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A Bright Heart #2
A Fiery Spirit: A Bright Heart Novel
Even after defeating her murderer, Prince Ren, Mingshin has no time to rest. The youngest prince's shocking death leaves the royal family shaken, and Mingshin is determined to get answers. She soon discovers that Wen was killed by a magical olfactory-delivered poison that drove him to suicide.
But which dark sorcerer is responsible? The Night Dragon, Ren's shadowy master, has yet to show his face. Mingshin knows it is only a matter of time before he discovers that she carries the immensely powerful Divine Stone. She already used the stone once to change the world's timeline and cannot imagine what will happen if he uses it to gain power.
As the Night Dragon closes in, Mingshin must decide whether she trusts her friends enough to share the secrets of the powerful stone she is fated to protect. Will Jieh, who has been raised to loathe the use of magic, continue loving her after he learns she's becoming a mage? Mingshin must find the courage to unveil her true powers to her friends to stop the Night Dragon from destroying this timeline once and for all.
But which dark sorcerer is responsible? The Night Dragon, Ren's shadowy master, has yet to show his face. Mingshin knows it is only a matter of time before he discovers that she carries the immensely powerful Divine Stone. She already used the stone once to change the world's timeline and cannot imagine what will happen if he uses it to gain power.
As the Night Dragon closes in, Mingshin must decide whether she trusts her friends enough to share the secrets of the powerful stone she is fated to protect. Will Jieh, who has been raised to loathe the use of magic, continue loving her after he learns she's becoming a mage? Mingshin must find the courage to unveil her true powers to her friends to stop the Night Dragon from destroying this timeline once and for all.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
22 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
About the author
Kate Chenli
3 books130 followersKate Chenli writes adult and young adult fantasy. As a Chinese immigrant, Kate is a proud US citizen who also cherishes her Chinese heritage. She has a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, but has always enjoyed creating elaborate worlds and characters more than designing complex software. Besides reading and writing, her passion is world travel (five continents down and counting.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
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May 3, 2024YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THE NEXT BOOK <3
October 8, 2025
Unfortunately, this one ended up being a DNF for me. I really struggled to connect with the characters, and because of that, the story just never grabbed me the way I hoped it would. I got about halfway through before deciding to put it down.
That said, the audiobook production is excellent. The narrator has such a strong presence and I’ve enjoyed her work on other fantasy titles. The writing itself flows nicely too it just wasn’t clicking for me personally.
I think readers who are more into YA fantasy and enjoy Asian-inspired storytelling might still find this series engaging. For me, though, the pacing and character dynamics didn’t hold my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
dnf-did-not-finish
September 29, 2025thanks to union square & co. and kate chenli for the review copy! it took me months to prepare a review as to why this book was underwhelming. i was so excited for this sequel. the first book was amazing and i truly loved it. mingshin's story is something i find very unique and so i was extremely enthusiastic for this book. but i dnf-ed it so many times at around the 10-18% mark and couldn't get back to it no matter how hard i tried. it didn't call to me the way the first book did and it makes me sad.
i was genuinely looking forward to the sequel. i thought i was the only one who felt off about this one but it was also other readers who loved a bright heart as much as i did :(
i was genuinely looking forward to the sequel. i thought i was the only one who felt off about this one but it was also other readers who loved a bright heart as much as i did :(
July 12, 2025
Sigh. She is the Avatar.
This is a tough one for me. I am disappointed after loving the first book in this duology, yet I was still entertained enough to finish this sequel.
—
The bad:
First off, there was lot of info dumping in the beginning. Thankfully, the pace picks up around the 25% mark.
This book also suffered a lot from ‘showing not telling’. For example, we’re told how fiercely Mingshin loves Jieh at every moment. And I believe it. But she repeats it a lot to herself for no particular reason. Which is great. People should feel this way about their partners. But how is this contributing to the scene? What are you doing to demonstrate how much you love him? Because all your conversations seem to be off page. I felt more chemistry between them in the first book. At one point, I was even rooting for Hanxin to start a love triangle just to give some life to this relationship. LoL.
A lot of very important events happened off page too and we are told about it afterwards like we’re supposed to care….
Plot holes like Mingshin protecting Aylin, after Aylin committed murder, baffle me. At the same time, when Mingshin comes into her full power, everything seemed conveniently easy for her. She basically mastered all the magic types in a day. Why should I cheer for this?
One of the biggest things that bothered me was the title of “Princessa”. Given that this is a spanish word. And this story takes place in an alternative Chinese society. You see my problem? But I could be missing something…
Sentences also felt a bit clunky, with awkward phrases and sentences divided by comas at odd times. At one point, somebody tells Mingshin that she is the only one who can defeat the Night Dragon. And she responds with “Oh, Thank you.” Why are you saying thank you, girl?
The author also seemed to want to expand the magic system, but I didn’t learn much. Why can you heal people with earth magic? Beats me.
Additionally, at one point, a bombshell is dropped and we find out two characters close to our protagonist are magic users (in hiding because of plot) and no one bats an eye. Their response is basically: “👍🏻” . Unfortunately, there are many more stoic reactions, like this one, to revelations that should seem like a big deal but are treated like we’re talking about the weather.
Also, she never told her loved ones that she had died and was given a second chance! Either another plot hole or just very deceptive character in nature. There’s no reason to withhold this information.
—
The good:
I know this was mostly a rant, but even after all of that, it was still a very entertaining conclusion. I did like the friendships and banter between all the characters. And It was good to see a wholesome group of friends supporting each other without having too many suspicions of betrayal amongst themselves, as it tends to happen in fantasy books.
This is a tough one for me. I am disappointed after loving the first book in this duology, yet I was still entertained enough to finish this sequel.
—
The bad:
First off, there was lot of info dumping in the beginning. Thankfully, the pace picks up around the 25% mark.
This book also suffered a lot from ‘showing not telling’. For example, we’re told how fiercely Mingshin loves Jieh at every moment. And I believe it. But she repeats it a lot to herself for no particular reason. Which is great. People should feel this way about their partners. But how is this contributing to the scene? What are you doing to demonstrate how much you love him? Because all your conversations seem to be off page. I felt more chemistry between them in the first book. At one point, I was even rooting for Hanxin to start a love triangle just to give some life to this relationship. LoL.
A lot of very important events happened off page too and we are told about it afterwards like we’re supposed to care….
Plot holes like Mingshin protecting Aylin, after Aylin committed murder, baffle me. At the same time, when Mingshin comes into her full power, everything seemed conveniently easy for her. She basically mastered all the magic types in a day. Why should I cheer for this?
