This was one of my most anticipated sequels this year and it did not disappoint! It was also one of the first titles I requested on netgalley, so I was honestly amazed that I was actually approved.
I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess when it came in the February Fairyloot box and loved it, although the pacing at the start threw me off slightly. I felt like the pacing in this one was much better, despite the fact it was action packed and full of things happening. I couldn't remember loads from DotMG so I would recommend rereading that before diving into this one if you have also read lots of books since that, but I quickly caught up with what had happened.
I loved learning more about the mythology and folklore that exists in the Celestial Kingdom and I loved how the world was expanded and explored further. The way Xingyin's character grew as she dealt with everything that was thrown at her was beautiful and I loved seeing more of her relationship with her mother, Chang'e.
Heart of the Sun Warrior comes out here in the UK next week so if its appearing on your radar for the first time, I definitely recommend checking out Daughter of the Moon Goddess in preparation for its release!

This had the most magical prose, it was so easy to immerse yourself in the world and everything was so vivid and it was easy to picture the world the author created. The story was pretty slow, especially the first half, but I liked the developments and the ending. I could have done without the love triangle though, personally.

Heart of The Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an e-book arc for an unbiased review.

I loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and was excited to begin reading this arc. I was also sad knowing The Celestial Kingdom was only a duology. Did it wrap up the books in a satisfactory way?

I felt it really did. Xingyin was again a powerhouse of a character from the opening pages to the last.

Of course we also have the uncertainty of how Xingyin resolves the Wenzhi, Liwei dilemma. I personally loved it, as it felt right for Xingyin's character, especially after all the growth she has gone through. Of course, there will be others who would prefer a different outcome, but I think overall Sue Lynn Tan has done it in such a way, even if this wasn't your preference it wouldn't jar too much.

Heart of The Sun Warrior once again brought us love, sacrifice, angst, old foes, and a new villain to bring in a freshness to the storyline, and a whole lot more.

Again, the writing is expansive and really immersed me into all spects of the story. The political intrigue was detailed enough to be relevant, but wasn't bogged down on it. The action sequences felt vibrant and well done. Xingyin has to do a l9t of self reflection throughout the book, that also was well paced and nicely balanced.

If I had one complaint I felt Chang'e didn't quite evolve as I'd hoped, but that's a personal preference and no reflection on the writing.

The ending was fantastic. Again it felt right not just for the book, but the duology as a whole.
A book I will undoubtedly read more than once.

An easy 5/5 stars from me. If you love Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you'll undoubtedly love Heart of The Sun Warrior.
If you haven't read either, I'd highly recommend both.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Having recently read and loved the first book in this duology I couldn't wait to read the conclusion. It's always had to review a second book without giving spoilers for the first book.

Xingyin is briefly back with her mother, the Moon Goddess but there is so much unrest and tension in the world's and Xingyin doesn't know who to trust.

Another magical story from Sue Lynn Tan and I loved being back in this world. Its been well written throughout both books and I loved all the challenges she faced. With a great cast of characters some you love, some love to hate. If you loved the first book you will love this.

A magical conclusion to this duology! DOTMG was one of my top reads this year so I was extremely excited to pick up the sequel. The pace was great, the characters endearing and heartbreaking in equal measure. My only complaint is it wasn't the ending that I wanted, but it was still beautifully written

4.5 stars
A breathtakingly immersive and utterly thrilling conclusion to Sue Lynn Tan’s phenomenal Celestial Kingdom duology that sees even more heart-stopping, high stakes action as Xingyin battles to save her family—and the Celestial Kingdom from ruin.

It follows directly on from Daughter of The Moon Goddess and follows Xingyin reunited with her childhood home having won her mother (the moon goddess, Chang'e) freedom from the Celestial emperor’s exile.

But that fragile peace is threatened when a strange new magic is discovered on the moon, and a traitor—with a dangerous thirst for power and vengeance— sets their sights on the Emperor’s throne.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions encounter legendary creatures, scheming monarchs and formidable foes as they search for aid in destroying the evil—and put a stop to devastation before it’s too late.

This was an absolutely stunning sequel that I genuinely couldn’t put down! It’s so gorgeously crafted and even more detailed than in DOTMG— a feat in and of itself as I absolutely loved the lush and descriptive the world building in book one and thought every eloquently wrought (and lyrical) detail was perfect.

The action; which includes plenty of gossipy courtiers, backstabbing and political intrigue was pretty much non-stop and Sue Lynn Tan’s atmospheric, lyrical writing had me completely hooked!

