Heart of the Sun Warrior, book 2

 

Rating:  4 stars for a fantasy, romance that does not play into the happy ending, "riding into the sunset" trope. 

My Thoughts:

This is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Xingyin is back on the moon, and after all the excitement, love triangle, and betrayal, the moon life is a bit dull and irritating for her even though her mother is no longer a prisoner. The new plot threads and battles are unexpected and very complex, so I was afraid that this would end in a lame way just to get to the end, however, Tan takes her time to unravel each plot line to the end, and the letting go of one path to love ends in a way that as a reader I was satisfied, even if she did not get her happy ending, per se. 

The only negative was that at 472 pages, this was a hefty read, and the stubborn, uncompromising voice of Xingyin is a lot to take for almost 500 pages until she starts getting to know herself more. Through these two books, she makes so many mistkes and needs to be saved by others, and yet she does not seem to learn or be able to humble herself until it is too late. I think in book one, I called her petulant, and yes, she still is. However, I still think that fantasy readers will want to get to the end and just stick it out. 

From the Publishers:

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.

Publication Information:

Author: Suelynn Tann

Publisher: Harper Voyager (November 15, 2022)

Print length: 472 pages

Daughter of the Moon Goddess

 

Rating: 3 for soap opera type of adventure that is a little like watching a car crash. One cannot help but keep watching, or listening in this case.

My Thoughts:

Xingyin leaves her home on the moon and finds herself in the Jade Palace. This story  is about court intrigue, betrayal, finding one's powers and a big old love triangle to boot. At 15 hours for the audiobook, this is a packed book. I'm not sure if I can handle the protagonist for another 15 hours, as she is quite petulant, but it is just two books and I do want to know how the three of them can continue to work together. Who will she choose? None at the end of this. Keep reading. 

From the Publisher:

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic, of loss and sacrifice—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Publication Information:

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Narrator: Natalie Naudus

Listening length: 15 hours 1 minute

Publisher: HarperAudio (Jan 11, 2022)

A Forgery of Fate

 

Rating: 4 stars for Asian Romantasy

My Thoughts:

I read so many Asian romantasy YA books that I actually thought this was the second book in Wesley Chu's War Arts books -- The Art of Prophecy being book 1 of the duology. Seriously, look at the art work and it is not so farfetched that I thought I was reading The Art of Destiny which is his book 2. I know I have it on my Kindle TBR list which is miles long, so I was ready to get back to the multiple characters in Chuʻs Game of Thrones type of story. 

It quickly became apparent that this was not the same story. Tru, the blue haired artist captured my imagination so quickly that I did not care that I chose the wrong book. I was already hooked. Truyan is feisty. She uses her art skills to forge artwork and take care of her sisters and mother, but she has a gift in her hands and her paint brush to paint the future. However, with Baba lost at sea and believed dead, Truyan is the main caretaker of her family until she falls into the garden of the masked demon Elang. Elang is a half dragon/half beautiful boy who is cursed to live on land until he can destroy his grandfather, the dragon king under the sea who has stolen Elang's pearl.

This is a Chinese Beauty and the Beast but the beauty, Truyan is much more powerful and pivotal to this story than just the love interest. This book has enough fighting, twists and betrayals to make this more C-drama, less Disney.

Back to the cover mix up - the beautiful cover is done by Vietnamese artist Tran Nguyen who is the artist behind what seems like ALL of the Elizabeth Lim YA books, the Wesley Chu War Arts books and my favorite cover this year Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier. Go to the artist blog linked here. The murals are just as stunning and an appropriately large canvas for her work. 

As far as Asian romantasy, this one is fabulous. It has all the highs and lows of an Asian romantasy without the super goopy cheeseball ending. Yes, it has a positive ending, but not without the heartbreak and worry of a Chinese drama. That is what makes Asian romantasy so much better!

From the Publisher:

Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

Publication Information:

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 3, 2025)