One of the biggest things that bothered me was the title of “Princessa”. Given that this is a spanish word. And this story takes place in an alternative Chinese society. You see my problem? But I could be missing something…
Sentences also felt a bit clunky, with awkward phrases and sentences divided by comas at odd times. At one point, somebody tells Mingshin that she is the only one who can defeat the Night Dragon. And she responds with “Oh, Thank you.” Why are you saying thank you, girl?
The author also seemed to want to expand the magic system, but I didn’t learn much. Why can you heal people with earth magic? Beats me.
Additionally, at one point, a bombshell is dropped and we find out two characters close to our protagonist are magic users (in hiding because of plot) and no one bats an eye. Their response is basically: “👍🏻” . Unfortunately, there are many more stoic reactions, like this one, to revelations that should seem like a big deal but are treated like we’re talking about the weather.
Also, she never told her loved ones that she had died and was given a second chance! Either another plot hole or just very deceptive character in nature. There’s no reason to withhold this information.
—
The good:
I know this was mostly a rant, but even after all of that, it was still a very entertaining conclusion. I did like the friendships and banter between all the characters. And It was good to see a wholesome group of friends supporting each other without having too many suspicions of betrayal amongst themselves, as it tends to happen in fantasy books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
I genuinely don't know what happened here. The previous book was a really good YA fantasy novel which I rated 5⭐, but this one ... Everything was so rushed, a lot of sequences were just passed over, everything was so easy to accomplish by everyone, so many telling not showing. The impression I got was that it was not crafted with as much care as the first book. There's enough material for two books here, if only things were properly paced and described. There was also no clues or hints in the narrative to help the readers re-orient themselves to who's who from the first book, which made the reading experience even more confusing because the cast was relatively complex. It kinda got worse towards the end because the pace only got more rushed.
eARC provided by NetGalley and Union Square & Co.
eARC provided by NetGalley and Union Square & Co.
March 27, 2025
⇢ 3 stars
A bright heart was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and to say i was disappointed by its sequel is an understatement.
A bright heart was delightful and made my chinese webnovel heart happy. The characters were endearing, the romance cute and it felt complete by itself despite the unanswered questions.
A fiery spirit takes place immediately after and I really wish I hadn’t read it. The digital arc was a mess, the writing felt different, the pace was uneven and the characters gave me nothing. Between the abrupt transitions between scenes, the plot armor and the ridiculous deus ex machina twist, this was not the sequel book one deserved and not even Yunle could save it.
Duets are often a hit or miss and this was a miss. But as I really loved book one, I would recommend to read it solo and enjoy the open ending.
Thank you netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
A bright heart was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and to say i was disappointed by its sequel is an understatement.
A bright heart was delightful and made my chinese webnovel heart happy. The characters were endearing, the romance cute and it felt complete by itself despite the unanswered questions.
A fiery spirit takes place immediately after and I really wish I hadn’t read it. The digital arc was a mess, the writing felt different, the pace was uneven and the characters gave me nothing. Between the abrupt transitions between scenes, the plot armor and the ridiculous deus ex machina twist, this was not the sequel book one deserved and not even Yunle could save it.
Duets are often a hit or miss and this was a miss. But as I really loved book one, I would recommend to read it solo and enjoy the open ending.
Thank you netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
June 14, 2025
A Fiery Spirit takes a different route than A Bright Heart, shifting focus to Mingshin’s hidden power and the growing court intrigue.
The stakes feel much bigger this time—not just about Mingshin, but entire kingdoms, along with a fresh cast of characters.
The story is split into two parts, and I have to admit, the first part felt repetitive.
The constant cycle of attacks, failures, and retries started to wear on me, making it feel slow at times.
But thankfully, everything changes once we hit the second part. That’s where the real action kicks in, and I finally got the answers I’d been waiting for.
That said, while the second part delivered on the excitement, the pacing felt too rushed.
Major events kept unfolding back-to-back, leaving barely any time to absorb what just happened before moving on to the next.
Meanwhile, the first part dragged due to those repetitive attack sequences, making the transition between the two a bit jarring.
Another thing that left me wishing for more was the romance.
Mingshin and Jieh’s relationship seemed to take a backseat to the larger conflict, when I wished it had been highlighted more.
I had really high hopes for this book after loving the first one, and while it wasn’t a bad read—it even had a pretty satisfying ending—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing when I finished it.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: torture, kidnapping, confinement, death, grief, violence
The stakes feel much bigger this time—not just about Mingshin, but entire kingdoms, along with a fresh cast of characters.
The story is split into two parts, and I have to admit, the first part felt repetitive.
The constant cycle of attacks, failures, and retries started to wear on me, making it feel slow at times.
But thankfully, everything changes once we hit the second part. That’s where the real action kicks in, and I finally got the answers I’d been waiting for.
That said, while the second part delivered on the excitement, the pacing felt too rushed.
Major events kept unfolding back-to-back, leaving barely any time to absorb what just happened before moving on to the next.
Meanwhile, the first part dragged due to those repetitive attack sequences, making the transition between the two a bit jarring.
Another thing that left me wishing for more was the romance.
Mingshin and Jieh’s relationship seemed to take a backseat to the larger conflict, when I wished it had been highlighted more.
I had really high hopes for this book after loving the first one, and while it wasn’t a bad read—it even had a pretty satisfying ending—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing when I finished it.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: torture, kidnapping, confinement, death, grief, violence
October 16, 2025
4.5 I felt like the ending was rushed
November 17, 2025
A Fiery Spirit wraps up the duology in a nice and neat way but at times can feel messy. There's also so much going on it's hard to keep track.
July 29, 2025
I’d like to thank the amazing @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for the amazing opportunity to listen to audio copies of these books. I am forever thankful ❤️
From the beginning of the Synopsis of book 1 I was gone with these books. 😵💫
Add on:
1️⃣Court Intrigue
2️⃣ Chinese Mythology
3️⃣ A Fierce and Strong Female Main Character
4️⃣Swoon Worthy Romance
And girl these books are ones you want to add on to your TBR asap!🤭
We follow Mingshin, a woman who helped a man she love become king but doesn’t see the betrayal coming until the blade is sheathed in her body. Dying lying in a pool of her bed, she makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to change her fate.
But with any change of time, the chances of destruction are always near by…
I loved how Kate is able to weave Chinese mythology into a unique and engaging story that it’s always a shock when you reach the end of her books. Mainly cause it flows and wraps its way around your heart that you don’t wanna leave the world she created.
The narrator brought an extra layer to this story and was the perfect choice to give this book life.
