Book Review #76: Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

Hello Dear Reader!

I’ve got a traditionally published book review for you, and it’s the second book of the Celestial Kingdom Duology, Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan.

A continuation of its prequel, this book takes place a year after the conclusion of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and thrusts Xinyin into a brand-new adventure full of love, sorrow, and loss. But before I get into that, here is the back-cover summary (from Goodreads):

After her perilous quest to free her mother, Xingyin thrives once more in the tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a treacherous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation--to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love... even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

On to the review!

Just like its prequel, Heart of the Sun Warrior has a lot in it. Sitting at around 450 pages and divided yet again into three different parts, this book is full of events critical to the main plot while also exploring numerous subplots, particularly ones related to Xingyin’s family and love life. Despite having so much included, in my personal opinion, the pacing of these critical events mixed with the more relaxed scenes was executed well!

Told from Xingyin’s point of view, this story continues her growth as a character as she’s again ripped away from the peace of her life and thrust into an even greater threat than she faced in the previous book. Old conflict comes to light once again, new enemies are discovered, and new bonds are forged as she navigates through and accepts her role as savior of the immortal realm. Just like the previous book, Xingyin is as resourceful, smart, and witty as ever, and her emotions do get the best of her at times. Her temper can be no joke.

Old characters return to this book, including the ever-loyal Prince Liwei, the mysterious Wenzhi, her lovely mother Chang’e, the despicable Celestial Emperor, and MANY more. New characters are also introduced to this book, expanding the strong cast of characters and adding to the mystical and magical world of the immortal realm.

Speaking of the immortal realm, the world of this duology is still as breathtaking as ever! Heart of the Sun Warrior never failed to fascinate me with additional information about the Chinese myths and legends it’s based on. The world itself is my favorite part of this book, as it captured me with its beauty and mysticism every step of the way.

Overall, I really enjoyed Heart of the Sun Warrior as the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It’s just as charming as the prequel, with a beautiful story that continues to display the growth of a strong character. Really, my only criticism of the book is a very personal one, as I really don’t prefer the person that Xingyin chooses to pursue in the love triangle, but again, that is my personal opinion

So, Heart of the Sun Warrior rating:

4.5/5 and highly recommend if you enjoyed Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

Thanks for reading!