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The Three Realms Duology #2
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus
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
First published March 3, 2026
144 people are currently reading
10928 people want to read
About the author
Amélie Wen Zhao
12 books3,538 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 290 reviews
March 1, 2026
The prose, atmosphere, world-building, family dynamics, all top tier.
THE YEARNING FROM Yù’chén?! ELITE ELITE OBSESSED.
What kept this from being a home run for me is the direction the plot went. I can’t really explain in detail all the ways it didn’t meet expectations without spoiling it so I’ll just say that the last 50% of this made me BIG MAD.
That said, I’ve chatted with a friend who has read this author’s other books and apparently this author does enjoy a bit change and heartbreak so idk, take that how you want.
Look, I know this review is kinda lacking compared to my usuals but, spoiler thoughts so 🤷🏻♀️
I’d probably try more series from this author in the future.
3.75⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
THE YEARNING FROM Yù’chén?! ELITE ELITE OBSESSED.
What kept this from being a home run for me is the direction the plot went. I can’t really explain in detail all the ways it didn’t meet expectations without spoiling it so I’ll just say that the last 50% of this made me BIG MAD.
That said, I’ve chatted with a friend who has read this author’s other books and apparently this author does enjoy a bit change and heartbreak so idk, take that how you want.
Look, I know this review is kinda lacking compared to my usuals but, spoiler thoughts so 🤷🏻♀️
I’d probably try more series from this author in the future.
3.75⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
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.
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 🙂↕️🙂↕️)
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐
This was the perfect conclusion to the duology, it started straight from where the last book ended and I loved how it was a richer plot and very action based from the beginning, I really enjoyed the author's writing and I found everything moved at such a good pace.
While I'm not a big fan of love triangles I found this one to be one those that worked and though I preferred one of the love interests more, I can totally appreciate the way the author took the story as it was the only viable way for this duology to reach a satisfying conclusion and I really loved the final pages, it made me smile while also having tears in my eyes. The yearning though in this book was superb and it's why it will always be a favourite.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
This was the perfect conclusion to the duology, it started straight from where the last book ended and I loved how it was a richer plot and very action based from the beginning, I really enjoyed the author's writing and I found everything moved at such a good pace.
While I'm not a big fan of love triangles I found this one to be one those that worked and though I preferred one of the love interests more, I can totally appreciate the way the author took the story as it was the only viable way for this duology to reach a satisfying conclusion and I really loved the final pages, it made me smile while also having tears in my eyes. The yearning though in this book was superb and it's why it will always be a favourite.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
March 15, 2026
Review: 3 stars
Thank you, Penguin Teen Canada for the eARC for the book via Netgalley.
This story takes place right after the end of Book 1 with Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng fleeing to the mortal world and seeking refuge in Àn’yīng’s village. They were hoping to seek the help of the dragons’ from the dragon realm but they were attacked before they were able to do so…
Okay, I’m still not 100% sold by this book. The plot was full of non-stop action with very minimal filler scenes and it was an engaging book with interesting twists. The writing as always is lovely and does a solid job of bringing the Asian inspired fantasy to life.
My biggest issue with this one was the characters. I found Àn’yīng so frustrating as a character. She is oblivious, set in her ways and never takes the time to understand either Hào’yáng or especially Yù’chén…for a love triangle trope, this one fails to hold my attention and I was shaking my head the whole time as we go through the motions of how she treated both of them. While I admire her determination, I cannot struggle to relate to how unreasonable she can be…So, the romance portion of this book with it being the crux of the story failed to really sell my attention. Oh, I also was not a fan of how it ended despite knowing which way she was going to lean at the start since it was so clear yetttt I was hoping it was not the case.
All in all, if you are looking for an Asian inspired action packed fantasy with a solid plot and can ignore the romance part, this might be a good read…but if you are a fan of romance, this one might not work so well…
Thank you, Penguin Teen Canada for the eARC for the book via Netgalley.
This story takes place right after the end of Book 1 with Àn’yīng and Hào’yáng fleeing to the mortal world and seeking refuge in Àn’yīng’s village. They were hoping to seek the help of the dragons’ from the dragon realm but they were attacked before they were able to do so…
Okay, I’m still not 100% sold by this book. The plot was full of non-stop action with very minimal filler scenes and it was an engaging book with interesting twists. The writing as always is lovely and does a solid job of bringing the Asian inspired fantasy to life.