This series is a solid 5 star duology that I would recommend from the roof tops ❤️
From the beginning of the Synopsis of book 1 I was gone with these books. 😵💫
Add on:
1️⃣Court Intrigue
2️⃣ Chinese Mythology
3️⃣ A Fierce and Strong Female Main Character
4️⃣Swoon Worthy Romance
And girl these books are ones you want to add on to your TBR asap!🤭
We follow Mingshin, a woman who helped a man she love become king but doesn’t see the betrayal coming until the blade is sheathed in her body. Dying lying in a pool of her bed, she makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to change her fate.
But with any change of time, the chances of destruction are always near by…
I loved how Kate is able to weave Chinese mythology into a unique and engaging story that it’s always a shock when you reach the end of her books. Mainly cause it flows and wraps its way around your heart that you don’t wanna leave the world she created.
The narrator brought an extra layer to this story and was the perfect choice to give this book life.
This series is a solid 5 star duology that I would recommend from the roof tops ❤️
August 7, 2025
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
Actual Rating: 3.5
My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
At 93% I was actually super confused. I ended up looking at reviews to figure out if this was a duology or a trilogy because it was feeling super rushed. Turns out, it is a duology, and this was the conclusion.. and it was RUSHED. I felt like the book either needed to be longer, or another book needed to be added to the series. The pay off wasn't really worth it after having such an intense story. Plus, the ending was left in such a way, that it really does feel like there could be another book, but the author has stated this was the end of the duology.
The Audiobook
This book was narrated by Natalie Naudus, who also voices all of Sue Lynn Tan's books, which automatically makes her a favourite. I find her voice so soothing and yet again, she proves how fantastic of a narrator she is. Unfortunately, even her voice couldn't save how rushed the ending was, and how dissatisfied I am.
In Conclusion
I will absolutely read more books by this author and listen to more audiobooks by this narrator.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
Actual Rating: 3.5
My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
At 93% I was actually super confused. I ended up looking at reviews to figure out if this was a duology or a trilogy because it was feeling super rushed. Turns out, it is a duology, and this was the conclusion.. and it was RUSHED. I felt like the book either needed to be longer, or another book needed to be added to the series. The pay off wasn't really worth it after having such an intense story. Plus, the ending was left in such a way, that it really does feel like there could be another book, but the author has stated this was the end of the duology.
The Audiobook
This book was narrated by Natalie Naudus, who also voices all of Sue Lynn Tan's books, which automatically makes her a favourite. I find her voice so soothing and yet again, she proves how fantastic of a narrator she is. Unfortunately, even her voice couldn't save how rushed the ending was, and how dissatisfied I am.
In Conclusion
I will absolutely read more books by this author and listen to more audiobooks by this narrator.
May 30, 2025
A Fiery Spirit was a sequel that I was looking forward to since I really enjoyed the first book. But in the end it just left me unsatisfied. First, there wasn’t the same built-in tension as the first book since there was no revenge plot this time around. Secondly the pacing wasn’t stellar, so the story felt both rushed and like it dragged on, because it never felt like the group accomplished anything until the very end.
I really wish that the book kept the pacing of the first half of the book, since it was enjoyable as a YA fantasy court intrigue story. Meanwhile the second part was basically just a hunt for the Night Dragon, where every step forward resulted in two steps back. Not to mention that the big battle that serves as the climax of the story was given less space. I also wish that more focus had been dedicated to the characters, especially Yunle and her life maneuvering at the unstable court. She and Fei were my favourites, and the best part of a book that could have been better if it had maybe been split into two books instead.
---
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really wish that the book kept the pacing of the first half of the book, since it was enjoyable as a YA fantasy court intrigue story. Meanwhile the second part was basically just a hunt for the Night Dragon, where every step forward resulted in two steps back. Not to mention that the big battle that serves as the climax of the story was given less space. I also wish that more focus had been dedicated to the characters, especially Yunle and her life maneuvering at the unstable court. She and Fei were my favourites, and the best part of a book that could have been better if it had maybe been split into two books instead.
---
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2025
A Fiery Spirit was really hard for me to read because it felt like too much time had passed since reading A Bright Heart (which was published Oct 2023), and it was difficult to remember characters and major plot lines and events. It was really tough in the beginning as there was quite a bit of cyclic fighting, attacks, regrouping against the main antagonist, which felt like it never got the protagonist anywhere. Though the second half of the story was very action packed, it all seemed very rushed. Not sure if book 2 needed some more TLC and editing prior to publishing, as it likely deserved, or the author felt like she needed to throw all the tricks of the trade into one story.
I really loved book 1 and it may be unfair to hold my review of book 2 against it. Maybe if I read this again in the future with book 1, it will all be cohesive again. I have to give this a solid 3 at this point in time.
Thank you NetGalley and
Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing | Union Square & Co. for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved book 1 and it may be unfair to hold my review of book 2 against it. Maybe if I read this again in the future with book 1, it will all be cohesive again. I have to give this a solid 3 at this point in time.
Thank you NetGalley and
Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing | Union Square & Co. for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2025
thank you to union square & co for the ARC
this was an underwhelming sequel to a book (a bright heart) that I really enjoyed. this book suffered in a couple of ways: (a) not having a lot of the fun time travel elements that made the first book fun, and (b) needing enormous amounts of exposition in the form of info dumps throughout.
I love time travel fix-it style books, but by this point, none of the old lifetime is relevant, so it’s just a typical young YA fantasy. that’s not a bad thing, but this sequel is missing what attracted me to book one.
this book was almost sloppy on the worldbuilding and exposition. so many details were just shoved in via dialogue or paragraphs of explanation, and many were unnecessary for the plot and story. as a result, the pacing and flow were off. the magic system got a lot of explanation, but for what? we learn histories of some characters which fill in missing details, but not in a way that enhances the story
I still enjoyed seeing a resolution to this story and getting to watch our MC grow in confidence. the little bit of political intrigue was also fun, though I would always take more
this was an underwhelming sequel to a book (a bright heart) that I really enjoyed. this book suffered in a couple of ways: (a) not having a lot of the fun time travel elements that made the first book fun, and (b) needing enormous amounts of exposition in the form of info dumps throughout.
I love time travel fix-it style books, but by this point, none of the old lifetime is relevant, so it’s just a typical young YA fantasy. that’s not a bad thing, but this sequel is missing what attracted me to book one.
this book was almost sloppy on the worldbuilding and exposition. so many details were just shoved in via dialogue or paragraphs of explanation, and many were unnecessary for the plot and story. as a result, the pacing and flow were off. the magic system got a lot of explanation, but for what? we learn histories of some characters which fill in missing details, but not in a way that enhances the story
I still enjoyed seeing a resolution to this story and getting to watch our MC grow in confidence. the little bit of political intrigue was also fun, though I would always take more
August 10, 2025
This was an underwhelming book I had to force myself through. The relationships were bland and nothing felt natural, it felt like things were happening because time book said they did, not because it was part of the siory.
