Published 10th November 2022 by Harper Voyager.
From the cover of the book:
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.
The stunning sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling 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.
***********
The battle that Xingyin fought to free her mother Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, is behind her, and she hopes that they can now enjoy peace in their quiet corner of the Immortal Realm. But trouble is stirring in the Celestial Kingdom. A powerful enemy is whispering in the ear of the Celestial Emperor, and his eye has turned towards the forest of Xingyin's home, where a mysterious magic lies sleeping.
Despite the continued affection and support of Liwei, the heir to the Celestial throne, court intrigue means that Xingyin and her mother are no longer safe. War is on the horizon once more, and when Xingyin and her mother are forced to flee the Pure Light Palace, their only chance of survival is to find allies among the divided lands of the Immortal Kingdom. This means asking for support from many with divided loyalties, like Prince Wenzhi of the Demon Realm, the former lover who betrayed her. However, they also have an unexpected ally from the land of the Mortal Realm, who has finally returned to them...
Many trials lie ahead for Xingyin as she attempts to save everyone from the evil danger that now threatens them. What is she willing to sacrifice in the endeavour?
The Heart of the Sun Warrior in the concluding second volume of the epic fantasy adventure the Celestial Kingdom, following on from Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It continues shortly after the events of the first book, following a brief period of peace for Xingyin and her mother. However, the Celestial Kingdom has not finished with them yet, and they find themselves caught up in events that threaten the safety of not just the Immortal Realm, but the mortals below too.
Sue Lynn Tan builds nicely on the story in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, weaving a tale that is ignited by revenge and boundless ambition before it explodes into an ambitious fantasy extravaganza that splits nicely into three parts that are almost like three separate quests. There are delicious themes of penance, sacrifice, and forgiveness that run through each of them, which contrasts nicely with the motives that fuel the evil parties in the story, and a good solid kick of the part love, loyalty and family play in how lives turn out.
There are lots of lovely descriptive scenes, and vivid characters (many of whom appeared in the first book), drawing on the magic and mysticism of Chinese mythology, and from the very first page you find yourself tied to the fates of Xingyin and her compatriots. There is also a very interesting love triangle that plays out between Xingyin, Linwei, and Wenzhi that it is almost impossible to see an easy resolution to - in fact, there is nothing easy about the way Tan plays with your expectations, and emotions, in this romantic element of the tale. She keeps you guessing about who Xingyin will ultimately choose to give her heart to, right up to the thrilling confrontation between good and evil, when she breaks your own heart in two.
It has been a while since I immersed myself in a fantasy world as exciting, and enormously satisfying, as this one, and I am sorry to have reached the end of the duology - especially given the surprise ending, which made me shed more than a tear or two. If you have yet to discover the wonderful writing of Sue Lynn Tan yet, then you are in for an absolute treat. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
The Heart of the Sun Warrior is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Harper Voyager for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is her debut, the first in the Celestial Kingdom duology – a fantasy of immortals, magic and love, inspired by the beloved legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang'e. Its sequel, Heart of the Sun Warrior, is also out now.
When not writing or reading, she enjoys exploring the hills, lakes, and temples around her home. She is also grateful to be within reach of bubble tea and spicy food, that she unfortunately cannot cook.
No comments:
Post a Comment