The Witch Who Chases the Sun

by Dawn Chen

Sometimes, true love is not the answer.
​
A decade after the Second War, Aixauhan Alchemist Ying Cai-Li seeks to rekindle her relationship with her ex-lover, the Inabrian Oracle Anne Barberry.

However, the war changed them both. Estranged by their losses, Cai-Li has gained a notorious reputation as the dark magic-wielding Blood Hawk and Anne barricades herself in a castle on a hill where her family’s dark secrets lie. Rumors in the village say Anne is a monster, responsible for the disappearance of innocent visitors.

But when the two witches reunite and begin unraveling the mysteries of the village, it becomes clear that scars left by the war do not easily fade. Things are not as they seem. Old ghosts come back to haunt them. Past truths are revealed. Can the witches be each other’s salvations or are they doomed to repeat the past that tore them apart?

Fans of The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon will fall in love with Dawn Chen’s sapphic high fantasy epic about anti-colonialism, grief, generational trauma, and the cycles of war.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, Adult, Witches, High Fantasy

ebook

First published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your typical witchy romance!!!

This book broke me apart & then also mended a part of me that I didn't know needed mending🥺 It was so beautiful yet tragic & heartbreaking, and I'd recommend you prepare your tissues before you pick this one up💔

What to expect -
✨Sapphic witchy fantasy
✨Complex characters with traumatic pasts
✨Animal companion
✨Commentary on war & its aftermath
✨Anti-colonialism
✨Chinese-inspired magic system
✨Complicated family dynamics

The story takes place sometime after the Second War, and the Alchemist, Cai-Li, sets out to meet her ex-lover, Anne, to rekindle their relationship. But there's something odd happening in the town where the Oracle, Anne, resides, as a lot of young children have gone missing & were never found. Cai-Li decides to confront Anne about the same and to ask whether she's responsible for any of it. From there begins their journey to uncover truths hidden from plain sight and to face the painful reality as it slowly unravels.

Not gonna lie, I had a difficult time getting into this at first because you're immediately thrust into the world, and everything feels convoluted. Like you have no sense of time, whether you're reading about the past or present, or whether things are even in order. But it's all intentional as the author wants you to feel that disorientation. Everything starts falling into place once you reach the twist (and trust me, it's worth it), so push through the confusion, and you'll see how brilliantly it all connects later.

Seriously, I did not expect that twist at all. It knocked me out & made me question everything and how things are gonna proceed & if there could ever be a HEA. But at the same time, I couldn't stop reading after that because I needed to know what would happen to our main characters!!!

Both our main characters are complex & layered & what you see at first is not who they truly are. Anne Barberry is an Inabrian Magician who's lived a privileged life since childhood, destined to take up the mantle to be the next Oracle after her grandfather. But what no one understands is how terrible it is to be the one who sees the future cuz the visions keep haunting you every day from the moment you see one. And she has to see the bloodshed of war, the countless corpses, even ones of the loved ones, endless times until it happens. What's worse is that she cannot do anything to stop it from happening.

All this has taken a huge toll on her mental health, and during the time of the war, she wanted nothing to do with her family, who reveled in bloodshed and violence. She's determined to stop the fighting that's been happening for centuries, and sets out to change things and you'll have to read to see whether she succeeds.

On the other hand, Cai-Li, the Alchemist living in Inabrian lands after the Wars, sets out to meet Anne & make things right. Even though she puts on a bubbly, charming facade, she's just as traumatized & hurt as Anne. Her whole life, she's been treated differently for being an Alchemist and made to feel inferior because of her lineage. And now, when it's claimed that the war is over and everyone is welcome in Inabria, she couldn't really accept it with all her heart, not when those same people once hunted her clan and slaughtered her family.

Yet she's so deeply & madly in love with Anne, an Inabrian Magician & their relationship carries this beautifully painful forbidden edge. And the only reason she's drawn to Anne immediately is that Anne is nothing like her people & that she's kind, and willing to stand up for what's right. Also, Anne's only now starting to unlearn everything that was taught to her, and is trying her hard to break free from the clutches of her family.

And the ending they get is bittersweet but you cannot help but also feel like it's the only way to end their story. Yet it still hurts so much😭🥺

Just as how beautifully written the characters are, the themes are executed masterfully too. One of the strongest is colonialism, and Dawn portrays so clearly how those in power twist the idea of duty or faith to justify war, claiming they're protecting their nation, while in truth, it's all about greed and control. The Inabrian leaders believe anyone who isn't like them is an abomination, and that their magic is not according to the will of the Creator. And with this crazy propaganda, the Inabrian people have been hunting down all the other Clans & have been wiping them clean for centuries. The author has showcased this hunger for power cleverly & has made it clear how these things still keep happening in the real world no matter how much things change or develop.

Another major theme is grief and how it changes you. Both Anne & Cai-Li are grieving the losses of their loved ones, and they find it so hard to move on & live their lives. Grief really is suffocating & every waking moment reminds you that you're alive while the ones you loved aren't, and that's something all of us can relate to. That feeling is so raw, so real and through this story, you see the desperate lengths people go to just to make peace with that pain.

Overall, this was such a heartbreaking yet touching & deeply relatable story. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for a fantasy with a romance that transcends time, layered characters you can't help but root for, and themes that are so damn relatable even today.

Huge thanks to the author for sending me the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dawn Chen]

Again not going to rate my own book but also I wrote this. So yeah. Didn’t think it could make it but it’s here. So that’s that.

Update (5th Sep 2025): paperback preorder should be available now on all book retailers platforms (there was a delay and might still be loading on some websites) but if you couldn’t find it before now it’s there!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the eARC of this novel, and I'm made aware that edits are still being done to it so my review will not be entirely true to the final product released later in October 2025.

Basic Premise:
- Non-traditional HEA.
- Sapphic fantasy romance. (I wouldn't call it a romantasy. It merely has threads of romance tying the story together.)
- This novel is focused on the atrocities of war, and how it is more than just a conflict - it is a legacy, molding children into the image of their parents.
- Very lengthy, and should be read slowly in parts to digest the intricacies of the plot.

Quotes I love:

"I cannot do that, I am made of rage, I can see nothing beyond the red - you, my love, you have been the light that guided me since the war, grounding me to my last shreds of humanity left."

- Gosh, this line took my breath away. I love the intensity of it.

"..because you wanted peace, yet you don't want to admit the nasty truth: that the war will never end. It lives inside you like a parasite, it takes roots and birth illusions. It even makes the most beautiful lie out of the most painful truth."

- Sad, sad truth as war rages on.

Thoughts:

There are some stories that simply take up space in your mind, taking root deep inside. This is one of them. I absolutely love the story that this book is trying to convey. There is RAGE, there is POWER, and there is a lot of strength behind this book.

Coming from a place that was colonized as well, enduring the comments that we owe it to them - not realizing that we come from a place rich with history and things would've been different had it not been for the wars that ravaged the land... Well, this was a fantastic read. Thank you to Dawn Chen for putting their soul into the book.

