Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As I love Mulan, therefore jumped straight on requesting this retelling and the synopsis sounded amazing. It's my own fault for not reading all aspects before requesting as I didn't realise it was a sequel so I did have to pause for a little bit just read the first one but that was fine. I enjoyed both of the books and glad to have been made aware of this series as they are incredible and did Mulan justice. The story was incredible and the FMC is honestly written so well, she's strong and fierce, empowering to read about and I do hope there is another in the series!

I loved this sequel even more than The Night Ends with Fire. While book one had strong Mulan vibes, The Dragon Wakes with Thunder fully steps into its own and carves out a tone that’s darker, bolder, and very unique —I loved loved loved it.

Meilin is everything I want in a heroine: morally grey, willstrong and truly determined. No pseudo “strong female lead” nonsense here—just a girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to get messy to achieve it.

The romance? So much more present in this one. Emotional, slow-burning, and high stakes—I was all in.

In short: I already adored book one, but this one hyped me up even more. I don’t want this world to be finished. Please give me more!

3.75 stars
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder is an emotionally rich and action-packed sequel that continues Meilin’s journey with high stakes, romance, and political intrigue—but not without some bumps along the way.

I really enjoyed this follow-up, especially the explosive opening and gripping finale, which more than delivered. K.X. Song excels at weaving emotion and action together, and the romance in this book felt more layered and satisfying than in the first. The dynamic between Meilin and the love interests, especially as her loyalties and identity are tested, was one of my favorite parts of the novel.

That said, the middle of the story sagged a bit for me. While the themes of power, autonomy, and identity remain compelling, the pacing slowed with long stretches of internal conflict and political maneuvering that lost some momentum. Meilin’s shifting priorities—both romantically and strategically—at times felt hard to follow, and I found myself wishing for more narrative clarity.

Still, the ending brought things together in a powerful way and left just enough open to hint at future possibilities. The dragon spirit arc added a fascinating mythical layer that I hope continues to be explored.

Though it didn’t quite live up to the impact of The Night Ends with Fire, this sequel is still a strong installment with vivid worldbuilding, character growth, and a heroine worth rooting for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m grateful to have received an early copy of The Dragon Wakes with Thunder. While I still enjoyed this sequel overall, I have to admit I personally preferred the first book, The Night Ends with Fire. The war-camp setting and the protagonist’s personal journey in book one felt more gripping and emotionally intense to me.

In contrast, this installment shifts the focus to palace intrigue and political maneuvering, which—while well executed—didn’t engage me in the same way. That’s entirely a matter of taste, not quality. The writing is still strong, and the author continues to explore deep, meaningful themes.

What stood out for me in this book was the protagonist’s inner conflict and emotional development. Her journey of self-discovery—navigating autonomy, expectations, and inner strength—felt very authentic and human. The character dynamics, especially toward the end, were rewarding to follow.

Without giving too much away, I also appreciated certain romantic choices and how the different factions eventually interact.

All in all, while this wasn’t quite as impactful for me as book one, it’s still a strong, thoughtful continuation of the story.

A perfect sequel, I'm sad it came to an end but I was very satisfied with the ending we got!

The pacing was similar to book 1 but I found it just as engaging if not more so.

In this book we follow Meilin immediately after the events at the end of book one. I really wanted to try this out because although I enjoyed book one, I didn’t love it. And unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. The pacing felt off and it was quite slow. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the politicking taking place in the first half. However I couldn’t stand the characters, especially the male counterparts, so overall I did not enjoy this one.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape, for providing access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You can always count on this series to stay fast-paced, folks. And fully championing its flawed protagonists.

I must start by mentioning that The Night Ends With Fire was one of my favourite reads of last year, earning a 4.5-star rating from me, which happens quite rarely. I adored every page, and had so many thoughts and opinions regarding the protagonist, her relationship with her dragon, her bottomless ambition, and especially with Sky and Lei, as a love triangle. And, mind you, I loathed Lei with passion at the end of that book, despite all the signs that seemed to indicate him as the official endgame of the series. Meilin and Sky were beyond precious to me; I adored them, their trust, and their bond.