September 16, 2025
3.5 loved the ending line. I think the first book was a little better tho imo
Want to read
July 11, 2025I gave the first book 5 stars but now I can't remember what happened... surely when I start reading book 2 it will jog my memory
November 22, 2025
This was so good :') will come back later to post a full review!!
August 2, 2025
4.75
THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK WAS PHENOMENAL
THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK WAS PHENOMENAL
February 28, 2025
One of my favorite books that came out last year was A Bright Heart. It was a fun read, and I had zero expectations because it’s really underrated—I didn’t see anyone marketing it. So, I was so excited when I found out about the sequel, A Fiery Spirit, and I’m glad I got to read it early. Shout out to Union Square & Co.!
Now, let’s talk about the book!
This book picks up not long after the ending of the first one. And oh, it starts with a funeral—because why not? The funny thing about this book is that the cover is bright, colorful, and cheerful, but the actual story is full of murder and backstabbing. It was a wild ride, and I really enjoyed it. Of course, there are pros and cons, and I think I liked the first book better, but I’d say this one lived up to its older sister.
Things I liked about this book:
•Mingshin, our protagonist. She still has flashbacks to her life in the other timeline, and her trust issues play a big role in this book, with their own development—which I really liked. As someone with trust issues myself, I’d say it’s an accurate portrayal. She’s also very smart, kinda manipulative, and lies a lot… but that’s understandable. Her hatred towards Aylin, her cousin, is honestly hilarious. It’s like, “Hmm, maybe she would be different if she wasn’t raised by her evil dad,” but then immediately “Yeah, screw that, she’s too far gone.” She was such a fun MC to follow, and I love her as a character. It’s also interesting to see a book character be one step ahead of me (a book reader).
•Yunle, our princess, and probably the secret protagonist of this book. She’s amazing and really shines throughout the story. I think she might be the author’s favorite.
•Jieh’s mother is such a fun character. She’s the classic evil, manipulative mother-in-law you’d see in a typical Asian drama, but I feel like, in a way, she actually likes Mingshin—because Mingshin is just as cunning and manipulative as her. It’s kinda funny.
•The pacing is really fast, so I don’t think you’d get bored—there’s a lot of drama.
•It’s also a very easy read, even if you pick it up at 9 PM after getting home from work. If you’re new to English fantasy books, this is a great one to start with.
•I liked the ending.
Neutral… because I kinda get it:
•One of the things I disliked in the first book was the romance. Jieh is a green flag, but I found their relationship a bit flat. However, this book makes it clear that the romance between Mingshin and Jieh isn’t the main focus, and as someone who isn’t into romance, I respect that choice. Their relationship feels more like a comfort zone that Mingshin could easily lose if the kingdom found out about her magic. I feel the same about Fei and Yunle’s relationship—it’s there, but romance isn’t the main focus of the story.
What I disliked about this book:
•Speaking of magic, I didn’t like how overpowered Mingshin becomes. If this had been better established in the first book, it wouldn’t feel like she suddenly became a quick learner. She’s so close to being a Mary Sue, though luckily, she still fails sometimes.
•There’s a lot of convenience in this book. There’s plenty of drama, but most of the problems are solved way too quickly. They’re literally fighting a god in this book, yet the stakes don’t feel high enough because previous conflicts were resolved too easily.
• The repetition is annoying. One time, Mingshin narratedsomething, and then another character pointed out the exact same thing. It kinda feels like this:
Mingshin’s brain: “I think I’m scared.”
Character B: “Mingshin, you’re scared.”
Like… bro, I know.
Overall
I really liked this book. I don’t think I can rate it higher than 4.5, but definitely not lower than 4. I think 4.25 is a fair score. It has a somewhat closed ending, but there’s still a little gap in case the author wants to write a sequel. If they do, I’ll definitely read it!
Now, let’s talk about the book!
This book picks up not long after the ending of the first one. And oh, it starts with a funeral—because why not? The funny thing about this book is that the cover is bright, colorful, and cheerful, but the actual story is full of murder and backstabbing. It was a wild ride, and I really enjoyed it. Of course, there are pros and cons, and I think I liked the first book better, but I’d say this one lived up to its older sister.
Things I liked about this book:
•Mingshin, our protagonist. She still has flashbacks to her life in the other timeline, and her trust issues play a big role in this book, with their own development—which I really liked. As someone with trust issues myself, I’d say it’s an accurate portrayal. She’s also very smart, kinda manipulative, and lies a lot… but that’s understandable. Her hatred towards Aylin, her cousin, is honestly hilarious. It’s like, “Hmm, maybe she would be different if she wasn’t raised by her evil dad,” but then immediately “Yeah, screw that, she’s too far gone.” She was such a fun MC to follow, and I love her as a character. It’s also interesting to see a book character be one step ahead of me (a book reader).
•Yunle, our princess, and probably the secret protagonist of this book. She’s amazing and really shines throughout the story. I think she might be the author’s favorite.
•Jieh’s mother is such a fun character. She’s the classic evil, manipulative mother-in-law you’d see in a typical Asian drama, but I feel like, in a way, she actually likes Mingshin—because Mingshin is just as cunning and manipulative as her. It’s kinda funny.
•The pacing is really fast, so I don’t think you’d get bored—there’s a lot of drama.
•It’s also a very easy read, even if you pick it up at 9 PM after getting home from work. If you’re new to English fantasy books, this is a great one to start with.
•I liked the ending.
Neutral… because I kinda get it:
•One of the things I disliked in the first book was the romance. Jieh is a green flag, but I found their relationship a bit flat. However, this book makes it clear that the romance between Mingshin and Jieh isn’t the main focus, and as someone who isn’t into romance, I respect that choice. Their relationship feels more like a comfort zone that Mingshin could easily lose if the kingdom found out about her magic. I feel the same about Fei and Yunle’s relationship—it’s there, but romance isn’t the main focus of the story.
What I disliked about this book:
•Speaking of magic, I didn’t like how overpowered Mingshin becomes. If this had been better established in the first book, it wouldn’t feel like she suddenly became a quick learner. She’s so close to being a Mary Sue, though luckily, she still fails sometimes.
•There’s a lot of convenience in this book. There’s plenty of drama, but most of the problems are solved way too quickly. They’re literally fighting a god in this book, yet the stakes don’t feel high enough because previous conflicts were resolved too easily.