What I loved:
- The characters in this novel are well constructed. Their character and personalities are so distinct and shine through the pages. I adore Annie and her hope. I love Cai-Li and her determination. I also like the foul-mouthed Cole and his anger. They are complex, they are multilayered, and oh so wonderful.
- Ying Cai-Li, Chely Ying is my favourite. Chely is a complicated character. Ark Li sees one version of her, Cole another and finally, Anne. I am blown away by the complexity of her ambitions and goals. In the end, when Cai-Li speaks to Ark-Li, and says that it is a lie, that she'll force a notion that she doing it all just for love... I don't think Annie doesn't know it. She probably doesn't want to accept the whole truth of it all, but takes it on as a veil. I don't even know if I'm right, but this is why this novel needs to be reread and dissected again. That's how intricate it is.
- The entire novel is built on suspense. In the first part, the reader is led to believe that Chely is in the village for a certain reason. Once the 2nd part unfolds - only then will they understand the true reason certain events are occurring in the story. The unusual narrative for the story is not commonly seen in a lot of novels, and this makes for a very compelling read. The reader must push forward to finally tie everything together to understand the story.
- As for the ending... I LOVE IT. I saw no other way to end the story, and as someone who reads a lot of Chinese novels (translated to English lol), I have read countless tragic ending stories, and this ending is perfect for Cai-Li and Annie. It is the essence of their story - that they will love each other and lose each other - and there is no other way it could be. Maybe in another lifetime, will they finally reach one another. Again, I love the ending.
- That final page of the novel. I had tears in my eyes. Beautifully written.

Now to some critical comments...

What I thought could've been better:
- During the first part of the novel, I had trouble reading it because of the tenses switching from present tense to past tense. The switch in tenses would occur abruptly. The innkeeper would be talking in present tense before suddenly speaking in past tense in the next sentence. To others this may not be a big deal, but as someone who also writes a lot... This made me have a headache, trying to decipher what was happening. However, after some discussion with the author, I noted that this was indeed their intention - it's to show the past, present and future happening all at once - and it's a narrative choice. I respect the author's decision. I just had to comment on this as I had a hard time reading the 1st part of the novel. I do hope anyone who had the same trouble will push through with the story because the 2nd part is AMAZING.
- I thought that the execution and editing of this novel needed some work. There are some redundant usage of words that pull away from the intensity of the story. Some sentences could be shorter, some chapters could be cut to enhance the story. I am by no means an editor, which is why this is all I’ll say about it. I love the essence of the story and I love the truth behind it. I just hope one day, this book will be even more refined.

Finally, I would highly recommend this novel. I absolutely enjoyed the second half of the novel and I love the themes behind it.

[Kate Lawhon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Dawn Chen and it is absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking, and poignant. It's a story of two survivors from a magical war and how they deal with their grief and trauma.
It is a story of how history repeats cycles unless we do something about it.
It is a story about love.

Cai-Li and Anne are born in two separate places, cultures, belief systems. They both learn from each other. They're not perfect but perfectly show love encompasses all even if one has done horrible things.

Dawn's writing style is lovely and this story kept me guessing till the very end. It is a very convoluted tale that has many layers that need to be peeled back to get the whole picture. The world building is rich, multifaceted, and the characters are realistic and well rounded. I especially loved the different cultures in it.

Dawn paints a realistic picture of war that is definitely needed today. There are no winners in a war, only the dead and survivors.

[Theta Chun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review from the author. This does not affect my review for the obvious reason that I’m a very truthful asshole.

The Witch Who Chases the Sun (TTWCTS) is a book I both kinda loved and kinda hated which is a weird thing to say about a book that I’m ultimately going to tell you that you should read.

I oftentimes found the reading experience rough, not due to any actual inherent fault of the prose, characters, plot, or pacing, but nearly entirely due to the formatting itself. TTWCTS, in it’s ARC form, has two distinct features to it. (1) It lacks a solid tense, and (2) characters often scream in capital letters. Now the first one is more prominent than the second, but the second is where I found my greatest struggles. To just be completely honest, I hate it when speech in books is in all capitals, it’s one thing if it’s written out in a letter, because that’s how people write. But in speech? I can’t stand it, and so near the end of the book where there was a lot of it, I found myself taking breaks, despite having read the rest of the book in a single sitting.

The first I think is more tolerable for a number of reasons, namely that it was intended as a kind of narrative time-travel, representing the synchronicity of time after death, one of the character’s perception of time, and finally Chinese grammatical structure. Oftentimes Chen chooses to shift tense over the course of the story, easily jumping between present and past throughout the story, you go from she was cooking to she dances, and memories and the present intertwine like grape vines. It is both incredibly as a feat of perspective, and irritating as reader. Sometimes I wanted things to just be said and not constantly explained, but other times I enjoyed the clarification and nuance the shifting time allowed me as the reader.

Perhaps more than that though, I’m a fucking sucker for linguistic trickiness. I delight in the abnormal and find revelation in the weird, and nowhere else do I love it more than in grammatical structures. Chinese, if you don’t know, is a bit of a tenseless language. You indicate the past by saying it was the past, conjugation is meaningless. Chen aimed to encapsulate that, I think to her success if you know that was her aim. If you don’t? Well I’m not so sure.

For what I loved about the novel though, it was the characters. To be quite frank, Chen’s fantastic at dialogue and characterization. Each person was distinct and fascinating, motivations abounded, traumas and quirks threw wrenches. The differences between Anne and Chely set them in constant contrast. All the good parts of them and their relationship highlight the worst parts of the other person in terribly delightful ways. They’re not terrible people… for the most part, but somehow in trying to draw themselves to each other they made themselves more and more different. It was like they’d had this idea of what the other person was like and tried to mold themselves to that, only to realize that they didn’t really have the right of it. I each of the characters was meticulously crafted in connection and contrast to each other that makes it hard to drag them apart. It’s endlessly believable that these people grew up together, because they’ve so clearly made themselves into forged themselves in the crevices of each other, creating gaps where they couldn’t fit together.

Fundamentally this book is a tragedy, of self, of time, of relationships, of love, of colonialism and lost things and cruel parents. It’s stunning in it’s love and compassion and deeply red-mouthed fury at injustice. I once wrote in a truly 한-mared poem (really it can never see the light of day) that everyone under occupation dies because of occupation, and even then for all those who died after it you can never be sure that they didn’t die because of it. TTWCTS sat in that question, in that uncomfortable space, in that uncomfortable fear that even when the war has supposedly abated, that tragedy might be your fate and your death, and it asks you to refuse it. Sometimes, yes, people who die in those decades or centuries after a war die because of it, and sometimes you get to live past it. It’s a stunning examination of that grief, and we’d be all the better for reading it.

OTHER IRRELEVANT NOTES
- That goddamn fucking ending. Jesus fuck. Jesusity fuck fuck fuck.
- like is that chely? Chely are you reincarnating to be with your lover happy? Also, just as importantly, are Chely’s parents still alive? Are they the same parents? Since people from her clan can live centuries, I feel like this is an incredibly important question to know if her parents are just… hanging out somewhere. I crave the answers. Gimeeeeeeeeee

[Azrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, blood, war, murder, death, colonisation, genocide, child death, xenophobia, racism, abandonment, bullying, death of parent, grief
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The Witch Who Chases the Sun follows two exes, Anne Barberry the esteemed Oracle of the Inabrian Magicians and Chely Ying an Aixauhan Alchemist from a family just as renowned, as they reunite years after a war between their people. Much has changed since their last meeting and they both harbour their own secrets. Through flashbacks and recollection we start to uncover the picture of what happened between the two of them and also what has made them cross paths again.

