ARC/ALC Book Review: The Dragon and the Sun Lotus (The Three Realms Duology #2) by Amelie Wen Zhao

Rating: ★★★
Genre: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 386 pages
Author: Amelie Wen Zhao
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underlined for the gifted book.

I’M A BIT CONFLICTED.

This might be the third time now that I feel at odds with how AWZ has ended one of her series. The first book is always SO GOOD, and here I am feeling burned a little bit. This love triangle was all over the place. I kept thinking I was supposed to be leaning one way or the other and then by the end I was confused on where I was meant to be.

It’s like I liked both of the men, and kind of had a preference but then didn’t like how it was dissolved. I don’t even know if any of this is making sense because I’m having a hard time trying to convey my issues without spoiling. There were some truly beautiful moments though!! With both of them??! I AM SO CONLFICTED Y’ALL. And I did like the FMC?? I’ve lost the plot on my own review so I’m moving on.

And I did love the audiobook narrators!! I do recommend that format if you want to read this duology.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: vague fade to black
  • Violence: moderate

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