First of all, thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls white is the last instalment in the Song of the Last Kingdom duology, in which we follow Lan and Zen as they are trying to save the world and to destroy the Demon Gods.
I have to say that, according to me, this book was much better and much more interesting than the first one. I loved Amélie Wen Zhao's take on Chinese mythology and how she set her fantasy story in Ancient China. The plot was captivating, very fast-paced (at least, at the beginning, it felt slower in the end but not slow to the point where you get bored), and that ending… was truly heartbreaking, although I should have doubted it would end this way.
I loved Zen in the first book and I was not a fan of Lan ; and in this second book, the tide turned: I loved Lan as her character grew a lot, she became more daring, more confident, and Zen felt a bit flat for me (I know I am not the only one who feels this way). There is a little bit more spice in this book than in the first one, but overall it is really soft spice. Also, there are sooo many beautiful quotes in this book, and I might have fallen in love with some of those.

I would highly recommend this duology to any lovers of xianxia, Asian-inspired retellings and fantasy lovers!

I loved the first book, really loved it. This one fell a little flat for me, the emotional stakes were high but it felt as though nothing really happened until the end. The book was at its best when Lan and Zen were interacting. The wonderfully rich characters we were introduced to in the first book almost became a footnote . I love the way the author writes and this was in no way a bad book it just wasn’t four stars for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

"It was simple, really. She had given her heart to a boy. And he had given his soul to a demon."

I have to admit, this sequel didn't reach up to my expectations.
The pace was a bit off and the last third of the book was too rushed in my opinion. But still, it was a satisfying end to the duology and it felt bittersweet. I almost had to cry when I read the last pages.
I wish we could have gotten more romantic scenes with Xen and Lan because now I'm kind of sad and I will really, really miss them.
I definitely think the "Song of the Last Kingdom" duology is one of the best I've ever read.

"In this life and the next, and ten thousand more, I would choose you."

4 ☆ stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

This was a great conclusion to this duology.
It was well written and had a good flow to it. I liked that this book felt that the pace was a little quicker than the first which I enjoyed as it didn’t drag out the story. I loved all the twists and turns that the book threw at me. I like that it kept me guessing. The characters are really well written and I loved the development from book one.
The world building was just as fantastic as the first one and I loved the new places which were described so well.
As everyone has said the ending is bittersweet but done so well and I liked that it wrapped everything up.
I recommend this duology if you enjoy a well written fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley the and publishers for the e-arc of this book.
A great ending to this duology by Amelie Wen Zhao.
Well written, and fully fleshed out word building. Fantastic character development.
A very satisfying end to the series. Can't wait to see what this author writes next!

I finally felt the enthusiasm for this book that I should have felt from the first one. It has all my favourite elements. I honestly don’t know why the last one didn’t hook me from the start, but I’m very happy that this one did.

I enjoyed the characters a lot. I think this is something that Amélie Wen Zhao does really well, creating distinct characters who you can really understand why they choose the path they do. Especially the way Lan and Zen are both doing what they think is right but through different methods and you can see through their characters why they choose to do what they do.

I was a bit disappointed at the ending, especially since I was really enjoying the book. But I felt that things went a bit too smoothly. I expected there to be more hiccups along the way.

Overall though, it was a good book. I’m really sad it was only a duology.

4.5 stars
I cannot believe this series has already come to an end. I felt like it was only a few months ago when I read this and found myself utterly vowed by this world. In Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White , I experienced the exact same feeling. The world building felt expansive and you get to know even more information about the creation of the kingdom and how the powerful Demon Gods were born into existence. Amelie Wen Zhao's writing style felt so easy to read, like the words were literally flowing off the pages.

I was so glad to be reunited with Lan and Zen and experience the yearning between once more. Truly, the amount of yearning in this book was *chef's kiss*. This book showed us how each of them grew separately as characters, making their perilous journeys in their adventures separately as well as together. Although certain parts (and only a few) felt slightly similar to what we got in book 1, I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single bit of this.

And that ending; it was intense and bittersweet and amazing. It broke my heart but healed it at the same time, but it also filled me with hope. All in all, I'm kind of sad to see this series end, but I am excited to see what comes next from Zhao.

