Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao
Series: Song of the Last Kingdom #2
Published January 2, 2024 by Delacorte
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Rep: Chinese
Rating:
Synopsis:
Years ago, the Elantian colonizers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest the location of its legendary four Demon Gods. Lan’s mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods, and Lan is determined to finish her mission. Yet, there are others searching for the gods, too.
Zen knew his soul was forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon God known as the Black Tortoise, but he’s willing to lose himself if it means saving the Kingdom—and the girl—he loves. But to crush the colonizers who have invaded his land he needs more power than even a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. And he knows exactly where he can find it—in the undead army his great grandfather lead decades ago.
The Elantians may have stolen their throne, but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only begun.
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It’s time to end this. I will find you again.
In the next life.
Zen makes a courageous decision to sacrifice himself in order to save the world and the girl he loves, Lan. While it wasn’t an easy choice, he knows that leaving Lan behind in a potentially better world is worth the sacrifice. Meanwhile, Lan is determined to rid the world of the dangerous presence of the Demon Gods, knowing the threat they pose to mortals. She embarks on a quest to find the Crimson Phoenix, the Azure Tiger, and the Godslayer before the Elantians do.
The main characters are resolute in their missions, with the support of their friends. Although others may not fully understand Zen’s sacrifice, they trust in Lan’s belief in him. The conclusion of the duology left me feeling bittersweet, with a sense of sadness but also understanding that sacrifices were necessary for the greater good.
While I appreciated the story’s resolution, I wished the villain’s motivations were clearer. The danger of the Black Tortoise overtaking Zen’s humanity could have been emphasized more through concrete examples. Additionally, I hoped for a deeper exploration of Chinese mythology and lore within the duology, whether reimagined or based on real-life stories.
“I love you, Sòng Lián, more than anything else in this world. And I would wish to follow you into the next life and ten thousand more.”
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