Picking up almost right where A Bright Heart ended, Mingshan has defeated Ren and created a new life for herself. But her troubles aren’t over. Ren had help from the Night Dragon, an evil magician, who is still a threat. Mingshan has new problems including her developing magic, and her fears that if her new friends and allies learn about it, she’ll lose much of what she’s gained. However, the secrets put a strain on her relationship with Jieh. As they race to put an end to the Night Dragon’s threat, Minghan learns more about herself and will have to make some serious decisions about who she will be and what she will sacrifice to become that person.
I didn’t find A Fiery Spirit quite as engaging as A Bright Heart, but it was a great continuation of the story. I loved the friendship that has developed between Mingshan, Yunle, and Fei. It was also great to see the way that Mingshan and Jieh navigate their relationship and its struggles. It was really nice to see that done well and without introducing another love interest. Without giving spoilers, I really liked the way the story wrapped up. It did not end at all how I thought it would, but I was very satisfied with the ending. This duology was great and a lot of fun to read. I loved seeing how Mingshan grew over the two books. I’d highly recommend this duology to fantasy fans. Four out of five stars.
Bingo – Success – Minghan successfully has made a new life for herself.
