Tag Archives: Asian Myth

The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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Description:
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

 

 

Review:

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song is a fantasy built around Chinese mythology.  Three Kingdoms are at war, and Meilan’s (our heroine) father, who has an addiction, refuses to enter the draft. He decides that he will sell his daughter, who is 18 years old, for a dowry, with her husband-to-be being a violent and evil man.  Meilan leaves home and enlists in the war, disguising herself as a young boy, named Ren. Meilan/Ren has trained over time to be excellent in martial arts, as well able to fight better than most men. She is assigned to the Seventh Company, and is surprised that the leader is Liu Sky, the prince of Anlai. Meilan knows she must conceal her identity, as women are not permitted to fight or practice black magic (she is a spirit medium); revealing her secret could mean death.

In the army, Meilin/Ren earns respect from fellow soldiers, as she is a workaholic; bringing recognition and friendship along the way.  Slowly, her commander, Sky admits that Ren is better than any of the other men in the group; until when he discovers that she is a woman.  At first, Sky ignores her, but keeps her secret; and in time he begins to have feelings for Meilin; as she also slowly falls for him. I did like the chemistry between Meilan and Sky, as they were very good together. When Meilan is captured by Prince Cao Ming Lei and his army, he knew from the start that she was a woman; and in time he also was attracted to the beautiful Meilan. 

As the war escalates, Meilan beings to have visions of a dragon spirit that offers her magical powers, which could come as a price. Meilan needs to know who to trust; Sky, whom she is loyal to; The Dragon Spirit, Qinglong, who may not be telling the truths or Lei, attractive possible enemy, who could be revealing the real truths. 

The Night Ends with Fire was an exciting intriguing, fast packed adventure of magic, war, feminism, romance and betrayal.   I thought the first third of the book was a bit slow, though that last half was very exciting. To say too much more, would ruin things along the way.  This was an enthralling epic fantasy, with an ending that was wild and climatic.  The Night Ends with Fire was very well written by K.X. Song, and I look forward to the next book in this dulology/series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

K. X. Songis a diaspora writer with roots in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Raised between
cultures and languages, she enjoys telling stories that explore the shifting nature of
memory, translation, and history. She is the author of An Echo in the City and the
forthcoming The Night Ends with Fire, her adult fantasy debut. You can learn
more at kxsong.com.

 

 

 

 

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Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan – a Review

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Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan – a Review

 

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Description:
After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting 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 perilous 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.

 

Description:

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan is the 2nd book in her Celestial Kingdom Duology. Heart of the Sun Warrior starts a year later from where it left off in the first book.  Xingyin has recovered from her injuries, and is happy to have returned home with her mother (now free) on the Moon.  The love triangle between Xingyin-Liwei- Wenzhi continues to escalate, especially when Liwei visits her on the Moon often, and Wenzhi is determined to prove that he loves her, and learned from his previous wrongdoings.  To Xingyin’s shock, she learns that her father is still alive, though in the mortal realm; but he returns to the Moon to see C’hang and Xingyin.  Her peaceful time is shortened, as a new threat to the realm has been discovered, threatening all of immortal and mortal realms. 

Xingyin is forced to leave her home again, when her mother was sent to prison, and Xingyin must find a way to save her.  The Celestial Emperor has been overcome by evil, and the throne is now been usurped by the terrible Wugang, who is now in charge.  Xingyin and her companions, which include, Liwei, Wenzhi, her father, and others to convince other realms to join the fight and save the world. 

What follows is an exciting, tense, emotional, action filled attempt to stop an evil being and his army of death. There is so much going on in the last third of the book, as I held my breath as to who will survive, against the devastation of terror that threatens the realms.  To say too much more would be spoilers and you really need to read this without me spoiling it for you. I did enjoy Xingyin’s feelings toward both Liwei and Wenzhi, but the love triangle was somewhat bittersweet.  

Heart of the Sun Warrior was a fantastic duology with an amazing conclusion. The Celestial Kingdom was a excellent high fantasy that was set in Asian mythology, with a wonderful heroine, and great secondary characters, villains, excellent world building and action-packed adventures. Sue Lynn Tan wrote a magnificent, intriguing, captivating story, which was so very well written.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan -a Review

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Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan -a Review

 

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Description:
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

 

 

Review:

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is the first book in her The Celestial Kingdom Duology. Xingyin, our heroine, has lived all her life on the Moon with her mother, the Moon Goddess (Chang’e), who was exiled many years ago, after stealing her husband’s elixir of immortality; Chang’e had taken the elixir in order to save her unborn child’s (Xingyin) life.  Xingyin was hidden, as the Celestial Kingdom Emperor has no idea of a child living on the Moon. 

When the Celestial Empress comes to visit Chang’e, and promises to visit more often, the Moon Goddess forces her daughter to leave or she will be killed.  Xingyin travels alone and ends up in the Celestial Kingdom, and eventually meets a young man who befriends her.  In a short time, she learns that Liwei, is in fact the crown prince and to her surprise, a friendship builds with him helping her become a companion and training her how to fight with swords and archery.  Xingyin and Liwei slowly fall in love, but he is forced into a betrothal by his family, and Xingyin knows she has no future with him. Xingyin becomes a master with a bow, and receives and accepts the offer to join the army, where she excels becoming the First Archer.

What follows is Xingyin stepping up to rise up as one of the most important members of the Celestial army, as she continually faces perilous and dangerous quests, which include wild creatures and enemies, that she manages to defeat, making her reputation legendary.  Xingyin is an amazing heroine, who is strong, smart, savvy and fearless.  She starts working closely with Wenzhi, a decorated officer who is a Military leader for the Celestial Kingdom; slowly she begins to care about him, though she still loves Liwei. Though she knows he will marry someone else, but he is always still there to help her, as well as give her support. With two love interests, we watch has she tries to follow her true destination; Will she allow herself to move forward with Wenzhi, and leave Liwei to his expected marriage of convenience.

Xingyin will face some dangerous quests, which will have her facing the Celestial Emperor to bargain for a past that was done so wrong. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a fantastic high fantasy that was set in Asian mythology, with a wonderful heroine, and great secondary characters, villains, excellent world building and action-packed adventures. 

Sue Lynn Tan wrote a magnificent, intriguing, captivating story, especially in her debut novel, which was so very well written.  I look forward to the next book in this duology.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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