I did feel that unlike Daughter of The Moon Goddess, Heart of The Sun Warrior was a little more character driven—focusing on the emotional aspects of the characters and adding more depth and dimension to their arcs. This was especially true for our endearing protagonist, Xingyin who’s still recovering from the fallout (and Celestial Emperor’s ire) after the events of DOTMG (and the conflicting feelings she has surrounding Wenzhi and Liwei.)

I definitely felt she’s matured since the last time we saw her—there’s definitely less impulsive decisions being made this time around and it was it was interesting to see how that affected Xingyin’s problem solving abilities. The romance aspect too, was a little more cautious though I still really enjoyed the love triangle aspect. I have to admit I’m a sucker for a morally grey bad boy, so I couldn’t help but root for Wenzhi as he tried to redeem himself and win back Xingyin’s trust.

And though I may not have been rooting as hard for him to end up with Xingyin, I did absolutely love Liwei as a character and the complex emotional journey he faces—having to tread the fine line between his loyalty to his family and his love for Xingyin whom they despise. It’s not an easy decision and one Liwei doesn’t make lightly which I really respected him for.

I also loved that we got the see more of Xingyin’s family and delve into her parents’ history a little more, it was also really interesting to hear more about her father—the famed mortal archer Houyi.

The ending was absolutely perfect even if it did have me sobbing uncontrollably, the prose was just soo georgoeusly magical and immersive—I didn’t want it to ever end!

Overall, Heart of The Sun Warrior was a visual (and emotional) feast for the senses—an addictive and utterly immersive fantasy that fairytale or mythology lovers absolutely must read.

Also, thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for e-arc.

I have been waiting for this book ever since I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess and I was so lucky to be approved to review it, and I wasn't at all disappointed. In fact, I think I would go as far as saying it gets better in this book.
The writing is immersive and incredibly stunning, the characters are well developedand I have taken them to my heart and the storyline is absolutely captivating, it enchanted me right from the start and I would have been happy to be in the pages for the rest of my life. I ADORED IT

I was lucky to be approved for an advanced digital copy by NetGalley and to provide an honest review.

‘Heart of the Sun Warrior’ was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year and it did not disappoint. We jump back into this colourful and beautiful world with ease and resume our story with Xingyin and Liwei.

“Sometimes steering clear of trouble doesn’t keep you safe”.

Just like Daughter of the Moon Goddess, HotSW is beautifully written, excellently paced, is action packed, and has enough twists and turns and I was completely absorbed from start to finish!

“Sometimes those who think they have won are the greatest losers”.

At its core this was an epic love story - of love in all its forms.

“To live a life with love, was to live without regret”.

The Celestial Kingdom duology will be one of my favourites - and I’m looking forward to re-reading both books again and again in the future!
I can’t recommend these books enough! Please read them!

I had very high hopes for Heart of the Sun Warrior, the second book of Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom duology, but it managed to exceed all of my expectations!

Synopsis:

We find Xingyin where we left her, at home and recovering from the many trials she went through in book one. However, the fragile peace she worked so hard for now rests on a knife’s edge.

When a dangerous power begins to rise in the Celestial Kingdom, threatening not only those she loves but also the entire Immortal Realm, it is once again up to Xingyin to save the day. She’s no stranger to putting herself in danger, but the monsters she must defeat this time round are man-made, and she will have to ignore her warring feelings and rely on those who have betrayed her to do it.

My thoughts:

Sue Lynn Tan is masterful with fantasy world-building but this book focuses more on developing character. Xingyin is able to grow and process both her past and present emotional conflicts, and I loved that while there is still plenty of action we’re also given deeper explorations of the bonds that tie our characters together.

Heart of the Sun Warrior had me gripped, audibly gasping and crying multiple times - literally sobbed my way through the last few chapters - which brings me to THAT ENDING! It’s just perfection and gave me everything I wanted.

If you love:

✨ Chinese mythology/retellings
✨ Epic world-building
✨ Plenty of action
✨ Love triangles
✨ Characters you’re invested in

…then this one is for you.

Heart of the Sun Warrior is out on November 10th. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

We return to the mystical, beautiful world of Xingyin, where she is back with her mother, the Celestial Moon Goddess and life seems near perfect.
Then, disaster strikes and power struggles become the forefront of Xingyin’s pains.

Firstly, I forgot the pictures Sue Lynn Tan is capable of painting. Vivid and visceral. Whimsical and magical.
I could tasted the foods, feel the cloths, smell the greenery. More specifically, I loved the depiction of the sea kingdom and I am envious I cannot visit it.

The lotus-seed paste was dense and sweet, the crust crumbling against my tongue. The yolk added a salty grittiness that cut through the sweetness, balancing the flavors perfectly.