This is a story light on romance but one that is full of love in its many forms including when it comes to times of grief and disagreement, with significant commentary on the cycles of violence and oppression in history, the weaponisation of power and the human consequences of war.

Dawn is brilliant at capturing the distinct personalities and emotions of her characters on page, including the supporting ones. You instantly get a feel for the tension that is present in Anne and Chely's dynamic. Pretty much everyone Is flawed and their conflicting motives throughout will both fill you with understanding as well as frustration.

The overall narrative itself has a mix and match of timelines and tenses used which I admittedly did find quite confusing. That along with the fact that each character has various names and titles and the use of them was constantly changing. Some of this was purposeful and while I admired the narrative style it did make the book a little hard to initially get into for me.

I quite enjoyed the flashback segments set in the past as there were many personal moments that allow us to understand the characters and what has shaped them. With the present timeline while the interactions had a good rapport they seemed fleeting in comparison. However, the eerieness to Anne's character and the happenings around her plus the truth behind Chely seeking Anne out again kept me intrigued.

Plus there is a great twist which cleared things up a little and made the book find its feet a bit more in the second half.

There was still a lot of back and forth with the timelines but I enjoyed how this allowed for more details on the cultures and turbulent history between the Inabri and Aixauh to be shown. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the magic system (particularly the alchemy side) in action though! I feel like we didn’t get enough of Chely in the process of working towards what she was, it was more or less just those final moments.

Nevertheless, the way everything wrapped up was fitting in its bittersweetness and I look forward to more arrow to the heart stories from Dawn in the future!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars

[Emily Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

In The Witch Who Chases The Sun, an alchemist and an oracle-turned-historian meet many years after the end of a war that changed both of them irrevocably and, in its aftermath, ended their relationship, for a final chat. Disaster Lesbians, the End of the World vibes, AND a detailed exploration of war, colonialism and how those things affect people are what you will find in its pages.

Emoji-Aesthetic: 🍁💀🌸☕️🐦‍⬛

Listen to
🎶 Would That I - Hozier
🎶 She - Dodie
🎶 The Seed - AURORA

The Witch Who Chases The Sun is an incredible exploration of how war and tragedy and trauma affects people differently. It tells its story of hurt, anger, love and revenge in a twisted, nonlinear narrative that really fits into the point it’s trying to make: that love does not conquer all, but it sure fucking helps, and that we choose whether we continue or stand against the legacies given to us by our ancestors. The writing style lends itself impeccably to the emotions central to the story, especially the longing and hurt between the main characters. The characters are not classically loveable, but I fell in love with all of their morally grey nooks and crannies regardless. The chemistry in the main romance is palpable and the other relationships are strong and well-characterised.
I thought the commentary on colonialism and its effects was really well (and heartbreakingly) done. I also really enjoyed that, through the arc of the oracle, it is made clear that while we do not control our ancestry and what our family and nation do, we get to choose what we do with that.
I personally also really loved the little window into Chinese alchemy in the character of the alchemist. The underlying ideas and principles are really interesting. (I did get confused for a moment on the description of mercury but that seems to be just a slightly different thing in Chinese alchemy.)
Another thing I particularly loved was the ending. It’s not a classical HEA, but it is bittersweet. I can’t say more without spoiling, but I will say it I found it very satisfying.
I can only recommend this book to all my sapphic (and not sapphic) friends who love anti-colonialist literature.

I was gifted a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The Witch Who Chases the Sun is multi-faceted. It begins as this story about exes and second chances. And then it becomes this story about grief, the trauma of war, and the cycle of violence. With memories of the past, The Witch Who Chases the Sun dredges up the betrayals and mistakes. But it also asks us how we make sense of our own past, the legacies we try to shed, and the people we try to become. In this world, what does being 'post-war' mean? How does one end a war and continue surviving? The scars continue to ache and the world wants to move on.

[Adrielle Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“They see me and I know, they think I'm being vague on purpose, as if I'm trying to go easy on the Inabrians and turn my back towards this crew. They think when I say 'bigger picture' it means that I thought their lives do not matter. It's just the way things are, the Vision is the most treacherous and cold Magic of all."

What a beautiful, harrowing tale of war and colonialism. I cried more times than I can count. The world building is exceptional and the story poignant to our current global political climate.

I don’t wish to spoil anything as this book deserves the care and effort to peel back each layer.

Absolutely fantastic, immersive, devastating, haunting, and beautiful.