• The repetition is annoying. One time, Mingshin narratedsomething, and then another character pointed out the exact same thing. It kinda feels like this:
Mingshin’s brain: “I think I’m scared.”
Character B: “Mingshin, you’re scared.”
Like… bro, I know.
Overall
I really liked this book. I don’t think I can rate it higher than 4.5, but definitely not lower than 4. I think 4.25 is a fair score. It has a somewhat closed ending, but there’s still a little gap in case the author wants to write a sequel. If they do, I’ll definitely read it!
August 16, 2025
˚₊‧꒰ა 3 / 5 ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
If you like:
♡ historical fiction
♡ chinese history
♡ power fantasies
a must read if you read a bright heart
❥ A Fiery Spirit jumps straight into the action from where A Bright Heart left off. I would highly recommend to read this book immediately after finishing the first one to keep the momentum going. I had forgotten a bit of what had happened previously and took some time to remember as the scenes played out.
❥ The middle of the book felt a bit lacklustre. I felt like ther should not have been a big monologue in the middle part explaining what had happened and instead shown us these things. I felt like it would have been more interesting, and created a more powerful connection to all characters involved. Plus, from the sounds of it, it would have been more interesting than some of the scenes we actually saw.
❥
❥ Remembering that this storyline is based off of vengeance, I feel like we didn’t see that side of Mingshin anymore. We did not see the need to right the world, or even any bitterness cloud her. Some of the most diverse aspects of Mingshin’s personality was given to Ilene to make her a more villainous character. Last book Mingshin was cunning, but this book she is simply powerful.
❥ The ending felt nice. It wrapped things up nicely that I didn’t have any complaints, but it left an opening for a third book that I will read if it gets published. I am happy with my experience with this book, but know it could have been even better had there been a few tweaks.
❥ A Fiery Spirit is a good continuation of A Bright Heart. If you enjoyed the first book, you must read this one. The middle is a bit lacklustre and soggy, taking away some of the best scenes to ‘show’ instead of telling. It could have used a few more rounds of revising, but it is not a bad read. If you enjoy Prince Jieh and Mingshin you should definitely continue the series!
❥ PS. if you are a fan of Natalie Naudus she does an excellent reading in this series. Definitely check out her other audiobook readings if you like this type of story.
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
If you like:
♡ historical fiction
♡ chinese history
♡ power fantasies
a must read if you read a bright heart
❥ A Fiery Spirit jumps straight into the action from where A Bright Heart left off. I would highly recommend to read this book immediately after finishing the first one to keep the momentum going. I had forgotten a bit of what had happened previously and took some time to remember as the scenes played out.
❥ The middle of the book felt a bit lacklustre. I felt like ther should not have been a big monologue in the middle part explaining what had happened and instead shown us these things. I felt like it would have been more interesting, and created a more powerful connection to all characters involved. Plus, from the sounds of it, it would have been more interesting than some of the scenes we actually saw.
❥
❥ Remembering that this storyline is based off of vengeance, I feel like we didn’t see that side of Mingshin anymore. We did not see the need to right the world, or even any bitterness cloud her. Some of the most diverse aspects of Mingshin’s personality was given to Ilene to make her a more villainous character. Last book Mingshin was cunning, but this book she is simply powerful.
❥ The ending felt nice. It wrapped things up nicely that I didn’t have any complaints, but it left an opening for a third book that I will read if it gets published. I am happy with my experience with this book, but know it could have been even better had there been a few tweaks.
❥ A Fiery Spirit is a good continuation of A Bright Heart. If you enjoyed the first book, you must read this one. The middle is a bit lacklustre and soggy, taking away some of the best scenes to ‘show’ instead of telling. It could have used a few more rounds of revising, but it is not a bad read. If you enjoy Prince Jieh and Mingshin you should definitely continue the series!
❥ PS. if you are a fan of Natalie Naudus she does an excellent reading in this series. Definitely check out her other audiobook readings if you like this type of story.
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2025
I'd like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this book.
I was a HUGE fan of the first novel. It gave me all the feels - time travel, headstrong heroine, swoony male lead.
So I was pretty delighted when I got to read the ARC. Finishing it, I was pretty sad.
I think the author is a fantastic writer, and I think she knows how to tell a good story. I am unsure if this book needs a firmer editor or needs more padding.
The book picks up directly after book one ends. Mingshen and her Prince are trying to figure out the whereabouts of the evil lord who wishes to get ahold of the stone. Mingshen is trying to keep her magic a secret from her love due to the conflicting views about those who use magic. Her friends are willing to help her.
For some reason, this book has a modern tone to it. The first book had a sense of 'refinement' in the way its characters spoke, situations and customs. This one felt like someone fed it through a historical to modern-day translation. I've seen enough CDramas where people are called 'bitch', so that wasn't a HUGE issue for me, but it became huge issue when it was used so often. At times, some of the dialogue felt like I was watching teens talk on the telephone in text - mere words away from slang.
The way the book transitioned through events was a choppy format where characters didn't move through doors or travel across grounds, they kind of just showed up in the place they needed to be in the next paragraph.
Instead of things happening we are told in HUGE monologues. Characters would also comment on how a character would feel or react as for example "he looked as if he saw a ghost", like instead you inferring based on what was said, the character would comment on how the character was reacting within the moment during the huge exposition dump. In fact, the amount of exposition dumps in this was out of control.
Did I understand the plot? I did, and I liked it. But I wanted to know what exactly happened to the book series I was hoping to enjoy? I never read the ARC for book one, so I have no idea how much was changed from that to published format. But so far, as someone who loved book one, reading this ARC made me cautious and wary over what we'll get later this year. It needs another run through of edits.
I was a HUGE fan of the first novel. It gave me all the feels - time travel, headstrong heroine, swoony male lead.
So I was pretty delighted when I got to read the ARC. Finishing it, I was pretty sad.
I think the author is a fantastic writer, and I think she knows how to tell a good story. I am unsure if this book needs a firmer editor or needs more padding.
The book picks up directly after book one ends. Mingshen and her Prince are trying to figure out the whereabouts of the evil lord who wishes to get ahold of the stone. Mingshen is trying to keep her magic a secret from her love due to the conflicting views about those who use magic. Her friends are willing to help her.
For some reason, this book has a modern tone to it. The first book had a sense of 'refinement' in the way its characters spoke, situations and customs. This one felt like someone fed it through a historical to modern-day translation. I've seen enough CDramas where people are called 'bitch', so that wasn't a HUGE issue for me, but it became huge issue when it was used so often. At times, some of the dialogue felt like I was watching teens talk on the telephone in text - mere words away from slang.
