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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
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
66 people are currently reading
8960 people want to read
About the author
Amélie Wen Zhao
13 books3,494 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 154 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.
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.
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.
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 🙂↕️🙂↕️)
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.
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.
February 13, 2026
I can’t breathe
Rtc
Rtc
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 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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Beautiful, lyrical and another amazing addition to my Chinese fantasy/mythology collection.
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⬭ᩙ
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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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Yu Chen, you single-handedly saved this book
January 25, 2026
5⭐️ - Thank you so much Delacorte Press for gifting me with an E-ARC on NetGalley!
Guys where do I even start. Literally just give this book all my stars right now. I’ve never rlly done the whole 6 star reads but literally just give this one 6 stars.
When I read the first book back in July I absolutely fell in love with it and I was so certain I knew how the second book would go but I actually had no clue what was coming.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is absolutely beautiful and the perfect ending for this duology. The writing was atmospheric and exciting to read. I absolutely love this author’s writing style and I’m very excited to read more books by her in the future.
The plot was so good! I never ever wanted to put the book down and there were so many twists and turns. Ugh like it was literally so good and everything tied together with the first book so nicely.
My biggest impact with this book comes with the romance. The love triangle that I usually hate but actually enjoyed in this series. Let me tell you I was SOBBING the last 4 chapters of this book. Like uncontrollably sobbing in my dorm room. But it was so beautiful and so perfect and so heartbreakingly sad which made it even more meaningful and impactful. This is truly my favorite ending I’ve ever read in all my years on this Earth. It was everything I’ve wanted from a book emotionally and more. I literally cannot put into words how much this duology means to me. Absolutely one of my all time favs right next to Divine Rivals.
I don’t want to spoil this book so this is really all I can say. But I want everyone to know that I’m experiencing every emotion right now but overall I’m very satisfied with this ending. It was so beautiful 😭
Anyways, 100% recommend. I’ll be spending all my money on editions of this book. (This book is adult Romantasy/Fantasy and has some spice). Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy in March.
P.S. I know the author said this was a very early version than what she wanted to submit but it was still amazing and I can’t wait to reread the final version!
Guys where do I even start. Literally just give this book all my stars right now. I’ve never rlly done the whole 6 star reads but literally just give this one 6 stars.
When I read the first book back in July I absolutely fell in love with it and I was so certain I knew how the second book would go but I actually had no clue what was coming.
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is absolutely beautiful and the perfect ending for this duology. The writing was atmospheric and exciting to read. I absolutely love this author’s writing style and I’m very excited to read more books by her in the future.
The plot was so good! I never ever wanted to put the book down and there were so many twists and turns. Ugh like it was literally so good and everything tied together with the first book so nicely.
My biggest impact with this book comes with the romance. The love triangle that I usually hate but actually enjoyed in this series. Let me tell you I was SOBBING the last 4 chapters of this book. Like uncontrollably sobbing in my dorm room. But it was so beautiful and so perfect and so heartbreakingly sad which made it even more meaningful and impactful. This is truly my favorite ending I’ve ever read in all my years on this Earth. It was everything I’ve wanted from a book emotionally and more. I literally cannot put into words how much this duology means to me. Absolutely one of my all time favs right next to Divine Rivals.
I don’t want to spoil this book so this is really all I can say. But I want everyone to know that I’m experiencing every emotion right now but overall I’m very satisfied with this ending. It was so beautiful 😭
Anyways, 100% recommend. I’ll be spending all my money on editions of this book. (This book is adult Romantasy/Fantasy and has some spice). Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy in March.
P.S. I know the author said this was a very early version than what she wanted to submit but it was still amazing and I can’t wait to reread the final version!
January 18, 2026
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is the second book in the Three Realms duology, and you can read my review for The Scorpion and the Night Blossom HERE
We pick up after the events of book one, and this book feels different to book one for a lot of reasons. The pace is somewhat slower and more consistent, and the plot is more character driven. The love triangle is a LOT more on the nose (and not everyone is going to enjoy this), but the writing feels a lot more fluid and lyrical.
I enjoyed the inspiration from C-drama's but this may not be to everyone's taste. The highlight for me was definitley Yù’chén, and man did he get the raw end of the deal. Àn’yīng was not my favourite, but at least her character was more consistent compared to book one.