[faye. · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆☆☆½
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Scars left by the war do not easily fade.
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What drew me to the book:
I follow the author on Instagram & was drawn in when they were promoting it.
How long it’s been on my TBR:
I’d say a few months.
My thoughts on the cover:
I love it & feel it suits the book well with the two main characters reaching for each other but divided by the things that keep them apart.
My expectations:
From what the author has said I’m expecting an emotional ride full of tension, romance (or at least love) & betrayal, I’m also looking forward to the Fantasy elements of the book & as it says in the synopsis ‘grief, loss, generational trauma & the cycle of war’. All the other reviews I’ve seen have been glowing with praise so I have high hopes for this book, especially as they’ve talked about emotional devastation (I love a good book that ruins me).
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My thoughts whilst reading:
I’ll admit I didn’t have the greatest first impression, it started talking about one of the main characters (Anne Barberry) as if we were following her only for it to cut to the other main character (Chely) which had me double checking I’d read it right because it didn’t ‘switch’ as opposed to just randomly mentioning it was actually all from following Chely instead, after this it was fine & the issue didn’t occur again but it still didn’t leave me with the greatest impression. As we got further into the story I continued to find the writing confusing, with switches in tense & between the past & present I found myself having to stop & reread what I’d read to make sense of it which is something that I found myself doing a fair few times throughout the first half. Another thing I found confusing, or at least unclear, was the books setting, there was a mention of a car & a radio but no electricity, we had pirates & pirate ships (all presumably wind powered as there were no mentions of electric engines) but no weapons such as guns or swords (as the war was fought with magic) & there was an innkeeper who ran a bar & not many descriptions of clothes which all made it very hard to pinpoint what kind of world the book took place in, if it was a world which was its own or if it was inspired by our world / had any inspiration from real world eras, other than the Castle & the cottage I don’t think any of the other buildings really got much of a description which didn’t help with this. As for the plot I enjoyed it but it felt as if it had taken a back seat once Cai-Li entered the castle, the missing children weren’t forgotten but instead I felt it was somewhat pushed aside & whilst the plot was concluded I do think it could have been better explored. After the halfway point the book majorly changed & I found it picked up too, we were hit with this massive twist & suddenly everything had changed. I found myself reading the second half faster & enjoying it more, whether this was because I got used to the books switching between past & present or because of what was happening I’m unsure but I found it easier to read & before I knew it I’d reached the end. I liked how the story of Cai-Li ended & what she was working towards although I would have liked to see more of her working towards that goal before everything was set into motion because whilst it was an act of sacrifice it just felt more selfish despite us being told it was ‘for the betterment of the world’. I also enjoyed Anne’s ending although as for the ending overall I do think it would have been more impactful had Cai-Li’s days at the castle been a little longer & we actually got to see her truly reconnect with Anne as opposed to the first half just being them just winding each other up (or rather Chely attempting to wind up Anne) & we got to see more of Anne’s feelings on Cai-Li coming back into her life. I also feel this wasn’t helped by the characters feeling somewhat ‘young’ - Cai-Li & Anne are meant to be in their late twenties & yet they felt younger & somewhat immature, we start with them reuniting & having a ‘back & forth’ but it felt like a relationship of older teens as opposed to two exes who had been together years (& knew each other as well as two people can) & they felt more like older teens as opposed to two adults who had grown up in a war & lost their friend who was like family to them & who had ultimately lost each other, like they had both been through so much & whilst I understand they ‘moved on’ it just felt like it hadn’t happened to them at all which I don’t think made the book feel as impactful as it could have as the ending is really good, I just don’t think the set-up worked on the level that it was meant to. As for the ending, ending I liked it although I couldn’t help but think it would have worked better had this element been shown at the start as like a prologue giving us some information on the world & history before diving into the book & then returning to it at the end & revealing what it did to us. As I was reading I was enjoying the actual writing style, I found it unique in that it felt like I was reading a tale which gave the story an interesting feel, although despite the books unique voice I feel as if the characters voices weren’t very distinct, they could have easily bled into each other for me.
How long it took me to read:
7 Days.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story told, I thought the characters with all their complexities were interesting & I liked how the writing style made the book feel as if it were a classic tale. I do think the book could have been shorter, both from cutting down on unnecessary writing / sentences & just shortening it generally, I think it would have been much more impactful as a shorter, more concise story. I will say as well that the book tried to achieve a lot & for me it fell a little short of what it wanted to achieve, I feel part of this comes from the fact that a lot of the book felt like it was telling instead of showing, we’re told one character is like another's mum when at most they felt like sisters or a mentor & mentee at best & we’re told that Anne & Cai-Li fall back in love with each other & I didn’t particularly feel like we saw that (instead it was more they kind of just shared the same space for a few days before things kicked off). I also thought that the almost dismissal of the plot the book starts with left the book feeling weak, we start looking for missing children which fast becomes a forgotten subplot as Cai-Li explores the castle, whilst the plot did get resolved I do still felt like it was lacking, the book starts off with what I would say is almost a Gothic feel, we’re in a castle with people mysteriously going missing in a town in the middle of nowhere with an Oracle in the castle that everyone hates & yet insists on visiting which is then later pushed aside as we dive more into the past & what is yet to come which wasn’t a problem but it just felt like these two parts of the story weren’t blended well which is at to odds with the books writing style which slips through past & present without a second thought. Overall I felt the book didn’t really have one strong point, whilst I enjoyed the plot the most I still found that it was equal to the characters & the relationships & the themes with each of them (as I mentioned earlier) falling slightly short of what they could have been.
Miscellaneous:
Not applicable.
Did it meet my expectations:
No, but in part I feel this is because the synopsis feels very different from the book, whilst it gives a good feel of what the first half of the book is, it doesn’t give a good feel of what the second half contains which is important as it takes a massive turn.
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Favourite character:
I don’t know if I had one, although I do think Ark-Li stood out.
Favourite scene:
I liked the scene at the end with Ark-Li.
Favourite relationship:
Honestly I didn’t really have one although I did enjoy the relationships we got to see although I do feel had the back and forth between Cai-Li & Anne been stronger in the first half I would have said them.
Favourite quote:
The girls who fell in love during the solstice in their youth, over tavern fire and joyful conversations, were nothing more than a distant memory.
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Why I rounded the review down*:
I’m rounding my rating down as I did enjoy the book but I did have a few issues with it such as the slow first half & the book feeling like it could have done with more work to get it where it's meant to be.
Do I regret reading it:
No.
Will I be reading the sequel:
Not applicable but I am looking forward to the author’s upcoming Vampire book (Vampire in Beijing).
Will I be investing in a physical copy:
Whilst I love the cover I’m currently short on shelf space so unfortunately not.
Do I recommend it:
If you’re looking for a book which feels slightly slow with a unique writing style which explores what comes after war with flawed main characters then I’d recommend giving it a read.
*(for rating systems such as Goodreads)
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Thank you so much to the author, Dawn Chen, for the ARC.

[Lianne Dubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. This review is honest, and the fact that I received an e-ARC has no bearing on my thoughts. The e-ARC I'd read had some grammatical errors in it, but this review will be based off of the overall story, not the grammatical errors. I will note that I did have trouble with what I saw were random tense changes between the past and the present when reading this novel. The issues in the e-ARC should be fixed by the time of the October publication.

Ying Cai-Li is an Aixauhan alchemist who is descended from a sun god. Anne Barberry is an Oracle of Inabri and scion of the infamous Barberry family. While they were in a romantic relationship before and during the war between Aixauh and Inabri, the relationship didn't last very long after the war. Ten years after the war, Cai-Li (also called Chely Ying) decides to visit Anne in her castle tower, where there are some strange rumors about what happens in the tower. Readers will realize that something is off about the situation in the present day. Why are things off or confusing? All of the answers can be found when reading the book! Seriously, kudos to Dawn Chen for writing a story where all the plot-related questions were answered at the end of the tale.

This story is specifically based on the colonization of China by Great Britain and the Opium wars. Aixauh is based off of China, and Inabri is based off of Great Britain. Characters deal with trauma, racism in the case of Aixauhans, propaganda in the case of Inabrians, and feelings of anger, rage, and a desire for revenge and justice. Each of the characters mentioned in this review have different views on these issues. Ultimately, there is no single correct or easy answer to these questions. The best way to move forward is to learn from history and do one's best to not repeat mistakes of the past. I enjoyed that the author showed the complexity and nuance of characters affected by war and colonialism. I also enjoy that the author didn’t shy away from how racism and colonialism affect everyone at both a country and individual level. I felt for Cai-Li and Cole when they experienced racism at the hands of ignorant and cruel Inabrians.

One aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the use of well-timed and informative flashbacks. The flashbacks helped me understand the context behind certain characters and their actions in the present-day. The flashbacks also showed the lives of Cai-Li, Anne, and Cole, a Yamalan (elemental being) who is half-Inabrian and half-Aixauhan. I was able to learn a lot about their personalities and motivations.

Speaking of the characters, I enjoyed learning about interpersonal relationships and dynamics. Cai-Li and Anne might not have the healthiest dynamic, especially not in the present day, but their relationship is very interesting. I also enjoyed learning about Cai-Li's and Anne's respective relationships with Cole and an Aixauhan pirate, Ark Li. While all of the characters were interesting, almost everyone made mistakes, acted badly, had hard lessons to learn, or didn't always act in the healthiest of ways. On the other hand, shoutout to Cole for being the voice of reason between him, Cai-Li, and Anne. Poor Cole had to put up with the shenanigans, schemes, and dysfunction of his two lesbian lover friends! I would seriously love a Cole sequel story, even if it's just a novella!

There is an undercurrent of tragedy throughout the story. As shown in the marketing of this novel, sometimes characters don’t always get a happy ending. Sometimes, circumstances tear characters apart, even if said characters love and care for each other. Plenty of named and unnamed characters die throughout the tale for various reasons. Sometimes characters are flat-out murdered. At other times, characters die because of things like starvation, being caught in the crossfire of war, or simply being so bogged down by trauma that they are unable to move past said war. Despite this undercurrent of tragedy, there is a ray of optimism as well. This optimism reveals itself through interactions with the characters, discussions on how to move forward after trauma, how to use history to find a way forward, and how to overcome issues of propaganda and racism.

