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The Three Realms Duology #2
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 13:38:16
10 copies available
U.S. only
In the breathtaking sequel to The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, the battle has just begun. With Àn’yīng’s kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction, and amidst a budding forbidden romance, she must now risk everything to protect her world.
A decade ago, the Kingdom of Night began the war against the Kingdom of Rivers, ravaging the lands and releasing mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—to roam free, drinking the souls of mortals. Now the mó have made it beyond the magical wards of the immortal realm—the Kingdom of Sky—and will not stop until the entire world falls to darkness.
Àn’yīng is determined to banish the mó to their realm and return the mortal realm to peace. But a stunning betrayal has turned the tides of this Her handsome rival from the Immortality Trials and the man she was falling in love with, Yù’chén, is now the enemy. Yù’chén is half mó, his mother none other than Sansiran, the Demon Queen of the Kingdom of Night . . . and the monster responsible for killing Àn’yīng’s father.
There is one hope for the future, though. The boy in the jade—Àn’yīng’s lifelong mystery guardian and heir to the last mortal Emperor—Hào’yáng. Together, Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng must join forces to rally an army that stretches across realms, from the Four Seas of the Dragons to the Phoenixes of the Golden Desert. But first she must awaken to the immortal power slumbering in her own veins.
The thrilling conclusion of The Three Realms duology
THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM • THE DRAGON AND THE SUN LOTUS
A decade ago, the Kingdom of Night began the war against the Kingdom of Rivers, ravaging the lands and releasing mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—to roam free, drinking the souls of mortals. Now the mó have made it beyond the magical wards of the immortal realm—the Kingdom of Sky—and will not stop until the entire world falls to darkness.
Àn’yīng is determined to banish the mó to their realm and return the mortal realm to peace. But a stunning betrayal has turned the tides of this Her handsome rival from the Immortality Trials and the man she was falling in love with, Yù’chén, is now the enemy. Yù’chén is half mó, his mother none other than Sansiran, the Demon Queen of the Kingdom of Night . . . and the monster responsible for killing Àn’yīng’s father.
There is one hope for the future, though. The boy in the jade—Àn’yīng’s lifelong mystery guardian and heir to the last mortal Emperor—Hào’yáng. Together, Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng must join forces to rally an army that stretches across realms, from the Four Seas of the Dragons to the Phoenixes of the Golden Desert. But first she must awaken to the immortal power slumbering in her own veins.
The thrilling conclusion of The Three Realms duology
THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM • THE DRAGON AND THE SUN LOTUS
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
11 people are currently reading
5658 people want to read
About the author
Amélie Wen Zhao
12 books3,423 followersAmélie Wen Zhao（赵雯）was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family in China, where she’s determined to walk the rivers and lakes of old just like the practitioners in her novels do.
Amélie is the author of the Blood Heir trilogy and the upcoming Song of Silver, Flame Like Night duology.
Amélie is the author of the Blood Heir trilogy and the upcoming Song of Silver, Flame Like Night duology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
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November 6, 2025
August 21, 2025
Omg. A CDrama dream. More I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this.
For the CDrama girlies indeed. Amelie gives us an end to the story that gives feelings of Till the End of the Moon. If you know, you know. Though, there are shades of Moonlight Mystique in there too.
The book picks up almost immediately after the events of the first. An'Ying remains a steadfast protagonist, she is on a mission to end the Mo, free the Sky and mortal realm for the night that is slowly taking over everything. Discovering she is the heir of a goddess leaves her in a bit of a predicament when it comes to her powers - they don't seem to be manifesting.
The events of the first book also leave her in a crossroads regarding her heart. She thought she was falling in love with someone who truly was misjudged and instead, he turns out to be the son of the enemy. The boy in the jade is really the guard who she never really focused on or bothered to feel deeply for. Which one should she give her hear to?
Talking too much about which man deserves her and ends up with her is spoiler territory, but I will say this: I like that you can see both sides - the chapters with Yu'Chen are sad, and you realize that while he is the son of evil he is not evil himself. He can't help what he is, but he can help who he is and what he can be. So this book is basically watching him rough it out due to a covenant (a pact between his mother and he) that she [An'Ying] cannot be harmed as long as he does what he asks of her [his mom].
I really like Hao'Yang. He remains loyal, determined, and understanding through it all. He understands her difficulty, he never forces her, and on-top of that he is very respectful of the boundaries of her heart. There is a part where her mother asks him would you choose your kingdom or her [An'Ying] and while it gave him pause, his response later on is sweet.
The ending of the book is one of my favorites in a story featuring love triangles - because I feel both shipper sides will be happy.
I can't wait to purchase the book and put in on my shelf with my other CDrama inspired tales. Thank you Amelie!. 5 stars for sure.
For the CDrama girlies indeed. Amelie gives us an end to the story that gives feelings of Till the End of the Moon. If you know, you know. Though, there are shades of Moonlight Mystique in there too.
The book picks up almost immediately after the events of the first. An'Ying remains a steadfast protagonist, she is on a mission to end the Mo, free the Sky and mortal realm for the night that is slowly taking over everything. Discovering she is the heir of a goddess leaves her in a bit of a predicament when it comes to her powers - they don't seem to be manifesting.
The events of the first book also leave her in a crossroads regarding her heart. She thought she was falling in love with someone who truly was misjudged and instead, he turns out to be the son of the enemy. The boy in the jade is really the guard who she never really focused on or bothered to feel deeply for. Which one should she give her hear to?
Talking too much about which man deserves her and ends up with her is spoiler territory, but I will say this: I like that you can see both sides - the chapters with Yu'Chen are sad, and you realize that while he is the son of evil he is not evil himself. He can't help what he is, but he can help who he is and what he can be. So this book is basically watching him rough it out due to a covenant (a pact between his mother and he) that she [An'Ying] cannot be harmed as long as he does what he asks of her [his mom].
I really like Hao'Yang. He remains loyal, determined, and understanding through it all. He understands her difficulty, he never forces her, and on-top of that he is very respectful of the boundaries of her heart. There is a part where her mother asks him would you choose your kingdom or her [An'Ying] and while it gave him pause, his response later on is sweet.
The ending of the book is one of my favorites in a story featuring love triangles - because I feel both shipper sides will be happy.
I can't wait to purchase the book and put in on my shelf with my other CDrama inspired tales. Thank you Amelie!. 5 stars for sure.
Want to read
June 25, 2025⋆˙⟡ — pre-read thoughts ˙⊹
꩜ .ᐟ 25/06/2025: as president of the yù’chén fanclub, dear miss amélie pls let them be endgame!!! please im begging you on my knees 🥺🥺 hào’yáng is cool, but he can't be the love of án’yīng’s life!!! PLEASE PUBLISHING GODS BE MERCIFUL!! but also... that cover is stunning!! (but nor the title or the colors are giving me any hope T-T) my theory? hào’yáng finds a lover of his own, and we get 4 pov's in the book (delulu is indeed the solulu 🙂↕️🙂↕️)
꩜ .ᐟ 25/06/2025: as president of the yù’chén fanclub, dear miss amélie pls let them be endgame!!! please im begging you on my knees 🥺🥺 hào’yáng is cool, but he can't be the love of án’yīng’s life!!! PLEASE PUBLISHING GODS BE MERCIFUL!! but also... that cover is stunning!! (but nor the title or the colors are giving me any hope T-T) my theory? hào’yáng finds a lover of his own, and we get 4 pov's in the book (delulu is indeed the solulu 🙂↕️🙂↕️)
December 15, 2025
the writing of this duology remains incredible, but the actual plot and direction the story went in were not great. too much repetition of the phrase “my boy in the jade” made the history between Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng get annoying fast, and it made it difficult to really connect and care about his character. there’s also the fact that Àn’yīng continues to behave absolutely despicably towards Yù’chén and it’s a literary choice I still can’t understand from the first book.
this book was a perfect example of a love triangle that doesn’t work and shouldn’t have existed in this story. not to mention, its ending was too convenient/ a cheap cop out and didn’t do any of the characters justice.
Yù’chén continued to be one of the few redeeming qualities of this duology and I loved every scene he was in. this man was perfect and my heart breaks for everything he went through.
thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this book was a perfect example of a love triangle that doesn’t work and shouldn’t have existed in this story. not to mention, its ending was too convenient/ a cheap cop out and didn’t do any of the characters justice.
