Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This sequel has fulfilled the potential that I saw within the first book, with the introduction of higher stakes for our protagonist, Xingyin, to deal with if she wants not only herself, but her loved ones to survive. The storyline benefits from Xingyin's realisations about herself, where she finally acknowledges that she has grown past the desire for a life of tranquility and seeks not only that, but to protect others from harm. The story picks up a year from where we left off previously, where Xingyin has mostly recovered, and a new threat to the realm has been discovered, threatening not only her family but also the entire Immortal and mortal realms.

Pros: The story was far more compelling due to the higher stakes in this book compared to what sometimes felt like low stakes in Book 1 (since we knew that Chang'e was imprisoned but was never in danger of dying in the first book), since this time, so many things and people that Xingyin hold dear are at risk. The intricate worldbuilding, too, was well done in painting a clear picture of every setting, especially ones we had only explored in this book, so it is easy to picture every scene as it happens. I particularly enjoyed the complex familial bonds between the different families portrayed in the book, where familial ties are inexplicably bound together even where duty and resentment festered beneath (as in the case of Wenzhi and Liwei), and how love binds them all, at the end of the day.

Cons: There was a tendency of overdescription, or at least, I sometimes found myself drifting off and skim-reading when the description was so detailed that it lost me, especially when describing characters with almost twelve lines of text on Kindle, which seemed a bit excessive. Nevertheless, I can see how some may enjoy this, whereas for me it diverted my attention away. I also found that for first-person narration, and for someone as young as Xingyin, who still seems fairly naive and reckless as is characteristic for her age, that her internal thoughts sometimes came across as overly ornate or elegant, which was an issue I had with Book 1 as well, as it took me out of the narrative at times, since it felt like she wasn't entirely true to how she was being pictured. Her heroic acts and the trials she had been through, too, seemed diminished by their constant mentions by her two love interests, when it hadn't happened so long ago that the reader would have forgotten them, in my point of view.

For those who are unfamiliar with Chinese mythology, this will be enjoyable to read, whereas readers who are used to such settings may find comfort or nostalgia in its depiction. Those who enjoyed the first book will certainly enjoy the conclusion to this duology, and for those of you who were unsure of Book 1 as I was, I would suggest giving this a chance, as I definitely enjoyed it more consistently than the first book.

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have a believable voice. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I always love the beautiful writing and description about places, clothes, and Xingyin's feelings inside this book. What I didn't expect is the food! How they're described is mouth watering and they made me hungry anytime I read the food parts inside the book! So many characters inside this book and I don't really like the love triangle parts. However I love the author dedicated some chapters for Xingyin to think and process her feelings before she made her decision. I'm so happy for Shuxiao too, it's an unexpected ending I didn't think of.

Setting/Worldbuilding: 9/10
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 8/10
Dialogue: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Technique: 8/10
Prose: 10/10
Romance: 9.5/10
Ending: 9.5/10
Overall enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 90/100 (4.5)

This was a heartrending, emotional and dreamlike conclusion to what was perhaps one of my favourite books of 2022. It was everything I wanted it to be and more - filled with action and romance, quiet and emotional contemplation, quests and magic, betrayals and redemption, and immortality and familial bonds, all wrapped up in Sue Lynn Tan's characteristic lyrical writing.

Note that the love triangle in the duology was wrapped up (in my view) quite tenderly and perhaps a little unexpectedly for many fans. I have a feeling that, like all love triangles, the way this ends will probably end up causing a bit of a riff amongs some fans, but I loved it personally.

Sue Lynn Tan has a way of weaving words that become worlds before your very eyes. I was enraptured with her descriptions of all the palaces and immortal kingdoms, of flying clouds and phoenix battles and everything played out in my mind's eye like watching a C-drama. It was lovely.

This whole duology would appeal to fans of: fairytale like mythological retellings, soft magic and worldbuilding systems, xianxia style storytelling, Chinese culture aficionados, and enthusiasts of lyrical, contemplative prose. AND GORGEOUS COVER ART!

This whole duology would NOT appeal to people who dislike love triangles, strong romantic subplots, prefer a more plot-forward narrative, and prefer hard worldbuilding and hard magic systems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am over the moon that I finally got my. hands on this! I have never been so excited for a series, it is absolutely magical. The storyline, the characters, and well, just about everything about this novel is amazing. I will not spoil it for anyone but trust me when I say, you NEED to read this. Sue Lynn Tan is a writing genius.

Excellent continuation of the series. Atmospheric and a breath of fresh air.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.