... which meant that this book had to work hard to get me to switch sides. And I am sad to report to my Skylin (is that the shipname? I have no clue) squad that I have, in fact, been converted. Not necessarily to Meilei/ LeiLin - who, let's face it, share some of the most beaitiful scenes of the book - but to the idea of Sky, Meilin, and Lei as a poly ship only because of that one scene where Sky and Lei fight each other, and Sky sheds his insecurities, driven by Lei's supposed pretty face. Is it a scene I've read in many books previously? Yes, but I'll eat it up every time, especially when it comes to the potential of all three of them, together, and that sort of tension. (You mean to tell me that a woman who only found worth in her life through her ambitions will ever be sated with monogamy, yet still loves both? Yeah, that's a wasted opportunity for some flavourful poly representation.)

On a more serious note, I am satisfied with the ending we got for this duology. We had loss, we had sacrifice, we had an open ending that's both hopeful, deserved, and bittersweet. There was no need to explore anything further, but I'm sure the author could still provide a novella at a later date if needed for Lei and Meilin.

However, I must admit that I found Meilin more interesting and easy to digest in book one. Since we spend so much of this installment switching between the spiritual world and the real one, and she's been corrupted by her connection with the dragon so thoroughly, it's hard to understand and connect with her. If anything, I truly don't get how either Sky or Lei still love her and want her when she's been treating them poorly for most of this book.

The evolution of the dragon was another element I found a bit frustrating, as I hoped that we'd explore him and his connection to Meilin more. Instead, he haunted the narrative without ever becoming an interesting player.

All in all, I am quite happy with the series, but I missed some of the magic (writing-wise) and simplicity of book one.

PS: Winter was, hands down, the best character. He was smart, rational, loving, and compassionate. He knew the negative impact of ambition and war, and was the only one with values that we could all connect to. I can't say I'm surprised by his ending, but it's frustrating to see the only healthy relationship and character of the series (and, mind you, a queer one at that) get such a tragic ending.

So yes. Justice for Winter! I don't know what fictional men did to deserve him. I'll be screaming into the spirit realm for him for a while.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an ending to Hai Meilin’s story! I absolutely loved book one and was very excited to continue this duology, and I was NOT disappointed. I was gripped from chapter one, and the epic story telling did not falter for one page. I liked that although romance played a part in this story, it was not the main focus, and Meilin’s relationships with both love interests really brought the plot together. Her character arc and development was exquisite and so well written. I liked how the ending was very open to interpretation- although I was happy with it I really loved that she was still the fiercely independent Meilin I fell in love with in book one. The action, the heartache, the love for two persons at once, everything was perfection and finished the story off in the most perfect way.

TDWWT is the conclusion to TDS duology which primarily retells the Mulan story. The phoenix wielder is dead, the war between the three kingdoms is done with, maintaining peace is Anlai's next challenge. Meilin's arc of being disillusioned with her ambition and desire for power due to the effects it had on her through practising lixia was the most engaging part of the story for me. I was quite disinterested in the rebellion and couldn't really find it in myself to care. about what was happening Although, I was busy while reading this, so it had affected the reading experience.

Admittedly, I can't remember much of a certain LI in the first book, but the quick and dark descent of him was surprising and interesting, with his own descent being a more sinister form of romantic devotion. It was enjoyable to see how Meilin and this LI butted heads and argue over how they saw each other and Meilin wanting control over her life, in all senses. So her final pick was definitely better in comparison.

I'm still so frustrated by the inconsistent use of Pinyin vs English names/transliterations of Chinese names, with no obvious rhyme or reason. My only deduction is to signify who are (or used to be) genuine allies of Meilin, but nonetheless, it's distracting for me.

A very mixed read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored The Night Ends with Fire and this was a phenomenal follow-up and final curtain to the duology, picking up right where Book 1 ended.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing an advance copy of this book with me!

What I loved about this book was that it completely detached itself from the “typical story” of Mulan. Where TNEWF drew on comparisons and I found myself thinking “oh this is the equivalent of x, y and z scene from the film” this book felt completely fresh and unique.

The expansion of the magic system was so enjoyable as was Meilin’s character development. She’s a fierce female warrior who knows what she wants and exactly how she’s going to get it which is just so refreshing from a female lead.

A great conclusion to a stunning duology ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the first book in this series and while this one was certainly eventful, it just didn't quite hit the same for me. I was hooked for the first half, where it felt that the plot really had a purpose and then in the second half it just sometimes felt a little more dragged out.