I have to be honest, I missed the first part of book one. I found myself pining for the storylines and development and training they initial story gave us. Sometimes, I felt there was too much reminiscing on trust and deception and betrayal that the current storyline was slower and not as impactful.

There was also a love triangle. Now I know views vary on this troupe, but personally I tend to find it frustrating. In this case, it was handled differently to what I was expecting and the ending of the book stretched out to account for this, but I found myself slightly dissatisfied. This is always the risk of running with two love interests. But I guess this experience will vary from reader to reader and I’m keen to see what others think.

I found the discussion around authority and who has the power to write history extremely impactful and I loved how the cast grappled to find the truth.

“Why do they get to dictate who is evil and not? While there is good in what they have done, as much wrong has been concealed."

"While the story remains the same, the picture painted is so vastly different.“

Overall, this was a delightful return to a magical and clean YA fantasy where innocence and youthfulness are at the forefront. Something which I find refreshing after many recent and current YA books which seem to cater to the TikTok sensation of spice and hard romance.

A beautiful and heartfelt story set in an epic fantasy world, Heart of the Sun Warrior was almost everything I expected from the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

Once again the prose was beautiful, though at times it felt a little over descriptive I still think it was very well done throughout most of the story.
This book was more plot heavy compared to its predecessor, we see more action, we visit more kingdoms and see the workings and relationships of new characters in the story which was very interesting to see. Stakes in this book were much higher, we see more battle and overall it felt like this book was more mature and fit more into the adult genre, whereas DOTG felt like it sat on the cusp on ya and adult.

Characters developed along with the story, Xinghyin felt a lot more developed and made better decisions in this book, she was less juvenile for the most part and it fit a-lot better with the tone of the sequel.

The only thing that irritated me was the constant back and forth with the two love interests in the love triangle. I liked both Liwei and Wenzhi and liked the character develop of Wenzhi. It was honourable and I rooted for him. However, I think his original ending was where his story should have ended. I felt like it was really unfair for Xinghyin to ask what she did of Liwei, his character was so loving and nice I just felt so sorry for how his arc ended in the book. The prolonged mourning and what Xinhyin did at the end just felt slightly out of character. Though I guess I'm still conflicted over it because it also would have been out of character for her to accept living as celestial empress.

Overall this was a great sequel to an amazing debut.

Another beautifully written story in this incredibly beautiful fantasy world. Xingyin has won her mother's freedom, but in the process has made an enemy of the Celestial Emperor.

Revisiting these characters was a real joy, and the plot was perfectly paced to make this book a treat to read. I will certainly be watching for what Sue Lynn Tan writes next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

What an incredible sequel to the Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
The story was fast pace, gripping and has fantastic characters that you love to adore.
This book was definitely in my top 3 of highly anticipated releases of the year so I'm beyond thrilled to have been given an ARC.
Although I do hate reading love triangles, Sue Lynn Tan handles it beautifully and the world building she's created is outstanding. You can picture everything clearly and it's easy to be immersed into the book.

The highly anticipated sequel of Daughter of a Moon Goddess, I feel incredibly lucky to have got my hands on this early and it does not disappoint. Once again, Sue Lynn Tan writes with phenomenal skills, immersing the reader in a wonderful fantasy world that you can see when you close your eyes. Just perfect!

Heart of the Sun Warrior, by Sue Lynn Tan.

Firstly, I want to say a major thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for allowing me the opportunity for the ARC!

Daughter of the Moon Goddess (book one in the duology) gripped me from the beginning, with it being such a fantastic story, featuring some amazing characters who you fall in love with quickly. When I was able to get my hands on the ARC, let me assure you that I screamed. This book, by far, was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022.

Heart of the Sun Warrior did not hold anything back; it was plot-heavy, with countless twists and turns that grips you from the offset and has you frantically turning the pages!
Many themes are explored within this story, namely those of love, family and sacrifice. Be prepared to experience A LOT of emotion throughout the book - you could find me either screaming with excitement or uncontrollably sobbing, depending where I was in the book...

Overall, the sheer vibrancy within the descriptions is simply outstanding - the world that Sue Lynn Tan creates is a truly immersive experience, full of wonderment, magic and awe-worthy scenes.

I absolutely devoured this book, and was sorely disappointed that it had to end. It was the most perfect conclusion to the most perfect duology.
Oh well, I may just need to read it again...