The way the book transitioned through events was a choppy format where characters didn't move through doors or travel across grounds, they kind of just showed up in the place they needed to be in the next paragraph.
Instead of things happening we are told in HUGE monologues. Characters would also comment on how a character would feel or react as for example "he looked as if he saw a ghost", like instead you inferring based on what was said, the character would comment on how the character was reacting within the moment during the huge exposition dump. In fact, the amount of exposition dumps in this was out of control.
Did I understand the plot? I did, and I liked it. But I wanted to know what exactly happened to the book series I was hoping to enjoy? I never read the ARC for book one, so I have no idea how much was changed from that to published format. But so far, as someone who loved book one, reading this ARC made me cautious and wary over what we'll get later this year. It needs another run through of edits.
March 1, 2025
thank you to the publisher for the e-arc of this book!!
A Fiery Spirit is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of this year. i love myself a chinese historical fantasy with all the court politics. i'm not sure how my mindset has changed over the past year but this book didn't hit the same highs as the first one.
getting it out of the way first,, the politics felt watered down, yet somehow it took up at least half the story. who didn't like who in court, Yunle getting shut down in meetings, and Mingshin fumbling her new magic in secret with Hanxin. it really took a good chunk of the story for it to finally get interesting for me, especially since the politics felt like a lot of rehashing what we already know from A Bright Heart.
the romance between Jieh and Mingshin didn't particularly speak to me either. i loved the moment when Jieh overcomes his prejudices against magic and accepts Mingshin. that has to be the big high for me, and that whole scene of him being poisoned was super dramatic. but every other time, it just kind of felt like they were off doing their own thing and while the romance isn't the biggest part of the story, i admit it was one of the things i liked most about the first book.
a lot of convenient moments in this book, where their plans go awry only to right itself again quickly, or having someone save Mingshin at the last moment, or even just (spoilers!!) her gaining All the Powers and becoming op. and i don't want her to die, i promise, but that ending felt like she should have. the world will go on because it's cruel and she will be forgotten by everyone but her loved ones. Jieh will rule with Yunle in memory of her. that's how i felt it should have gone.
but of course Nüwa ex machina and all that. haisss. i wanted to love this book so much more than i did. while i didn't hate it, it bored me at parts. still, there are some highlights. though i wouldn't have minded more Yunle/Fei content or even just Yunle maneuvreing in court while the rest were off on their quest instead of just a couple of paragrapgs of exposition. so much exposition.
A Fiery Spirit is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of this year. i love myself a chinese historical fantasy with all the court politics. i'm not sure how my mindset has changed over the past year but this book didn't hit the same highs as the first one.
getting it out of the way first,, the politics felt watered down, yet somehow it took up at least half the story. who didn't like who in court, Yunle getting shut down in meetings, and Mingshin fumbling her new magic in secret with Hanxin. it really took a good chunk of the story for it to finally get interesting for me, especially since the politics felt like a lot of rehashing what we already know from A Bright Heart.
the romance between Jieh and Mingshin didn't particularly speak to me either. i loved the moment when Jieh overcomes his prejudices against magic and accepts Mingshin. that has to be the big high for me, and that whole scene of him being poisoned was super dramatic. but every other time, it just kind of felt like they were off doing their own thing and while the romance isn't the biggest part of the story, i admit it was one of the things i liked most about the first book.
a lot of convenient moments in this book, where their plans go awry only to right itself again quickly, or having someone save Mingshin at the last moment, or even just (spoilers!!) her gaining All the Powers and becoming op. and i don't want her to die, i promise, but that ending felt like she should have. the world will go on because it's cruel and she will be forgotten by everyone but her loved ones. Jieh will rule with Yunle in memory of her. that's how i felt it should have gone.
but of course Nüwa ex machina and all that. haisss. i wanted to love this book so much more than i did. while i didn't hate it, it bored me at parts. still, there are some highlights. though i wouldn't have minded more Yunle/Fei content or even just Yunle maneuvreing in court while the rest were off on their quest instead of just a couple of paragrapgs of exposition. so much exposition.
June 18, 2025
Mingshen successfully prevented Ren, the prince who betrayed & killed her in an alternate timeline, from becoming king. Now, she needs to save her country from enemies who wield magic.
I really liked the first book in this series, especially the second chance redo plot. But what really drew me in was the characters and their struggles and growth. I was hoping for more of the same in the book, but it focused more on plot and action, and I found it harder to connect to the characters. While I appreciate all the world building and action and magic, i didn't like this book as much as I did the first.
Mingshen needs to protect the divine stone and learn more about magic in order to protect herself against the evil bad magic dude. But Jieh, her betrothed, despises magic and its users. (Not to mention that magic is still illegal. The more Mingshen turns to magic for help, the more secrets she has to keep from Jieh, the more their relationship fractures.
That could have been a great way to work on and build their relationship. Instead, this, along with many other conflicts in this book, felt like they resolved too easily. Important characters are healed before they die, misunderstandings in relationships are quickly repaired because of their great love for each other, gender inequality, learning magical skills, stupid mistakes... Every bad decision led to an easy good outcome. I felt like this book could have been extended and better developed. It had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me
When some of these solutions were realistic, the resolution happened in the background, through side characters, so we only see the end result, and it feels too easy. I don't mind that the side characters got the chance to save the day. But they could've been given a pov chapter showing their struggle instead of just summarizing the event. This was a major growth moment for the side characters, and it happened mostly behind the scenes.
Overall, while the plot was interesting and the magic system & world development were creative, this book didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but it could've been much better.
I really liked the first book in this series, especially the second chance redo plot. But what really drew me in was the characters and their struggles and growth. I was hoping for more of the same in the book, but it focused more on plot and action, and I found it harder to connect to the characters. While I appreciate all the world building and action and magic, i didn't like this book as much as I did the first.
Mingshen needs to protect the divine stone and learn more about magic in order to protect herself against the evil bad magic dude. But Jieh, her betrothed, despises magic and its users. (Not to mention that magic is still illegal. The more Mingshen turns to magic for help, the more secrets she has to keep from Jieh, the more their relationship fractures.
That could have been a great way to work on and build their relationship. Instead, this, along with many other conflicts in this book, felt like they resolved too easily. Important characters are healed before they die, misunderstandings in relationships are quickly repaired because of their great love for each other, gender inequality, learning magical skills, stupid mistakes... Every bad decision led to an easy good outcome. I felt like this book could have been extended and better developed. It had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me
When some of these solutions were realistic, the resolution happened in the background, through side characters, so we only see the end result, and it feels too easy. I don't mind that the side characters got the chance to save the day. But they could've been given a pov chapter showing their struggle instead of just summarizing the event. This was a major growth moment for the side characters, and it happened mostly behind the scenes.