I think it was just that it felt like there was a lot of inner monologue and I struggled to keep up with Meilin's changing mind and priorities, both when it came to romance and her goals.

The ending personally also didn't really feel wrapped up enough for me. I wanted it to be more clear and decisive, but it feels like Meilin is running off once again with her own agenda.
I am glad that the romance worked out with the right person but I'd rather she had taken his offer at the end and have it end happily there. I seen someone mentioned that it could be setting up for another book, but I've seen authors write a HEA ending so that readers are left satisfied, but then begin the next book with a reason for them to come back so that readers can choose to still follow their journey.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 stars, outstanding!

I loved The night ends with fire but this book was even better. The duology started out based on the story of Mulan but in this instalment we are taken beyond that into an epic fantasy word with court politics, action and magic. The dragon wakes with thunder is impossible to put down.

What I loved in particular:
- The magic system. This is developed a lot more in this book. We learn a lot more about qi and lixia and how spirit vessels use these and the toll that magic can take.
- the romance. My one complaint about the first book in this series was that I wasn’t sold on the romance but in this book it was complete perfection.
- Meilin. It is so refreshing to have a genuinely morally grey female lead. She didn’t start out looking to save the save world, Meilin was all about the power and recognition.
- The dynamic between Meilin and Quinglong was really interesting to me. They are both forced to work together despite being natural enemies.

This duology was amazing and I’m slightly devastated that it’s over, although maybe there was a hint about a follow up with the onyx tortoise 🙏

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Dragon Wakes With Thunder is a dramatic, sweeping conclusion to K.X. Song’s Mulan-inspired duology, filled with intense political tension, morally grey choices, and dragon-fueled magic, but it doesn't quite land with the same impact as its predecessor.

Picking up right where The Night Ends with Fire left off, the story wastes no time plunging Meilin into chaos again. Her imprisonment, her notoriety, and the lingering consequences of her alliance with Qinglong set a compelling stage. The world is rich with political intrigue, ancient powers, and characters driven by ambition, vengeance, or love. There’s a lot going on here, and sometimes too much. The plot juggles rebellions, imperial machinations, spiritual debts, and not one, but two complicated love interests, which often left the pacing scattered.

Meilin remains a powerful central figure, but in this book, her inner turmoil occasionally felt like it undercut her clarity. She’s torn between multiple loyalties and haunted by the sea dragon within her, but at times, this confusion spilled over into the narrative itself. Her decisions and emotional swings could be hard to follow, and I found myself disconnected from her arc in places where I really wanted to be fully immersed.

The love triangle is more developed here. There were some emotionally impactful moments (and one particular decision I did cheer for), but the romantic tension didn’t always feel organic. Sky and Lei both serve important roles in the plot, but their presence sometimes pulled focus from what should have been Meilin’s story first and foremost.

The lore and the stakes are undeniably ambitious, and there’s a lot to admire in how Song tried to thread together so many threads from book one. The climactic chapters are vivid and emotionally weighty, and the ending feels bold and thematically appropriate. That said, the journey getting there felt a bit uneven.

Overall, this is a solid finale with high drama and a powerful message, but the execution didn’t always match the scope of its ideas. I appreciate what K.X. Song was aiming for, and I still think the duology is worth reading, but this sequel left me more admiring from a distance than emotionally swept away.

This book continues right where The Night Ends With Fire left off. Meilin is revealed to be a woman serving in the army and is faced with a harsh choice: return to a life of powerlessness as a woman, or face imprisonment. Recognizing that both options are forms of captivity, she chooses prison. Despite her heroic defeat of the Phoenix cardinal spirit and saving countless lives, she loses everything. That is, until Sky devises a plan to marry her in order to secure her release. What follows is a tangled web of politics, royal intrigue, and vengeance. The arrival of Prince Lei—a cunning and charming rival from a neighboring kingdom—further complicates Meilin’s loyalty and emotions. Meanwhile, the dragon spirit residing within her has its own agenda, one that may consume her entirely. This richly layered story explores themes of gender equality and questions the meaning of true freedom.

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m very glad this picked up right where we left off with the previous book, which made it pretty easy to get drawn back into the story. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the first book, but it was still a satisfying read to me nonetheless!!

