A beautiful, lyrical follow up to Daghter of the Moon Goddess that is, unfortunately, also far too slow paced and overwritten to the point of being boring. I hate to say it, because I really did want to like this book- I liked the previous one fine- but I really wish that Tan has just written something new, as I didn't really feel like this sequel grabbed me the same way as the other book. Add to that the way in which the love triangle felt very contrived, I just couldn't get into it.

Thankyou Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for an early e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did go into this book rather bias as i loved the first book in the duology. I found this book equally fast paced and I just couldn't put it down. the vivid images it gave me from the world building is brilliant and it is something I often struggle with. I really enjoy the love triangle trope and i think the ending of the duology as a whole was done very well.

"After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation."

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a ARC copy of this book!

The ending to this duology did not disappoint!

If you like mythology and beautiful world building you cant possibly be disappointed by this!
I did feel like book gave us more in terms of character development which for me was perfection. The deeper exploration of the characters made the romantic elements much more meaningful and I was much more invested in seeing this reach a happy ending.

Heart of the sun warrior is still action packed and there is plenty to keep you on the edge of your seat even if you arent as invested in the romance elements.

And thankfully I think the ending was perfect and will leave you super satisfied!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the early access!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series - I didn't understand the hype, as I didn't love it as much as some other people seemed to, but it was a fun read.

This book builds more on the love triangle aspects, so if that's not your thing, you won't enjoy this book. There's also action, adventure, and character development.

Overall, I enjoyed the ending to this duology, and there's a beautiful Fairyloot edition on its way to me!

What an amazing conclusion to this spellbinding duology! I was worried that this wouldn't live up to the high standard of the first book, however I was pleasantly surprised and most definitely in awe of how Sue Lynn Tan worked their magic yet again.

Whilst this is more character focused than the first, this is no less thrilling and action packed. Heart of the Sun Warrior focuses more on the love triangle and developing Xingyin. She really learns a lot from the first book and is working through her mistrust. There is also no end to danger! Whether this be court politics or Xingyin kicking ass. I was furiously turning the pages in a race to get to the end, whilst also wishing I could savour every moment!

As much as I cried a lot, the conclusion was exactly what I wanted. I'm just sad it ever had to end!

Sue Lynn Tan has the most outstanding writing; reading her books is just the most incredible experience because you're just constantly marvelling at how she strings sentences together so beautifully. I really loved this book. It was an epic conclusion to this duology, and I honestly can't decide which of the two books I love more!

I really loved the way the love triangle played out in this book. Normally that is one of my least favourite tropes, but I think Sue Lynn Tan wrote it so well, and I loved the character development from all three of the trio, and I felt that a satisfying conclusion was arrived at and it worked so well. The action and adventure in this book was fun and emotional at the same time, and I just want to live inside of the author's brain because her imagination is amazing!

I do think there were some parts where it dragged a little for me, and I have to admit I wasn't completely convinced by the villain, but it was still an awesome sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and Sue Lynn Tan is definitely a favourite author of mine, and I will be eagerly awaiting her next book!

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess and concludes her Celestial Kingdom duology. I would highly recommend reading Daughter of the Moon Goddess before picking up this book as not only is it a beautifully written action packed fantasy adventure , it sets up a lot of the relationships and character dynamics that really come into play in this book. Heart of the Warrior picks up shortly after the first book ended with our heroine Xingyin reunited with her mother and living in contented peace on the moon. Unfortunately this happy interlude is far too brief and as the balance of power is shifting in the Celestial Kingdom Xingyin and her mother soon find their world under threat again. Forced to flee, Xingyin soon finds herself in an unlikely alliance and on a desperate mission to save the Kingdom from an internal threat.
Once again the world building in this book is wonderful and the writing incredibly descriptive and evocative. I enjoyed learning more about the Celestial Kingdom and can only salute the imagination of the author and her skill in bringing it to life so vividly on the page. Xingyin grows a lot as a character in this book, and she is forced to make some really tough decisions so the reader is taken on an emotional journey as her story unfolds. I thought the love triangle storyline was cleverly handled and the ending reflected the maturity the characters gained over the course of the book .
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The Heart of The Sun Warrior is a great sequel to an amazing first book. We dive deeper into the immortal celestial realms and follow Xingyin on her adventure to save the world from a villain who has lost all sense of morality or humanity. We also see Xingyin battling her feelings while caught in a love triangle. So it had a lot less action, and a lot more feelings but I loved reading it nevertheless

Best part about this series is the writing. Sue Lynn Tan’s building of this celestial world is breathtaking and her writing is beautiful. I cried so many times when we lost some of my favorite characters in the plot. And the ending..it was so unexpected. Loved it.

While I feel that the first part can be a stand alone, this part also brings a lot of new and old characters and ties all the loose ends.

