Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4.25/5
Ending 4.25/5
Interest 4/5

Overall 4.25/5

-The first book held some standards really high, and this book didn’t quite reach them. But I have to say that it was not far at all. the whole Mulan retelling turned into an antagonistic type story was really great and before I read this, I wanted to write a book like this myself. I really liked how the dragon really takes over a big part of the book in this sequel, how the war is still hanging on but barely. I had a great time.

-I still really liked the characters. Some much more than others. I did kind of feel like Sky was ruined in this book. He was so sweet and amazing in the first book but now he turned a bit sour and just stopped trying to be great. Meilin really changed from the first book but she grew into such an incredible character to read about. Lei was quite a good character. I like him more than I would have liked from the first book but he truly was fun. And his relationship with Meilin was also fun.

-The ending to this duology was great. I am not disappointed by how it ended because in a way, I couldn’t see it end any other way for these characters. I had a great time reading this and I would love to see more form this author.

Hai Meilin should be revelling in the aftermath of the war, celebrated for the victory that she was instrumental in winning but instead she is berated and vilified for the crime of being a woman who dared to be more. She'd thought her battles would be over, instead she must continue to fight the confines of the palace and societal expectations for women from all of those around her. Including those closest to her, something she realises with heart wrenching clarity. Now she is having to navigate her way through palace politics and try to determine just where she wants her life to go in this fragile new world when the spirit world is in turmoil and a rebellion is brewing.

The book delves into Meilin’s heart wrenching journey, it carries the reader with her through all the painful steps, both past and present, that she uncovers along the way.

“He underestimated me. They always did” Try as they might, Meilin's spirit cannot be chained. Her bravery shines through and I loved that about this book.

I enjoyed the new side characters that were brought into the story or those that are expanded on.

I was engrossed in this book and adored the love interests Sky and Lei. I found their love for Meilin endearing and her struggle to accept being loved for who she was realistic and poignant.

Overall this was a great conclusion to the duology

I was so excited to continue this series after the cliffhanger ending of that last book. And the first third of the book was amazing! It was the same epic fast paced story we knew from the first book, and being past the normal Mulan storyline only made the book better, with unique moments and scenes. Everything was fun and epic, and even though I didn't quite care about the love story, it didn't matter because Meilin and Lily carried the book.

However, this book could have been two books.

The problems started soon after we left the palace, and many things were resolved way too quickly (the succession, the rebels, end fight, everything that happened after that). I could have read one book about the dealings in the palace and then one about the stuff that happened after. The too fast pacing also made me feel that the execution of the story didn't quite reach what was wanted and the emotional impact was lacking from many choices.

I still really enjoyed the story, and the mythology vibes so so much, and story wise this was the perfect ending for the book. It truly was an epic, fast paced fantasy.

3,5 stars.

i was so surprised reading this book. coming from a book based on adventure, this one is focused of politics. new players are introduced, and i loved the fleshing out of Winter, he's probably my favourite. i do liked the development of meilin, even if i wasn’t agreeing with her sometimes. i did fin necessary, for her, to realize that the path she was taking and her choices were wrong, or, maybe, not necessary wrong, but distant to her original motivation (even though a darker meilin would have been more than appreciated, at least by me). one critique is probably the romance. it's not the focus of the story but i think that the development needed more time to really feel authentic, i did find it a bit rushed. i did love the ending, it's not definnitive but hopeful, and in this story, a hopeful note is really needed. i was expecting a tragedy at some point.

This was such a privilege to get to read early! I really enjoyed the first book, and this one definitely did not disappoint. The action and romance really delivered, and I couldn't have asked for more with the conclusion 😍

Thank you so much to Hodderscape for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreyag/ )

Initial thoughts: I loved the first book, The Night Ends With Fire. I loved Meilin, her ambition, her need to be known and respected, her hunger for more. I loved Lei, a cunning, mysterious, and brilliant Prince. I loved the world, the lore, the myth. K.X. Song is such a brilliant storyteller with a MAJESTIC, SWEEPING PROSE WITH INTRICATE NUANCE, ELEGANCE, AND EMOTIONAL RESONANCE.

What I liked 🤩: EVERYTHING!

I loved Meilin's journey. She has gone through so much, and yet, she tries and she cares and she doesn't stop. It hurt to see her struggle so much, to be caged by others and by herself. It hurt to see her so torn, so indecisive, so lost. But she also found her inner strength, the one that didn't rely on abilities, the one that shone through her character and her grit and her heart of gold.

Lei, my beloved charming handsome BRILLIANT Lei. If you have followed me for a while, you know that my biggest weakness is competent and smart characters, and holy moly, Lei fits the bill. He has one of the sharpest minds I have ever seen in books. He is strategic, he is calculating, he is the one with a million plan B's. And he is constant, a rock to rely on. He doesn't change depending on his needs or desires. He cares, he fights, and he is the best.

THE PLOT AND THE WORLDBUILDING WERE MASTERFULLY CRAFTED. I AM IN AWE, TRULY. BRILLIANT TWISTS THAT CARRY SUCH A DEEP EMOTIONAL RESONANCE TO MEILIN AND THE READER. I AM IN AWE. I want you all to experience this brilliant story as if you see the sea and step a foot in it without knowing anything about it. I was so afraid that we wouldn't be getting a HEA but we got it, and I am so thankful.

What I didn’t like 🙃: NOTHING. THIS IS A MASTERPIECE.

Overall: What a duology. A powerful and impactful feminist story about a woman pushing back against all norms and odds to carve the life she wants. It is a brilliant masterpiece that will erase everything else while you read it and that will resonate with you for many, many years to come.

I will read anything by K.X. Song. I don't even need to read the premise. K.X. Song is a talent not to be missed.

SE info: The fairyloot and Goldsboro editions have been up for sale. At the time of publishing this review, both special editions are in stock.

I don’t have the words to explain how great this sequel was. The characters are very flawed but that’s what makes them feel so real to the reader. You really go through an emotional rollercoaster and I want to ride it again

“And if I ever wrote “Tonight the moonlight is strong,” I am trying to say that I miss you” 😭😭

“I told you - I don’t know of I’m capable of love anymore
What is love - if not care for one another? Pride in all that you’ve done. Belief in what you will continue to do. And hope- hope that we will grow together - as one”

"If they had taken your life today, i would have hunted down every last one of them. I would have scoured the Three Kingdoms for every soul responsible-and i would have given each of them a slow, slow death. And then, once i was finished, i would have followed you to the afterlife. I would have found you, and dragged you back from the hands of death."

If that quote doesn't get you picking up the book then i don't know what will. "The Dragon Wakes With Thunder" is a great continuation of "The Night Ends With Fire." The author knows how to grip her readers through beautiful storytelling and compelling characters. The stakes are higher and Meilin must choose between two difficult decisions. Will she let her greed win or will she sacrifice everything for the greater good? I liked how she kept us guessing throughout the book.

The characters have flaws and i love that as they seem more realistic. As humans we all have imperfections and no one is perfect. We got to see the darker sides to certain characters and instead of it being like an "i'll fix you," it's more of an "i see you and all your flaws and that doesn't scare me. I'm here for you if you need me."

This series was an easy read for me and very enjoyable. The ending left me wanting more! Song writes so well and i can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

Thank you so much Hodder Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-arc for an honest review.

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.