Overall, while the plot was interesting and the magic system & world development were creative, this book didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't bad, but it could've been much better.
August 7, 2025
If you are interested in this series, definitely listen to it on audiobook! The narrator is one of the best I have ever listened to, this being my 3rd book with her as the audiobook narrator. She truly has a gift in bringing out the emotions of each character, and does a fantastic job of differentiating her voice between the main cast. She is so engaging and easy to listen to, and I hope to listen to more audiobooks with this narrator in the future.
The book itself picks up after the 1st book, but this time, another prince has suspiciously died, and the country is being threatened by the mysterious dark sorcerer, the night dragon. Ming-shin and her friends must act quickly to discover what has happened to the dead prince, while also determining the best way to fight off the night dragon. Simultaneously, Ming shin has learned she has started to develop magic powers...and must determine who she can trust with this knowledge as it is illegal and could end her relationship with Prince Jia.
I found the story to be equally as engaging as the first, especially due to the amazing narrator! Ming shin is such a fun character as she is so clever and caring towards her friends and family. The only thing I found confusing, just like in the first book, is the names of the characters. Specifically Ming shin has at least 4 names(Ming shin, shin, shinar, princess Alu) that she goes by, and the royalty also seem to have multiple names. I found it hard to keep track with so many characters with asian inspired names when I couldn't see them since I was listening on audiobook. I think it would have helped to be able to see them in person, however, I still think the audiobook is the way to go!
This is an amazingly creative YA fantasy that would be good for readers who like political intrigue, clever characters, found family, mystery, and magic. I highly recommend for readers 13+.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review! It has been a pleasure listening to this series.
4/5 stars
The book itself picks up after the 1st book, but this time, another prince has suspiciously died, and the country is being threatened by the mysterious dark sorcerer, the night dragon. Ming-shin and her friends must act quickly to discover what has happened to the dead prince, while also determining the best way to fight off the night dragon. Simultaneously, Ming shin has learned she has started to develop magic powers...and must determine who she can trust with this knowledge as it is illegal and could end her relationship with Prince Jia.
I found the story to be equally as engaging as the first, especially due to the amazing narrator! Ming shin is such a fun character as she is so clever and caring towards her friends and family. The only thing I found confusing, just like in the first book, is the names of the characters. Specifically Ming shin has at least 4 names(Ming shin, shin, shinar, princess Alu) that she goes by, and the royalty also seem to have multiple names. I found it hard to keep track with so many characters with asian inspired names when I couldn't see them since I was listening on audiobook. I think it would have helped to be able to see them in person, however, I still think the audiobook is the way to go!
This is an amazingly creative YA fantasy that would be good for readers who like political intrigue, clever characters, found family, mystery, and magic. I highly recommend for readers 13+.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review! It has been a pleasure listening to this series.
4/5 stars
June 23, 2025
Rating: 2.5 stars
It hurts me to say this, but this book was a challenging read.
I loved A Bright Heart . It was such a good political revenge novel with clever plot twists. However, A Fiery Spirit was disappointing. While the story retains elements of court intrigue, the lack of intricate schemes and cleverness leaves the story feeling flat. Furthermore, the pacing was inconsistent and there were too many subplots happening at the same time. Although the story offered numerous exciting plot twists, some revelations felt abrupt and lacked clear foreshadowing. Not to mention, a lot of the conflicts and challenges were conveniently resolved, making a high-stakes situations feel less impactful, as it removes the uncertainty and tension.
Also, majority of the characters felt very one-dimensional with the exception of Yunle. I think this is largely attributed to the fact that a lot of what the characters go through are told to us, instead of allowing us to experience the journey with the characters. For example, when Mingshin was learning how to use her powers, there was no training arc. We never got to see her struggles or failures. It was just told to us that she went through training and now she has the ability to wield 9 forms of magic. I also had a hard time understanding the motivation behind the villain, Xiangyu. We were giving a glimpse of his past, which was intriguing, but we never fully explored it. Instead, he is your run-of- the mill antagonist driven solely by the lust for power and adoration. I will say, one of the highlights of the novel was the poetic justice that was bestowed on Mingshin’s uncle and cousins. I thought that was pretty clever.
Overall, this book was not what I expected. I think the author had some really good ideas, but the way it played out felt underwhelming. It does make me wonder if the story might have benefited more as a trilogy.
It hurts me to say this, but this book was a challenging read.
I loved A Bright Heart . It was such a good political revenge novel with clever plot twists. However, A Fiery Spirit was disappointing. While the story retains elements of court intrigue, the lack of intricate schemes and cleverness leaves the story feeling flat. Furthermore, the pacing was inconsistent and there were too many subplots happening at the same time. Although the story offered numerous exciting plot twists, some revelations felt abrupt and lacked clear foreshadowing. Not to mention, a lot of the conflicts and challenges were conveniently resolved, making a high-stakes situations feel less impactful, as it removes the uncertainty and tension.
Also, majority of the characters felt very one-dimensional with the exception of Yunle. I think this is largely attributed to the fact that a lot of what the characters go through are told to us, instead of allowing us to experience the journey with the characters. For example, when Mingshin was learning how to use her powers, there was no training arc. We never got to see her struggles or failures. It was just told to us that she went through training and now she has the ability to wield 9 forms of magic. I also had a hard time understanding the motivation behind the villain, Xiangyu. We were giving a glimpse of his past, which was intriguing, but we never fully explored it. Instead, he is your run-of- the mill antagonist driven solely by the lust for power and adoration. I will say, one of the highlights of the novel was the poetic justice that was bestowed on Mingshin’s uncle and cousins. I thought that was pretty clever.
Overall, this book was not what I expected. I think the author had some really good ideas, but the way it played out felt underwhelming. It does make me wonder if the story might have benefited more as a trilogy.
November 3, 2025
3 ⭐
Thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
[English review below]
Amé mucho el primer libro, por lo que estaba muy emocionada por esta continuación, pero me decepcionó un montón 😪
Pensé que iba a ser una historia igual de épica como la anterior, sin embargo, se me hizo un poco tedioso, además de que me costó mucho recordarlos a todos porque habían varios nombres (entre los antiguos y los nuevos) y no lograba recordar quien era quien.