Yù’chén continued to be one of the few redeeming qualities of this duology and I loved every scene he was in. this man was perfect and my heart breaks for everything he went through.
thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
3.5 Stars
Its really hard to review this book. Overall the writing is beautiful and its a compelling read. What I liked about it was the overall world and story telling. Wen Zhao does a great job setting up this world and making it feel rich and beautiful. I like most of where the story went, but where I struggled was the main character.
I don't mind there was a love triangle and I really think it had so much potential. I loved both love interests and I was fine with whatever direction it went. However, Àn’yīng is such a terrible person. Like T.E.R.R.I.B.L.E. She is so awful to both love interests, that honestly I wanted both of them to be like peace were out. My heart broke for Yù’chén, the way he is portrayed and treated in this book is just so crappy. It makes me kind of upset, that maybe this book is more of a 2 Star. But the writing is so beautiful that it bumped itself up. I must have blacked out the first book, until I started reading this one and started to remember I had the same feelings with the first one. It's fine that Àn’yīng is cautious regarding trusting Yù’chén, but when he continues show that he emotionall.y/physically abused and is generally just a good person and Àn’yīng just continues to treat him so poorly it started feel pretty gross.
Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are both fantastic characters. I loved them both and honestly they could have just became besties and ruled this world leaving Àn’yīng behind. They were kind, deep and beautifully portrayed. I also really loved the idea of the boy in the Jade that just looked over Àn’yīng and how so much potential to be something really special. For the most part this author delivered, but when Àn’yīng separates from Hào’yáng it lost all momentum for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
Its really hard to review this book. Overall the writing is beautiful and its a compelling read. What I liked about it was the overall world and story telling. Wen Zhao does a great job setting up this world and making it feel rich and beautiful. I like most of where the story went, but where I struggled was the main character.
I don't mind there was a love triangle and I really think it had so much potential. I loved both love interests and I was fine with whatever direction it went. However, Àn’yīng is such a terrible person. Like T.E.R.R.I.B.L.E. She is so awful to both love interests, that honestly I wanted both of them to be like peace were out. My heart broke for Yù’chén, the way he is portrayed and treated in this book is just so crappy. It makes me kind of upset, that maybe this book is more of a 2 Star. But the writing is so beautiful that it bumped itself up. I must have blacked out the first book, until I started reading this one and started to remember I had the same feelings with the first one. It's fine that Àn’yīng is cautious regarding trusting Yù’chén, but when he continues show that he emotionall.y/physically abused and is generally just a good person and Àn’yīng just continues to treat him so poorly it started feel pretty gross.
Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are both fantastic characters. I loved them both and honestly they could have just became besties and ruled this world leaving Àn’yīng behind. They were kind, deep and beautifully portrayed. I also really loved the idea of the boy in the Jade that just looked over Àn’yīng and how so much potential to be something really special. For the most part this author delivered, but when Àn’yīng separates from Hào’yáng it lost all momentum for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
September 8, 2025
4.5 stars!! Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children's Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Dragon and the Sun Lotus on March 3, 2026.
If there's one thing I trust Amélie Wen Zhao to do well, it's craft a devastating conclusion to a series that's equal parts heartbreak and hope. This book had me gasping, crying, and giggling kicking my feet at all turns. But ultimately, it's a story of sacrifice and the things we're willing to do to save the ones we love.
In the first book, Àn’yīng demonstrates that theme when she does everything in her power to pass the Immortality Trials and save her mother's life. Now, in The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we see what lengths Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are willing to go to in order to protect their respective kingdoms and Àn’yīng. The introduction of new POVs made these characters' journeys even more heartbreaking, as we see certain events play out through their eyes (and see their devotion and yearning for Àn’yīng firsthand).
I was a bit surprised by how dark this book turned at times. Amélie pulled no punches when it came to the events happening in the demon realm, and the pain and suffering Yù’chén especially endured. It put so much of his past into perspective, as well as his desperate wish for Àn’yīng to see him as more than his demon self. He's had to close off his humanity for so long, and only she brought out that side of him and allowed him to be (somewhat) vulnerable.
I'll be very curious to see what changes Amélie made to the final version of this book! I loved this one, but I am wildly curious how some scenes might have changed and influenced different character arcs or overall vibes from the book.
Overall, if you love heartbreaking enemies-to-lovers with immortals and monsters fighting across multiple realms, this is 100% your book! Also, the K-Pop Demon Hunter vibes are incredible throughout the whole series, so def pick it up if you loved that movie.
If there's one thing I trust Amélie Wen Zhao to do well, it's craft a devastating conclusion to a series that's equal parts heartbreak and hope. This book had me gasping, crying, and giggling kicking my feet at all turns. But ultimately, it's a story of sacrifice and the things we're willing to do to save the ones we love.
In the first book, Àn’yīng demonstrates that theme when she does everything in her power to pass the Immortality Trials and save her mother's life. Now, in The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we see what lengths Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are willing to go to in order to protect their respective kingdoms and Àn’yīng. The introduction of new POVs made these characters' journeys even more heartbreaking, as we see certain events play out through their eyes (and see their devotion and yearning for Àn’yīng firsthand).
I was a bit surprised by how dark this book turned at times. Amélie pulled no punches when it came to the events happening in the demon realm, and the pain and suffering Yù’chén especially endured. It put so much of his past into perspective, as well as his desperate wish for Àn’yīng to see him as more than his demon self. He's had to close off his humanity for so long, and only she brought out that side of him and allowed him to be (somewhat) vulnerable.
I'll be very curious to see what changes Amélie made to the final version of this book! I loved this one, but I am wildly curious how some scenes might have changed and influenced different character arcs or overall vibes from the book.
Overall, if you love heartbreaking enemies-to-lovers with immortals and monsters fighting across multiple realms, this is 100% your book! Also, the K-Pop Demon Hunter vibes are incredible throughout the whole series, so def pick it up if you loved that movie.
August 19, 2025
thank you random house children’s books 🐧🖤 & netgalley for the complimentary review copy! this doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.
this xianxia-inspired fantasy is so good! it reminds me so much of demon slayer set in one of the most darkly BEAUTIFUL worlds i’ve ever read about 🗡️🩸
ೃ ✿ pre-read thoughts𓈒ॱ⬭ᩙ
i cannot believe i got one of my most awaited-sequels! the three kingdoms was one of my favorite reads last year and it ended in such a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that i almost lost my mind 😭 that revelation at the end totally ruined me that even i felt betrayed bro what am i supposed to do with that information..??? i don’t even know who she ends up with 🧐 I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR AN’YING ACTUALLY
this xianxia-inspired fantasy is so good! it reminds me so much of demon slayer set in one of the most darkly BEAUTIFUL worlds i’ve ever read about 🗡️🩸
ೃ ✿ pre-read thoughts𓈒ॱ⬭ᩙ
i cannot believe i got one of my most awaited-sequels! the three kingdoms was one of my favorite reads last year and it ended in such a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that i almost lost my mind 😭 that revelation at the end totally ruined me that even i felt betrayed bro what am i supposed to do with that information..??? i don’t even know who she ends up with 🧐 I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR AN’YING ACTUALLY
December 17, 2025
I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, but I still very much enjoyed the first book of this duology. However, for my own personal and very subjective taste, the love triangle was triangling a bit too much here, hence why I didn’t enjoy this sequel as much.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
October 22, 2025
I cannot accurately express the love I have for Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing, characters, and stories! She creates such rich and dense characters who are written with layers to portray them as real people - even if they are a work of fiction.
This was an incredible second novel and I’m unsure if I loved this one or the first one more! The ending of this one felt so sweet and so heart wrenching - especially that last line, wow…. I’m curious if she kissed that blade before she twisted it into my heart.
I am so eager to see what Zhao writes next because her stories are ALL in my top 10 books and I will never stop recommending them to people.
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this breathtaking sequel!
This was an incredible second novel and I’m unsure if I loved this one or the first one more! The ending of this one felt so sweet and so heart wrenching - especially that last line, wow…. I’m curious if she kissed that blade before she twisted it into my heart.
I am so eager to see what Zhao writes next because her stories are ALL in my top 10 books and I will never stop recommending them to people.
