A review by cortanasreadingnook
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.75

This stunning, adventure-filled sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night concludes the story of the girl holding the secrets to a lost kingdom and a boy reclaiming his heritage…one that could destroy them all. Lan and Zen’s story feels bitter and hopeless, and yet it is a sight to behold in its depiction of resistance. The author did not disguise the trauma and gruesomeness of ethnic cleansing but rather illustrated the characters’ desperate ambition to contest against colonizers. As someone who comes from a thrice occupied country in Southeast Asia, books that glorify defiance speak volumes to me. For me, the ending was quite predictable and there were gaps in the conclusion of the book, yet this fantasy duology properly featured illegal occupation and refused to romanticize its elements all the while including dragons, dark magic, and political intrigue in its pages. 
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