Scan barcode
A review by literarylillie
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan
4.0
daughter of the moon goddess was one of my favorite reads of 2022 and established sue lynn tan as an author whose work i will always look forward to. although dotmg can be read as a stand-alone, i craved the return of xingyin and the cast of the celestial kingdom, and was not disappointed by heart of the sun warrior. i thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of the rest of the immortal realm (the southern sea, the golden desert, etc.) and thought this expansion introduced so much opportunity to further the lore and provide space for action. which there was so! much! of! the pace of hotsw felt so different from dotmg, and that’s because the stakes were so much higher. never a dull moment in the immortal realm!
in addition to this, themes of grief, betrayal, and love were explored in such haunting and hopeful ways. there’s so much to be said about forgiving vs forgetting, prioritizing your wants/needs, and learning how to heal from your past. xingyin is a character i resonate with, and watching her navigate heartbreak and treachery during such a turbulent time with maturity and poise has provided me with many lessons to reflect upon. i am so grateful to have read this duology in 2022 and hope that you all can find your own takeaways from the story of chang’e and houyi, a tale that has endeared me from a small age.
in addition to this, themes of grief, betrayal, and love were explored in such haunting and hopeful ways. there’s so much to be said about forgiving vs forgetting, prioritizing your wants/needs, and learning how to heal from your past. xingyin is a character i resonate with, and watching her navigate heartbreak and treachery during such a turbulent time with maturity and poise has provided me with many lessons to reflect upon. i am so grateful to have read this duology in 2022 and hope that you all can find your own takeaways from the story of chang’e and houyi, a tale that has endeared me from a small age.