I had barely closed the book on Sue Lynn Tan’s “Celestial Kingdom” duology when I found this one. I was so excited when I learned there was more to come – to know more about where it all began for Xingyin, Liwei, and Wenzhi. “Tales of the Celestial Kingdom” was a wonderful addition to a captivating story – the images created for this book were absolutely beautiful, too!
Dusk
This section is essentially the “how it all started”, featuring Houyi’s legendary showdown with the ten sunbirds and Chang’e’s rise to goddess status. If you’ve ever wondered about the bedrock of the duology, “Dusk” lays it all out. It’s like finally getting the backstory to your favorite superhero – except better, because there are gods and sunbirds and magic.
Twilight
We’re thrown into the thick of the duology, but this time through the eyes of Liwei, Wenzhi, and Shuxiao. It was really exciting to get these other perspectives in a story that I already loved. Wenzhi, in particular, gets a moment to shine here, adding layers to his character that I didn’t I was missing from the duology.
Dawn
Finally, “Dawn” serves as the cherry on top of this literary sundae. Acting as an extended epilogue, it ties up loose ends and gives us a glimpse into the ‘what comes next’ for Wenzhi and Xingyin. After all the battles and everything, it’s comforting to see where they landed and what their lives might look like.
A Must-Read
Sue Lynn Tan’s “Tales of the Celestial Kingdom” really reads like a love letter to her fans. It’s a collection that not only expands on the universe of the “Celestial Kingdom” duology but does so with the same grace and artistry of the original series so that it feels like discovering the series all over again.
Coupled with Kelly Chong’s breathtaking illustrations, this book is an experience! I will definitely be buying a physical copy just for that reason.
