3.5 stars I did think this could have just been one book. This was a very good end to the duology but still. I also love that this balanced the romance and action well.

I've been reading Joan's books since descendant of the crane, five years ago now, and watching her finally get the duology she deserves is a feat within itself. She is a kind, passionate and spirited hard worker and I am honoured to of been given an ARC for this book. Terrified because I've never read a duology in which the second book didn't fall short of the first, but honoured none the less. I shouldn't have been worried. This review has taken me so long to write because in all honesty the book as so many details and so much nuance that I'd have to do a spoiler review and a spoiler free review, a book based on the duology as a whole and a book based on just this book. You see my problem? Anyways, this is a spoiler free review of just sound the gong, however this will have spoilers for the first book of this duology STRIKE THE ZITHER. The books are essentially two halves of a whole, so it's near impossible to talk about this one without the other! With that said; onto the CAWPILE! 🩷

CHARACTERS
The characters in Sound the Gong are the same as in Stike The Zither (which I'm going to begin abbreviating from here) however STG adds so many more layers. While in STZ we saw everyone mostly through Zephyrs perspective, were able to learn a lot more about everyone because she's in different bodies now. Tourmaline is my favourite, and her relationship with Ren melts my heart, but all the sworn sisters are given so so much more depth it's harrowing to see when things go lobsided. Alternately, we also learn so so much more about the other sides of the war (Miasmas camp and Cicadias camp) and this depth really adds to the overarching themes of the book; will this be worth it? Each character has charm & depth that's unlike anything I've known in any other book, and having to leave them at the end of the tale left me feeling numb.


ATMOSPHERE
The book is right into it, STG does not play around, with major twists and turns and wrenches to Zephyrs strategies & a heavy atmosphere layering intensity and hope and desperation over eachother. It truly is a war, with casualties all over that cannot be quantified. Even the smaller tidbits of information you get (such as one casual throwaway line from Joan about Tourmaline or a line about crows reaction to an event that takes place in STZ) really layer on the dread. You cannot predict how this book will end, and I can't predict for you if you'll love it or need the bonus epilogue, but I can say you'll be immersed!


WRITING STYLE
STG moves quickly and swiftly, much as a late stage war does, and Joan does an insanely good job of keeping you at that pace with her. It's lyrical, engaging, scenic & packed with so many quotable things that I'm due to buy a second copy and several highlighters to annotate.


PLOT
Ok so, spoilers for STZ, but we pick up exactly where we left off. Crow is actually working for Cicadia, Zephyr is inside Lotus's body & war is warring. The book is a direct sequel in the sense that it's the second half of a whole so it follows on and amps it up. I'd say it's way more action packed than the first, because the first was setting up the dominos and the second is letting them fall!


INTRIGUE
There's so much that intrigues me with this series, I'm not familiar with the romance of the three kingdoms so I was going in pretty fresh to it all, but I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed this. The main things for me is the characters, how they've all god morals and code and loyalty that isn't really depicted in western media (loyalty ≠ infatuation or love) and I enjoy it. I enjoy watching characters clamber and do some of the most unforgivable things in the names of their lordesses!


LOGIC
You have no idea how amazing this is to read purely because of how many things are mirrored from book one to book two and how many things are picked up again. There is not a single plot hole, a single line unmatched, a single story not satisfactorily ended. Everything was PERFECT!


ENJOYMENT
INCASE YOU CANT ALREADY TELL!!! I am absolutely in adoration with this book, I've never read a duology where the second hasn't fallen short so I can't tell you how overjoyed I was to read this. It's truly just a masterpiece in my eyes, and I'll be rereading it for years to come just on how amazing it is!


Jessie (she/her)

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

An impact ful conclusion to the three kingdoms series. Loved how the author didn't hold back from showing just how far Zephyr was willing to go to reach her goal. Hope to see more books from Joan He I'm the future!

Thank you, Joan He, for an ARC of this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom of Three duology.

Strike the Zither was unlike anything I have read. It had a twist mid-way that people would either love or hate. Fortunately, I felt it was brilliantly executed, and that feeling continued into the sequel.

Joan He is very clear that STG is best read right after STZ. Fortunately, I only had to wait weeks between finishing STZ before starting this, and she definitely was not joking! I really enjoyed that it picked up right where the previous left off and kept the pace moving.

