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trippalli's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A good read of you like a string female warrior sorcerer leading in many battles and adventures while being in a love triangle (2 in love with her) with 8dragons, Phoenix, Mermaids, magic, Demons/mind manipulators and goddesses and emperors that are immortal yet getting in trouble with falling in love with mortals, fighting over and steeling the elixir of immortality, that is made from peach trees on the moon... But takes a long time to make. Lots of fights between 8 kingdoms. There are a couple sad deaths in battles and some unification against common enemies.
Honestly it was like too much was going on so nothing got quite as in depth as I need to fall in love with characters or their plights.. It becomes cartooniy almost to have so much going on and chaos.. Except for the real violence which is sad
Honestly it was like too much was going on so nothing got quite as in depth as I need to fall in love with characters or their plights.. It becomes cartooniy almost to have so much going on and chaos.. Except for the real violence which is sad
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Death, Sexual harassment, War, and Blood
kumquats87's review
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Confinement, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty
marleywrites's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
So. Much. Angst. My heart fractured so many times while reading this book. Every time Xingyin’s heart broke, mine did too. I felt her grief deep in my soul.
This book made me want to sing and cry at the same time. The Wenzhi redemption arc- phew! I was rooting for him from the start! I was feeling every emotional high and low like it was my own emotions at stake.
This story is now a forever favorite. The character arcs. The thrilling plot. The symbolism. The fantastic prose.
If Sue Lynn Tan writes it, I’m gonna read it.
Liwei working so hard to save Wenzhi for Xingyin… that’s love. I’m so proud of him for setting aside that pain he felt for her. And that Wenzhi and Xingyin will get another chance…. Yes, I cried. A lot.
This book made me want to sing and cry at the same time.
This story is now a forever favorite. The character arcs. The thrilling plot. The symbolism. The fantastic prose.
If Sue Lynn Tan writes it, I’m gonna read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: War and Blood
Minor: Infidelity, Murder, and Death of parent
The angst is heavy in this one.jiao_li's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Well don't judge a book by it's cover. Honestly I don't really like the first book, but again I decided to read the second book because it's pretty cover. I actually don't hate the first book so I think probably this one will be better. Turns out it was worse:(
The plot was too exhausting and dramatic. The author probably want to make a fantasy romance book, but for me the romance was sooo cringe. Also Xingyin was a warrior right? Yet she doesn't have a warrior material at all, she was lame and made many illogical decisions.
The battle scene.. too much talking than fighting😭 also some major characters died in the war yet their death feels so hurtless and meaningless, I'm sorry..
The only thing I like about this book was the world building and the Chinese mythology. It was stunning and written beautifully.
I think this book has so many unnecessary plot that's kinda boring. This series was enough with adding a few chapters to the first book.
The plot was too exhausting and dramatic. The author probably want to make a fantasy romance book, but for me the romance was sooo cringe. Also Xingyin was a warrior right? Yet she doesn't have a warrior material at all, she was lame and made many illogical decisions.
The battle scene.. too much talking than fighting😭 also some major characters died in the war yet their death feels so hurtless and meaningless, I'm sorry..
The only thing I like about this book was the world building and the Chinese mythology. It was stunning and written beautifully.
I think this book has so many unnecessary plot that's kinda boring. This series was enough with adding a few chapters to the first book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and War
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Violence, War, Confinement, Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
calicat42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
leaflit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.25
I think I enjoyed the first book more as it had more of the world building and possibly less romantic angst. Felt less *magical* than it did discovering the universe for the first time and the romance stuff went a bit overboard for me in this book but it was still an enjoyable read. A few elements felt kind of thrown in/rushed. Overall engaging and a good balance of action-mushy stuff and angst-comfort.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
LGBTQ+ side charactersketchydelusion's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
jessicaludden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*4.5*
“For the fools do not fear the odds, the reckless do not care—and only the truly brave proceed regardless.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!