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this breathtaking sequel!
November 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for sharing the ARC of this book with me.
This is a truly exhilarating yet heartbreaking read. I raced from start to finish through the ever-twisting plot to the finale that left me both breathless and grief-stricken. So much emotion is written into each character that they feel real, real enough to dream about when I sleep. Just when the reader thinks they know the direction the story is heading, suddenly, plot twist! There were so many unexpected turns that left my head spinning, but in the best possible way. The author created a world so vivid and stunning that I can't help but wish to visit it myself.
This is a truly exhilarating yet heartbreaking read. I raced from start to finish through the ever-twisting plot to the finale that left me both breathless and grief-stricken. So much emotion is written into each character that they feel real, real enough to dream about when I sleep. Just when the reader thinks they know the direction the story is heading, suddenly, plot twist! There were so many unexpected turns that left my head spinning, but in the best possible way. The author created a world so vivid and stunning that I can't help but wish to visit it myself.
September 29, 2025
“I keep having a dream,” he whispers. “The same dream. I'm in a forest, and I've been searching my entire life for something, but I don't know what it is. Then I hear someone say my name, and suddenly, I know in my soul that I've found what I'm looking for.”
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
~ 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 ~
⚔️ Dual pov
🦂 Rivals to Lovers to Enemies
💙 Love Triangle
🌸 C-Drama Vibes + Chinese Mythology
🐉 Forced Proximity
❤️ Villain Demon Prince
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ~
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is a solid follow-up to The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, it’s just as easy to get swept up in the beautiful enchanting prose and the devastatingly tragic story. I flew the pages of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus and while I loved it, I do think in the third act is where the book falters. I found it dragged the book down a lot and left me feeling a little disappointed, it's what ultimately stopped it from being a 5 star read.
Amélie Wen Zhao did mention on her IG that the arc is a draft to which she has since made thorough edits since then. A few key scenes have been refined tonally and a LOT has been revised or cut, so it is possible some of the weaknesses I perceived in the arc could have changed or been improved on.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ~
⟢Àn’yīng
At the end of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, I admittedly walked away not knowing how I felt about Àn’yīng as a character. I do understand her actions and her motivations, but yet I can't help but feel she just went about it the wrong way. She’s just as driven as in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom and her love for her family is just fierce. It just comes down outside of that, it's where I don’t think she’s grown as a character since she’s just very hyper focused, which can be a good thing, but it does come at the cost of her character.
⟢Hào’yáng
Hào’yáng represents Àn’yīng's past, her boy in the Jade that grew to be the captain of the immortal guard to heir to the mortal throne. The issues I had with Hào’yáng's character is that he sometimes comes off as the male equivalent of a Mary Sue, he's just a tad bit too perfect and maybe that is in part due to him being presented as the chosen one. His backstory is tragic with his family being murdered but yet it hardly compares to what the reader knows about Yù’chén's history. Even in The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we do get to know a little more about Hàóyáng, but it adds very little to his overall character. It feels like his character could be summed up easily as the boy in the Jade that is also the heir and that's literally it. Despite his character being a huge driving force in the plot, he himself as a character adds very little since there isn't a proper character arc that happens with him and he just serves as a plot device. Maybe it all just hinges that I just found it hard to root for the golden boy that got to live in the sun.
⟢Yù’chén
A huge part of the reason why I loved The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was in part due to Yù’chén and that certainly still rings true with its sequel. Amélie Wen Zhao artfully crafts such a beautiful tragic and complex character, that I couldn’t help but be drawn to. In The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we get Yù’chén’s pov, and those were some of my favorite chapters. There are lots of harrowing scenes with Yù’chén and how despite being a possible heir to the mortal throne, he’s treated in an abusive manner and like he’s less than for his halfling status. Everybody uses him, especially his mother, Sansiran, the Demon Queen of the Kingdom of Night. The inherent tragedy to his character is he doesn't know true peace and has to live in the shadows despite yearning for the sun.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 ~
It's a strange feeling to both love the romance and feel like Yù’chén deserved better than Àn’yīng. The romance is still just as devastating and electric. However, there are choices made that do have me faltering on it. This can be summed up with the dreaded love triangle, now I do think love triangles can work if well executed, this isn’t the case. Hào’yáng could have easily been just Àn’yīng’s friend, but instead there’s a forced stereotypical love triangle between half-brothers. While Katherine Pierce once said, “it’s okay to love them both,” it just didn’t work here because I’m not quite sure why Àn’yīng loved Hào’yáng outside of him being her childhood companion.
The foundation of Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng’s relationship often feels like it was built on stilts, functional but way less solid without the proper development. Their relationship centers on Àn’yīng chasing the feeling of familiarity of the past and the safety it provides, in order to chase away the sting of betrayal. There’s a lot of repetition throughout that Hào'yáng is the boy in the jade and it just feels like that’s all he is to her. As soon as she learns Hàóyáng has loved her for nine years, a switch flipped and she loves him back. It’s like their romance was happening more in the background of the story rather than the forefront. Unlike the romance with Yù’chén, it just didn’t feel real and was being born out of familiarity and duty more than anything else.
There’s a very pivotal scene that touches upon one of the major themes in the novel, the idea of duty and sacrifice of one’s self for the good of their kingdom. Àn’yīng’s mother says, “And if there is anything she deserves in this life, it is someone who will love her first and foremost, irrevocably. Who, when it comes down to it, will choose her over a kingdom.” That rings beyond true with Yù’chén throughout the story, he ALWAYS tries to choose Àn’yīng first even at the cost of his kingdom. He yearns like no other and will literally beg if it means saving Àn’yīng’s life. In contrast, while I do believe Àn’yīng did love Yù’chén, at times it didn’t feel like she ever truly forgave him for what transpired and their relationship doesn't ever fully heal from the wounds inflicted. That's the cusp of their tragic relationship, Yù’chén loves her but it's not enough to overshadow what that love can entail and what has happened in the past.
I can’t help but feel that with Àn’yīng’s choices it does feel like she’s repeating what her father did, picking her kingdom over love. Yes, it is logical and makes sense to be on the good side, but paired with the love triangle and the ending it feels like it could have been handled better. We also may have stayed in the enemies territory a bit too long and not enough of the lovers part of the enemies to lovers.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 + 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔 ~
- 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚜 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 + 𝙳𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚌. -
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
~ 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 ~
⚔️ Dual pov
🦂 Rivals to Lovers to Enemies
💙 Love Triangle
🌸 C-Drama Vibes + Chinese Mythology
🐉 Forced Proximity
❤️ Villain Demon Prince
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ~
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is a solid follow-up to The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, it’s just as easy to get swept up in the beautiful enchanting prose and the devastatingly tragic story. I flew the pages of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus and while I loved it, I do think in the third act is where the book falters. I found it dragged the book down a lot and left me feeling a little disappointed, it's what ultimately stopped it from being a 5 star read.
Amélie Wen Zhao did mention on her IG that the arc is a draft to which she has since made thorough edits since then. A few key scenes have been refined tonally and a LOT has been revised or cut, so it is possible some of the weaknesses I perceived in the arc could have changed or been improved on.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ~
⟢Àn’yīng
At the end of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, I admittedly walked away not knowing how I felt about Àn’yīng as a character. I do understand her actions and her motivations, but yet I can't help but feel she just went about it the wrong way. She’s just as driven as in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom and her love for her family is just fierce. It just comes down outside of that, it's where I don’t think she’s grown as a character since she’s just very hyper focused, which can be a good thing, but it does come at the cost of her character.
⟢Hào’yáng
Hào’yáng represents Àn’yīng's past, her boy in the Jade that grew to be the captain of the immortal guard to heir to the mortal throne. The issues I had with Hào’yáng's character is that he sometimes comes off as the male equivalent of a Mary Sue, he's just a tad bit too perfect and maybe that is in part due to him being presented as the chosen one. His backstory is tragic with his family being murdered but yet it hardly compares to what the reader knows about Yù’chén's history. Even in The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we do get to know a little more about Hàóyáng, but it adds very little to his overall character. It feels like his character could be summed up easily as the boy in the Jade that is also the heir and that's literally it. Despite his character being a huge driving force in the plot, he himself as a character adds very little since there isn't a proper character arc that happens with him and he just serves as a plot device. Maybe it all just hinges that I just found it hard to root for the golden boy that got to live in the sun.
