“So long as we live on, we carat inside us all that they have destroyed. And that is our triumph; that is our rebellion. Do not let them win today.”
In Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White, Amélie Wen Zhao concludes her Song of the Last Kingdom duology with a tale that is both beautiful and devastating. Set in a world where Elantian colonisers have invaded the Last Kingdom in search of legendary Demon Gods, the story follows two protagonists, Lan and Zen, each bound to a Demon God with the shared goal of defeating the Elantians by also destroying the powerful Gods.
Lan, fuelled by the memory of her mother’s death at the hands of Elantian invaders, is determined to complete her mother’s mission of destroying the Demon Gods. On the other hand, Zen, who made a pact with the Black Tortoise, is willing to sacrifice his own soul to save the Kingdom and the girl he loves. However, he needs more power than a single Demon God can provide and seeks to resurrect an undead army led by his late great-grandfather. Both of them will have to discover the truth behind their own past as well as the truth behind the Imperial family and other secrets of the Kingdom that will lead them to make decisive choices.
The novel weaves a complex narrative as Lan and Zen embark on their quests, each facing internal struggles with their own meaning of power and with the Demon Gods bound to them—the Silver Tiger and the Black Tortoise. Their journeys are fraught with challenges, as the young protagonists are not the only ones in pursuit of the Demon Gods. The Elantians want to acquire them too and continue their conquest and destroy the Kingdom. Lan and Zen’s separate hunts will bring them together numerous times throughout the novel only to separate them again and again.
Wen Zhao’s prose is gorgeous, and her storytelling is always reminiscent of Xianxia novels. The reader will be drawn into a world filled with magic, demons, and a richly developed story. The writing evokes a sense of ache, longing, and love that complements well the mostly slow pace of the book. However, at times the pacing can also feel pretty rushed which clashes with the stagnant moments of the novel.
All in all, equally beautiful and devastating, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is an enchanting conclusion to the Song of the Last Kingdom duology that explores themes of choice, truth, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The epic sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is a fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
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.
