THIS BOOK WAS BEAUTIFUL. While I absolutely should’ve reread Daughter of the Moon Goddess before picking this one up, I fell back into the world of the Celestial Kingdom quickly - Tan really knows how to immerse her readers! Xingyin has been reunited with her mother, only to risk losing her and everyone she loves yet again. She is forced from the moon once more and embarks on a new quest to save the immortal realm from a new threat. We meet many new faces as Xingyin explores the Immortal Realm, but are also welcomed back by some familiar ones. The love triangle between her, Liwei, and Wenzhi is executed beautifully - we bear witness to Xingyin’s inner turmoil as she battles matters of the heart while also actively engaged in life-threatening battles. The climax of the plot demands a sacrifice greater than she’s ever known or will know again.

Tan urges readers to read just ONE MORE chapter with plot twists unfolding rapidly as the drama and urgency continues to escalate. The ending is poetic and hopeful, and allows readers the opportunity to imagine how each character’s life will play out while also feeling like a satisfying close to the duology. I am happy to report that the tears shed by the end of this book were happy tears.

I highly recommend this duology to anyone who loves fast-paced fantasy, especially to those who love fantasy elements drawn from Chinese mythology.