My biggest issue with this one was the characters. I found Àn’yīng so frustrating as a character. She is oblivious, set in her ways and never takes the time to understand either Hào’yáng or especially Yù’chén…for a love triangle trope, this one fails to hold my attention and I was shaking my head the whole time as we go through the motions of how she treated both of them. While I admire her determination, I cannot struggle to relate to how unreasonable she can be…So, the romance portion of this book with it being the crux of the story failed to really sell my attention. Oh, I also was not a fan of how it ended despite knowing which way she was going to lean at the start since it was so clear yetttt I was hoping it was not the case.
All in all, if you are looking for an Asian inspired action packed fantasy with a solid plot and can ignore the romance part, this might be a good read…but if you are a fan of romance, this one might not work so well…
Review of advance copy
I'm able to rate this a little early as I recieved my Illumicrate edition already.
TLDR: Unique plot with good pacing. Àn'yīng never stops hating. Yù'chén suffers even harder and more graphically. Hào’yáng becomes slightly more interesting. Zero redemption arcs. Hard swing on the love triangle. Those with justice sensitivity issues should NOT read. HEA (for Àn'yīng who does not deserve it).
TLDR: Unique plot with good pacing. Àn'yīng never stops hating. Yù'chén suffers even harder and more graphically. Hào’yáng becomes slightly more interesting. Zero redemption arcs. Hard swing on the love triangle. Those with justice sensitivity issues should NOT read. HEA (for Àn'yīng who does not deserve it).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2026
I can’t breathe
Rtc
Rtc
March 12, 2026
i am really sad that the sequel did not land at all the way the first book did.
March 3, 2026
I started this book so excited. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was one of my favorite books, and so even if the Dragon and the Sun Lotus was not better, I knew it would still be a solid book. However, this book somehow defied all my expectations, and is one of the worst sequels I have ever read.
Plot: Despite the world falling apart, Anying’s greatest concern is boys 😭She still tries to save the kingdom of rivers but the pacing felt wonky and it was a lot about her relationship with the two guys.
Characters:
Anying - remember how in the first review I said “she isn’t just a useless fmc” HAHA nope. Her character got reduced to save the world and all demons suck. She became very unlikable and flat to me in this sequel.
Yuchen - poor guy did not deserve what happened. If he was your favorite (like me) you should probably not read this
Haoyang - I mean he was fine? I felt like his character sometimes didn’t feel cohesive to previous statements that he had made
Unfortunately I did not like most things about this book. I felt like it had many plot holes that were papered over for convenience sake, as well as inconsistencies with the first book. For example, it felt like there should have been analysis about how mo were morally grey, but instead they became just evil drug addicts. From the setup in the previous book, I was expecting this to be a main focus of this book, and it felt like it was completely erased to make the AnyingxHaoyang romance work.
Even with these issues, I was fine with the book, until there was this really really weird scene where Yuchen and Anying slept together that kinda felt unconsensual and completely weird (spoiler: It felt like Anying was forcing herself on Yuchen).
However, I think the worst part was the ending. It was an extremely poor attempt at trying to please both sides of the love triangle. I’d rather have the author commit to one love interest and give Anying a valid reason to do so instead of waffling, even if it made some people more upset.
Due to all of these issues, it felt like this book did not really continue the direction and quality of the previous book, and the only thing that felt similar was the writing style (specifically in the many mentions of the boy in the jade). I would recommend considering The Scorpion as the Night Blossom as a standalone.
I have heard that the author changed some scenes since the arc was released, so when the book comes out I will maybe re-evaluate this book (if I have the energy to read it again)
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC
Plot: Despite the world falling apart, Anying’s greatest concern is boys 😭She still tries to save the kingdom of rivers but the pacing felt wonky and it was a lot about her relationship with the two guys.
Characters:
Anying - remember how in the first review I said “she isn’t just a useless fmc” HAHA nope. Her character got reduced to save the world and all demons suck. She became very unlikable and flat to me in this sequel.