The relationship between Zephyr and Crow... how to even begin. Crow really, uh, goes through a lot this book, and it puts some tension on their relationship, to say the least. Think enemies to lovers to enemies to... RAFO. I wish there had been room for more tenderness, but it wasn't that kind of story, not for Zephyr. But I very much enjoyed the role that Crow played in this, and even still, I wanted more.

I felt this way through STZ, and I still feel this way now: Writing from the perspective of a strategist is a challenge that I wouldn't take on. I know I'm not smart enough, not in that way. Joan He not only convinced me of Zephyr and Crow's brilliance, but her own, too. How do these authors come up with this stuff, the intricate twists and turns, the politics? They create ecosystems of personalities and motives and know their geography inside and out. It was very impressive.

The afterward also made it very clear that He has done close readings of the source material and studied it well. This, unfortunately, is something I cannot comment on with any strong opinion because I went into STZ blind. I have no cultural, mythological, or literary familiarity here, but I still enjoyed reading about the parallels between STZ/STG and the source material that inspired it.

I have read all of Joan He's works, but I haven't always loved them. I loved this duology, both the ideas and execution. STZ has stuck with me since I read it, which doesn't often happen, and I know STG will, too. The ending was really a perfect fit for this story, but I look forward to the bonus epilogue as well.

i have no words. but i'll try:

this book is an absolute brilliant masterpiece. the story immediately continued where Strike the Zither left off, and because this is the last half of the whole story, it contains ALL THE BEST PARTS. the stakes are higher, the plot and intrigue are more intense, Zephyr's action became more unhinged, and Zephyr-Crow delivered one of the best character dynamics i've ever read this year (tho not AT ALL happy). Joan He really meticulously thought everything though, no loose strings, no plot holes, the characters have deeper arcs, perfect blend of political scheme and personal conflict. all the tensoin! and action!

the story concluded satisfyingly while also left a massive hole in my heart. I read through Coda with neither a single second of dry eyes nor an ounce of happiness. it HURT.

also it astonished me how my perspective of come of scenes from Strike the Zither kept changing as the story from Sound the Gong unfolded, because, damn, THE LAYERS OF THE STORY IS INSANE. every little details matters. With the relentless pacing, overall this story just have the perfect length. nothing dragged out. idk man, it's just so perfect. definitely deserves more recognitions!!

If this series came out when I was a teenager, I would have eaten this up; but as an adult, it is very obviously a YA fantasy. I've never read Three Kingdoms but I'm familiar with the story and this was a really fun retelling! No spoilers, but I enjoyed seeing the characters' stories continue in this sequel. I didn't really feel attached to any of them and they very much felt one dimentional, but regardless I was interested enough that I read the whole book in one sitting. This is definitely a personal thing, but I think I would have enjoyed this book, or the series as a whole, if it was an adult book instead of a young adult. I will continue to pick up Joan He's books until I love them. The writing is super light and easy to get through, making her books perfect palate cleansers.

Joan He is so amazing. I love all of her books and Sound the Gong is the immersive sequel in a duology that I love. I recommend these books to everyone.

Deadly courtly intrigue? Check. Rags to riches character arc? Check. Armies and war? Check. Possibly life-altering emotions? Check. The equally interesting and thrilling sequel to Strike the Zither, Sound the Gong by Joan He hits all the notes as book 1 of the Kingdom of Three duology that make you want a third. I really enjoyed Zephyr’s hero’s journey from start to finish; a three dimensional built character that grows, learns, stumbles, but not for long. A definitely read for any epic war and courtly intrigue fan.

2.5 ⭐️
main character is a sore loser first, war strategist second and as she hyper fixates on changing the fate of lowly humans and letting her lordess win the war, she burns everything down.
This book was all hyperfixation, no substance. The reasons why I loved the first one were simply not there in the second. Not a single substantial relationship, no side plots, no character development, just Zephyr possessing the next convenient body so she can further her objective. Even the storytelling was so.. and then this happened and then I did this and then that happened- almost like I’m reading a flow chart or a brain dump for the books plot.
I was not a fan of the fact that the book picks up immediately from where the last one ends as if they’re a mega book together, not that this is a second volume and that the reader most likely cannot remember the fine details of something they read a year and a half ago. I had to seek out a document the author has that breaks down the first book chapter by chapter- why not just jog your reader’s memory in the first few chapters?
This could have taken the female rage angle or revenge or anything of the sort, but I failed to empathize with Zephyrs desire to “win” and essentially rewrite the predestined fate, or as a matter of fact understand why her loyalties lay where they did.