The Heart of the Sun Warrior continues the Celestial Kingdom Duology and follows Xingyin as she faces a new threat in the immortal realm. A tyrant is after the seeds of the laurel tree that grows on the moon, which will allow him to raise an army with regenerative powers to take over the realm. With the help of her allies, Xingyin must find a way to stop him and decide what place love will have in her life.
I loved this book! I wasn’t sure where the series was going after the conclusion of the first book, but I really like the direction it went in. The pacing was a little slow and there were some things with the plot and character motivation that didn’t make sense to me, but it definitely picked up in Part 3. There were many epic fantasy elements included in this book that made it feel like a journey as I was reading it. I loved watching Xingyin’s growth throughout the novel. She became such a noble and honest person, almost to a fault. I loved her relationship with her family and how she was willing to do anything to protect them. I loved the ending of this book. At first, I didn’t think things would go my way, but I finished reading this book very content. I think Xingyin made a great decision to help everyone around her be happy. Overall, I loved this book and I loved this series. I really enjoyed reading about Xingyin’s journey and being immersed in this world.
“For the fools do not fear the odds, the reckless do not care—and only the truly brave proceed regardless.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!
The Heart of the Sun Warrior continues the Celestial Kingdom Duology and follows Xingyin as she faces a new threat in the immortal realm. A tyrant is after the seeds of the laurel tree that grows on the moon, which will allow him to raise an army with regenerative powers to take over the realm. With the help of her allies, Xingyin must find a way to stop him and decide what place love will have in her life.
I loved this book! I wasn’t sure where the series was going after the conclusion of the first book, but I really like the direction it went in. The pacing was a little slow and there were some things with the plot and character motivation that didn’t make sense to me, but it definitely picked up in Part 3. There were many epic fantasy elements included in this book that made it feel like a journey as I was reading it. I loved watching Xingyin’s growth throughout the novel. She became such a noble and honest person, almost to a fault. I loved her relationship with her family and how she was willing to do anything to protect them. I loved the ending of this book. At first, I didn’t think things would go my way, but I finished reading this book very content. I think Xingyin made a great decision to help everyone around her be happy. Overall, I loved this book and I loved this series. I really enjoyed reading about Xingyin’s journey and being immersed in this world.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
thesawyerbean's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was so so excited to read this after reading Daughter of the Moon Goddess earlier this year, and I have to say I absolutely devoured it. I love love love this book, and the entire duology. Not to mention how stunning the cover (and the sprayed edges) of this edition is!
The stakes have never been higher in the Immortal Realm, both for Xingyin in her personal life and for the Realm itself. Will she go through with the betrothal to the Celestial Kingdom Crown Prince Liwei, or get back involved with the treacherous prince of the Demon Realm Wenzhi? The romantic politics interweaves with wider inter-kingdom diplomacy in the shadow of an impending Juggernautical threat. This comes together as a story that is not only exhilarating and utterly enthralling, but devastating, heartfelt, magical and extremely special.
This sequel is more emotionally fraught and less action-packed than the first in the duology: however, this lets us delve even deeper into the characters, their personalities and their psyches, especially ones for whom we had previously only seen to be malignant. In addition, the ending was so satisfying and enchanting - I wish I could read more, but the beauty of it is that I don’t need to.
What a wonderful end to this epic story of trial, turmoil and ultimately love.
The stakes have never been higher in the Immortal Realm, both for Xingyin in her personal life and for the Realm itself. Will she go through with the betrothal to the Celestial Kingdom Crown Prince Liwei, or get back involved with the treacherous prince of the Demon Realm Wenzhi? The romantic politics interweaves with wider inter-kingdom diplomacy in the shadow of an impending Juggernautical threat. This comes together as a story that is not only exhilarating and utterly enthralling, but devastating, heartfelt, magical and extremely special.
This sequel is more emotionally fraught and less action-packed than the first in the duology: however, this lets us delve even deeper into the characters, their personalities and their psyches, especially ones for whom we had previously only seen to be malignant. In addition, the ending was so satisfying and enchanting - I wish I could read more, but the beauty of it is that I don’t need to.
What a wonderful end to this epic story of trial, turmoil and ultimately love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, and Gore