Yuchen - poor guy did not deserve what happened. If he was your favorite (like me) you should probably not read this
Haoyang - I mean he was fine? I felt like his character sometimes didn’t feel cohesive to previous statements that he had made
Unfortunately I did not like most things about this book. I felt like it had many plot holes that were papered over for convenience sake, as well as inconsistencies with the first book. For example, it felt like there should have been analysis about how mo were morally grey, but instead they became just evil drug addicts. From the setup in the previous book, I was expecting this to be a main focus of this book, and it felt like it was completely erased to make the AnyingxHaoyang romance work.
Even with these issues, I was fine with the book, until there was this really really weird scene where Yuchen and Anying slept together that kinda felt unconsensual and completely weird (spoiler: It felt like Anying was forcing herself on Yuchen).
However, I think the worst part was the ending. It was an extremely poor attempt at trying to please both sides of the love triangle. I’d rather have the author commit to one love interest and give Anying a valid reason to do so instead of waffling, even if it made some people more upset.
Due to all of these issues, it felt like this book did not really continue the direction and quality of the previous book, and the only thing that felt similar was the writing style (specifically in the many mentions of the boy in the jade). I would recommend considering The Scorpion as the Night Blossom as a standalone.
I have heard that the author changed some scenes since the arc was released, so when the book comes out I will maybe re-evaluate this book (if I have the energy to read it again)
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC
March 8, 2026
Current rating: 3.5-3.75 stars? idk rn but it's prbly closer to 3.5 stars
The prose was beautiful, which was a treat! I really enjoyed the action scenes and every scene involving magic; I found it quite engaging overall, though I was easily able to predict basically all the twists, as well as how things would end.
However, I had some issues with the characters, and I wasn't a fan of the direction the romance went. Firstly, I would have likely rated this higher if Àn’yīng wasn't actually insufferable because her behaviour became exhausting quickly. Her determination was admirable, but how the unfortunate romance was approached in this book overshadows her abilities, actions, etc. I now understand why I've seen so many reviews say that Yù’chén didn't deserve what he went through, and I have to agree. Àn’yīng was so unreasonable and that one scene was very unnecessary too?? And the love triangle... I just didn't like how it was done. At one point, I already knew how it would get resolved, so I just rolled my eyes and kept reading. Hào’yáng wasn't developed enough for me to care about him, Yù’chén deserved freedom from these ppl, and Àn’yīng should go be happy with her family w/ no romance, sorry.
If you just focus on the exciting plot and action, this was an entertaining read with the potential to be poignant, but the weight of the romance really pulled it down and took time away from space that could be used for something like, perhaps, more development for the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The prose was beautiful, which was a treat! I really enjoyed the action scenes and every scene involving magic; I found it quite engaging overall, though I was easily able to predict basically all the twists, as well as how things would end.
However, I had some issues with the characters, and I wasn't a fan of the direction the romance went. Firstly, I would have likely rated this higher if Àn’yīng wasn't actually insufferable because her behaviour became exhausting quickly. Her determination was admirable, but how the unfortunate romance was approached in this book overshadows her abilities, actions, etc. I now understand why I've seen so many reviews say that Yù’chén didn't deserve what he went through, and I have to agree. Àn’yīng was so unreasonable and that one scene was very unnecessary too?? And the love triangle... I just didn't like how it was done. At one point, I already knew how it would get resolved, so I just rolled my eyes and kept reading. Hào’yáng wasn't developed enough for me to care about him, Yù’chén deserved freedom from these ppl, and Àn’yīng should go be happy with her family w/ no romance, sorry.
If you just focus on the exciting plot and action, this was an entertaining read with the potential to be poignant, but the weight of the romance really pulled it down and took time away from space that could be used for something like, perhaps, more development for the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 3, 2026
Here is my updated review now that the book is out and I can include spoilers (I've still hidden them in this review):
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.
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 to be fair I had a pretty one-track mind while reading.)
2. I was not a huge fan of the ending.
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 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).
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.
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 to be fair I had a pretty one-track mind while reading.)
2. I was not a huge fan of the ending.
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 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
Yu Chen, you single-handedly saved this book
March 18, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 3.75 stars ✮˚.⋆
sooo this book put me in a reading slump in the middle when it was kind of boring...but the ending really changed my opinion. it was so fun and there was lots of payoff for what happened throughout this duology & i cannot say that Amelie Wen Zhao doesn't know how to write romance & prose.