I really enjoyed the ending, I found it quite poetic and fitting and it was satisfying to conclude here.
Thankyou to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of the Dragon and the Sun Lotus
Narration: Dual character, first person POV
Spice: 1/5 (two scenes, not very graphic)
Tropes:
- Love Triangle
- Hidden bloodlines
- Demons, mortals and immortals
Similar Titles:
- Heart of the Sun Warrior
- Immortal
Follow for more:
INSTAGRAM
We pick up after the events of book one, and this book feels different to book one for a lot of reasons. The pace is somewhat slower and more consistent, and the plot is more character driven. The love triangle is a LOT more on the nose (and not everyone is going to enjoy this), but the writing feels a lot more fluid and lyrical.
I enjoyed the inspiration from C-drama's but this may not be to everyone's taste. The highlight for me was definitley Yù’chén, and man did he get the raw end of the deal. Àn’yīng was not my favourite, but at least her character was more consistent compared to book one.
I really enjoyed the ending, I found it quite poetic and fitting and it was satisfying to conclude here.
Thankyou to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of the Dragon and the Sun Lotus
Narration: Dual character, first person POV
Spice: 1/5 (two scenes, not very graphic)
Tropes:
- Love Triangle
- Hidden bloodlines
- Demons, mortals and immortals
Similar Titles:
- Heart of the Sun Warrior
- Immortal
Follow for more:
March 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️!
While the first novel in this duology captivated me immediately, I found it a lot harder to get through The Dragon And the Sun Lotus. Perhaps it was because it had been a year since I had last seen these characters, or maybe because the story moved so much slower this time.
It’s unclear how long it’s been since the events of the last book, but it opens up in Àn’yīng’s home village, the same place The Scorpion & The Night Blossom begins in. This time, her mother is healthy and whole, but the village is still in danger from the demons searching for her and Háo’yáng.
Personally, I felt like Hào’yàng’s character was a bit flat, and I was unable to understand why she initially chose him over Yú’chen, besides being on opposite sides of the war. I just couldn’t get into him, maybe because we don’t ever see things through his eyes versus the other two in the love triangle.
However, although it moved extremely slowly, things picked up in the last 70%, with an ending that was both satisfying and devastating! Thank you so much to Random House and Netgalley for the e-arc!
While the first novel in this duology captivated me immediately, I found it a lot harder to get through The Dragon And the Sun Lotus. Perhaps it was because it had been a year since I had last seen these characters, or maybe because the story moved so much slower this time.
It’s unclear how long it’s been since the events of the last book, but it opens up in Àn’yīng’s home village, the same place The Scorpion & The Night Blossom begins in. This time, her mother is healthy and whole, but the village is still in danger from the demons searching for her and Háo’yáng.
Personally, I felt like Hào’yàng’s character was a bit flat, and I was unable to understand why she initially chose him over Yú’chen, besides being on opposite sides of the war. I just couldn’t get into him, maybe because we don’t ever see things through his eyes versus the other two in the love triangle.
However, although it moved extremely slowly, things picked up in the last 70%, with an ending that was both satisfying and devastating! Thank you so much to Random House and Netgalley for the e-arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus was the perfect end to this duology and a wonderful way to kick off the Lunar New Year.
Given everything that transpired in the first book, I felt the author did an incredible job capturing the sheer complexity and confusion of Anying’s emotions. While I occasionally found myself annoyed by her reactions, I had to remind myself that she is young (reminder, this is a YA!), her behavior is actually a very realistic and portrayed well.
I also appreciated that we finally got to know Yuchen and Haoyang much more in this book! Getting to know them better made a huge difference. It helped me better understand Anying’s motivations as she made pivotal decisions regarding them and the fate of the entire kingdom/mortal realm.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will just say that the ending and the epilogue had me sobbing. I genuinely needed some time to recover after the read.
Just like the first book, the writing was beautiful. I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this world during the Lunar New Year. Thank you Random House for this ARC!
Given everything that transpired in the first book, I felt the author did an incredible job capturing the sheer complexity and confusion of Anying’s emotions. While I occasionally found myself annoyed by her reactions, I had to remind myself that she is young (reminder, this is a YA!), her behavior is actually a very realistic and portrayed well.
