Heart of the Sun Warrior
A Novel
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4.6 • 102 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin—the daughter of Chang’e and the mortal archer, Houyi—as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.
After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting 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 perilous confrontation.
Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation—to rise against this 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Tan's ambitious if not entirely successful conclusion to her Celestial Kingdom duology (after Daughter of the Moon Goddess) hits the ground running and doesn't let up. Xingyin and her mother, the Moon Goddess, are finally living peacefully together when an enemy in disguise tricks his way into their domain. The usurper, General Wu, reveals himself to Xingyin at a celebration in the Celestial Kingdom, where he sets in motion a plot to usurp the Celestial Throne. It's up to Xingyin and her companions, Liwei and Wenzhi, to stop him. To do so, they'll need to seek out the Goddess of the Sun and acquire a feather from the last remaining sunbird. As mythic battle looms, Xingyin faces uncomfortable truths about herself and must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her home. Xingyin's quest is a nonstop roller-coaster ride, but, after all the buildup, the final confrontation does not feel suitably climactic. The drawn-out ending likewise ties things up too neatly, conveniently fixing all the romantic conflicts. The journey is worth it, but the destination disappoints.
Customer Reviews
Beautiful conclusion
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the second book in her amazing new duology, The Celestial Kingdom Duology, and should be read in order. This Chinese mythology-inspired fantasy had me enthralled from the very first page.
Story Recap:
The story starts as Xingyin is living again with her mother on the moon after she won her mother’s freedom from the Celestial kingdom. Life is back the way she lived it before, except now she gets frequent visits from her friend, Prince Liwei who helped her save her mother.
However, all is not well in the Celestial Kingdom as the power has shifted and Xingyin’s enemy, General Wu is rising to power, and even her friends back in the Celestial Kingdom are worried about the changes.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t know what to expect with this second novel as the first one ended without a cliffhanger. Xingyin was at home with her mother and all was well. But, as soon as I started this book a sense of unease was immediate and I knew something terrible was about to happen, and it did.
The love triangle in this continues as both Liwei and Wenzhi fight for her heart. Xingyin has refused to see Wenzhi after his betrayal in the first book, but he continues to beg for her forgiveness and will do almost anything to win her heart. Liwei is by her side, but ultimately must decide between her and his family, and the throne.
This book is beautifully written with lovely descriptions and world-building. I also loved that the book comes with a map! I was able to follow the story as it flowed from one realm to another. The battle scenes were exciting and well-choreographed. The intensity of the battle and the extremely high stakes were interspersed with emotional moments of connection and friendships, making this a well-balanced fantasy novel.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend Heart of the Sun Warrior to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Hotsw
I loved the end of this story and the internal battle xingyin faced between her love interests. I sobbed so hard at the end and I haven’t cried while reading in years.