~ longer review soon ~
sooo this book put me in a reading slump in the middle when it was kind of boring...but the ending really changed my opinion. it was so fun and there was lots of payoff for what happened throughout this duology & i cannot say that Amelie Wen Zhao doesn't know how to write romance & prose.
~ longer review soon ~
April 5, 2026
Such an amazing end to a duology 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
February 20, 2026
4.5⭐️
Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus picks up right where we left off in book 1 and follows An’yings journey to save her world from the Mo (demons) who threaten all she knows and loves. This story is about love but also sacrifice and how far we’re willing to go to protect those around us whilst paving the way for future generations.
I personally enjoy love triangles but this is genuinely the first one I’ve read where it didn’t go the way I wanted or expected it to and I really appreciated this refreshing take on what some might consider to be an overdone trope. Amelie's writing is poetically beautiful throughout and the addition of Yu’chens pov made this story all the more heartbreaking. I’ve actually not stopped thinking about that ending which was equally bittersweet and hopeful 😭
Parts of this story were surprisingly dark and the relationship between Yu’chen and An’ying was wonderfully complex and nuanced. One minute I was giggling/kicking my feet and in the same breath having my heart ripped out🥲
I would absolutely recommend this duology, particularly if you love demon x demon hunter, cdrama vibes, peak levels of yearning and bittersweet endings🐉✨
Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus picks up right where we left off in book 1 and follows An’yings journey to save her world from the Mo (demons) who threaten all she knows and loves. This story is about love but also sacrifice and how far we’re willing to go to protect those around us whilst paving the way for future generations.
I personally enjoy love triangles but this is genuinely the first one I’ve read where it didn’t go the way I wanted or expected it to and I really appreciated this refreshing take on what some might consider to be an overdone trope. Amelie's writing is poetically beautiful throughout and the addition of Yu’chens pov made this story all the more heartbreaking. I’ve actually not stopped thinking about that ending which was equally bittersweet and hopeful 😭
Parts of this story were surprisingly dark and the relationship between Yu’chen and An’ying was wonderfully complex and nuanced. One minute I was giggling/kicking my feet and in the same breath having my heart ripped out🥲
I would absolutely recommend this duology, particularly if you love demon x demon hunter, cdrama vibes, peak levels of yearning and bittersweet endings🐉✨
Review of advance copy
I have never felt so disgusted by my own “mortal” race. An’Ying wtf was that!? 🤬😡 I am so disappointed by her behaviour, I am appalled. I would have thought the worse things to see would be from the demons but no you did that well enough.
You do not use a man who has been beaten, hated and used throughout his entire life. You either give all of yourself to him or nothing at all, you do not and I repeat NOT give him hope for something that you will never give him.
Yu’chen deserves better than that. He is NOT the villain you are making him out to be.
At first I was intending of giving this book a 5 star review seeing as I loved the first book but I am so appalled by the FMC that I cannot do that.
DNF after 57%
This book may be for the love triangle lovers out there but it’s not for me.
You do not use a man who has been beaten, hated and used throughout his entire life. You either give all of yourself to him or nothing at all, you do not and I repeat NOT give him hope for something that you will never give him.
Yu’chen deserves better than that. He is NOT the villain you are making him out to be.
At first I was intending of giving this book a 5 star review seeing as I loved the first book but I am so appalled by the FMC that I cannot do that.
DNF after 57%
This book may be for the love triangle lovers out there but it’s not for me.
March 9, 2026
May a love like this never find me or poor Yù’chén again in any lifetime.
Was too mad to even pay attention to the plot.
Was too mad to even pay attention to the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Arc review*
4.5
This one is again written beautifully well.The world building is just stunningly written. The description makes you want to jump into the book.
The character growth in this book is enjoyed, the journey our fmc goes on came to a beautiful conclusion.
Another magical fantasy that I've enjoyed reading.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
4.5
This one is again written beautifully well.The world building is just stunningly written. The description makes you want to jump into the book.
The character growth in this book is enjoyed, the journey our fmc goes on came to a beautiful conclusion.
