SOUND THE GONG

Unwilling to abandon Xin Ren in the war against the ambitious prime ministress Miasma, Zephyr puts her own existence on the line in this sequel to Strike the Zither (2022).

Zephyr, god of weather, was once banished from the heavens and forced to live the life of a human girl as punishment. She rose to prominence as strategist to the lordess Xin Ren, only to be killed in battle by Ren’s Southern allies, along with Ren’s general and swornsister, Lotus. Death frees Zephyr’s spirit from its mortal form, but she returns to Ren’s side by inhabiting Lotus’ body, and in the process, she inadvertently dilutes her divine qì. Hoping to save Zephyr from herself, Zephyr’s sisters beg her to live with them as a god again, and they reveal that Ren is fated to die without achieving her goal. Undeterred, Zephyr strikes a deal with the empress of deities and sets out to rewrite destiny. The packed, fast-moving plot reflects Zephyr’s narrowed focus and increasing desperation to maneuver Ren into a position of victory, no matter the cost. Her tactical brilliance is displayed with each stratagem she employs to further her ends, though her former arrogance is replaced with a mix of vigilance and grief for what she sacrifices. The darker tone of this installment persists until the final twist, but the end offers hope and a measure of closure.

This duology closer will linger with readers beyond the last page.