The biggest struggle I encountered had to do with the main character, Meilin. Don’t get me wrong I love her, but in this sequel she tended to be a bit all over the place regarding her feelings/motivations. Which is fine, we’ve all been there, but it made it a bit more difficult for me to keep up with her pace. At moments it felt like those kinds of movies where if you’d look away for a second, you would miss a vital plotpoint, what would cause you to not understand the rest of the movie.

On a more positive note, I was a big fan of the romantical decisions Meilin made. Without going into spoilery teritory, she picked the right guy. And and a heavy fuck you to the other one (sorry not sorry).

The plot lost me a little in the middle of the book, but the ending definitely made up for it in my opinion :)

4.5 stars !
I really loved both books in this series.
I did not realise this was a duology when I first requested the book and once approved very quickly needed to red the first one which was easy as these books were so easy to read.

The second part of this story begins with Meilin imprisoned for being a woman who wielded a sword and unable to leave the palace.
Meilin is an unreliable narrator throughout the story as she fights with herself, others, gods, and tradition.
Whilst this story does have a love triangle (something I don't particularly enjoy) I do think it was well done and the stories wound together well.
I was so engaged in the story that it felt it ended abruptly and just wanted to stay in such a vivid world.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I am not sure what went wrong for me exactly but I didn't enjoy this as much, and I have to admit even re-reading the first book I found the main character much more annoying this time around. In the second book I found it annoying how quickly she would flip flop between motivations and feelings. I also think that overall this duology reads much more YA orientated than I originally realised. I would still recommend this for fans of asian inspired fantasy, but I am not sure this is one I will be ever coming back to.

"And yet I did not wish to become another selfless woman hidden beneath the shadow of men. I wanted to be remembered, and I wanted to carve out a legacy of unquestionable greatness."

I loved the conclusion to this duology! I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships, especially the FMC, Meilin. She's strong and cunning but also very human; she makes mistakes because of her greed and does everything to protect the people she loves the most. Her character development is so underrated.

What I really liked is that the first half is more focused on the political intrigues whereas the second half is more action-packed. The pacing was perfect and I found the writing of this second novel even better than book one. A solid 4.5 star read!
If you liked the first book, then you will love this even more!
I'm officially reading everything K.X. Song writes from now on.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy!

I loved the first book of this series so was super excited to get the second part of this duology,
This one was just as fast past and as exciting a read as the first one.
I loved the characters and I loved how it ended.

I read the first book in this duology earlier this year, and while I ‘only’ rated that book 3.5 stars, I was still incredibly excited to get to read the sequel once it comes out. So, when I got the ARC I was beyond excited to read it. I was initially scared that I went into the book with my expectations set too high, but I quickly found I had nothing to worry about. I really loved reading this, and actually enjoyed it more than the previous book, which is rare as I’ve far too often read great first books with very mediocre sequels.

One aspect of the sequel I was rather nervous about was the love triangle between Meilin, Sky and Lei. My issue was that I felt 0 chemistry between Meilin and Lei, even though it was pretty clear that this was the direction the story would go in. I did feel the chemistry between Meilin and Sky, but it was also very clear that they would never be able to have a healthy relationship. So I’m very happy that this book expanded that dynamics between these three, but especially between Meilin and Lei. I’m not generally a fan of love triangles, but this one, I felt, was genuinely well written and ends on a satisfying note.

I’m still not a big fan of the random-English-nouns-as-first-names thing that is obviously still in this book as well, but I did notice it less and less as the book went on.

My biggest gripe - and if I’m being honest also the main reason why I’m not rating it 5 stars - is the fact that there is that there is exactly one queer character in the book that is more than just a name, and he dies at the end. Now, having a queer character die in your story isn’t automatically a bad thing, there are plenty of instances of this where the death feels ‘good’, for lack of a better term. Another book I read recently also had the gay characters die at the end, but in that case it felt almost cathartic, because it was clear that their deaths, specifically, were necessary, and there was no other way to resolve the story. That was not the case here. If you’re going to have your one and only queer character die at the end, I’d honestly prefer you didn’t include a queer character at all.

So, yes I loved this book. It was wonderful to read and I finished it in 2 days, which is very unusual for me. But that ending just left a bad after taste in my mouth that I can’t quite get rid of.