Another magical fantasy that I've enjoyed reading.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2026
It wasnt good it did not get better. I hated the main character gosh I could not stand her she was fairly useless but carried herself with so much power and importance. Also the men were both great but she toyed with them in such an indecisive manner like I am all about being torn in two and all but this was immature and silly. She also changed her mind in a page like no true contemplation. She was so victim coded and I only like bad bitches as FMC so this was not it. I gave it a full try and it failed. Its not a 1 ⭐️ only because the ending redeemed one plot line but it was not sufficient for more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Beautiful, lyrical and another amazing addition to my Chinese fantasy/mythology collection.
March 22, 2026
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the conclusion to this duology, even though I really enjoyed the first book. The writing style is still lovely, but the plot remains overly simplistic and I found the ending predictable.
Just as I feared at the end of the first book, the romance developped into a love triangle exploited in one of the worst possible ways, which is exactly why I hate this trope. It was like Twilight meets Vampire Knight 😭
I would have much preferred it if the author had chosen to go for either a childhood friend/secret identity romance or an enemies-to-lovers storyline. I feel like the characters would have been more developped that way (especially for the prince).
In the end, Yu Chen is the only character who really moved me and he doesn’t deserve what happens to him. I hated the epilogue : the ending is supposed to be emotional but it didn’t work for me at all.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this ARC since I enjoyed the first book. I’m all the more frustrated that I could not like this one.
Just as I feared at the end of the first book, the romance developped into a love triangle exploited in one of the worst possible ways, which is exactly why I hate this trope. It was like Twilight meets Vampire Knight 😭
I would have much preferred it if the author had chosen to go for either a childhood friend/secret identity romance or an enemies-to-lovers storyline. I feel like the characters would have been more developped that way (especially for the prince).
In the end, Yu Chen is the only character who really moved me and he doesn’t deserve what happens to him. I hated the epilogue : the ending is supposed to be emotional but it didn’t work for me at all.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this ARC since I enjoyed the first book. I’m all the more frustrated that I could not like this one.
February 7, 2026
𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 🐧🖤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘌𝘈𝘜𝘛𝘐𝘍𝘜𝘓 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘪’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 🗡️🩸
3.75. ⭐️
this gut-wrenching, high-stakes sequel to the three realms duology is definitely one to die for. it takes place a few days after ending of scorpion and the night blossom, with an'ying preparing for battle against the kingdom of night. i definitely liked the first one more because i am not a fan of love triangles. there was enough yearning and angst but i wasn't fully satisfied. why should there always be a need for a love triangle?
"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂."
this man had BANGER lines. he sadly lacked the development and exposure he deserved in this book. since the sequel was mostly set the kingdom of night, i expected a proper backstory especially about his childhood prior to the trials. he had so much unexplored lore that i simply felt bad for him. for someone who shared the dual perspective in this book, he certainly wasn't there enough nor did have a bigger role in this book the way an'ying did. not only that but he and an'ying had one "unnecessary scene" that pissed me off. yu'chen deserved so much better. the author used so much foreshadowing that i knew he was a doomed character from the beginning. but a girl can dream, right? i shouldn't have.
I AM GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE: 𝗜 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗢'𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗚. thanks for coming to my ted talk <3 i expected tension in a supposed love triangle but all i felt was detachment especially because it was predictable.... so much for having morally-grey characters :3 anyways! (；⌣̀_⌣́)
of course, there's also my criticism with the other elements of this story such as the eight immortals, sansiran, the higher ones, and even the rest of the elements that make up the world this duology is set in. they were all very riveting. but even sansiran's demise wasn't compelling enough to capture my attention. it was very unclimactic considering she's the antagonist who drove the story for so long.
the ending however, was quite bittersweet and momentous. it was similar to most of the xianxia fantasy books i've read and i guess i really liked how harrowing it was. that last chapter definitely saved this book for me. overall, the story is immersing and good, but not as great as i expected it to be.
ೃ ✿ pre-reading thoughts below𓈒ॱ⬭ᩙ
-----------------------------------
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
3.75. ⭐️
this gut-wrenching, high-stakes sequel to the three realms duology is definitely one to die for. it takes place a few days after ending of scorpion and the night blossom, with an'ying preparing for battle against the kingdom of night. i definitely liked the first one more because i am not a fan of love triangles. there was enough yearning and angst but i wasn't fully satisfied. why should there always be a need for a love triangle?