I also appreciated that we finally got to know Yuchen and Haoyang much more in this book! Getting to know them better made a huge difference. It helped me better understand Anying’s motivations as she made pivotal decisions regarding them and the fate of the entire kingdom/mortal realm.
Without giving away any spoilers, I will just say that the ending and the epilogue had me sobbing. I genuinely needed some time to recover after the read.
Just like the first book, the writing was beautiful. I truly enjoyed immersing myself in this world during the Lunar New Year. Thank you Random House for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was everything I hoped it would be. I adored book 1, and I couldn't believe that I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley. it made my day.
I am low key traumatized and also devastated by this story but in the best ways possible.
The epic battles, Light rising to face the Dark, the romance, it was all so beautifully done. I can't believe this and the first in this duology are the first books I've read by this author.
My heart was so broken by one of the MMC's but he's everything you could want and more.
Love isn't selfish, and wow, this story paints the heartbreaking truth of that in strokes of magic and prose.
I loved this book, and it is easily a 6 star read for me for this year.
What a beautiful story.
I am low key traumatized and also devastated by this story but in the best ways possible.
The epic battles, Light rising to face the Dark, the romance, it was all so beautifully done. I can't believe this and the first in this duology are the first books I've read by this author.
My heart was so broken by one of the MMC's but he's everything you could want and more.
Love isn't selfish, and wow, this story paints the heartbreaking truth of that in strokes of magic and prose.
I loved this book, and it is easily a 6 star read for me for this year.
What a beautiful story.
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!
December 30, 2025
I didn’t enjoy The Dragon and the Sun Lotus as much as The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. I just don’t like love triangles, and wish this wasn’t one. The writing was beautiful though and the world was so interesting which kept me reading. Overall not bad but not a favorite either.
3.25/5 rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the E-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.
January 12, 2026
The ending of this book hit me hard. I loved the beginning, I loved the middle, but the end pushed the story into something unforgettable. It’s not often that a duology improves in the second book, but this one really does. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the first book, but this sequel goes deeper emotionally. The stakes feel huge, not just because of the plot, but because you are so emotionally invested in these characters.
Do I like love triangles now? Maybe. This book might have changed my mind. I cared about both of them, genuinely. I wanted both to be happy, which made every moment of tension feel heavier. The story never lets that discomfort go, and the ending reflects that. It’s painful, but it fits the story.
Yù’chén is tragic in a way that makes your chest ache. Born into darkness and molded by pain, he spends the story trying to prove he is more than what the world sees. You feel how much he sacrifices, how much he endures, and how badly he wants to be worthy of Àn’yīng. His arc builds slowly, and by the end, you’re carrying that weight with him.
Hào’yáng is devastating in a quieter way. He is steady and patient, and his love never feels possessive or demanding. He supports Àn’yīng even when it costs him. His kind of love is calm and constant.
The mythology and fantasy elements are woven into the story beautifully. The world is described in ways that keeps you interested and never felt like an info dump. Grief, loss, loyalty, and choice show up naturally, not as themes being explained to the reader, but as challenges the characters have to face and live with.
Zhao trusts the reader. The story doesn’t rush the emotional moments or soften the consequences. The writing is immersive, the pacing is steady, and the emotional moments hit exactly where they should.
I’m already thinking about who I can talk to about this book. I’m very interested in whatever Amélie Wen Zhao writes next. Five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Do I like love triangles now? Maybe. This book might have changed my mind. I cared about both of them, genuinely. I wanted both to be happy, which made every moment of tension feel heavier. The story never lets that discomfort go, and the ending reflects that. It’s painful, but it fits the story.
Yù’chén is tragic in a way that makes your chest ache. Born into darkness and molded by pain, he spends the story trying to prove he is more than what the world sees. You feel how much he sacrifices, how much he endures, and how badly he wants to be worthy of Àn’yīng. His arc builds slowly, and by the end, you’re carrying that weight with him.
Hào’yáng is devastating in a quieter way. He is steady and patient, and his love never feels possessive or demanding. He supports Àn’yīng even when it costs him. His kind of love is calm and constant.
The mythology and fantasy elements are woven into the story beautifully. The world is described in ways that keeps you interested and never felt like an info dump. Grief, loss, loyalty, and choice show up naturally, not as themes being explained to the reader, but as challenges the characters have to face and live with.