⟢Yù’chén
A huge part of the reason why I loved The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was in part due to Yù’chén and that certainly still rings true with its sequel. Amélie Wen Zhao artfully crafts such a beautiful tragic and complex character, that I couldn’t help but be drawn to. In The Dragon and the Sun Lotus, we get Yù’chén’s pov, and those were some of my favorite chapters. There are lots of harrowing scenes with Yù’chén and how despite being a possible heir to the mortal throne, he’s treated in an abusive manner and like he’s less than for his halfling status. Everybody uses him, especially his mother, Sansiran, the Demon Queen of the Kingdom of Night. The inherent tragedy to his character is he doesn't know true peace and has to live in the shadows despite yearning for the sun.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 ~
It's a strange feeling to both love the romance and feel like Yù’chén deserved better than Àn’yīng. The romance is still just as devastating and electric. However, there are choices made that do have me faltering on it. This can be summed up with the dreaded love triangle, now I do think love triangles can work if well executed, this isn’t the case. Hào’yáng could have easily been just Àn’yīng’s friend, but instead there’s a forced stereotypical love triangle between half-brothers. While Katherine Pierce once said, “it’s okay to love them both,” it just didn’t work here because I’m not quite sure why Àn’yīng loved Hào’yáng outside of him being her childhood companion.
The foundation of Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng’s relationship often feels like it was built on stilts, functional but way less solid without the proper development. Their relationship centers on Àn’yīng chasing the feeling of familiarity of the past and the safety it provides, in order to chase away the sting of betrayal. There’s a lot of repetition throughout that Hào'yáng is the boy in the jade and it just feels like that’s all he is to her. As soon as she learns Hàóyáng has loved her for nine years, a switch flipped and she loves him back. It’s like their romance was happening more in the background of the story rather than the forefront. Unlike the romance with Yù’chén, it just didn’t feel real and was being born out of familiarity and duty more than anything else.
There’s a very pivotal scene that touches upon one of the major themes in the novel, the idea of duty and sacrifice of one’s self for the good of their kingdom. Àn’yīng’s mother says, “And if there is anything she deserves in this life, it is someone who will love her first and foremost, irrevocably. Who, when it comes down to it, will choose her over a kingdom.” That rings beyond true with Yù’chén throughout the story, he ALWAYS tries to choose Àn’yīng first even at the cost of his kingdom. He yearns like no other and will literally beg if it means saving Àn’yīng’s life. In contrast, while I do believe Àn’yīng did love Yù’chén, at times it didn’t feel like she ever truly forgave him for what transpired and their relationship doesn't ever fully heal from the wounds inflicted. That's the cusp of their tragic relationship, Yù’chén loves her but it's not enough to overshadow what that love can entail and what has happened in the past.
I can’t help but feel that with Àn’yīng’s choices it does feel like she’s repeating what her father did, picking her kingdom over love. Yes, it is logical and makes sense to be on the good side, but paired with the love triangle and the ending it feels like it could have been handled better. We also may have stayed in the enemies territory a bit too long and not enough of the lovers part of the enemies to lovers.
~ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 + 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔 ~
- 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚜 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 + 𝙳𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚌. -
Want to read
July 26, 2025HELLO?!?!?! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!👏👏👏😭😭😍😍
After the ending of the first book, I NEED to have this!!! If Àn’yīng doesn’t end up with Yù’chén, I might cry.
After the ending of the first book, I NEED to have this!!! If Àn’yīng doesn’t end up with Yù’chén, I might cry.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amélie Wen Zhao once again delivers another emotionally charged ballad with the Dragon and the Sun Lotus that had me crashing out way too many times. The angst and the stakes ramp up as well as my love for Yù’chén, but also my disdain towards Àn’yīng, but more on that later.
I know this book will be a mixed bag for many, many people — some might even hate it — but I do think this was a solid follow up to the first book. Plot wise, I did enjoy this more with how action-packed it was and the higher stakes to the book, and found the villains genuinely despicable. What Amélie always succeeds in doing is making me feel for these characters, whether it’s my overflowing love and devotion to Yù’chén, animosity towards her villains… or absolute hatred for the female lead (even if that’s unintentional).
Zhao’s writing is once again gorgeous, so lush, lyrical and vivid in detail it reads just like a C Drama. It’s always so easy to immerse myself into another one of Zhao’s books and I flew through this one.
I actually didn’t have many issues with this one, but the few ones I did have with this novel did bother me a lot and influenced my reading experience. It’s such a shame because I think this had so much potential to be a five star read, had Àn’yīng been a tolerable female lead. While Yù’chén was promoted to book husband, Àn’yīng unfortunately might now be my least favorite female lead in a book ever. If there’s one thing I like about Àn’yīng, it’s that she’s a good daughter. She’s always been consistent in her love and devotion to her family and protecting them and I do admire that a lot about her. I do like that this book also shows a more competent side to Àn’yīng that felt lacking in book 1 since she was often saved by Yù’chén. That’s really all the praise I can give her because as a girlfriend? I already found Àn’yīng overbearing in the first novel, but the sequel took it to new heights where my blood pressure was SKYROCKETING. Literally every time I think Àn’yīng is about to come around and have some redemptive moment, she goes and does something that ruins it once again. I lost count of the number of times I wanted to jump into the book and replace Àn’yīng as the FMC.
Àn’yīng just sees the world in black and white and it was what I found really infuriating throughout the book. Somebody introduce Àn’yīng to a YA romantasy so she can learn what morally grey means PLEASE.
All jokes aside, I think I could see where Amélie was going with this book. She clearly wanted to make it an angsty ballad, star-crossed lovers type of thing, but there are other ways to do it than force unjustified hatred towards Yù’chén. Àn’yīng argument for hating Yù’chén just felt really flimsy and weak when all he’s done is be the greenest flag around her. Yes, the angst still shattered me and I nearly lost count of the many times I cried because of Yù’chén, but it feels more like Amélie trying to make the readers hurt for the sake of it than give proper weight to it. It feels more like emotional manipulation than establishing well written conflict and hurt between the characters. Yù’chén's hurt is absolutely justified but Àn’yīng animosity and discrimination was just plain childish.
Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed all of the Yù’chén scenes. I was so worried Yù’chén wouldn’t have a lot of screentime in this one, but he gets a lot more than I thought he would have, and I loved every single scene he was in. His POV chapters CRUSHED me. The yearning, the heartbreak, I lost count how many times I was about to cry. I can say now that Yù’chén is without a doubt my favorite love interest Amélie has written and I feel like my love for Yù’chén outweighs my hate for Àn’yīng. There’s so many scenes I want to come back to and reread, if only to fall in love with him again. He just does so much for Àn’yīng that she doesn’t deserve.
This might be the first time where for a love triangle, both leads are the green flags and the FMC is the red flag. Àn’yīng is the problem and quite frankly, I have no idea how both Yù’chén and Hào’yáng fell for her. I do think they deserve so much better. Though I also still think the love triangle was super unnecessary. I get the conflict Zhao wanted to create, but I was still quite neutral about Hào’yáng and feel like he was underdeveloped for me to care about him. Yù’chén always felt like the stronger love interest that carried proper depth, so everytime Àn’yīng was with Hào’yáng, I did lose interest. However, I still think Hào’yáng is a sweet and selfless person.
Despite my frustrations with Àn’yīng, there’s still a lot of beauty to be found in the Dragon and the Sun Lotus, and I still I believe that overall the story and the message Amélie wanted to convey was really sweet, pondering what being in love means and what it means for the other individual. It was touching and heartbreaking.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC.
I know this book will be a mixed bag for many, many people — some might even hate it — but I do think this was a solid follow up to the first book. Plot wise, I did enjoy this more with how action-packed it was and the higher stakes to the book, and found the villains genuinely despicable. What Amélie always succeeds in doing is making me feel for these characters, whether it’s my overflowing love and devotion to Yù’chén, animosity towards her villains… or absolute hatred for the female lead (even if that’s unintentional).
Zhao’s writing is once again gorgeous, so lush, lyrical and vivid in detail it reads just like a C Drama. It’s always so easy to immerse myself into another one of Zhao’s books and I flew through this one.
