Think twice if…
- Content warnings: War, Colonialism, Genocide, Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Torture, Alcohol use
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White
by Amélie Wen Zhao
Book 2 in Song of the Last Kingdom
The duology is complete, the stakes are huge, and the romance thread hurts in exactly the way YA fantasy can when love is real but the kingdom is on fire.
Goodreads 3.8/5 4,628 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length368 pages
Series statusCompleted series
Spice1/5 · Closed door / fade to black
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Star-crossed
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Established relationship
- Low
- Closed door / fade to black
- Beautiful grief
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- Dark/tortured soul
- Mutual pining
- Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
- Earned hope
- Reluctant hero
- Forbidden love
- Tension / anticipation
- Book hangover incoming
- Warrior/fighter
- Push and pull
- Longing glances
- Forehead touching
- Touch starvation
Fantasy promise
- Ya fantasy
- Star-crossed lovers
- War front / rebellion
- High fantasy
- Demons
- Royal court / palace
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- Mythological
- Dragons
- Prophecy-driven love
- Temple / church / monastery
- Gods/deities
- Sacrifice/martyrdom
- Desert / frontier
- Undead
- Magic bond
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Medium
- Epic
- Lyrical
- Heavy
- High
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- Reluctant chosen one
- Asian MC
- Heartbreaking
- Asian love interest (LI)
- Mythic
- Lush
- Sacrifice / chosen to die
- BIPOC MC
- Angsty
- Emotional
- Survivor
- BIPOC love interest (LI)
- Magical
- Dramatic
- Sacrifice for love
- War-torn kingdom
- Political intrigue
- Will make you cry
- Bonds forged in war
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Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Similar because
Established relationship · Sacrifice / chosen to die · Reluctant hero
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Similar because
Ya fantasy · Prophecy-driven love · Sacrifice / chosen to die
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Ruin and Rising
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Similar because
Ya fantasy · Reluctant hero · Will make you cry
Different because
Fast pacing rather than Medium.
Book details
- Length
- 368 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book