Zhao trusts the reader. The story doesn’t rush the emotional moments or soften the consequences. The writing is immersive, the pacing is steady, and the emotional moments hit exactly where they should.
I’m already thinking about who I can talk to about this book. I’m very interested in whatever Amélie Wen Zhao writes next. Five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okayyyy so this sequel? It had me stressed, conflicted, emotional, and slightly betrayed (which honestly feels on brand for this series) 😭🔥
If The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was all about surviving the Immortality Trials, The Dragon and the Sun Lotus goes full-scale war, demons, realm politics, and heartbreak... and the stakes are SO much bigger this time.
🌌 The Worldbuilding / Stakes:
Amélie Wen Zhao really knows how to write a world that feels both beautiful and absolutely terrifying. The mó roaming free, the darkness spreading, the whole “everything is on the brink of destruction” vibe? Yeah, the atmosphere was immaculate. I loved how much wider the world felt in this one too: we’re not just stuck in one setting anymore. We get more realms, more power struggles, more mythic energy, and it all felt very cinematic. Dragons, phoenixes, demon queens, ancient powers waking up?? It’s giving epic fantasy in the best way. I also loved that even with all the chaos and destruction, Zhao still gives us these softer, human moments. Àn’yīng’s line about her mother (“While Bà was the practical one in our family, Mā was always the one who made magic out of the ordinary”) was such a lovely reminder of the emotional core underneath all the war and fantasy spectacle.
🦂 Àn’yīng:
We’re reunited with Àn’yīng, and I still care about her, but I’m not gonna lie… this book had me questioning her choices A LOT. 👀
There were definitely moments where I struggled with her character, especially when it came to the romance side of things.The emotional back-and-forth felt messy in a way that made sense for war and trauma and impossible choices… but also had me side-eyeing her a little 😅
Like, I understood what the author was doing and why Àn’yīng was torn, but some of her decisions still frustrated me, and that stopped me from being fully emotionally locked in with her the way I was in book one.
That said, she still has some really strong lines and moments. The “A scorpion without a stinger…” line when she realises her blades are gone after being stripped of her wedding dress? SO good. It really captured that feeling of her being trapped, disarmed, and still trying to hold onto who she is.
🔥 Yù’Chén (aka the superior emotional damage):
I fear this man had me in a chokehold even more in this book.
Yù’Chén was already a morally grey fave in book one, but here? He felt even more tragic, more layered, and honestly more compelling. The fact that he’s half mó and caught between what he is and what he feels made his whole arc SO painful in the best way.
What really got me is that so many of his acts of love felt completely selfless, and that hit even harder because of everything we know about the mó and what they are (or aren’t) meant to feel. Watching him struggle to reconcile his humanity, his love, and his nature was one of the strongest parts of the whole book for me.
And Zhao REALLY fed us with his inner thoughts and dialogue in this one. Like???
“In my dreams, she’s half-turned to me… And I’m chasing her, chasing a life in which she might look at me and smile.”
That is SICKENING (in the best way, of course!) 😭
Then he’s also out here saying things like:
He was giving:
* doomed
* dangerous
* yearning
* “I would burn for you and never ask for anything back”
And unfortunately for me, that is my exact type. 💀
☀️ Hào’yáng:
Hào’yáng is still such a solid character and very much gives golden retriever MMC energy: loyal, dependable, sweet, and genuinely trying to do the right thing.
He also has some really good lighter moments, and I actually loved this line from him: “I’ve imagined this ten thousand times for our wedding night… only never with me bleeding out.” It was such a good little moment of humour in a very intense book.
But… and this is a big but… by the end of the book, I just didn’t feel the same chemistry between him and Àn’yīng that I felt with Yù’Chén.
So, even though certain plot moments involving him were clearly meant to hit hard, I didn’t have the same emotional reaction I probably should have had. The twist itself was well-written (and I can absolutely appreciate the craft), but I personally didn’t love the outcome. That’s fully a me preference thing, not a criticism of the writing.
⚔️ Found Family / Side Characters:
One thing I really missed in this sequel was more time with Li’Ling, Tán’mù, and that little found family dynamic from book one 🥲
They worked so well together in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, and I really loved the misfit energy they brought to the story. This sequel is obviously dealing with much bigger, more epic stakes, but I still wish we’d had more of that group dynamic because it added so much heart before.