"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂."
this man had BANGER lines. he sadly lacked the development and exposure he deserved in this book. since the sequel was mostly set the kingdom of night, i expected a proper backstory especially about his childhood prior to the trials. he had so much unexplored lore that i simply felt bad for him. for someone who shared the dual perspective in this book, he certainly wasn't there enough nor did have a bigger role in this book the way an'ying did. not only that but he and an'ying had one "unnecessary scene" that pissed me off. yu'chen deserved so much better. the author used so much foreshadowing that i knew he was a doomed character from the beginning. but a girl can dream, right? i shouldn't have.
I AM GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE: 𝗜 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗢'𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗚. thanks for coming to my ted talk <3 i expected tension in a supposed love triangle but all i felt was detachment especially because it was predictable.... so much for having morally-grey characters :3 anyways! (；⌣̀_⌣́)
of course, there's also my criticism with the other elements of this story such as the eight immortals, sansiran, the higher ones, and even the rest of the elements that make up the world this duology is set in. they were all very riveting. but even sansiran's demise wasn't compelling enough to capture my attention. it was very unclimactic considering she's the antagonist who drove the story for so long.
the ending however, was quite bittersweet and momentous. it was similar to most of the xianxia fantasy books i've read and i guess i really liked how harrowing it was. that last chapter definitely saved this book for me. overall, the story is immersing and good, but not as great as i expected it to be.
ೃ ✿ pre-reading thoughts below𓈒ॱ⬭ᩙ
-----------------------------------
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
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.
March 31, 2026
*thank you so much to HarperVoyagerUK and Netgalley for sending me this arc, and thanks to the author Amelie Wen Zhao for this story! this is my completely honest review*
4⭐️
this sequel felt heavier, darker, and a bit more intense for me compared to book one (the scorpion and the night blossom)!!! 🌙🐉 i could really feel the weight of FMC Àn’yīng’s journey as everything shifts into saving the mortal realm (the Kingdom of River) from the war started by the demon realm (the Kingdom of Night).
one of the biggest highlights for me was the love triangle 💔🔥
Àn’yīng’s relationships with the 2 MMCs - Yù’chén and Hào’yáng get messier, more complicated, and also quite heartbreaking (in the best way possible!!! 😭💕）
the love triangle that unfolds was aching but also a lot fun to read (if you know what i mean!! 😭❤️）and i loved how conflicted it made me feel as a reader 🥹✨ i also have to admit i was rooting for one love interest just a little bit more, which made certain moments hurt even more!!! 🥺😭🫶
just as how i felt abt the first book, i still really love Àn’yīng as a character 🤍🌸 she feels so real in the way she struggles between duty and responsibility versus freedom and following her heart. she wavers, doubts herself, and feels torn in ways that felt very relatable to me, but i also loved that she always tries to ground herself again and make the right choice to the best of her abilities 🥹🫶
a small critique of mine is that some plot development or explanation of the worldbuilding are more told than shown (i noticed this in book one as well but it didn’t bother me there, whereas in book two it stood out much more and affected my immersion a bit) 📖💭
hence there were times i wished certain emotional or plot moments had more space or depth to fully play out🥹
i also felt the certain romance moments relied a bit too much on verbal declarations of love, which made it feel slightly less powerful than i hoped, especially since romance is such a big part of this duology ❤️🩹
however overall i still had a really great time with this book!!! i think it’s a very solid duology ❤️✨
it’s def romance-heavy (which i enjoyed💕), and compared to book 1 i think it has a darker tone, more emotional angst, a messy but fun love triangle, and a fmc i genuinely care about, so i’m really glad i read this!!! 🥰💕
i would recommend this duology to anyone that likes chinese myth–inspired romantasy with love triangle and morally grey MMC! 🧧✨
*book review of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus by Amelie Wen Zhao*
4⭐️
this sequel felt heavier, darker, and a bit more intense for me compared to book one (the scorpion and the night blossom)!!! 🌙🐉 i could really feel the weight of FMC Àn’yīng’s journey as everything shifts into saving the mortal realm (the Kingdom of River) from the war started by the demon realm (the Kingdom of Night).