I actually didn’t have many issues with this one, but the few ones I did have with this novel did bother me a lot and influenced my reading experience. It’s such a shame because I think this had so much potential to be a five star read, had Àn’yīng been a tolerable female lead. While Yù’chén was promoted to book husband, Àn’yīng unfortunately might now be my least favorite female lead in a book ever. If there’s one thing I like about Àn’yīng, it’s that she’s a good daughter. She’s always been consistent in her love and devotion to her family and protecting them and I do admire that a lot about her. I do like that this book also shows a more competent side to Àn’yīng that felt lacking in book 1 since she was often saved by Yù’chén. That’s really all the praise I can give her because as a girlfriend? I already found Àn’yīng overbearing in the first novel, but the sequel took it to new heights where my blood pressure was SKYROCKETING. Literally every time I think Àn’yīng is about to come around and have some redemptive moment, she goes and does something that ruins it once again. I lost count of the number of times I wanted to jump into the book and replace Àn’yīng as the FMC.
Àn’yīng just sees the world in black and white and it was what I found really infuriating throughout the book. Somebody introduce Àn’yīng to a YA romantasy so she can learn what morally grey means PLEASE.
All jokes aside, I think I could see where Amélie was going with this book. She clearly wanted to make it an angsty ballad, star-crossed lovers type of thing, but there are other ways to do it than force unjustified hatred towards Yù’chén. Àn’yīng argument for hating Yù’chén just felt really flimsy and weak when all he’s done is be the greenest flag around her. Yes, the angst still shattered me and I nearly lost count of the many times I cried because of Yù’chén, but it feels more like Amélie trying to make the readers hurt for the sake of it than give proper weight to it. It feels more like emotional manipulation than establishing well written conflict and hurt between the characters. Yù’chén's hurt is absolutely justified but Àn’yīng animosity and discrimination was just plain childish.
Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed all of the Yù’chén scenes. I was so worried Yù’chén wouldn’t have a lot of screentime in this one, but he gets a lot more than I thought he would have, and I loved every single scene he was in. His POV chapters CRUSHED me. The yearning, the heartbreak, I lost count how many times I was about to cry. I can say now that Yù’chén is without a doubt my favorite love interest Amélie has written and I feel like my love for Yù’chén outweighs my hate for Àn’yīng. There’s so many scenes I want to come back to and reread, if only to fall in love with him again. He just does so much for Àn’yīng that she doesn’t deserve.
This might be the first time where for a love triangle, both leads are the green flags and the FMC is the red flag. Àn’yīng is the problem and quite frankly, I have no idea how both Yù’chén and Hào’yáng fell for her. I do think they deserve so much better. Though I also still think the love triangle was super unnecessary. I get the conflict Zhao wanted to create, but I was still quite neutral about Hào’yáng and feel like he was underdeveloped for me to care about him. Yù’chén always felt like the stronger love interest that carried proper depth, so everytime Àn’yīng was with Hào’yáng, I did lose interest. However, I still think Hào’yáng is a sweet and selfless person.
Despite my frustrations with Àn’yīng, there’s still a lot of beauty to be found in the Dragon and the Sun Lotus, and I still I believe that overall the story and the message Amélie wanted to convey was really sweet, pondering what being in love means and what it means for the other individual. It was touching and heartbreaking.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've never felt quite so conflicted with how to rate a book. The writing in this was honestly gorgeous but I found the main character Àn’yīng so infuriating to the point where I almost had to put the book down. The only thing that kept me going was my boy Yù’chén who bumped my rating up from 2 to 3 stars.
I quite enjoyed the first book (The Scorpion and the Night Blossom) but I remember feeling the same about Àn’yīng. I already disliked her in book one due to her temperamental personality and how her sorry arse needed constant saving, but in book 2 she took my rage to a whole new level. She wasn't just a weak pick me girl anymore, she was honestly morally deranged and plain abusive both emotionally and physically. How she treated Yù’chén went from annoying to infuriating to disgusting, I almost couldn't continue reading anymore. Like what is wrong with this girl and what did both Yù’chén and Hào’yáng ever see in her? I couldn't stand her prancing around between the two, her actions were plain revolting and I don't think I've ever disliked a main character as badly as this.
"I thought of taking you away and making you mine. But you taught me that selfishness isn't love; that true love is selfless. That our fates can change because of the choices we make in our lives."
My boy Yù’chén - all I can say is HE DESERVED JUSTICE. He carried both book 1 and 2, his personality was everything and I just cannot believe such an amazing character fell for such a fart also known as Àn’yīng. He was always so kind, so patient, so selfless. Despite the rubbish Àn’yīng put him through, he would always turn up and still call her his "little scorpion". Yù’chén will always be my favourite character in this duology.
I felt a bit indifferent about Hào’yáng in book 1 and about half of book 2 but I started warming up to him and by the end, I honestly felt like he was such a sunshine of a character. He was like the day where Yù’chén was like the night. I grew to really like him and I found the years of emotional connection he had developed through being the boy in the jade quite deep and endearing. The only thing I didn't understand was why he too, was in love with the frustrating Àn’yīng.
The ending though, actually brought a tear to my eye. I found it quite emotional. I have to say, Amélie Wen Zhao has such a beautiful writing style. The whole story was incredibly C-Drama esque and full of stunning, mystical sceneries and descriptions. I just wish Àn’yīng was not as infuriating as she was because both men, especially Yù’chén, deserved better.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
I quite enjoyed the first book (The Scorpion and the Night Blossom) but I remember feeling the same about Àn’yīng. I already disliked her in book one due to her temperamental personality and how her sorry arse needed constant saving, but in book 2 she took my rage to a whole new level. She wasn't just a weak pick me girl anymore, she was honestly morally deranged and plain abusive both emotionally and physically. How she treated Yù’chén went from annoying to infuriating to disgusting, I almost couldn't continue reading anymore. Like what is wrong with this girl and what did both Yù’chén and Hào’yáng ever see in her? I couldn't stand her prancing around between the two, her actions were plain revolting and I don't think I've ever disliked a main character as badly as this.
"I thought of taking you away and making you mine. But you taught me that selfishness isn't love; that true love is selfless. That our fates can change because of the choices we make in our lives."
My boy Yù’chén - all I can say is HE DESERVED JUSTICE. He carried both book 1 and 2, his personality was everything and I just cannot believe such an amazing character fell for such a fart also known as Àn’yīng. He was always so kind, so patient, so selfless. Despite the rubbish Àn’yīng put him through, he would always turn up and still call her his "little scorpion". Yù’chén will always be my favourite character in this duology.
I felt a bit indifferent about Hào’yáng in book 1 and about half of book 2 but I started warming up to him and by the end, I honestly felt like he was such a sunshine of a character. He was like the day where Yù’chén was like the night. I grew to really like him and I found the years of emotional connection he had developed through being the boy in the jade quite deep and endearing. The only thing I didn't understand was why he too, was in love with the frustrating Àn’yīng.
The ending though, actually brought a tear to my eye. I found it quite emotional. I have to say, Amélie Wen Zhao has such a beautiful writing style. The whole story was incredibly C-Drama esque and full of stunning, mystical sceneries and descriptions. I just wish Àn’yīng was not as infuriating as she was because both men, especially Yù’chén, deserved better.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
August 21, 2025
I loved most of this book. Amélie Wen Zhao is an excellent writer, and her descriptions are beautiful and immersive. And (sometimes) she writes romance really, really well.
This is my spoiler-free review, which I will update once the book is released.
I had originally separated this review into things I liked and things I didn't like, but I realized that I couldn't put most things into one category because the things I felt strongly about had both positive and negative aspects.
So instead, some comments:
1. Àn'yīng is an idiot. I disagreed with most of her decisions. I think she's a well-written and interesting character, and it was good torture to see her be forced to make impossible choices, but she kept doing the wrong things!! (In my opinion. But my opinion is right.)
2. I was not a huge fan of the ending.
3. Àn'yīng's romance with Hào'yáng had no foundation. I understand that she already had a connection with him from the jade pendant, but all of that development happened off the page. I was surprised by her feelings for him because there was no set-up. As soon as she learned who he was, it seemed like she was just instantly in love with him.
4. It would have been interesting to meet a couple of mó who weren't pure evil, rather than just having an entire race be "the bad guys." The only good mó was the one who wasn't fully mó.