Xingyin has been successful in freeing her mother. The moon is now their home rather than their prison. Unfortunately, this also means the moon is now open to visitors. Prince Liwei is a welcome visitor, although his regular visits raise questions that Xingyin is not sure she has the answers to. Wenzhi is less welcome and less easy to ignore than Xingyin would have liked. Yet he is still easier to deal with than the strangers whom her mother insists they make welcome, especially when her instincts are afire with suspicion. The question is who will Xingyin turn to for help when her instincts prove right?

This is probably the book I’ve been most excited to read this year and I’m glad to say that it fully lived up to expectations. This book had just as much stunning world-building than the last, some of it expanding on settings we have already seen and some of it entirely new. The details of the moon were fleshed out in beautiful detail whilst the unique geography of the Southern Sea added an exciting new layer to the world.

Similarly, old characters were given new depth and some new characters added a fresh take on the world around them. Wenzhi’s character depth was explored in a lot more detail and I found it fascinating to see how Xingyin reacted to learning this depth for herself. In contrast, Liwei’s character takes on no added dimensions, acting exactly as expected from his actions in the previous book; to me, this seemed to indicate that his relationship with Xingyin had already gone as deep as it could. The villain of this book is someone we have met before, but his character was really fleshed out by added backstory. None of the new characters made a huge impact on me, but I think that is mostly because they tended to appear only to play a specific role and disappeared when this role was fulfilled.

The theme of rebirth in this book is a trope that is often overrated and overdone, yet every part of this book felt fresh and new. It explored both the good and the bad possibilities of rebirth to create a satisfying balance throughout the book.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was one of my favourite books of 2021, so I've been eagerly anticipating the release of Heart of the Sun Warrior.

Tan's writing style continues to be beautiful. The world building is brilliant as well, so imaginative and immersive.

The love triangle remains a main component of the story. Both love interests were well developed, and Xingyin's reasons to be torn felt genuine. I also have to say that I like how Tan resolved the triangle, it was really well handled.

I absolutely loved following Xingyin's journey and character development, from book one to book two she goes through so much growth. I really felt emotionally attached to her, such a great main character.

As far as conclusions go, for me, this was a thoroughly satisfying one.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was one of my top reads this year and Heart of the Sun Warrior lives up to the hype.

The three part format really works for Sue Lynn Tan's style of storytelling, and really helped to make the narrative flow. As with Daughter of the Moon Goddess, the pace starts off a little slow, but once it picks up, it is impossible to put this book down. All of the characters we loved (and some we didn't!) return and it was so much fun to go on another journey with them.

Sue Lynn Tan's writing is beautiful and engaging, and so easy to get swept up in. Xingyin is a complex storyteller, dealing with her loyalties and her emotions in a gripping way and she will have you smiling, crying and gasping within pages of each other.

The only thing I took a minor dislike too was the sometimes repetitive conflict between two of the characters, which had me rolling my eyes by the time I was 2/3 through the book.

5/5, highly recommend this book to any fans of gripping fantasy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me this book early, I cannot wait to get my hands on my physical copy!

Amazon Summary - The stunning conclusion to the Celestial Kingdom Duology

An unspeakable terror is sweeping across the realm as the Celestial Emperor tightens his grip on power. The fragile peace Xingyin fought so hard for when freeing her mother is under threat.

Forced to flee her home, Xingyin ventures into the unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm to seek aid in her fight, but, with alliances shifting quicker than the tides, she has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined.

Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation – to rise against evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love … even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

My Review - I loved this as much as the first book, a great duology - 4 stars.

a really great follow up to The Daughter of the Moon Goddess, There is love triangles, action, adventure, magic and an epic finale. I would recommend to anyone who loved the first book and if you haven't go and read it, you won't be disappointed.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was my favourite read of the year so far, so getting a chance to read and review an e-ARC of Heart of the Sun Warrior was an absolute dream. I legit squealed when I got it. Suffice to say, expectations were high but this book met and exceeded them on every level.

It is such a gift to be able to write so beautifully and lyrically, whilst also making the prose so easy to read that vanishing inside the story feels effortless. It's like someone reading you a bedtime story, or a tale around an open fire, it's that special feeling of being taken into another world. It's the best kind of magic that a book can bring and its a rare gift to be able to make it feel so easy.

This book picks up where the first left off, with Xingyin back on the moon, reunited with her mother and Ping'er. Unfortunately their idyll cannot remain undisturbed, and when the outside world interferes with the moon, Xingyin has to fight back to save her family. I just really love Xingyin as a character, she's impulsive and impatient but she also loves so fiercely and with so much heart. I really enjoyed the way the action escalated throughout the book, and how the different conflicts came together. This book also absolutely ripped my heart out in places, it was so beautiful and heartwrenching, and I loved the ending. It definitely joins the first book as one of my top reads of 2022.