👀 Villains / Twists:
Sansiran continues to be such a compelling villain. She’s cruel, powerful, and genuinely feels like a threat every time she’s on page, which is exactly what I want from a big fantasy villain. And meeting more of her Higher Ones? Absolutely foul; horrible; awful. Perfect villain material 😌
I also loved how twisted her view of love is, especially in contrast to Yù’Chén. Her line: “Love can grow dark and twisted and sharp… One day, your love will hurt you so much that you will understand why I would burn down kingdoms for it” was such a chilling villain moment and honestly one of the most memorable lines in the book.
The twists in this book were well done too, and even when I didn’t personally love where one of them landed, I can still say they were written effectively and made sense within the story.
💔 The Ending / Emotional Damage:
This is the part that bumped my rating up.
Because if I’m being honest, I was hovering closer to 3 stars for a lot of this book due to my frustration with Àn’yīng’s choices… BUT the ending slightly (and I mean slightly) pulled it back for me.
I understood the meaning behind how the war ended, and I understood what the story was trying to say, but it was still absolutely heartbreaking, especially where Yù’Chén is concerned. Even if the end result was about liberation, he still had to make such a huge sacrifice, and that really stayed with me.
And the book absolutely twisted the knife with his final lines and goodbye.
Even Àn’yīng’s final reflection on him was devastating and beautiful, especially the idea that his choice changed the world. It hurt so much because for all the pain and betrayal and impossible choices, his ending still felt rooted in love and sacrifice.
It hurt.
I was mad.
I was emotional.
I was staring at the wall afterwards.
So… mission accomplished, I guess 😭
🌀 Why Not 5 Stars?:
For me, this came down to:
* frustration with Àn’yīng’s romantic choices/behaviour
* not feeling the same chemistry with Hào’yáng
* wanting more of the found family from book one
The writing, the worldbuilding, and the villain work were all strong; this was very much a personal preference / emotional payoff issue for me rather than a craft issue.
✨ Final Thoughts:
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is a darker, bigger, more emotionally complicated sequel that expands the world in a really exciting way. It didn’t hit me in exactly the same way as book one, but it still delivered on atmosphere, stakes, and heartbreak, and Yù’Chén absolutely carried the emotional weight for me.
If you loved The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, especially for the mythology, danger, and messy romantic tension, you’ll definitely want to continue this series.
And if you, like me, have a weakness for tragic morally grey men making selfless choices…
yeah, good luck! 🫠🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
If The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was all about surviving the Immortality Trials, The Dragon and the Sun Lotus goes full-scale war, demons, realm politics, and heartbreak... and the stakes are SO much bigger this time.
🌌 The Worldbuilding / Stakes:
Amélie Wen Zhao really knows how to write a world that feels both beautiful and absolutely terrifying. The mó roaming free, the darkness spreading, the whole “everything is on the brink of destruction” vibe? Yeah, the atmosphere was immaculate. I loved how much wider the world felt in this one too: we’re not just stuck in one setting anymore. We get more realms, more power struggles, more mythic energy, and it all felt very cinematic. Dragons, phoenixes, demon queens, ancient powers waking up?? It’s giving epic fantasy in the best way. I also loved that even with all the chaos and destruction, Zhao still gives us these softer, human moments. Àn’yīng’s line about her mother (“While Bà was the practical one in our family, Mā was always the one who made magic out of the ordinary”) was such a lovely reminder of the emotional core underneath all the war and fantasy spectacle.
🦂 Àn’yīng:
We’re reunited with Àn’yīng, and I still care about her, but I’m not gonna lie… this book had me questioning her choices A LOT. 👀
There were definitely moments where I struggled with her character, especially when it came to the romance side of things.The emotional back-and-forth felt messy in a way that made sense for war and trauma and impossible choices… but also had me side-eyeing her a little 😅
Like, I understood what the author was doing and why Àn’yīng was torn, but some of her decisions still frustrated me, and that stopped me from being fully emotionally locked in with her the way I was in book one.
That said, she still has some really strong lines and moments. The “A scorpion without a stinger…” line when she realises her blades are gone after being stripped of her wedding dress? SO good. It really captured that feeling of her being trapped, disarmed, and still trying to hold onto who she is.