Overall, if you’d like a story with Chinese-based magic, anticolonial themes, a unique world, lots of amazing flashbacks, standalone fantasy novels, and a story with both a sense of tragedy and hope, then I suggest that you read this book!

[Benehime · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 44%
I really wanted to like this, Im so disappointed.

So this might be a me problem, but heres a few things that bothered me:

the language: It might be that I'm not a native speaker, so the stylistic choice (which I had to read other reviews for to find out that it was a stylistic choice, not that the author bothers to explain) of switching between present and past tense is not one that meshes well with me.

The characters speak in a way that feels like two 19 year olds having a conversation in 2017. In a fantasy setting. I cannot. I genuinely expected someone to start dabbing. (They constantly refer to each other as their "ex", they like each other that little, they're not even kind-of friends!)

The characters are so unlikable. I dont know why Cai Li was friends with Cole. They never really interact, except that Cole shits on...everything. Come to think of it, by the time I stopped reading, the guy had never had anything nice to say. about anything. Why would anyone want to be around him?

Cai-Li cares about Anne (we are told). Because apparently she's...accidentally subverted her expectation of a racist white girl and she thinks thats admirable because Cai-Li could never.

The book wants to be gritty. It is not. It's a meandering, story about something. Could not tell you what. Trying to figure out the disappearing of a few teenagers (who are so unimportant that they dont even get names)? Checking if your ex (aah!) has lost it somehow while pretending you dont care? Infodumping stuff that does not matter to the story at all, but because its so unclear what the story is supposed to be, it didn't get cut out?

Tldr: I really wanted to like this novel and there are so many issues with it that it robbed my enjoyment for reading as a whole for a few weeks (because I dislike not finishing things and tried to push myself). I feel that at 44 % I gave it a fair enough chance.
Two stars because its not acutally trash, but the issues remain.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had The Witch Who Chases the Sun sitting on my Kindle for a little bit, and after binging all my holiday rom coms, I finally slipped back into a fantasy mood and oh my GOD, this book reminded me exactly why fantasy owns my entire heart. I literally could not put it down. This is genuinely one of my ALL TIME favorite reads of the year. It changed my life. I loved the world, the story, and these beautifully broken witches more than I can express. This author is an immediate, automatic YES for me now. Do not sleep on this book.Set a decade after the Second War, the story follows Aiaxuhan Alchemist Ying Cai Li, who tries to rekindle her relationship with her ex lover, Anne Barberry an Inabrian Oracle haunted by her family’s dark history. But war scars run deep. Cai Li has become notorious for wielding the Blood Hawk, and Anne hides away in her hilltop castle, surrounded by whispers that she’s a monster responsible for missing villagers. When the two witches reunite, everything unravels the secrets, the hauntings, the lies the village tells, and the truths they’ve buried. Old ghosts return, past wounds rip open, and you’re left wondering if these two can save each other or if history is doomed to repeat itself.If you love sapphic high fantasy with anti colonial themes, generational trauma, grief, and the lingering echo of war think The Poppy War meets The Priory of the Orange Tree this is your next obsession.An unforgettable story with unforgettable characters. Truly magic. #fantasy #romance #books #reader #reading #bookstagram #bookrec #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecommendations

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget everything you know about how western stories are usually structured and go on the wild and amazing ride that is this book.

This book is builds it's story very different compared to the books I'm used to. This... took some getting used to and made me struggle through the beginning of the book. This book weaves the past, the present and the future all through each other which moves in a way that's absolutely beautiful. Confusing at first sure I'll admit, but so worth it when you come further into the book.

The relationship between Anne and Cai-Li was so so intense. The fierce emotions between these two women gave me so so many feels. There was an abundance of love, but this turns into big moments of anger and sad feelings too. When two women are so intertwined in their life and come to a point they disagree things will get intense and this book absolutely shows that. Some things can't be forgiven, but people have to live on. This book gives these deep truths and turns it in something fierce.

And while the book really zooms in on the two women and those around them, it has a massive world with tons of lore hidden behind it. The magic in the book is deep and full of history. We learn this through many trips in the past where we get to see both magic and alchemy in it's glory. It was amazing to see such a rich world building in a book like this.

Concluding this book was a lovely read for anyone who likes deep character struggles with a cherry on top of a great world.


I received an eARC and this was my honest review.

[Day. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this book, I am blown away. I haven’t had the chance to read many novels from smaller authors, and this being my first ARC, I had no idea to expect—I set the bar low, though.
Throughout the book, I found myself confused by the narrative, but as I continued, it slowly pieced together the convolution, and its intention shone through. This is a book you must put your mind to. The timeline is messy and jumps around, you can’t always be sure when the chapters are taking place, but it all speaks towards our main characters’ development. It’s not a casual, cozy read, but that is what makes it all the more valuable.
Cai-li and Anne are stunning depictions of lifelike individuals and just an all-encompassing picture of love. While this is quite the fantasy, it is real. There’s so much intention behind the characters, what they stand for, and the world that they live in. Since the story only really takes place in one location, loving these characters like I do and being able to trace back these themes to what is real was vital to my adoration of this book.
If you enjoy fantasy, sapphic romance, and beautiful tragedy (3 of my favorite things in a novel), I can’t recommend this book enough. If you’re willing to be confused and be forced to really think, then you will enjoy it as I did.
I absolutely will be reading more of Dawn Chen’s novels as they are able to be published.

This book was given to me in the form of an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[green ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Dawn Chen for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is an incredible exploration of cycles of violence, grief, and finding love and family in the midst of it all - and doing all that you can to hold onto those most precious to you.

The way the story is told, you are jumping from the past to the present, in a way that I found was easy to follow along with, and was such a perfect way to execute this type of story, where memories play a big part in the trajectory of this book.

I cannot recommend this wonderful book enough, so please check it out once it is released!!

[Niki.reads.rainbow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Witch Who Chases the Sun is a sapphic high fantasy story about the Inabrian Oracle - Anne Barberry, and the Aixauhab Alchemist - Cai-Li Ying.

After the war between Inabri and Aixauh ends, they’re reunited again, and have to deal with their past and future.

This book isn’t a romantasy, it deals with loss of loved ones, and trauma from war. I think the concept is really interesting as are the characters.

The reason why I’m rating this 3* is the writing style. There was a lot of time jumps. Especially in the seocnd half, when there were a few pages of story, before it jumped back into a flashback. This is a “not the book’s, but my issue”, but because of it, I had a hard time to follow the story, and ended up being confused. I would prefer if the book was rather written in two parts - before and after the war, but I understand that it wouldn’t work because of the reveals that happened almost at the end of the book.

Again, this is my issue, so take it with a grain of salt, you may not mind it, or even enjoy it more.

I enjoyed Dawn’s previous book, so I’m sad this isn’t my new fave book. However, if you like sapphic fantasy, please, give this book a try.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-arc ine xchange for my honest review.

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ This is a review of the eARC generously provided by the author ✨️

4.5 shining stars

A triumph of a queer and epic fantasy standalone like no other in traditionally published Western media. This story of Anne Barberry and Ying Cai-Li is very clearly lovingly born of the mind and soul of a queer author passionate about voicing themes of diaspora, the oppression of marginalised communities, the vicious cycle of history, and the flawed nature of humanity.

I am so incredibly excited to follow along as the author continues to grow and polish their writing.