I LOVE IT!!!!
IT'S DEFINITELY BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK. Agree with how Joan He said it supposed to be one thick book (bcs now I have to buy TWO BOOKS, not complaining since the cover's gorgeous) and best read RIGHT AFTER STRIKE THE ZITHER.

The pace is fast, straightforward and to the point 👌🏼 it's war and strategies all over the places... With different bodies, different mindsets, more enemies.

I was skeptical with the 'twist' in book 1, but book makes it so much better and I think the writing is getting better too.

The angst omg THE ANGST THE YEARNING I HATE YOU CROW AND ZHYPER BUT I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH

The bittersweet end... It left me wondering....

It's clear but I need to remind ppl that Joan He knows what she's talking about, we could see that this is a well researched book. Definitely worth to read.

I feel like this series is a bit underestimated. THEY DESERVE MORE HYPE. Give it a go 💃🏼🩷🩷🩷

Thank you so much for the arc in exchange for honest review.

Truly everything I wanted in a sequel - Joan He manages to create even higher stakes with endless twists that delve into the strategy behind winning a war. There are losses, heartbreaking sacrifices, and through it all the underlying theme of loyalty that drives each character forward.

Sound the Gong was a richly imaginative gender-bent retelling of the Three Kingdoms full of political strife and war strategy. It is rooted in Chinese culture and mythology but gives an old tale a modern and feminist refresh. There was no shortage of smart, fierce women in this book!

In Sound the Gong, we start right from where the first book left off and it's a wild ride from there! Just like STZ this book was fast paced and often had me reeling from the constant action and trouble that Zephr got herself into in an effort to save her empire and Lordess!
If you love intricate plans and strategies, you should definitely give this series a read because Joan is absolutely amazing at describing these complex war plans.

Of course, when things become so complex it can get a little muddled as you read, and while there were a few times I got lost, the fast pace, the military tactics and the insane angst between zephyr and crow kept me intrigued! Their romance was very back-and-forth and will-they-won't-they but also enemies-to-lovers, which I cannot help but be obsessed with!

The fantasy God element was fully explored in this book, and while I liked what it added to the story and characters, it did get a little lost within the overarching plot. But the whole spirit and body-snatching (Or like body-inhabiting?) was really interesting to read about and I loved how the author also wrote about how the character processed these changes and we got to see how she developed throughout the book.

Also there was a lot more Crow in this book, which I'm sure everyone will be happy about! I loved that we got more insight into his past and I'm still not over his dynamic and banter with Zephyr!

Overall this was a great conclusion to a fast-paced duology filled with fiercely loyal sisterhoods, political intrigue, military strategists, morally grey characters and a slowburn enemies-to-lovers. Highly recommend this series if you love any of these things, and I suggest you read STG right after Strike the Zither because it is a better reading experience if you read them right after each other!


Thanks to netgalley and the author for the eARC!

The ending of an era.

We screamed. We cried. We laughed. We gasped in horror. We wept. We turned the last page of Sound the Gong and asked ourselves, "When will a duology as satisfying as Strike the Zither come again?"

Zephyr is more determined than ever to make Ren win this war. She won't hesitate to do all things to make it happen. Yet at the very last page, you will wonder if all she does is worth it. In true Joan He fashion, Sound the Gong's last scene is an open-ended one (though I would argue this is the most "closed ending" that Joan ever did — and we have a bonus epilogue that seals the duology). I try to keep this spoiler-free as possible, but knowing the time range of which STZ/STG are set (in which we are in Zephyr's POV), the question of worthiness of doing things above and beyond for someone and if it will lay the foundation you hoped it will becomes more poignant to think about.