Finally,
5. Yù'chén. YÙ'CHÉN! I love this man with my whole soul. He deserves the world. Amélie Wen Zhao did such an amazing job depicting his growing feelings for Àn'yīng alongside his inner conflict about his identity as a half-mó, which was NOT HELPED by Àn'yīng's stubborn prejudice against mó. I get that a mó pretty much destroyed her family, but [spoiler to come]. Honestly, he deserves better than her.
Final thoughts: The Dragon and the Sun Lotus was a thrilling sequel that was hard to put down, and it was a mostly satisfying conclusion to the duology. Despite some flaws, I would recommend the duology to anyone who likes fantasy and romance (and is ready for their heart to be torn out).
This is my spoiler-free review, which I will update once the book is released.
I had originally separated this review into things I liked and things I didn't like, but I realized that I couldn't put most things into one category because the things I felt strongly about had both positive and negative aspects.
So instead, some comments:
1. Àn'yīng is an idiot. I disagreed with most of her decisions. I think she's a well-written and interesting character, and it was good torture to see her be forced to make impossible choices, but she kept doing the wrong things!! (In my opinion. But my opinion is right.)
2. I was not a huge fan of the ending.
3. Àn'yīng's romance with Hào'yáng had no foundation. I understand that she already had a connection with him from the jade pendant, but all of that development happened off the page. I was surprised by her feelings for him because there was no set-up. As soon as she learned who he was, it seemed like she was just instantly in love with him.
4. It would have been interesting to meet a couple of mó who weren't pure evil, rather than just having an entire race be "the bad guys." The only good mó was the one who wasn't fully mó.
Finally,
5. Yù'chén. YÙ'CHÉN! I love this man with my whole soul. He deserves the world. Amélie Wen Zhao did such an amazing job depicting his growing feelings for Àn'yīng alongside his inner conflict about his identity as a half-mó, which was NOT HELPED by Àn'yīng's stubborn prejudice against mó. I get that a mó pretty much destroyed her family, but [spoiler to come]. Honestly, he deserves better than her.
Final thoughts: The Dragon and the Sun Lotus was a thrilling sequel that was hard to put down, and it was a mostly satisfying conclusion to the duology. Despite some flaws, I would recommend the duology to anyone who likes fantasy and romance (and is ready for their heart to be torn out).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this through NetGalley for review.
I absolutely loved the Scorpion and the Night Blossom. 4/5 stars for me on this one.
Which I found to be actually slightly better for me than its sequel. But it really does give you all the things. Romance, a choice to be made, a battle for the realms, sacrifice, reunion.
The Mo have taken over the Kingdom of Sky, sending An'ying and her mortal prince Hao'yang - her boy in the Jade running for their lives. Hao'yang was raised by An'Ying's biological mother- one of the Eight Immortals in the Kingdom of Sky, - Making An'ying a powerful heir to an immortal army- and a halfling too like Hao'ying's half brother Yu'chen (son of the former Emperor and Queen of the Kingdom of night.) - another potential prince of the Mortal Realm.
Everything hinges on which brother kills the other and becomes Emperor. And An'ying loves them both in her own way. The boy she's known since her father died- who was there and guided her and leant her his strength over years, her Guardian. Who took her place as a child and raised by her mother. Or the boy who saved her, who she bonded with- she was the first person to show him real kindness and treat him as human, as the half he was.
An'ying must claim her mother's power and her army and assume her role as part of the Immortals in the Kingdom of Sky. Hao'yang must claim his Father's title and gain the favor of the great Dragons to do so.
There is so much more they both must do. And both An'ying and Yu'chen must make decisions about where they want the future to go. Will he kill his half brother and claim the title, merging the Kingdom of Night and Mortal realms for good- releasing the demons and his Queen mother do to as they please. Or stand up to her and stop the Mo from destroying what is left.
This one is a bit love triangle-y. An-ying must choose, find her courage, marry one of them.- And fight for the realms.
There is a resolution and a happy ending, and redemption.
I absolutely loved the Scorpion and the Night Blossom. 4/5 stars for me on this one.
Which I found to be actually slightly better for me than its sequel. But it really does give you all the things. Romance, a choice to be made, a battle for the realms, sacrifice, reunion.
The Mo have taken over the Kingdom of Sky, sending An'ying and her mortal prince Hao'yang - her boy in the Jade running for their lives. Hao'yang was raised by An'Ying's biological mother- one of the Eight Immortals in the Kingdom of Sky, - Making An'ying a powerful heir to an immortal army- and a halfling too like Hao'ying's half brother Yu'chen (son of the former Emperor and Queen of the Kingdom of night.) - another potential prince of the Mortal Realm.
Everything hinges on which brother kills the other and becomes Emperor. And An'ying loves them both in her own way. The boy she's known since her father died- who was there and guided her and leant her his strength over years, her Guardian. Who took her place as a child and raised by her mother. Or the boy who saved her, who she bonded with- she was the first person to show him real kindness and treat him as human, as the half he was.
An'ying must claim her mother's power and her army and assume her role as part of the Immortals in the Kingdom of Sky. Hao'yang must claim his Father's title and gain the favor of the great Dragons to do so.
There is so much more they both must do. And both An'ying and Yu'chen must make decisions about where they want the future to go. Will he kill his half brother and claim the title, merging the Kingdom of Night and Mortal realms for good- releasing the demons and his Queen mother do to as they please. Or stand up to her and stop the Mo from destroying what is left.
This one is a bit love triangle-y. An-ying must choose, find her courage, marry one of them.- And fight for the realms.
There is a resolution and a happy ending, and redemption.
August 20, 2025
The thrilling conclusion to the battle of the Three Kingdoms has begun!
Haoyang and Anying have retreated to the mortal realm in search of allies to battle the demons, but as long as Yuchen lives Haoyang cannot claim the crown nor the loyalty of the dragons. When Anying is captured by the demons and her immortality awakened she knows she must lead the immortal army against the demons to free the mortal realm. But will her heart let her choose between brothers?
I have to say I was disappointed. I understand that probably a lot of people were rooting for Anying to end up with Haoyang since he is the “good” brother but I really fell for Yuchen in book one and book two just solidified it for me. I felt there was little chemistry and mostly duty between Anying and Hoayang, or she never would have fallen for Yuchen in the first place. He had such a tragic life but his love was real. He was willing to give up everything, even his life for her, whereas Haoyang would always put the kingdom first.
I felt like the ending was kind of a cliché, allowing Anying the chance to be with both brothers. I can’t say I was satiafied with it at all, especially since the majority of the action/battles took place in the last 50-ish pages.
I do follow AWZ on social media though and saw her post saying the book had undergone significant edits since the publisher posted the arc on netgalley. Because of this, and my adoration of the first book, I am willing to give it another try when my preorder comes in.
Haoyang and Anying have retreated to the mortal realm in search of allies to battle the demons, but as long as Yuchen lives Haoyang cannot claim the crown nor the loyalty of the dragons. When Anying is captured by the demons and her immortality awakened she knows she must lead the immortal army against the demons to free the mortal realm. But will her heart let her choose between brothers?
I have to say I was disappointed. I understand that probably a lot of people were rooting for Anying to end up with Haoyang since he is the “good” brother but I really fell for Yuchen in book one and book two just solidified it for me. I felt there was little chemistry and mostly duty between Anying and Hoayang, or she never would have fallen for Yuchen in the first place. He had such a tragic life but his love was real. He was willing to give up everything, even his life for her, whereas Haoyang would always put the kingdom first.
I felt like the ending was kind of a cliché, allowing Anying the chance to be with both brothers. I can’t say I was satiafied with it at all, especially since the majority of the action/battles took place in the last 50-ish pages.
I do follow AWZ on social media though and saw her post saying the book had undergone significant edits since the publisher posted the arc on netgalley. Because of this, and my adoration of the first book, I am willing to give it another try when my preorder comes in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
no one talk to me for 5 business days....
Review:
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Let me start off by saying the first book blew me away and I really liked it. I was expecting this second book to be just as good, if not better, but also closing books aren't always my favorite... and yet this did not disappoint.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is one of those rare books that completely sweeps you away. I genuinely could not put it down and when I had to, I kept thinking about it - I had to know how this story would end!