Years ago, the Elantian colonisers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest secret. The locations of its legendary four Demon Gods. He mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods and she is determined to finisher mission. But there are others searching for the gods now.

Zen knows his soul is forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon Gods knows as the Black Tortoise. But he’s willing to loose himself to save the kingdom and the girl he loves. But to destroy the colonisers who have invaded his lands he will need more power than a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. He knows exactly here he can find one, an undead army, his grandfather lead decades ago. Elantians may have stolen their throne but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only just begun.

There isn’t anything more dangerous than a man in love filled with dark power who will of anything to save his homeland and the one he loves. An epic sequel filled with dangerous magic and dark secrets filled with ancient folklore and military downfalls. A story written with incredible detail, nuanced characters and steeped in folklore. This is the kind of book that will have you hooked from the very first page.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘈𝘴𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘮é𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘯 𝘡𝘩𝘢𝘰

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book picks up straight where the last one is left off and goes straight into the action. The overall story, while a little confusing at the beginning, became easy to follow. I loved the first book in this series, and this book didn't disappoint.
The writing is lyrical and makes you feel like you were there with the characters. The magical system is an interesting one, and I loved how it was executed. Overall, I loved the conclusion to this story, and the ending even made me a little tearful. I would highly recommend picking up this series if you want an epic fantasy set in a cruel but beautiful world!

*4.5

"Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White" is the second and final installment of "Song of the Last Kingdom," a ya fantasy duology written by Amélie Wen Zhao.

This book was the perfect conclusion to a series I loved so much! Bewitching, compelling, intense and heartbreaking, it made me scream, sigh, smile, sweat and cry repeatedly!

The story picks up from the conclusion of "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night," proceeding fast and briskly, with highly evocative, elegant and enchanting prose. The new settings introduced are magnificent, described in an extremely vivid way.

Lan and Zen are two wonderful protagonists, fantastically portrayed, with a tormented relationship that sent me into juices! I love these characters, love their chemistry, and swoon so much for them! The new characters introduced convinced me, embellishing a well-delineated group.

The bittersweet, heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming conclusion fully convinced me! Of course, I would have preferred just the sweet part, but I understand that it couldn't be any other way.

All in all, "Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White" is a wonderful conclusion to an amazing duology!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The ongoing conflict between Lan and Zen as they pursue their shared objective remains riveting from both perspectives. Choosing a favorite is impossible; both viewpoints are captivating, offering intermittent respites as each character confronts formidable challenges. Despite the physical distance separating them, their narratives remain intricately intertwined, with revelations from one shedding light on the other's predicament.

The introduction of new settings, vividly depicted, enriches the world established in the first book, particularly in locales like the desert, which offer a refreshing expansion of the story's scope. While new characters are sparingly introduced, each proves memorable in their own right.

The conclusion is bittersweet yet masterfully executed, providing a sense of closure to this exceptional duology while skillfully tying up all loose ends. It serves as a fitting conclusion to a remarkable journey.

As great as the first book! It's a very interesting story and this book we learn so much of the world. It's a very cool and beautiful world that teaches you a lot of real world mythology and history. It's not very obvious in doing this, but if one pays attention, it's easy to notice.

The story is very fast paced, and keeps you wanting more. It's hard to put this book down, especially in second half. It has a bittersweet ending, which I expected since last book, but hoped it would be a bit different and only be sweet.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, it was a great pleasure!

Mild book one spoilers, as this is a review for the sequel, and conclusion to the duology after all

We pick right up, with POVs from both Lan and Zen, as they go their seperate ways after the epic conclusion and decisions made in book one

Lan and some of the other survivors are on a journey to complete her mothers mission to find the Godslayer and hopefully bring peace back

Zen is slowly but surely learning what his bargain with the Demon God will cost him, and only hopes he will be able to set things right before he loses himself

Both are on paths to save their people, and the Kingdom, and neither of the two will have an easy time on this journey.... the decisions they have made, and still have to make will come with costs, but to what end result...

I thought this was a great follow up to book one, and I was - I don't want to use the word happy - but content with how this was all wrapped up. Really enjoyed the journey and the world and descriptions are just beautiful!

High stakes, lots of action and touching relationships throughout. Great duology and thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins / Harper Voyager for the review copy!

