others are bittersweet. I think each serves its purpose and they added depth and insight to many special moments that I had always wondered about. The illustrations are breathtaking and I can't wait to see how they look in the finished copies.

Overall I think that if you are a fan of The Celestial Kingdom duology this novella is a must read. Sue Lynn Tan is a master at writing and these short stories showcase her poetic prose and immerse us back into the Celestial Kingdom.

Hugest thank you to Harper Voyage for gifting me an eARC and ARC

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed revisiting this world that Sue Lynn Tan created. I enjoyed every story and every character. My favorites were the sunbirds and when Chang’e took the elixir to save her baby.

Also the illustrations in this novel are stunning. I always love looking at them and seeing what the words are saying in picture form.

If you enjoyed this series then you definitely need to read this short novel.

4 stars.

I like Sun Lynn Tan found it hard to leave these characters behind and have been waiting for this book since it was announced. When I saw that I was approved to read an early copy of Tales of the Celestial Kingdom, I screamed and started reading immediately. I devoured this in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, and truly felt joy for two of my favorite characters ever. The illustrations were beautiful and I cannot wait to see them once my physical copy arrives. This book is short but mighty and I highly recommend picking this up if you enjoyed the Celestial Kingdom Duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me access to the E-arc.

I loved the collection of short stories in this novella. It explained some of the gaps in the series. It was fun to revisit the characters.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loved the first two books!

4.5/5 stars

I absolutely ADORED going back into the world of the Celestial Kingdom for this companion novella. Told through nine short stories, this was the perfect addition to an already fantastic duology. The stories take place in different time periods and through different POVs. Some occur prior to the events of the duology, some throughout, and some after.

This book sucked me right back into this world, told with lyrical prose and once again such stunningly visual descriptions. Tan has a way of writing that is so beautiful and magical. I loved getting to see so many favorite characters again, and get to know more about them.

Starting with Chang’e and Houyi and ending with Xingyin and Wenzhi, we have stories of sacrifice and courage, of love and friendship, and most importantly, a breathtaking epilogue that had me squealing with delight.

If you were a fan of the original series, it is a MUST to read what happened before, during, and after the enchanting tale of the Celestial Kingdom.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for physical and ecopies in exchange for an honest review.

Review will be posted to linked instagram on January 25th.

This was everything, EVERYTHING, I ever imagined or hoped it would be.

It’s no secret that I adore the Celestial Kingdom series. I think it is one of the most beautiful, moving, complex, unexpected and unique stories out there. These tales spanned different times throughout the original duology: part one broken into pieces inspired by the original moon goddess’ tale and how it folds into the rest of the story later, a middle full of growing and changing relationships between characters during the Celestial Kingdoms duology, and a final part that serves as an epilogue.

And good LORD, did this epilogue deliver. But not only that, the stories woven throughout added such depth and complexity to the characters loved before, and helped us get into the heads of people we don’t know as well as Xingyin when they are making the most difficult decisions of their lives, the final part had me in tears of job but also some manner of sadness, just remembering everything our characters have gone through in order to get here.

I will go on recommending this series til the end of time, and this selection of stories serves as an absolutely worthy addition. I am so incredibly grateful to have been able to arc for all three of Sue Lynn Tan’s books so far, and I will forever be watching to see what she does next.

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager, Sue Lynn Tan & Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this gem of a story.

A collection of stories that expands the world of the Celestial Kingdom, delving into the past and present of the characters. Returning to the Immortal realm this book gives you nine stories, two previously published, seven original, and the epilogue to the duology. I had a blast reading this and getting to see more of the characters from the duology. I loved getting to see more of Wenzhi and Xingyin together and what happened to them after the series ended. I thought this collection was a really nice touch to see the stories of Xingyin's parents and what lead to them events that start off Daughter of the Moon Goddess as well as the thoughts of Liwei as he takes the position of Emperor and his emotions as he decides what to do with Wenzhi. I enjoyed reading this and getting to delve back into the world and see the characters again. This is definitely a book that should be read with the duology!

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*