[fhmltn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am yet again feeling so blessed to have been able to receive an ARC of a true work of art, and cannot recommend this book enough.

The Witch who Chases the Sun is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and deeply frustrating novel in all the ways a powerful story should be. Dawn Chen delivers a hauntingly poetic tale about three war survivors from vastly different cultures, bound together by the kind of love that defies language, borders, and ideology. their connections, each unique and deeply felt, shine through the darkest moments of conflict, even as the scars of war refuse to fade.

this is not a story of victory or redemption, but one that lays bare the truth — there are no winners in war. the author doesn’t flinch in showing how propaganda distorts reality, how people are manipulated to hate, and how history is rewritten or erased to serve power. the novel becomes a quiet but unrelenting cry against forgetting. an urgent reminder that if we fail to learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.

yet amid the bloodshed and loss, there is beauty. Chen’s writing is breathtaking. lyrical, piercing, and unafraid to linger in both the horror and the grace of being human. she captures the staggering complexity of love in all its forms, messy, pure, resilient, even when surrounded by chaos.

this novel is a moving exploration of trauma, memory, and connection. it will stay with you long after the final page, as both a warning and a quiet testament to the enduring spark of love and truth in even the darkest times.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[cherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing the e-arc! This book is set to be published on SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

The Witch Who Chases The Sun is as much a love letter to unconditional (sapphic) love as an unapologetically loud and angry criticism of imperialism and colonialism, specifically british imperialism. The story at its core is anti-war, but not because it's anti-all-forms-of-violence; it's against the root of it: the never ending desire for more (lands, wealth etc.) and the dehumanization of anyone that's different from you. The sheer force of the emotions - not only those we as readers feel but also those of the characters - reminds me of Iron Widow, another favourite book of mine, and TWWCTS has joined IW in the list of my favourite books of all time.

I also love that the book did not shy away from how Aixauh also forced assimilation of the so-called "ethnic minority groups", a reference to modern day China doing the same thing to the many non-Han ethnic groups in China, the Uyghurs chief among them. I'd really love to re-read the book (hopefully on release day with a physical copy!!) while paying more attention to the dynamic between Cai-Li and Cole/Shui Yin. I was unfortunately too caught up with the sapphics and even though I recognized Shui Yin as a representation of a member of a "minority ethnic group", I didn't really get the part where
[spoiler] Cai-Li, as a member of the majority in Aixauh, was somewhat ignorant of his experience/plight. [spoiler ends]
As much as I love cailianne (whose ship name according to the author is SunWitch which sounds delicious and I absolutely adore) with every fibre of my being, I also must acknowledge their imperfections and complicity in the oppressive systems, though they make them all the more relatable.

Did I mention I was too caught up with the sapphics? Because the TWIST. THE TWISTS, PLURAL! THE TURNS! THE ENDING???? I went from giggling and kicking my feet to gasping loudly to sobbing uncontrollably. To not get into spoiler territory: remember to join the 40% mark support group when you get there because trust me YOU'LL NEED IT.

Now excuse me while I continuing to daydream about cozy AUs (Alternate Universes) of SunWitch because my BABY GIRLS DESERVE TO BE HAPPY

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing, and no one, is the same after the war between Aixauh and Inabri. There are terrible rumors about the oracle who lives in a castle, giving out prophecies that scare those who dare to visit her to look into their future. But Cai-Li, an Alchemist from Aixauh, knows who the Oracle is. It is her lover, Anne, and also her partner who strived to do the right thing, even if she had to turn away from her family legacy and what she had been taught since she was young. However, the castle is more than just a place to house the Oracle. As strange incidents unfold, the two spiral into the truth where the past is closely intertwined with the present and future. No one can outrun the past, and nothing can cover the past that has already stained their younger days bloody. Can Cai-Li and Anne recover the love and peace they had in their younger days? Or is it time for another way to be paved?

This book blew me away in so many ways. The book consists of multiple time jumps, and while this usually has the possibility of disorientation and confusion, the author navigates by balancing the unraveling of the past and the present at the same time. You hold your breath, waiting for what will happen, and the author will give you that with a bang, allowing you to piece everything together. And that is the time you know you’ll have to send your therapy bills to the author. The pain of the characters blends into the writing. While no one is screaming all the time, Dawn conveys how silence and knowing can be the most painful experience, although it is not visible externally.

The unique world of The Witch Who Chased the Sun is something that is not often seen, and the description of each culture, story and history is actually derived from the real incidents and culture of this world, which makes you believe in magic and wonder at once whether this might be a part of this world. And the answer is yes.

Although it is a fantasy with magical elements, it has so many parallels with this world. The main point that Dawn Chen emphasizes is the mentality behind colonialism and its effects. The logic and reasoning of Inabri to attack Aixauh is the same the colonizers used to infiltrate other nations in this real world. Colonialism is not simple. It is like a toxin that seeps deep into the ground, and even if the source of the toxin is removed, the toxin still remains, influencing future generations and remaining as trauma to those who survived.

The war between Aixauh and Inabri shows in the end that no one is free from the blood or guilt. And those who suffer the most are the ones who never deserved such pain in the first place. This applies not to this war, but the countless wars that happened in the past, in the present, and also in the future. Many characters in the world are related in pain, and their past has done something to the other that cannot easily be forgiven and has forged their path. Everything goes around in a circle. War and violence always go around in a circle, and it should never have started in the first place.

But does this mean that we cannot break out of this circle? While the real world does not offer a concrete answer to this, the author shows that there are various ways to fight back against the past to build a better future for future generations. It is Remembrance. You do not forget what happened. You remember what happened as it is. And everything in this book concludes to show us that. Every pain, tear, sweat, and sacrifice is for those to carry the past into the future so that it will never happen again.

As a person who has a history of their country being colonized, and also knows what it is like to be beaten down by the majority just because you are different, this book touched me in so many ways and awakened many emotions in me that were dormant. Emotions that I didn’t even know existed. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who knows what it is like to have their being stripped away, whether it is as a community or individual being.

[Faith L · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WITCH WHO CHASES THE SUN by Dawn Chen is a high fantasy with moving plot twists, eviscerating dialogue, and satisfying juxtapositions. This book has changed my perspective on war, responsibility, and bigotry.

Here’s my 5 star review.

The comedic and ironic moments were so good, and they fleshed out the characters’ relationships WHILE making me laugh!

The magic systems are deeply described from the perspectives of Inabrian and Aixauhan peoples, who were on opposite sides of the wars. I appreciated the Chinese language and mythology. The wordplay, inversion of meaning, metaphors in relation to the character arcs of Cai-Li, Cole, and Ark were magnificent. I’ll never be able to experience reading this the first time.

Cai-Li is one of my favourite characters.

She’s witty, passionate, and caring. She says things that I relate to as a person of colour. There’s one quote that is incredibly important to me, and it’s when she speaks to Ark. I can’t spoil it, though. It’s a quote that makes me angry at colonization and bigotry, and at the same time, I’m satisfied because there’s another layer: we do not need to hurt ourselves to fit into white people’s narratives.

Anne’s characterization runs deep, all the way to the end. When I think of her, the words “emotional self-flagellation” pops up, and I liked how sarcastic she was. I also liked the tenets of her character that made me uncomfortable. Without spoiling, let’s say I felt uncomfortable because I’m not as empathetic as Cai-Li, and Anne’s arc made me reflect on war, what it means to be human, and how white people try to be allies to people of colour. Anne’s thoughts about foreigners and people of colour were realistic. She, and all characters, are not written as rigid and flat. They are all dynamic, flawed, and demonstrate the grief and beauty of being human.