one of the biggest highlights for me was the love triangle 💔🔥
Àn’yīng’s relationships with the 2 MMCs - Yù’chén and Hào’yáng get messier, more complicated, and also quite heartbreaking (in the best way possible!!! 😭💕）
the love triangle that unfolds was aching but also a lot fun to read (if you know what i mean!! 😭❤️）and i loved how conflicted it made me feel as a reader 🥹✨ i also have to admit i was rooting for one love interest just a little bit more, which made certain moments hurt even more!!! 🥺😭🫶
just as how i felt abt the first book, i still really love Àn’yīng as a character 🤍🌸 she feels so real in the way she struggles between duty and responsibility versus freedom and following her heart. she wavers, doubts herself, and feels torn in ways that felt very relatable to me, but i also loved that she always tries to ground herself again and make the right choice to the best of her abilities 🥹🫶
a small critique of mine is that some plot development or explanation of the worldbuilding are more told than shown (i noticed this in book one as well but it didn’t bother me there, whereas in book two it stood out much more and affected my immersion a bit) 📖💭
hence there were times i wished certain emotional or plot moments had more space or depth to fully play out🥹
i also felt the certain romance moments relied a bit too much on verbal declarations of love, which made it feel slightly less powerful than i hoped, especially since romance is such a big part of this duology ❤️🩹
however overall i still had a really great time with this book!!! i think it’s a very solid duology ❤️✨
it’s def romance-heavy (which i enjoyed💕), and compared to book 1 i think it has a darker tone, more emotional angst, a messy but fun love triangle, and a fmc i genuinely care about, so i’m really glad i read this!!! 🥰💕
i would recommend this duology to anyone that likes chinese myth–inspired romantasy with love triangle and morally grey MMC! 🧧✨
*book review of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus by Amelie Wen Zhao*
March 4, 2026
Rating: 5/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus was the perfect conclusion to this duology. Picking up right where book one left off, Amélie Wen Zhao wastes no time pulling readers back into the action, the romance, and the emotional heart of the story. The momentum is immediate, and it never lets up.
An’Ying is still determined to stop Mo from taking over both the Mortal Realm and the Sky Realm. She knows she isn’t alone in this fight, but she also understands that she is the key to ending the darkness threatening everything she loves. Now she must fully step into her inherited goddess powers while also evading Yu’Chen and his mother. The weight on her shoulders feels immense, and that pressure drives much of the emotional intensity in this book.
I truly loved this conclusion. There was a moment when I wasn’t sure it would end the way I hoped, but Zhao absolutely understands her readers’ hearts. The love triangle continues to be layered and meaningful. I have a love-hate relationship with love triangles, but Zhao writes them in a way that makes you deeply understand each character and their motivations. Sometimes love can be right… just not right now.
And the ending. I have not cried like that over the last few chapters in a long time. It was beautifully done, devastating yet hopeful, heartbreaking yet full of a love that feels timeless. I genuinely wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way, even though it shattered me. I can’t say more without spoiling it, but just know the emotional payoff is powerful.
The plot remains strong and steady throughout, with clear character growth. An’Ying grew so much in the first book, but in this one she truly begins to understand herself her dreams, her strength, and her choices. I also appreciated getting deeper insight into the male leads and seeing their layers unfold. Zhao seamlessly weaves mythology and fantasy together without overwhelming the reader, avoiding heavy info-dumps while still delivering a rich, immersive world.
This story explores grief, loss, loyalty, physical and emotional pain, and the complexity of love and sacrifice in ways that feel deeply relatable. It’s epic, emotional, and beautifully written. I cannot wait to see what Amélie Wen Zhao writes next
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus was the perfect conclusion to this duology. Picking up right where book one left off, Amélie Wen Zhao wastes no time pulling readers back into the action, the romance, and the emotional heart of the story. The momentum is immediate, and it never lets up.
An’Ying is still determined to stop Mo from taking over both the Mortal Realm and the Sky Realm. She knows she isn’t alone in this fight, but she also understands that she is the key to ending the darkness threatening everything she loves. Now she must fully step into her inherited goddess powers while also evading Yu’Chen and his mother. The weight on her shoulders feels immense, and that pressure drives much of the emotional intensity in this book.
I truly loved this conclusion. There was a moment when I wasn’t sure it would end the way I hoped, but Zhao absolutely understands her readers’ hearts. The love triangle continues to be layered and meaningful. I have a love-hate relationship with love triangles, but Zhao writes them in a way that makes you deeply understand each character and their motivations. Sometimes love can be right… just not right now.