Amelie Zhao delivers a story filled with sweeping drama, emotional tension, aching yearning, and the deep sense of honor and sacrifice that gives the book so much heart.
The entire story feels exactly like watching a beautifully crafted C-drama. It has that perfect balance of intense character moments, high stakes, and emotional payoff. The themes of grief, loss, and becoming who you choose to be is woven throughout the story. I felt the weight of every decision, every sacrifice, and every moment of fierce love the characters fought for.
The writing is rich and immersive without ever dragging. Zhao brings every emotion to the surface — the devastation, the tenderness, the desperation, the quiet hope.
If you love C-dramas, emotional storytelling, and characters who fight fiercely for what (and who) they love, this book is absolutely for you. A stunning, heartfelt, beautifully written story.
Review:
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Let me start off by saying the first book blew me away and I really liked it. I was expecting this second book to be just as good, if not better, but also closing books aren't always my favorite... and yet this did not disappoint.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is one of those rare books that completely sweeps you away. I genuinely could not put it down and when I had to, I kept thinking about it - I had to know how this story would end!
Amelie Zhao delivers a story filled with sweeping drama, emotional tension, aching yearning, and the deep sense of honor and sacrifice that gives the book so much heart.
The entire story feels exactly like watching a beautifully crafted C-drama. It has that perfect balance of intense character moments, high stakes, and emotional payoff. The themes of grief, loss, and becoming who you choose to be is woven throughout the story. I felt the weight of every decision, every sacrifice, and every moment of fierce love the characters fought for.
The writing is rich and immersive without ever dragging. Zhao brings every emotion to the surface — the devastation, the tenderness, the desperation, the quiet hope.
If you love C-dramas, emotional storytelling, and characters who fight fiercely for what (and who) they love, this book is absolutely for you. A stunning, heartfelt, beautifully written story.
August 25, 2025
One girl, two boys, three realms....the tale that began in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom with three central characters and three realms in conflict comes to a conclusion. There are even dragons as the title suggests. The conflicts of Àn’yīng's heart and her world play out in the second book of The Three Realms Duology and though its clear who most readers will be rooting for in the struggle of the realms, the resolution to the love triangle is a little more murky. In books where one of the two choices is a clear villain, annoying, or has someone else to fall back to, it is easier to rally around one clear solution to a triangle, but in this case both suitors have their charms. The resolution and the way that it is tied up in the resolution of the power struggle between realms was interesting to follow. This was an entertaining, easy-to-read story, with good world building and interesting characters and magics, and a good mix of action and light romance. Overall, a nice read for fans of ya fantasy based on Asian myths and with this book, the story is complete, so no need to wait to read an ending.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's - Delacorte Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's - Delacorte Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
September 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for an ARC!
Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing is lush and evocative. Just as the first book did, this sequel captivated me with beautiful imagery and the artistic illustration of raw emotion. I love the way she writes Àn’yīng’s thoughts— they are equal parts reflective, intelligent, and so very human.
This sequel also reveals how much Yù’chén has suffered and continues to suffer. At times it was almost painful to read through the heartbreak, but his struggles with wanting to be seen and loved were well-executed and tugged at my heartstrings in a way I didn’t expect. I shed a few tears that I wasn’t expecting— but then again, that is an Amélie Wen Zhao specialty.
In terms of the love triangle, I have to admit it took away from my enjoyment. Hào’yáng’s devotion for Àn’yīng fell flat for me, partially because we didn’t know as well in the first book. I also wasn’t a fan of how Àn’yīng treated Hào’yáng and Yù’chén while she was trying to untangle her own feelings.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it if one is looking for a satisfying mix of drama, romance, and action. It does get quite tragic at certain points, but it is done tastefully.
Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing is lush and evocative. Just as the first book did, this sequel captivated me with beautiful imagery and the artistic illustration of raw emotion. I love the way she writes Àn’yīng’s thoughts— they are equal parts reflective, intelligent, and so very human.
This sequel also reveals how much Yù’chén has suffered and continues to suffer. At times it was almost painful to read through the heartbreak, but his struggles with wanting to be seen and loved were well-executed and tugged at my heartstrings in a way I didn’t expect. I shed a few tears that I wasn’t expecting— but then again, that is an Amélie Wen Zhao specialty.
In terms of the love triangle, I have to admit it took away from my enjoyment. Hào’yáng’s devotion for Àn’yīng fell flat for me, partially because we didn’t know as well in the first book. I also wasn’t a fan of how Àn’yīng treated Hào’yáng and Yù’chén while she was trying to untangle her own feelings.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it if one is looking for a satisfying mix of drama, romance, and action. It does get quite tragic at certain points, but it is done tastefully.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
So, I'll start by saying that I loved the first book in this duology; it had me utterly hooked, and I was looking forward to the second installment. This novel is complete with lush, cinematic worldbuilding that reads just like a xianxia C-drama. There is emotional, high-stakes storytelling as the story wages war across realms and explores what characters will do for love and duty. Back to talking about C-dramas... This took inspiration from Till the End of the Moon, Moonlight, and Moonlight Mystique, which is a GREAT sign. Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are great characters, but the dynamic between Yù’chén and Anying should've been explored more (they deserve the spotlight). The bond between Hào’yáng and Anying started to feel a little... Let's say... Platonic and dry.
If you like the love triangle trope, this is for you. If you don't, oh well, that's too bad. And you'll finish this book thinking Anying should've treated Yù’chén and Hào’yáng A LOT BETTER. And the number of times Anying says something similar to "the boy in the jade"?? Maddening!
Overall, read this if you want xianxia vibes and love a little darker romance..
Rating: 4 stars
So, I'll start by saying that I loved the first book in this duology; it had me utterly hooked, and I was looking forward to the second installment. This novel is complete with lush, cinematic worldbuilding that reads just like a xianxia C-drama. There is emotional, high-stakes storytelling as the story wages war across realms and explores what characters will do for love and duty. Back to talking about C-dramas... This took inspiration from Till the End of the Moon, Moonlight, and Moonlight Mystique, which is a GREAT sign. Yù’chén and Hào’yáng are great characters, but the dynamic between Yù’chén and Anying should've been explored more (they deserve the spotlight). The bond between Hào’yáng and Anying started to feel a little... Let's say... Platonic and dry.
If you like the love triangle trope, this is for you. If you don't, oh well, that's too bad. And you'll finish this book thinking Anying should've treated Yù’chén and Hào’yáng A LOT BETTER. And the number of times Anying says something similar to "the boy in the jade"?? Maddening!
Overall, read this if you want xianxia vibes and love a little darker romance..
Rating: 4 stars
September 10, 2025
im kinda mad about the way the ending came about tbh........ the overarching plots and plot points are fine, it's what i expected honestly, but did we......have to......erm........have her fall in love with..........haoyang lmao. i literally wasn't convinced..... idk i feel owed an epilogue or bonus after story or something.
the drama of it all though.... if u like c-dramas this is for u fr.
anying feels like your typical female protag nowadays; she's got a set goal, a family she wants to protect, a world she's gotta save, and she's got two love intrests, one good and one 'bad' and it's nice and all, but the author could've added more to haoyang and her cause i was like mmmmm don't care. their relationship is way too platonic for me to even suspect romance or sexual attraction T_T by two-thirds in i was like i.....don't care anymore lololol where's yuchen.
the whole love triangle thing aside, though i wish i knew this was gonna end up like that before i started the book, i think this is a decent (albeit dramatic) conclusion to the first book.
thank you to netgalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC!
the drama of it all though.... if u like c-dramas this is for u fr.
anying feels like your typical female protag nowadays; she's got a set goal, a family she wants to protect, a world she's gotta save, and she's got two love intrests, one good and one 'bad' and it's nice and all, but the author could've added more to haoyang and her cause i was like mmmmm don't care. their relationship is way too platonic for me to even suspect romance or sexual attraction T_T by two-thirds in i was like i.....don't care anymore lololol where's yuchen.
the whole love triangle thing aside, though i wish i knew this was gonna end up like that before i started the book, i think this is a decent (albeit dramatic) conclusion to the first book.
thank you to netgalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC!