Probably one of the best part of STG is uncovering more of Crow. Seeing him more fleshed out and knowing his past and his thoughts. Seeing him more "himself" rather than (just) a rival strategist made me like him more (or hate him a bit, too; the book's fault for being in Zephyr's POV lol).

Anyway, yes, an era has ended with STG, and I am glad to have lived thru it.

As many have suggested, Strike the Zither (STZ) and Sound the Gong (STG) are best read one after the other. STG not only maintains the momentum of the first, but increases it up a notch. There was so much tension and I was frantic throughout the entire book. Did Zephyr have enough time? Could she succeed? It was nerve wracking.

Zephry was as committed to her lordess and the sisterhood as I was committed to the romance. It gutted me. It felt entirely one-sided. Unrequited love hurts and was exponentially made worse with Zephyr's discoveries about Crow, and yet, in the single day it took to read the book, I lived for their interactions. I just wanted a small crumb, some sort of verbal assurance Crow felt the same and it never came--at least not how I wanted it. Days after I finished, I was left bereft, questioning how Joan He could choose to hurt me so. I was in a slump for nearly a month wondering why the world kept on turning while I was searching for something, anything to bandage my wound. (It's been months since I finished this book and it still hurts as much as when I turned the last page.)

Grab this for the action and the sisterhood, but be prepared for the morsel of romance that will make you want more. Have the short story link ready to go once you finish...you have been warned. (4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars)

I absolutely loved the conclusion to this story! I loved the mythology and the culture weaved into it.

Unfortunately despite remembering what happened previously, this sequel felt like a jolt of lightning and I was extremely disoriented. I really like the characters but I felt like there was something missing. I just couldn't connect to the story and didn't feel invested. I think that possibly I could try again at some point, but for now this is a book that I think wasn't meant for my mood at this time

My heart has been in my throat since the ending of book one and I’m so thrilled to finally have the sequel in my hands. Zephyr’s defiance of fate, even at the cost of her own eternity—can’t get higher stakes than that! And her battles-of-wits with Crow are far more compelling than most romance scenes I’ve ever read.

The inspiration for Sound the Gong is from an even earlier era: the famously epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Here, He continues the story she began in Strike the Zither, in which strategist Rising Zephyr plots a course for her lordess, Ren, to become the Empress and unite the warring kingdoms. As smart as she is, though, Zephyr didn’t see how her own fate would transpire. Nor did she realize her true identity. After her own untimely death, she wakes in the body of Ren’s swornsister, Lotus—but only after Zephyr has remembered her true divine nature. In the sequel, Zephyr balances precariously, playing the roles of both strategist and warrior, and then more as she realizes just what her divine abilities will allow her to do.

There’s one person Zephyr knows stands in Ren’s way, and it’s not the other warriors vying for the imperial position. It’s Crow, the double-agent strategist working for one lordess while truly advancing the cause of another—and both of his lordesses need Ren to fail. The problem is that Zephyr might well be in love with Crow; that won’t stop her, however, from doing whatever it takes to place Ren on the throne. Even if it means losing everything that makes her who she is. The novel is at turns glorious and heartbreaking, a powerful and beautiful homage to Romance of the Three Kingdoms and yet something entirely itself. The way He raises the stakes here makes the finale well earned. Choose this duology if you like the idea of gods defying fate, and becoming more like mortals in the process.

Joan He's Sound the Gong, the sequel to Strike the Zither, continues the story of Zephyr, the war strategist of a woman who doesn't want to be queen but just wants to serve the people. A woman we can always root for.
Zephyr's story in this book is just as wildly unexpected and twisted as the first book. I just don't know what to expect and sometimes, it can get a little too much. While I appreciate the plot, especially in terms of the war and where it was heading, the characters and emotional pieces felt lacking. It felt choppy to have some pieces of the characters and not all. Aside from that, the rivalry between Zephyr and Crow, our two main characters (of sorts), was stilted and I genuinely could not understand how the two had the relationship they did. I'm someone who prefers uncomplicated and it threw me off, the levels of complication with these two.

Can't believe I'm going to say this but the one person I felt I knew and liked properly was the villainous Miasma. She was consistent in her villainy and that was most reassuring in this whirlwind of a story.

Overall, an easy read that needed more cohesiveness and pieces to glue the different parts of the story together.

🌟🌟🌟💫/5