🔥 Yù’Chén (aka the superior emotional damage):
I fear this man had me in a chokehold even more in this book.
Yù’Chén was already a morally grey fave in book one, but here? He felt even more tragic, more layered, and honestly more compelling. The fact that he’s half mó and caught between what he is and what he feels made his whole arc SO painful in the best way.
What really got me is that so many of his acts of love felt completely selfless, and that hit even harder because of everything we know about the mó and what they are (or aren’t) meant to feel. Watching him struggle to reconcile his humanity, his love, and his nature was one of the strongest parts of the whole book for me.
And Zhao REALLY fed us with his inner thoughts and dialogue in this one. Like???
“In my dreams, she’s half-turned to me… And I’m chasing her, chasing a life in which she might look at me and smile.”
That is SICKENING (in the best way, of course!) 😭
Then he’s also out here saying things like:
“I may be your villain, Àn’yīng, but I’m not a monster.”
“I know you never wanted this… So tell me you hate me… Tell me I’m a monster that repulses you.”
“A man living in eternal night who finally sees the sun could never hate it…”And I’m just supposed to be normal about that?? Absolutely not.
He was giving:
* doomed
* dangerous
* yearning
* “I would burn for you and never ask for anything back”
And unfortunately for me, that is my exact type. 💀
☀️ Hào’yáng:
Hào’yáng is still such a solid character and very much gives golden retriever MMC energy: loyal, dependable, sweet, and genuinely trying to do the right thing.
He also has some really good lighter moments, and I actually loved this line from him: “I’ve imagined this ten thousand times for our wedding night… only never with me bleeding out.” It was such a good little moment of humour in a very intense book.
But… and this is a big but… by the end of the book, I just didn’t feel the same chemistry between him and Àn’yīng that I felt with Yù’Chén.
So, even though certain plot moments involving him were clearly meant to hit hard, I didn’t have the same emotional reaction I probably should have had. The twist itself was well-written (and I can absolutely appreciate the craft), but I personally didn’t love the outcome. That’s fully a me preference thing, not a criticism of the writing.
⚔️ Found Family / Side Characters:
One thing I really missed in this sequel was more time with Li’Ling, Tán’mù, and that little found family dynamic from book one 🥲
They worked so well together in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, and I really loved the misfit energy they brought to the story. This sequel is obviously dealing with much bigger, more epic stakes, but I still wish we’d had more of that group dynamic because it added so much heart before.
👀 Villains / Twists:
Sansiran continues to be such a compelling villain. She’s cruel, powerful, and genuinely feels like a threat every time she’s on page, which is exactly what I want from a big fantasy villain. And meeting more of her Higher Ones? Absolutely foul; horrible; awful. Perfect villain material 😌
I also loved how twisted her view of love is, especially in contrast to Yù’Chén. Her line: “Love can grow dark and twisted and sharp… One day, your love will hurt you so much that you will understand why I would burn down kingdoms for it” was such a chilling villain moment and honestly one of the most memorable lines in the book.
The twists in this book were well done too, and even when I didn’t personally love where one of them landed, I can still say they were written effectively and made sense within the story.
💔 The Ending / Emotional Damage:
This is the part that bumped my rating up.
Because if I’m being honest, I was hovering closer to 3 stars for a lot of this book due to my frustration with Àn’yīng’s choices… BUT the ending slightly (and I mean slightly) pulled it back for me.
I understood the meaning behind how the war ended, and I understood what the story was trying to say, but it was still absolutely heartbreaking, especially where Yù’Chén is concerned. Even if the end result was about liberation, he still had to make such a huge sacrifice, and that really stayed with me.
And the book absolutely twisted the knife with his final lines and goodbye.
“The mó do not have souls, but I’d like to think if I did, mine would be carved through with memories of you.”And then:
“My blood was made to destroy your world… So let me be your monster until the very end, Àn’yīng.”Yeah. I was done for.
Even Àn’yīng’s final reflection on him was devastating and beautiful, especially the idea that his choice changed the world. It hurt so much because for all the pain and betrayal and impossible choices, his ending still felt rooted in love and sacrifice.
It hurt.
I was mad.
I was emotional.
I was staring at the wall afterwards.