A perfect duology I would say for fans of fantasy and fans of folklore alike.

I fell so hard for the first book, A Daughter of the Moon Goddess, that I wanted to pace myself through the sequel. I wanted to savour it more than I did the first.

I couldn’t. And I tried really hard.

The moment I began reading, I wanted time and the world to pause so I didn’t have to stop reading. Immediately, the world welcomes you. The characters standing firmly off the page.

This sequel was everything I wanted, and I’m so happy it was a duology. The love triangle, the world building, the risks! The pacing throughout was well-balanced, and full of so many emotions I felt empty (in a good way) when I finished.

It was a book so full of difficult decisions, character growth and beautiful imagery that sweeps you off your feet. The difficulties that Xingyin and the other characters faces in this were well explored. This book focuses far more on the characters, and I was here for every paragraph.

I thought the ending was well-thought out and fitting, and as sad as I was for the books to end. I can’t wait to begin them all over again.

I cannot wait to read the next thing Sue Lynn Tan’s writes, as their works has captured my heart and mind that I’ll read anything.

Five stars.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC. I am forever in debt.

Following on from the epic bestseller Daughter of the Moon Goddess, comes Heart of the Sun Warrior to pick up Xingyin’s life after she freed her mother and returned back to the moon. Life seemed peaceful but when mortals visit their home this changes everything and the power balance shifts to General Wu in the Celestial Kingdom.

Xingyin’s house is invaded, threatening her loved ones safety. Again, she and her mother are unfairly sentenced to prison. They must escape and become allies with a powerful warrior who betrayed Xingyin’s previously, but the risk is worth it, for what choice do they have - the Immortal Realm is in turmoil and under threat for the Celestial throne has been taken.

Xingyin, Liwei and Wenzhi must fight an epic battle against the forces of evil and ultimately risk their lives to save the kingdom in a story that is so rich and vividly written. Brilliant! If you liked the first book then you have to read this.

‘Heart of the Sun Warrior’ is a beautiful and fulfilling sequel to ‘Daughter of the Moon Goddess’ a book which I adored upon reading. This book is a perfect ending to the duology and was just as good as the first which is always something you hope for with a sequel but never quite expect - if you loved the first book you will definitely love this!

As a mood reader, I’m used to reading multiple books, picking and dropping as I chase the vibe.
But only sleep stopped me from reading this book (and it’s predecessor). The action is fast paced, the writing is beautiful and light, and I cried more than once over the characters. Incredibly addictive, I want to dive back into this world already!

Thank You to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great sequel to the Daughter of the Moon Goddess! I won't lie, this book had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. The characters had a perilous journey in this book, that took them to new places in the world. One thing I loved about this book was the beautiful writing and descriptions of the settings. Each setting was thought out and I felt as if I was there with the characters. I loved how Xingyin's character development was still happening throughout the book, and each new experience changed her outlook. Not only that, her relationships with both Liwei and Wenzhi came to a good conclusion! Overall, I loved every minute of reading this book, and would love to read anything this author writes as her writing is amazing!!

I really enjoyed this book, which is the sequal to Daughter of The Moon Goddess. It is incredibly well written and I was gripped from the start

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess so was extremely excited for this sequel. And it was stunning. Sue Lyn Tan has such a beautiful way with words, and as it was in the first book, descriptions of food and clothing and buildings and nature were just gorgeous. It was like watching the most opulent Chinese historical drama.

A few things felt a bit different to the first book - there was a lot more going on, with multiple plot points seeming to happen at once or flowing into each other with no respite. I didn't love the love triangle element, but that's just a personal preference - although the eventual resolution was unexpected and beautiful.

It was extremely epic, and wonderful, and I'm actually rather sad to leave the world behind. I'll be looking out for more from Sue Lynn Tan in the future, and I'm off to buy a physical copy of this because the cover is STUNNING.

‘Heart of the Sun Warrior’ is written in such a descriptive and evocative way that it's like watching a historical Chinese movie when you’re reading this. The first book of this duology is probably my favourite fantasy book - and bear in mind, I’m not usually a fan of fantasy fiction! The books in this duology are so well done and written, I think even if you don’t usually like fantasy, you will enjoy these two books. 'Heart of the Sun Warrior' is the perfect balance of romance, action, fantasy, plot and character development.

Although I wasn’t as invested in ‘Heart of the Sun Warrior’ as I was in ‘Daughter of the Moon Goddess’, I think reading them both consecutively would definitely be more enjoyable as it’ll be like bingeing a Chinese drama 🤭🙈

Thank you to the author, Sue Lynn Tan, and Harper Collins for this ARC 🙏💕

My rating: 3.75/5 ⭐️

The Daughter of the Moon Goddess was one of my favourite books of 2021 so I was eagerly awaiting this sequel. It probably helped that I was coming down from a Haladriel high after watching The Rings of Power and was excited to see how the consequences of Wenzhi's betrayal played out. Full confession at this point in the review - I am 110% Team Wenzhi and fingers were well and truly crossed for some delightful lovers-to-enemies dynamics.