There’s also a quote about Anne’s character that I can’t spoil but it has SO MANY LAYERS and calls back to major events in the story in just one sentence.

A couple of points out of many that were explored: How BIPOC are used for absolving a white person’s guilt. How we can’t just “move on” from our ancestors’ past and the aftermath of colonization.

Cai-Li says the following which pertains to people of colour finding solidarity with each other: “I don’t think they are your friends, even if we share the same nationality.” I relate to this quote because not every visible minority or person from your country will be your friend, and we all know that. Cai-Li was challenging other characters’ beliefs and bringing nuance to conversations. That quote is valuable because it reflects my lived experience.

The love between Cai-Li and Anne was compelling. They are almost thirty in the present timeline, and I enjoyed the flashbacks about how they met. Their interactions are so fun to read in the beginning, and I can’t spoil it but let’s just say their relationship was angsty and poetic.

Those last hundred pages shook me, from the subversion of my expectations to even more juxtapositions, it was thrilling. Cai-Li, Anne, Cole, and Ark’s individual arcs and impact on the narrative knocked me out.

There’s something Dawn says in the Afterword that’s also very important to me. Don’t want to spoil it, but that was another moment that changed me.

This is an ARC. There were some typos and words used repetitively but that doesn't impede my love of the themes and characters.

Thank you to Dawn for the eARC!

[abby (xoxobookishgirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rep : Sapphic relationship

"Once upon a time, a witch fell in love with the sun. Ever since then, she has been chasing her light."

🏰Oracle living in a castle
💔Alchemist ex who shows up at her door
💌Non-traditional HEA
⚔️10 years after a war that killed someone they both loved
♟️Complex, morally-grey characters

What I Loved
1) I found the book really easy to get into. The way it is told reflects the main character being an Oracle and her thoughts constantly being in the past as well as the present so halfway through a scene, you would realise it was happening in the past. Personally, this really worked for me as I was confused, but I was the good kind of confused where I was so intrigued that I didn't want to put the book down. However, I do know the writing style may not work for some people.

2) This book was so incredibly emotional and tense which meant the moments of humour really got to me. I love the random remarks that are made. For (spoiler free) example, "maybe Anne was doing all of it for shits and giggles. It hurts no one for some lunatic isolated Oracle to give unhelpful and sometimes mean responses to those who sought her fortune-telling."

3) This book is very twisty and has a lot of wtf did they just say moments. This meant that I loved reading the book at a slowed down pace (even though I wanted to devour it) to piece together everything and it just felt so clever the way everything falls into place. I don't think there is ever a dull moment.

4) I love the way Dawn dealt with the theme of war in this book. Most of the chapters are showing that the characters may have survived a devastating war, but they cannot move on from it. "That's the thing about war, once it ends, some relationships couldn't survive without being tainted." Go into this book expecting the aftermath of war to be a big theme.

5) The relationship. Like all the shit they went through in this book and the way the characters felt so real and I got so emotionally invested in them devastated me. If you love getting way too invested in fictional characters and being devastated constantly, read this book!

6) The setting of the castle and the surrounding town was exactly my kind of setting. Also I love how the absurdness of Anne just ending up in a castle is constantly brought up and all the funny moments that come from that. "My castle, my rules."

Summary
I found this book incredibly hard to review, as there was so many layers to this story that I found it hard to pinpoint specific aspects that hooked me as I think the combination of everything just made this story so great. If you want a sapphic high fantasy that will make you laugh while also simultaneously crying pick this up.

Thank you to Dawn Chen for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this novel from the author, and I understand it’s still undergoing edits. This review reflects my experience with the pre-publication version and may not fully represent the final release in October 2025.

This is not your typical happily-ever-after.
A sapphic fantasy with romantic elements, though not quite a romantasy—romance here is a thread, not the tapestry.
A deep and harrowing meditation on war—not just as conflict, but as a legacy that imprints itself across generations.
Long and layered; best read slowly to fully appreciate its intricacies.


Some stories linger long after the final page—this is one of them. There’s rage, power, and above all, truth in this book. The generational impact of war, the distortion of history, the grief of inheritance—it’s all here, and it’s handled with a poetic, fiery honesty. Thank you, Dawn Chen, for pouring your soul into this work.

The characters. Annie’s enduring hope, Cai-Li’s burning drive, and even Cole’s foul-mouthed fury—each of them leaps off the page, distinct and deeply human. Chely Ying Cai-Li. What a character. Seen through the differing lenses of Ark-Li, Cole, and Anne, she emerges as fiercely complicated. Her motives—especially that pivotal conversation with Ark-Li—left me questioning everything in the best way. Is it all really for love? Or is love a convenient mask? Annie might know the truth but chooses a softer version of it. That ambiguity is masterfully done. Narrative structure. The suspense builds beautifully. Part I sets you up with one version of events, only for Part II to completely shift your understanding. It’s rare to see this kind of storytelling outside of certain Asian narratives, and it makes for a deeply compelling experience. Also, that final page?? I cried. It’s that powerful.


A Few Critiques:

Tense switching in Part I. The shifts between present and past tense were jarring at times, especially within the same paragraph or line. I later learned this was intentional—a stylistic choice to reflect the collapsing of past, present, and future. I respect that, but it did make the early chapters harder to follow.

Editing and flow. There are moments where the prose could be tightened—redundant word choices, overly long sentences, and scenes that might benefit from trimming. These didn’t detract from the core story, but a refined version would make the emotional beats hit even harder.


Final Thoughts:

Despite a few bumps, this novel absolutely stayed with me. The second half is especially stunning, and the themes—of war, love, loss, and legacy—are ones that deserve to be read and felt deeply. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Highly recommended.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I recieved an advanced ARC for but I won't let that effect my review.

I wasn't sure quite what I was walking into with this book. The book starts slow, jumping quite violently between our main story, flashbacks, and disjointed scenes that I didn't immediately know what to think of. The more I sat with the book, the more I found profoundness in the mudane. The story starts with a reunion of past lovers, the characters of Cai-Li and Anne who parted previously on bad terms. The story takes it's time of not only introducing us to the complex world, it's politics, past wars, and current state but also of our characters themselves. Their thoughts, their feelings, and their past trauma.

The world-building itself is a very clearly mirroring to British colonialism and the lasting generational trauma that comes from wars, invasions, and civil unrest. The various briefly described magic systems seemed to slot in perfectly with the world we get glimses of, without overwhelming or feeling unexplained. I loved especially how these were used within our main characters and the contrast between not only their races, but how the way they view the world through their magic is fundimentally different.

The characters themselves were fantastic. Cai-Li and Anne were very clearly the stars of the show, but even the secondary characters were given such depth & thoughtfulness that even when I wanted to hate them, I couldn't help but understand.

My favourite thing about this book IS Dawn Chen's writing. I don't quite have the right words to describe it without doing it an injustice. It's both floral and beautiful, while being utilitarian where every word, description, and feeling has an profound effect on the foundations of the story and it's characters. Every scene we get described was filled with vivid colour, composition, and emotion that I literally could not have drawn them all given thousands of hours.