So… mission accomplished, I guess 😭
🌀 Why Not 5 Stars?:
For me, this came down to:
* frustration with Àn’yīng’s romantic choices/behaviour
* not feeling the same chemistry with Hào’yáng
* wanting more of the found family from book one
The writing, the worldbuilding, and the villain work were all strong; this was very much a personal preference / emotional payoff issue for me rather than a craft issue.
✨ Final Thoughts:
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus is a darker, bigger, more emotionally complicated sequel that expands the world in a really exciting way. It didn’t hit me in exactly the same way as book one, but it still delivered on atmosphere, stakes, and heartbreak, and Yù’Chén absolutely carried the emotional weight for me.
If you loved The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, especially for the mythology, danger, and messy romantic tension, you’ll definitely want to continue this series.
And if you, like me, have a weakness for tragic morally grey men making selfless choices…
yeah, good luck! 🫠🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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).
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. -
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tender and heartfelt 'The Dragon And The Sun Lotus' is a book that is sure to delight many a reader, filled with a combination of moments that will make you melt inside and others that will devastate you. It's a wondrous blend of bittersweet and poignant although the love triangle at its centre could well divide readers too, depending on what pairing you find yourself rooting for.
Before anything else I want to admit that I'm not sure if I'd have connected better with this one if I'd re-read the first book in the duology prior to picking this up. I didn't feel at all lost or confused whilst reading this - I could remember events well enough and the author did a wonderful job of providing refreshers of what's come before, without making things feel repetitive for anyone coming to this directly from the first one - but I wasn't as connected to one pairing as I'd have hoped for. Technically I could see how beautiful, poignant and caring one of the bonds here was but I couldn't seem to connect to it for some reason. Maybe because I remembered the other pairing more vividly; maybe because of the kind of romance tropes that call to me. I'm not entirely sure why I couldn't connect to it as strongly, as it seemed very emotionally penned, but it unfortunately put a damper on my experience overall.
'The Dragon And The Sun Lotus' is a novel with romance at its core. There's an overarching, danger ridden plot going on throughout but its definitely a narrative where the characters' bonds take centre stage. This is the story ofÀn’yīng's heart and the divide within it, first and foremost. Technically the stakes are much higher than they were within the first book of the duology - the very world itself is at stake - but with the way that Àn’yīng 's time seems divided between both potential love interests it felt to me like the romance was what mattered most. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Romantasy is a genre that's taking the bookish world by storm right now and many readers crave the romantic elements more so than anything else. I just happen to be one of those other readers that want the fantasy elements to shine first and foremost.
Compared to the first book in the duology I don't feel like there was as much worldbuilding involved, although this is somewhat to be expected whenÀn’yīng is now familiar with most of the locations that she finds herself within. One of my personal highlights was learning about a mó based ceremony when she found herself within the Kingdom of Night. These kinds of world based details always call to me.
The action and clashes were pretty well done overall. There's a mix of fantastical creatures and mystical abilities at work. There's lots of danger and despair. Plus there's a mix of individuals with origins within mythology - something that always calls to me. Yet I do feel like the political maneuvering could have been sharper here and some things could have used a little more explanation. One major driving force of the narrative - which is too spoilery to go into specific details of - had an alternative option that I could see. And personally I did feel like Àn’yīng's abilities seemed to differ throughout as to how much she could physically accomplish.
I don't really want to say which of the romantic pairings I was rooting for, as I feel like it could potentially give hints of things away. I will however say that both pairings had an element that bothered me. With Hào’yáng it got a bit grating with how often Àn’yīng referred to him as her 'boy in the jade'. The sentiment itself is beautiful and the history behind it so poignant; yet it was a term of endearment used a bit too frequently for me. And with Yù’chén its an issue I remember from before at times -Àn’yīng's tendency to always think the worst of him. So many of his actions showed his true heart but she was always so stubbornly determined to put his biology first and foremost.
I also have to admit that one element of the ending felt a little bit like a cheat to me. I'm aware of the kind of roots its drawing from but given some people's actions it didn't have the impact on me that I'd have yearned for. Although just to be clear this had nothing to do with the conflict itself; that was mostly well done as previously stated.