What an absolute pleasure it was to fall back into this world and see where Lan and Zen’s paths would take them next. This is one of those books that will keep you on your toes, unable to guess where it could possibly be leading next and how things will end and it was fantastic being pulled along in its current. There is danger and intrigue throughout, and plenty of magic to keep things interesting. If I could say more without giving anything away, I’d be spending quite some time gushing about it, but since that’s not possible, I’ll have to say that if you enjoyed the first book, then this one may be even better.

Lan and Zen's conflict on how to achieve their shared goal continues on and both povs are gripping. I couldn't choose a favourite, both are enthralling and the switches also provided a breather at times as both main characters faced rather difficult obstacles! Also despite the distance between our two main characters we still find their stories intertwined, with information gained by one character providing more context on the others situation.

The new locations in this book are vividly described and the difference in setting such as the desert really helped expand upon the world from the 1st book. New characters introduced are kept to a minimum but are all standouts.

A very bittersweet ending but it was masterfully done and helped bring closure to this amazing duology and all loose ends were tied up.

Thanks to Netgalley & HarperCollins for the arc.

Lan found home, love, and truth and then lost it all again in a single fell swoop. Now she is on the run from the Elantian army and hunting demon gods. This includes finding a way to kill the one that lives inside her and the one that lives inside the man she loves, plus finding the two missing demon gods before the Elantian army finds them first. Meanwhile Zen continues his quest for power, desperate to keep his demon god at bay long enough to use it to take down the Elantian occupiers once and for all. But will Lan and Zen help each other on their missions or hinder?

What I find most interesting about this book is how the two protagonists have the same goals for peace, yet entirely different methods of achieving it. Zen believes that more power is the only way to defeat their enemies, whilst Lan aims to eradicate these powers before their enemies can get to them. It is easy to see how Lan could easily go down Zen’s path and so the fact that she refuses is what makes her such a strong character.

This strength is also the reason that she is so easily able to get others to follow her and believe in her; they see and respect this strength. This is particularly obvious in Lan’s relationship with Dilaya. Of everyone, Dilaya has the most reason to fear those who are bound to demon gods. Yet she never once seems to falter in her trust of Lan. I believe that this is because Lan herself doesn’t falter in her distrust of the demon god, only using its power when there is no other choice.
The ending of this book is more abrupt than I expected, but also super satisfying as it ties up all the loose ends of the duology.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This duology was everything. Beautiful and poetic writing. The world building was fascinating. I will miss this world so much .wish there was another book. So much potential for story to go even further.hope the author decides to write some more in the same world.
Definitely recommend if you are in for a beautiful fantasy and amazing characters.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperVoyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in the duology, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless! I really enjoy the whimsical, poetic prose that Zhao writes with as this helps to create a great atmosphere.

I didn’t see the end coming, and I commend the author for not going the obvious route.

Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins and Amelie Wen Zhao for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I had a hard time with the first book but really wanted to give this duology a proper chance by reading the sequel. To be honest, I had a hard time connecting to the characters and the story in the first book, but in this one a lot of the plot points fixed my issues with that.

However, I still had the idea that I had to drag myself through most of the book, and then the last third of the book seemed to be really rushed. I feel this is one of the rare instances where I would have liked this to be the middle book in a series instead of the last one.

I really did not see the ending coming, and applaud the author for not taking the obvious route! Would I reread this series? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Well, maybe. While it didn't work for me, it might be for you if you like a YA fantasy based on Chinese mythology with lyrical prose.

The first half of the first book of Song of the Last Kingdom duology, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was truly magical and had everything I expected from an Asian fantasy. Although the sequel Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White was satisfying and the story ended, I wonder, do we have to read every book in manylogy?! A good idea and plot turn into a flat boring!

STILL

Amélie Wen Zhao's story represents many new and interesting elements, like the story of the Four Demon Gods and their quest for power. Look at the awesome covers of each book, the Black Tortoise of the North, the Crimson Phoenix of the South, the Silver Dragon of the East, and the Azure Tiger of the West, are stunning. The only thing that I wish for is more stories about them.

In this book, like the previous, we follow Lan and Zen on different paths, each determined to finish their missions, but with one goal: to fight for the Last Kingdom and save it.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction Via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.