A review by cortanasreadingnook
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

What a disappointment. Apparently the conclusion of the first book wasn’t enough that this had to get published. The continuation of the plot leading towards the conflict could’ve been enjoyable, but it was overshadowed by the terribly executed love triangle. This book was already heartbreaking in its depiction of grief and death is inevitable in a book ravaged by darkness and war. I am biased when I say I was rooting for Liwei, but for a strong character like Xingyin to end up with a man who betrayed, lied, and kidnapped her? Fucker should’ve stayed dead. Her inner monologue throughout this sequel consisted of her never forgiving Wenzhi, that she could not work past the lies, only for the ending to trash her development, along with Liwei’s character.

What was his purpose in this book, then? He’s a piece of furniture? I also would just like to add how terrible the portrayal of Chang’e is. Revered by mortals, the literal goddess of the moon but her character was so weakly-written that I simply find no appeal in reading the novella. Somebody also said that the ending was a clockwork princess rip-off and I can’t even disagree because they are absolutely right. Liwei was never given a chance, but a liar was? I just feel so angry and hope to forget the existence of this sorry excuse for a sequel.