We are all here for 2024 being the year of series enders and I’m so excited for Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White. With such an epic title how could I not be? And this sequel was so fabulous! Keep reading for this mini review of Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White.
Summary
Years ago, the Elantian colonizers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest the location of its legendary four Demon Gods. Lan’s mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods, and Lan is determined to finish her mission. Yet, there are others searching for the gods, too.
Zen knew his soul was forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon God known as the Black Tortoise, but he’s willing to lose himself if it means saving the Kingdom–and the girl–he loves. But to crush the colonizers who have invaded his land he needs more power than even a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. And he knows exactly where he can find it–in the undead army his great grandfather lead decades ago.
The Elantians may have stolen their throne, but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only begun.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is a sequel about power and the future. About the ways we think we can achieve a better future and what are necessary consequences. Sacrifices that have to be made. And what happens when our version of who gets sacrificed is different? When we think we can afford to lose someone we can’t? It’s a story that explores what lengths we will go to for power and for change.
Lan and Zen are at opposites of what they think the right thing is to do. The sacrifices they have to make for a future. One with bloodshed and one without. But how do you make any sort of change? What is the right path to defeat colonizers who don’t care about what damage they wreak? Against colonial powers that seem insurmountable. Dark Stars Burning, Ash Falls White has adventures, quests, and riddles. Overall the pacing feels good for a series ender with a slight avalanche feeling towards the end.
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But in general it’s a sequel that explores power. One of my favorite quotes from the uncorrected copy I read is “power is always borrowed, never created”. It’s about those who want more power just for more power or more power to go about change. The changes that power can do to us. That cycles of creation end in destruction, end in a balancing of the scales. Find Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.