A pesar de eso, me gustó mucho volver a los personajes del libro pasado, además de que también amé volver a Jieh y a Mingshin y ver el amor tan puro que se tenían el uno con el otro 😻
[ENG]
I loved the first book, so I was really excited for this sequel, but I was really disappointed 😪
I thought it was going to be just as epic as the first one, but I found it a bit tedious, and I had a hard time remembering all the characters because there were so many names (old and new) and I couldn't remember who was who.
Despite that, I really enjoyed revisiting the characters from the last book, and I also loved returning to Jieh and Mingshin and seeing the pure love they had for each other 😻
Thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
[English review below]
"Trust shouldn't be based on equal exchange of information; it should be based on exchange of heart, on how much people are willing to do for each other".
Amé mucho el primer libro, por lo que estaba muy emocionada por esta continuación, pero me decepcionó un montón 😪
Pensé que iba a ser una historia igual de épica como la anterior, sin embargo, se me hizo un poco tedioso, además de que me costó mucho recordarlos a todos porque habían varios nombres (entre los antiguos y los nuevos) y no lograba recordar quien era quien.
"Be the fiery spirit you are" I hear a voice in my head,...
A pesar de eso, me gustó mucho volver a los personajes del libro pasado, además de que también amé volver a Jieh y a Mingshin y ver el amor tan puro que se tenían el uno con el otro 😻
[ENG]
"Trust shouldn't be based on equal exchange of information; it should be based on exchange of heart, on how much people are willing to do for each other".
I loved the first book, so I was really excited for this sequel, but I was really disappointed 😪
I thought it was going to be just as epic as the first one, but I found it a bit tedious, and I had a hard time remembering all the characters because there were so many names (old and new) and I couldn't remember who was who.
"Be the fiery spirit you are" I hear a voice in my head,...
Despite that, I really enjoyed revisiting the characters from the last book, and I also loved returning to Jieh and Mingshin and seeing the pure love they had for each other 😻
September 23, 2025
Rate : 4.97
Even though Mingshin had already avenged Prince Ren, her murderer, she had no time to rest. The royal family is shocked by the youngest prince's sudden death and Mingshin is determined to find the truth. She wonders if the dark sorcerer from the legend she heard, is somehow real and involved in this matter. If yes, she needs to prepare for the final battle since she is the one who carrying the powerful Divine Stone.
A Fiery Spirits is the last book in A Bright Heart series. The story is at a very fast pace, more suspense and adventurous than the first book. More magical elements show up, but it is really fast and rushed, as well as the story pace. There are shocking unexpected plot twists that make me in awe. Plus, the tension makes me hold my breath.
Somehow, this book feels like a combination between fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal. The adventure is thrilling and intense. Don’t expect to chill and relax reading this book. Heart break? Of course, it happens so many times in this story and Jieh is my favorite MMC now.
The political affairs and war strategy is more complex than the first book and I love it. The one and only thing that I really want is to have a magical creature. But this book is still fun to read and don’t worry about the ending, guys, it is a happy one, I promise!
Even though Mingshin had already avenged Prince Ren, her murderer, she had no time to rest. The royal family is shocked by the youngest prince's sudden death and Mingshin is determined to find the truth. She wonders if the dark sorcerer from the legend she heard, is somehow real and involved in this matter. If yes, she needs to prepare for the final battle since she is the one who carrying the powerful Divine Stone.
A Fiery Spirits is the last book in A Bright Heart series. The story is at a very fast pace, more suspense and adventurous than the first book. More magical elements show up, but it is really fast and rushed, as well as the story pace. There are shocking unexpected plot twists that make me in awe. Plus, the tension makes me hold my breath.
Somehow, this book feels like a combination between fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal. The adventure is thrilling and intense. Don’t expect to chill and relax reading this book. Heart break? Of course, it happens so many times in this story and Jieh is my favorite MMC now.
The political affairs and war strategy is more complex than the first book and I love it. The one and only thing that I really want is to have a magical creature. But this book is still fun to read and don’t worry about the ending, guys, it is a happy one, I promise!
June 17, 2025
I admittedly had a hard time getting into this book since it has been a while since I read (or listen to rather) A Bright Heart, and so it took me a bit to get reoriented with the plot and characters. I enjoyed seeing Mingshin being her clever self as well as learns that she has magic and learns how to use her abilities to her advantage. I also love a lot of the characters in this book as they bring in a found family aspect. There's a lot of political intrigue similar to the first book, which I found to start to get a little slow and dull at time. The times that Mingshin would get into predicaments did make up for it when there was more action. I felt that the relationship between Mingshin and Jieh was mostly static throughout the book since they established themselves as a couple in the first book, and not much changes in their relationship until Mingshin finally has the courage to tell him about her magic. I also thought the ending was rushed; there was all this buildup for this final fight to defeat the main villain, and I thought it was done and over with too quickly.
Overall, this book had potential, but it did not live up to the first book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a review!
Overall, this book had potential, but it did not live up to the first book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a review!
August 18, 2025
Book 2 in Bright Heart Series.
I was instantly interested when I saw that this was an Asian fantasy that was narrated my Natalie Naudus. Mingshin is the central character, who has the rank of Princessa now, is engaged to one of the Princes, and is trying to navigate her families goals to take her family wealth to secure their own places in court.
For a good court fantasy, action needs to be happening at two different levels. In this story, there is a continuation of a conflict of brothers fighting to inherit the throne and the threat of an external sorcerer. I really enjoyed the building tension between Mingshin’s family as they fight for space and control in court, while Mingshin is more focused on defeating the Night Dragon, a sorcerer who is a threat to all nations. Extra conflict is also present in the tension between Jiah’s background that considered magic a taboo, and Mingshin realising that she is a sorcerer.
Natalie Naudus is an auto-buy narrator for me. The range of voices and experience of creating a whole story landscape really come through strongly.
Looking forward to seeing where this series goes…..
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I was instantly interested when I saw that this was an Asian fantasy that was narrated my Natalie Naudus. Mingshin is the central character, who has the rank of Princessa now, is engaged to one of the Princes, and is trying to navigate her families goals to take her family wealth to secure their own places in court.
For a good court fantasy, action needs to be happening at two different levels. In this story, there is a continuation of a conflict of brothers fighting to inherit the throne and the threat of an external sorcerer. I really enjoyed the building tension between Mingshin’s family as they fight for space and control in court, while Mingshin is more focused on defeating the Night Dragon, a sorcerer who is a threat to all nations. Extra conflict is also present in the tension between Jiah’s background that considered magic a taboo, and Mingshin realising that she is a sorcerer.
Natalie Naudus is an auto-buy narrator for me. The range of voices and experience of creating a whole story landscape really come through strongly.
Looking forward to seeing where this series goes…..
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
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