Anyhoo, the story largely picks up where DotM left us. Xingyin is back on the moon with her mother but all is not well. Despite escaping from the clutches of the Celestial Kingdom, there are troubling events occuring on the moon and Xingyin will again be forced to grapple with the forces of evil. I really loved the descriptions of the moon kingdom and its otherworldly and magical feel. Xingyin also has an internal struggle with her feelings for Liwei, and her betrayal in the previous book by Wenzhi and her despair and inner conflict was portrayed really effectively. As before I felt like there was a fundamental lack of chemistry between Xingyin and Liwei, probably because I think Liwei is a complete drip, but not to worry - Wenzhi is very much a part of this story too.

One thing I really like about Tan as an author is her ability to write effective and exciting action sequences, something that is often sadly lacking in the New Adult/Young Adult literary sphere. The action scenes feel fast-paced and dynamic and there are high stakes with actual consequences - characters you like really WILL die.

It's not all good though. Things flagged a little in the middle, it's all got a bit messy and at times, more than a little boring. The pacing flagged in this middle section and the tension was drawn out too long to sustain any sense of genuine peril. Some things also didn't make sense too e.g. Xingyin was supposed to be a prisoner at various points but also seemed to zip around quite the thing to meet people with no apparent restriction whatsoever.

All that said, everything comes together towards the end in a rollercoaster fashion which will leave you reeling and I was back to loving it by the end. The way the book ended would suggest to me that this is a duology, and I hope it is, as for me at least, the story was wrapped up in an entirely satisfactory way.

What can I say other than I adored this book and the duology as a whole.

Tan packed in so much in these pages. Moments where you were cheering for Xingyan and others where you felt like crying (maybe I did, maybe I didn't) for the characters around her.

I can't say more than I loved this book, this series, the characters and the world. I would have loved the ending to go that little bit further into the immortal realm but it still felt like a happy ending was in the near future for our favourite daughter. (And without too much spoiling, I would love to know there was a happy ending for Liwei because he was doing his best the whole time.)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Collins for the e-arc (and work for the stunning proof) in exchange for my honest thoughts. This review has also been posted to my bookstagram @chuureads.

The Heart of the Sun Warrior was my top most anticipated read of 2023 after reading Daughter of the Moon Goddess last year (I was lucky enough to get an e-arc) so I was incredibly excited to dive back into the conclusion of the Celestial Kingdom duology.

After the events of the previous instalment, we pick back up with Xingyin living back on the moon in peace with her mother and Ping’er. Of course things don’t stay peaceful for long and soon our protagonist is on a journey to save their world from another threat. The book is fast paced with a lot of action, gorgeously written fight scenes and again a lot of political intrigue.

The world was very much expanded on from book 1 and we got to learn in more depth, some of the things events that had happened previously. The Chinese fantasy setting and the lyrical descriptions of the world are just so wonderfully crafted that I cannot get over the magical feeling I get when I read these books! I adored learning more about the celestial kingdom and the trials that characters had been through or were able to go through. Again I can’t get over how much this book felt like watching a Chinese fantasy drama, as one particular trial I have watched in a drama before! I have always thought that trial to be a fascinating concept, and enjoyed reading about it in the story.

The familial relationships as usual were executed beautifully, I definitely teared up at the love of our little family. Xingyin and her mother and also (a character we are not naming so as not to spoil) was lovely and it was so heartwarming to read their interactions. I can honestly say that the writing and the relationships that Sue Lynn Tan crafts have been some of my favourite in fantasy books.

I think for me personally, whilst I enjoyed the love triangle in book 1, I felt that it dragged a little in book 2 and also overshadowed some parts that I thought would be better being in the forefront, such as the reunion of Xingyin and a certain character (no spoilers!) However this is personal preference as I am never keen on love triangles because I just end up rooting for one person and running full tilt with that ship.

Overall I rated this 4 stars and 100% recommend if you love dragons, romance, beautiful world building, great relationships (between friends and family), political intrigue and an action packed book! I am very sad to be leaving this world behind, but I can say that this has been a wonderful journey and I am so so happy that a Chinese mythology retelling is out in the world and doing so well.

I think Daughter of the Moon Goddess is my most recommended book in the last few years after reading an eARC of it in November last year. I was then of course thrilled to be sent a eARC of the most anticipated sequel on my tbr, Heart of the Sun Warrior! Without spoiling anything, this book was a beautifully-written ending to a gorgeous duology. There was so much action and so many emotions felt when I was reading this, and I adored every second.