Reviews

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

allivenger's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book picks right up where the last book left off. With Lan and Zen on opposite sides of this war that is set to come to a head sooner rather than later. Lan finds herself searching for the Crimson Phoenix while Zen  decides that he cannot win this war without an army. And he knows just where to find one. 

But when the Crimson Phoenix is not what Lan expected and the Elantian army in hot pursuit, Lan once again finds herself with Zen. But can their differences be put aside when the kingdom is in jeopardy? Or will this war destroy them both in the process? 

I loved the first book much better than I liked this one. There was nothing wrong with it really I just think I enjoyed the pacing of the first book better. I cried at the ending and it was wonderfully done. I wish we could have had a different ending but overall a solid story.

emily_bg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

yamiresse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

4.75

This book drained me emotionally. The level of love and sacrifice between Kan and Zen was brutal. My only complain is that the climax came a bit late and was rushed. For 2 books we were preparing for this battle and it happened in the very last few pages with no time to process and develop the battle.

scribe391's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The plot is bogged down by Asian philosophy and reincarnation 

jaybae26's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

stegobookosaurus's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a great tale about how power corrupts people and the hard choices we must make living under another's thumb.

Lan was a great protagonist who should be a great role model for people. Especially in these strange times. I admired her restraint, mischief making and love for others. A truly lovely protagonist to follow.

While I enjoyed this sequel more than it's predecessor, I found the ending quite rushed. Relationships that were built up throughout the duology just spluttered out and the end was so sudden.

Even so, a great story on lovers who can never be and the power that cleaves them apart.

vampire_burrito's review

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition

2.0

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was one of my favorite YA fantasy books in 2023, so I’m soooo sad this final installment didn’t work for me at all. I was already a little wary after seeing this was going to be quite a bit shorter, but I still went into it with pretty high expectations. While it was still very mystical and immersive, this just ended up falling so flat. The characters were very simple and I felt like we got absolutely zero character development. It even felt like we lost character development between the two books. I don’t want to go into spoilers, but some of my favorite side characters didn’t get nearly enough screen time which was very disappointing. The climax and resolution was anticlimactic and I was a little let down by the epilogue. Also, for some reason this installment read a lot younger to me. Excluding one particular scene, I would have thought this was a middle grade book. That might work for some people, but I just wasn’t expecting it.

I still want to pick up future books from this author though. Considering how much I loved the first book, I can definitely see myself liking more books from her in the future.

Story: 2/5
Audiobook: 5/5 (narrated by Annie Q)
Length 12h16min

charlihammond's review against another edition

5.0

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Amelie Wen Zhao and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I was genuinely so excited to read the second book in this duology after falling in love with the first book. It is steeped in chinese mythology and folklore, which I am finding is where my heart is at.

The writing is beautiful, descriptive and almost poetic in parts. I loved the plot of this installment and how it all played out. Our main characters Lan and Zen are really brilliant counterparts, the yin to the yang. We get to see even more character development and insight into their pasts, particularly Zen's. We are also introduced to some new characters and parts of the world.

The use of magic in this book is really unique and easy to understand. I love the concept of the qi of everything. Although the concept was new to me in this duology it made perfect sense and was described brilliantly. The descriptions of everything in this book make it so easy to see everything play out, even though I often struggle to 'see' what I am reading.

This book has shattered by heart in to a million pieces and I am not sure I will ever be the same again. I think Lan and Zen will live on forever in my heart.

If you love the celestial kingdoms duology then I'd highly recommend this duology too.

libraryofronjarathe's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.0