And the ending. I have not cried like that over the last few chapters in a long time. It was beautifully done, devastating yet hopeful, heartbreaking yet full of a love that feels timeless. I genuinely wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way, even though it shattered me. I can’t say more without spoiling it, but just know the emotional payoff is powerful.
The plot remains strong and steady throughout, with clear character growth. An’Ying grew so much in the first book, but in this one she truly begins to understand herself her dreams, her strength, and her choices. I also appreciated getting deeper insight into the male leads and seeing their layers unfold. Zhao seamlessly weaves mythology and fantasy together without overwhelming the reader, avoiding heavy info-dumps while still delivering a rich, immersive world.
This story explores grief, loss, loyalty, physical and emotional pain, and the complexity of love and sacrifice in ways that feel deeply relatable. It’s epic, emotional, and beautifully written. I cannot wait to see what Amélie Wen Zhao writes next
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this book.
March 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing in this second instalment of the duology is once again top tier. From the worldbuilding to the prose, the family dynamics, and the atmosphere—everything is beautifully crafted, though that’s something I’ve come to expect from Amélie. I enjoyed the first book, but the emotional depth of this one made it my favourite. The stakes feel higher, and because of that, I was completely swept along for the ride.
I loved the entire first half of the book, but I was so mad at how it ended. Do I like love triangles? Absolutely not. And this book reminded me why. More often than not, the character I root for isn’t the one chosen, and this was no exception. I cried at the ending because the love that was lost felt like it could have been legendary.
That being said—the yearning from Yù’chén? I was obsessed.
I also appreciated that the emotions never felt rushed and the consequences were never sugar-coated. It made the story hit harder in all the right ways.
I can’t wait to see what Amélie writes next.
The writing in this second instalment of the duology is once again top tier. From the worldbuilding to the prose, the family dynamics, and the atmosphere—everything is beautifully crafted, though that’s something I’ve come to expect from Amélie. I enjoyed the first book, but the emotional depth of this one made it my favourite. The stakes feel higher, and because of that, I was completely swept along for the ride.
I loved the entire first half of the book, but I was so mad at how it ended. Do I like love triangles? Absolutely not. And this book reminded me why. More often than not, the character I root for isn’t the one chosen, and this was no exception. I cried at the ending because the love that was lost felt like it could have been legendary.
That being said—the yearning from Yù’chén? I was obsessed.
I also appreciated that the emotions never felt rushed and the consequences were never sugar-coated. It made the story hit harder in all the right ways.
I can’t wait to see what Amélie writes next.
March 24, 2026
{3.5 stars}
So happy that she did mot end up with Yú’chén, but then again, it was extremely random for her to get married and proclaim her eternal love to Hào’yáng before he dies then dating Yú’chén for real this time. It feels like her true love was Yú’chén, but she sorta chose Hào’yáng even though he did not have a lot of depth (since we spent so much time with the other love interest) and it felt somewhat disappointing by the end.
Also, if Àn’yīng hated Yú’chén so much, why can’t she stop falling in bed with him? The main character was so unfair to both men in this way because she kept on trying to be with one the entire book while also not wanting to and telling him all these horrible things yet she wanted him, but then no, she wanted Hào’yáng even though he was gone for the entire book, dead, and and and..
All in all, there are quite a few issues for this love triangle to be resolved properly, it did feel like a portion of the book was missing because she never showed genuine interest towards Hào’yáng.
So happy that she did mot end up with Yú’chén, but then again, it was extremely random for her to get married and proclaim her eternal love to Hào’yáng before he dies then dating Yú’chén for real this time. It feels like her true love was Yú’chén, but she sorta chose Hào’yáng even though he did not have a lot of depth (since we spent so much time with the other love interest) and it felt somewhat disappointing by the end.
Also, if Àn’yīng hated Yú’chén so much, why can’t she stop falling in bed with him? The main character was so unfair to both men in this way because she kept on trying to be with one the entire book while also not wanting to and telling him all these horrible things yet she wanted him, but then no, she wanted Hào’yáng even though he was gone for the entire book, dead, and and and..
All in all, there are quite a few issues for this love triangle to be resolved properly, it did feel like a portion of the book was missing because she never showed genuine interest towards Hào’yáng.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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