I feel like this review doesn't do the book justice but this is one of the few books that was able to take real-world politics, institutional racism, classism, generational trauma, and make something truly beautiful and nuanced with it. Where R.F. Kuang's Babel was a hammer with it's themes, The Witch Who Chases the Sun was a slim blade slowly piercing my heart with every scene.
I don't think this book is for everyone, but if any of this sounds enticing to you, please do give it a try.

[Gealach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing the e-arc. This book is set to be published on October 1st, 2025.

Dawn Chen's The Witch Who Chases the Sun is a poignant reflection on the horrors of war and the grief of loss, drawing from Chinese myth to build a beautiful anti-colonial epic. It takes a while for the reader to get used to the mixture of past and present tense that defies expectation, undoubtedly an interesting choice to narrate the book; once one gets in the swing of things, though, the peculiar narration is not so strange. Another compelling aspect of the language used is the choice to employ chinese ideograms and sayings, without worrying about holding the reader's hand. This helps convey the racism and imperialism as we see how much the Aixauhan characters are forced to conform.

Cai-Li and Anne are complex and compelling, their relationship both sweet and intense as we get to see various stages of their lives. They're flawed characters, heroes and avengers, killers and saviors, with complex agendas that are not so easily anticipated. In fact, the twists and turns of this book are delightful and gasp-worthy. Their relationship mirrors in a way the cycle of violence brought on by war, but you never get the sense that there is no love, even when things appear grim. While this isn't a romantasy, readers might approach it with the expectation of a traditional HEA, and I will warn that while the ending is beautiful and hopeful and just perfect, perfectly encapsulating the world of the story, it very much is not HEA.

The cast is enriched by three other characters, two of which I'm hesitant to call merely side characters. Cole and Ark are just as well-rounded as the main two, driven by their own past, complex and terrible and so easy to empathize with. Their arcs intertwine and juxtapose with each other's and with the main characters, creating beautiful layers and intricate webs of honor, understanding, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

The worldbuilding is vivid, deftly painting the conflict between two nations inspired by England and China. The Chinese equivalent especially is expertly woven, showing the complexity of different etnic groups within the community.

The Witch Who Chases the Sun is a compelling tragedy.

[Abbey Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea how to write this review, and I mean that in the best way possible.
First, I want to take a moment to thank the author for the incredible honor of reading this ARC.
One of the reasons I don’t know how to write this review is that this is very much a book that deserves to be experienced with as little of the plot spoiled as possible.
I will say this: this book has the delight of being the one book that I will eagerly say deserves to be comped to The Locked Tomb Series. The intricacy of the prose and the plot, the intense sapphic yearning while arguing constantly, and the plot twists that made me throw my kindle down in shock. The worldbuilding in this book? Elite. It’s so detailed and immersive. The best way I can describe the fantasy worldbuilding here is that this book is Chinese in the same way that Lord of the Rings is British. I loved every second.
Our main four characters are all so delightful. Everyone in this book is deeply traumatized and morally grey. They’re all trying their best, sometimes succeeding, usually tripping over their own feet. But I love them.
Especially Anne Barberry, who I identified with on a deep level as a white girl who is trying to unlearn and be better and mostly making progress.
However, I also love Cai-Li, because she is such a refreshing example of a girl in a book who is allowed to just be angry, all the time.
Their relationship is simultaneously so tender and sweet and absolutely heartbreaking. It’s not a standard romance, as such, but you still get the soft moments to motivate you to preservere through the pain.
Then we have Cole, who is just trying so hard to keep everyone else happy. He’s a guy after my own heart.
I will warn you that the ending is not a classic HEA, but it is satisfying and hopeful. Yes, the ending made me cry, first from pain and then from the hopefulness.
In short, every second of this book is so worth it, especially if you like beautiful, thoughtful fantasy

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

what I loved about “The Witch Who Chases the Sun”:

* multilayered characters - Unlike larger-than-life heroic main characters, Cai-Li, Anne, and Cole were flawed characters who committed heroic deeds, which made it easy for me to sympathize with them at different points of the novel. Cole’s definitely my favorite because of his character arc.

* friendship between Cai-Li, Cole, and Anne - They were quick to protect each other when they were in danger. They were also quick to dish out tough love when one of them made a mistake. They showed that strong and true friendship means that even though you accept both the strengths and flaws of your friends, you also hold them accountable when they make wrong decisions because you don’t want to see them suffer and hurt innocent people.

* The romance between Cai-Li & Anne was intense, but it wasn’t annoyingly cheesy. As an aro ace, I had extra appreciation for that.

* exciting plot twists - At first I had minor issues. I found the pacing quite slow and sometimes I got confused by the transitions from present time to past. As the story progressed, my mind adjusted to the transitions and when the plot twists were revealed, I was delighted because I didn’t see them coming!

* The author did not gloss over the consequences of war. It was heartbreaking to see the vicious cycle of evil and suffering carried over to the next generation of Inabrians and Aixauhans because of the Inabrians’ racism and indoctrination. This story can be a wakeup call if you choose to learn from it.

* satisfying conclusion - Read it to find out.😇😈

Note: I reviewed an e-ARC. This standalone novel is set to be published on October 1, 2025.☀️

[Kassandra Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is no tragedy of the era. There are people. People who can choose to do something before it is too late. People who need to change and teach about the truth of the past. I am not going to do that, this is only a story.”
-
I am continually spent after finishing The Witch Who Chases the Sun. Dawn and her writing have altered my brain chemistry forever. Her words have changed my perception of portions of my own reality.

The Witch Who Chases the Sun is emotional devastation. Even when I had a million questions with no answers. And, when I did finally get all the answers, I was even more devastated than I was previously.

It did take me a while to get to 40%. This book is definitely a slow burn but in the best way. And, once I hit 40%, there was absolutely no turning back. From there on, the book picks up and is a whirlwind of emotions.

Characters that I originally loved made me insanely conflicted on a moral and ethical standpoint. Characters I originally loathed became some of my favorites. I never knew what was coming next and I was always on the edge of my seat.

This book feels like an HEA but with a fun new twist. I am insanely grateful for that, especially after the absolute emotional turmoil of this book.

Do yourself a favor if you decide to read this.. block off enough to time to really dive into it. And keep a bottle of water with you so you can rehydrate while every tear you have leaves your body.

[Tracy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I received an eARC from the author but all options are my own.

A love story that is full of heartbreak. Cai-Li and Anne have survived a war between their people but events in the aftermath pull them apart. Cai-Li seeks out Anne to rekindle their love but the ghosts of the past and present haunt them. In a rich world of magic that is built this is a story of grief, intergeneration trama, family and love.

There are twists and turns and a lot of heartbreak. This is not a Romance novel but a fantasy with a love story, no happy ending guaranteed. The characters have amazing magical powers but are very human. There are good people that don’t always make the good choices and I enjoyed their development as we learn more about them. I do wish we spent a bit more time with them earlier in their relationship to have the foundation of them falling in love. That’s

The way that time is handled in this book is fascinating and done in a way that time is not linear but I was never confused by it. People that prefer linear narrative will probably struggle but I really liked the flow of this book and how the layers of the story were pulled away. I do wish we spent a bit more time with them as children but that is my only complaint with this book.

This book was heartbreaking moving and I hope to read more by this author.

Content warnings include murder, war, death of a parent, genocide, death of a child, violence, blood, bullying, grief, homophobia and xenophobia.