Overall I recommend 'The Dragon And The Sun Lotus' but think its best to go into it with the right expectations. This one definitely felt more romance than plot driven when compared to the previous book within the duology. It has two pairings with a lot of romantic moments, yearning and heart involved and if I'd connected to both of them strongly this would have utterly devastated me throughout. its definitely the kind of bittersweet, heartfelt journey that I can see many romantasy fans falling for. It has two very different romances at its core. If you're rooting for one in particular this novel could frustrate you, admittedly. But that's always the danger of love triangles. I'd also personally recommend re-reading the previous installment before diving into this one to truly get all of the necessary character connection. If I'd done so I think this would have hit harder. As it was for me personally this was somewhat of a mixed bag. But I do definitely see its heartfelt, poignant, bittersweet potential.
Before anything else I want to admit that I'm not sure if I'd have connected better with this one if I'd re-read the first book in the duology prior to picking this up. I didn't feel at all lost or confused whilst reading this - I could remember events well enough and the author did a wonderful job of providing refreshers of what's come before, without making things feel repetitive for anyone coming to this directly from the first one - but I wasn't as connected to one pairing as I'd have hoped for. Technically I could see how beautiful, poignant and caring one of the bonds here was but I couldn't seem to connect to it for some reason. Maybe because I remembered the other pairing more vividly; maybe because of the kind of romance tropes that call to me. I'm not entirely sure why I couldn't connect to it as strongly, as it seemed very emotionally penned, but it unfortunately put a damper on my experience overall.
'The Dragon And The Sun Lotus' is a novel with romance at its core. There's an overarching, danger ridden plot going on throughout but its definitely a narrative where the characters' bonds take centre stage. This is the story ofÀn’yīng's heart and the divide within it, first and foremost. Technically the stakes are much higher than they were within the first book of the duology - the very world itself is at stake - but with the way that Àn’yīng 's time seems divided between both potential love interests it felt to me like the romance was what mattered most. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Romantasy is a genre that's taking the bookish world by storm right now and many readers crave the romantic elements more so than anything else. I just happen to be one of those other readers that want the fantasy elements to shine first and foremost.
Compared to the first book in the duology I don't feel like there was as much worldbuilding involved, although this is somewhat to be expected whenÀn’yīng is now familiar with most of the locations that she finds herself within. One of my personal highlights was learning about a mó based ceremony when she found herself within the Kingdom of Night. These kinds of world based details always call to me.
The action and clashes were pretty well done overall. There's a mix of fantastical creatures and mystical abilities at work. There's lots of danger and despair. Plus there's a mix of individuals with origins within mythology - something that always calls to me. Yet I do feel like the political maneuvering could have been sharper here and some things could have used a little more explanation. One major driving force of the narrative - which is too spoilery to go into specific details of - had an alternative option that I could see. And personally I did feel like Àn’yīng's abilities seemed to differ throughout as to how much she could physically accomplish.
I don't really want to say which of the romantic pairings I was rooting for, as I feel like it could potentially give hints of things away. I will however say that both pairings had an element that bothered me. With Hào’yáng it got a bit grating with how often Àn’yīng referred to him as her 'boy in the jade'. The sentiment itself is beautiful and the history behind it so poignant; yet it was a term of endearment used a bit too frequently for me. And with Yù’chén its an issue I remember from before at times -Àn’yīng's tendency to always think the worst of him. So many of his actions showed his true heart but she was always so stubbornly determined to put his biology first and foremost.
I also have to admit that one element of the ending felt a little bit like a cheat to me. I'm aware of the kind of roots its drawing from but given some people's actions it didn't have the impact on me that I'd have yearned for. Although just to be clear this had nothing to do with the conflict itself; that was mostly well done as previously stated.
Overall I recommend 'The Dragon And The Sun Lotus' but think its best to go into it with the right expectations. This one definitely felt more romance than plot driven when compared to the previous book within the duology. It has two pairings with a lot of romantic moments, yearning and heart involved and if I'd connected to both of them strongly this would have utterly devastated me throughout. its definitely the kind of bittersweet, heartfelt journey that I can see many romantasy fans falling for. It has two very different romances at its core. If you're rooting for one in particular this novel could frustrate you, admittedly. But that's always the danger of love triangles. I'd also personally recommend re-reading the previous installment before diving into this one to truly get all of the necessary character connection. If I'd done so I think this would have hit harder. As it was for me personally this was somewhat of a mixed bag. But I do definitely see its heartfelt, poignant, bittersweet potential.
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.
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