September 29, 2025
Unfortunately, even though I loved the first book, this one left me disappointed. The biggest issue for me was the relationship between Anying and Haoyang, which felt very forced and unnecessary. Their dynamic came across more platonic than romantic, and I couldn’t feel any chemistry at all. If the story was meant to include a love triangle, it definitely could have been developed in a more believable way. Because of that subplot, Anying also lost a lot of potential for growth. Instead of progressing, she came across as unlikable, especially in the way she treated Yuchen, to the point where I felt she didn’t deserve him. The plot itself didn’t really pull me in either. The constant repetition of Haoyang being “the boy in the jade” quickly grew tiring, and by the time I reached the ending, I felt unsatisfied. It was supposed to land with a strong emotional impact, but it ended up feeling too easy and too centered around Anying, while Yuchen’s character was consistently treated unfairly. That lack of justice for him was really frustrating to read. That said, I’ve heard the final book has some major plot points that could change things, so I might give this another try once it’s out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
I’m crying it’s okay I’m fine 🫠
This was so beautiful and tragic and still happy so don’t be scared. For the ultimate experience I recommend reading when emotional and while listening to sad songs
For real though, I loved the first book to this and when I got the ARC from NetGalley and realized I didn’t have to wait for the second book to come out I could not have been happier. I love these characters so much esp our tortured sweet Yù’chén. If he has one fan, it’s me. If he has no fans, I’m dead. I just want all the love and happiness in the world for him. This picked up right where book 1 left off and then just kept going. It’s such a well written book and I love the world. I did feel like our little love triangle was more of a see-saw but honestly I wasn’t mad about it bc it fit the story and made sense with the characters. Definitely a favorite series I’ve read this year and I will be buying this book once it is published and I will also make everyone I know read this
Highly recommend esp for fans of A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang.
This was so beautiful and tragic and still happy so don’t be scared. For the ultimate experience I recommend reading when emotional and while listening to sad songs
For real though, I loved the first book to this and when I got the ARC from NetGalley and realized I didn’t have to wait for the second book to come out I could not have been happier. I love these characters so much esp our tortured sweet Yù’chén. If he has one fan, it’s me. If he has no fans, I’m dead. I just want all the love and happiness in the world for him. This picked up right where book 1 left off and then just kept going. It’s such a well written book and I love the world. I did feel like our little love triangle was more of a see-saw but honestly I wasn’t mad about it bc it fit the story and made sense with the characters. Definitely a favorite series I’ve read this year and I will be buying this book once it is published and I will also make everyone I know read this
Highly recommend esp for fans of A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang.
September 5, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Favorite quote(s):
“Love is the most powerful magic in our realms, " he replied. “Take what you feel and hone it into a blade. Even when all else fails, you will have love to guide you.”
Review:
Wow, this was a great end to this duology. Àn’yīng was incredible in this book. She really grew and became stronger. I loved that it has more than one POV I adore it when books do this because it really adds to the story, and we get more details. Yù’chén was also really great in this. I do think there was less of him, but I enjoyed what there was. He had a lot happening between Sansiran and her using him to the realms and their issues, and then everything with Àn’yīng. Hào’yáng was so sweet, and I adored him so much. He was always there for Àn’yīng, and their relationship was incredible. I really was put through the emotional ringer with this one. This book was beautifully written, and I can’t wait to see what Amélie writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
The cliffhanger at the ending of book 1 had me in TEARS I tell you, I couldn't wait to get my hands on an ARC of book 2 😭 book 2 was so frickin good, the narration and the fast paced action and the heart wrenching love triangle (your heart will literally break in two) all made for a perfect YA romantasy read! I was sobbing through the last 10% or so of the book, the ending was just so 💔❤️💔❤️💔❤️😭
I love Àn'yīng so frickin much, she's THE eldest daughter and she IS the moment, she's absolutely amazing and my inspiration 😭 there's a part of the book where she discusses with *someone* about how she had to transition from a girl who loved to sew and wanted to travel to a girl who had to fight and survive and save her family, and that's probably my favourite dialogue in the whole book 😭
I'm gonna talk about the ending again, it was os heart wrenching and so good 😭 I can't wait for people to read it and sob
-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!
I love Àn'yīng so frickin much, she's THE eldest daughter and she IS the moment, she's absolutely amazing and my inspiration 😭 there's a part of the book where she discusses with *someone* about how she had to transition from a girl who loved to sew and wanted to travel to a girl who had to fight and survive and save her family, and that's probably my favourite dialogue in the whole book 😭
I'm gonna talk about the ending again, it was os heart wrenching and so good 😭 I can't wait for people to read it and sob
-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!
November 23, 2025
An amazing conclusion to the Three Realms Duology, Zhao did an amazing job weaving together a very intriguing, easy to follow, series.
An'ying, Yü'chén, and Hàoʻyáng are the three mak. characters throughout the duology and the fighting and banter is everything you expect from something that the author said was made for people who like CDramas (this definitely does).
I cannot recommend this series enough as the author paid a lot of attention to the fine details of things with everything being described beautifully so (her descriptions of clothing, architecture, and weaponry are very detailed and add to the overall story). While some of the series was predictable, the author did a great job at not giving away the whole plot right away and I really appreciate it.
I give the series as a whole a 5/5 as I'm a lover of mythology retellings and this was an amazing one at that.
An'ying, Yü'chén, and Hàoʻyáng are the three mak. characters throughout the duology and the fighting and banter is everything you expect from something that the author said was made for people who like CDramas (this definitely does).
I cannot recommend this series enough as the author paid a lot of attention to the fine details of things with everything being described beautifully so (her descriptions of clothing, architecture, and weaponry are very detailed and add to the overall story). While some of the series was predictable, the author did a great job at not giving away the whole plot right away and I really appreciate it.
I give the series as a whole a 5/5 as I'm a lover of mythology retellings and this was an amazing one at that.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In the finale of the Three Realms duology, the mortal and immortal worlds are collapsing under the growing threat of the mó, soul‑devouring demons unleashed years earlier. Àn’yīng, still carrying the weight of her past and her kingdom’s destruction, is determined to seal the demons away forever.
To save the realms, she and Hào’yáng, heir to the Kingdom of Rivers, propose a political marriage that could unite their fractured lands. But their alliance is fragile—old wounds, political enemies, and rising demonic forces threaten to tear it apart.
As the mó breach the immortal Kingdom of Sky and darkness spreads, Àn’yīng must confront the truth of her power, the legacy of the war, and the sacrifices required to protect the people she loves. The fate of all three realms hinges on her final choice.
To save the realms, she and Hào’yáng, heir to the Kingdom of Rivers, propose a political marriage that could unite their fractured lands. But their alliance is fragile—old wounds, political enemies, and rising demonic forces threaten to tear it apart.
As the mó breach the immortal Kingdom of Sky and darkness spreads, Àn’yīng must confront the truth of her power, the legacy of the war, and the sacrifices required to protect the people she loves. The fate of all three realms hinges on her final choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2025
Thank you thank you for letting me arc review this sequel.
I found it fun,fast paced and the l o v e triangle goodness me. I was NOT disappointed. I did hear that some MAJOR changes have happened so I will be getting the final version to read them. Ya girl is still a Yuchen Stan. I was really hoping that Anying would come more full circle so maybe that changes but I really wanted her to just give him a true solid chance. I really wished we got more romance between Yuchen and Anying like I wanted dare I say when destiny brings the demon romance (iykyk). Overall I really did enjoy it. It gave me pretty much what I enjoy in a cdrama but book form and I love that! I can’t wait to see what’s changes were made and I will definitely be buying and recommending the series to friends 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
4.5 ✨
Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Okay I really liked this, this was so much better than the first book in my opinion. Also, I can totally see why people are recommending this duology if you loved K-pop Demon Hunters and I can see it even more now after reading book two. This was such a beautiful love story, and I especially loved the ending and how everything was fully wrapped up. I will definitely be checking out the authors other works as well. I definitely recommend this if you love a love triangle where you root for them both, lush and beautiful world building, and an emotional love story.
Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Okay I really liked this, this was so much better than the first book in my opinion. Also, I can totally see why people are recommending this duology if you loved K-pop Demon Hunters and I can see it even more now after reading book two. This was such a beautiful love story, and I especially loved the ending and how everything was fully wrapped up. I will definitely be checking out the authors other works as well. I definitely recommend this if you love a love triangle where you root for them both, lush and beautiful world building, and an emotional love story.
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