Publication Dates: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess (DOTMG) published early this year. Heart Of The Sun Warrior (HOTSW) 10th November.
Formats: DOTMG: Hardback & Ebook, HOTSW: Hardback & Ebook
Prices: DOTMG: HB £14.99/ Ebook £2.99, HOTSW: HB £16.99/ Ebook £9.99
Publisher: HarperVoyager
I would like to say a huge thank you to Susanna Pedan at Harper Voyager for allowing me (and my other wonderful friends of SquadPod) to help shout out about this amazing, fantastic and utterly enchanting duology, which is the second and last in this wonderful other world, Heart Of The Sun Warrior. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Sue Lynn Tan for creating such a beautiful, poignant, tragic and yet utterly enchanting and gripping story that at once leaves you gasping in tears and filled with joyful tears too, as well as some rather laugh out loud moments. If this hasn’t wet your appetite I don’t know what will, intrigued? Let’s head over to the blurbs of both books and find out more.
(Just want to say that I will be mainly reviewing Heart Of The Sun Warrior as I was most kindly gifted a proof to review, but as it spurred me to read the first book, Daughter Of The Moon Goddess, I will be talking about this book too. So there will be two blurbs one for the first book and one for the second).
Daughter Of The Moon Goddess blurb:
A young woman’s quest to free her mother puts her against the most powerful immortal in the realm, setting her on a dangerous path where those she loves are not the only ones at risk….
Raised far away on the moon, Xingyin was unaware she was being hidden from the Celestial Emperor – who exiled her mother for stealing the elixir of immortality. But when her magic flares and reveals her, Xingyin is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.
Alone, powerless and afraid , Xingyin makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. In disguise, she trains alongside the Emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, despite the passion which flames between them.
Vowing to rescue her mother, Xingyin embarks on a quest, confronting legendary creatures, and vicious enemies. But when forbidden magic threatens the Kingdom, Xingyin must challenge the ruthless Emperor, leaving her torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos….
Inspired by the legend of Chang’e, The Moon Goddess, this captivating tale weaves Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of love and family, immortals and magic….
Heart Of The Sun Warrior blurb:
An unspeakable terror is sweeping across the realm as the Celestial Emperor tightens his grip on power. The fragile peace Xingyin fought so hard for when freeing her mother is under threat.
Forced to flee her home, Xingyin ventures into the unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm to seek aid in her fight, but, with alliances shifting quicker than the tides, she has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined.
Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation – to rise against 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.
I had bought myself the first book in this magical tale, with the intention of reading it asap… ahem well it took the next one to urge me to get on and read it. And oh wow!!! the DOTMG is such a beautiful and enchanting story filled with magic both dark and light with many ethereal and otherworldly awe. The main character Xingyin is well without giving too much away, is something special and you feel for her as she is forced to run from her home to find a way to release her mother from the constraints which hold her in place from the Celestial Emperor. This story has no real or visible enemy as such, you do get an inkling that there is something not right going on in the Celestial Kingdom but like Xingyin you are not sure if it’s just the strangeness of the place or whether there is some other reason. I loved the visual poetical descriptions of the settings in each scene it felt almost (in my head) like one of those Chinese silk paintings where scene by scene you see the full story come to life.
I felt myself transported into another world and it takes awhile for you to come back to reality, every page you want to stay and read more and see more and breathe with all the characters. My heart could not take the turning of the last page of the first book and I needed most urgently to read the next and finale of the epic story.
And so… we come to Heart Of The Sun Warrior and wow, what a fantastic, gripping and just a heart wrenching gut punching stunning book. I could go on and on with how much I love this story, the characters are at once both familiar because their loves, lies and feelings are human and yet there’s a strange and ethereal pull almost godlike awe as they fight daemons and monsters (some with beautiful faces) and how hurts, grievances can twist and turn someone to do evil and that someone who everyone denigrates and fears might not be what people would think. (I won’t spoil anything you have to work it out for yourself lol) but I have to urge you to get a hold of these fabulous books.
What can I say, I am not sure there is much more to say than, wow!! What a beautiful, powerful, enthralling and just magical storytelling I am in awe of Sue Lynn’s writing, I could smell the blossoms feel the wood in my hands and see well some rather intimidating and yet also strangely beautiful characters. I know I keep saying these words but I just can’t find any other words that will do. It’s definitely going to be in top 22 books of 2022. Utterly brilliant.
Ratings: 5 stars with 🍵 and 🥮 ( something special for two special books)
Author’s Blurb:
Sue Lynn Tan writes fantasy inspired by the myths and legends she fell in love with as a child. Born in Malaysia, she studied in London and France, before settling in Hong Kong with her family. Her love for stories began with a gift from her father, a compilation of fairytales from around the world, and she spent much of her childhood lost in magical worlds. When not writing or reading, she can be found exploring the hills, lakes and temples around her home.
I hope you have enjoyed this marvellous, magical and enchanting tale of an epic inspired retelling of an exquisite and elegant Chinese myth. I would urge anyone to get hold of these beauties, if you are looking to get hold of a copy for yourselves you can find this in Waterstones, independent stores and of course on Amazon. I will leave you now to say Happy Reading and see you all soon!!!
Zoe's Book Nook 