NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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. The first edition hardcover of The Dragon and the Sun Lotus will feature stunning ombre stenciled edges and exclusive printed endpapers! 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 war: 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. 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, Àn’yīng 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 "A duology closer incorporating magic, war, and love and set in a lush, well-described fantasy China." — Kirkus Reviews "An excellent and sometimes bittersweet conclusion to a sweeping story filled with romance , drama, and adventure." — School Library Journal " [An] action-packed rollercoaster of a conclusion . Zhao excellently builds on the Chinese folklore of [ The Scorpion and the Night Blossom ], with a more emotionally resolute Àn’yīng taking control of her destiny. A great duology closer for high-fantasy fans." — Booklist Amélie Wen Zhao is the New York Times , Sunday Times , and internationally bestselling author of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom , the Song of the Last Kingdom duology, and the Blood Heir trilogy. She was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family in China, where she’s determined to walk the rivers and lakes of old just like the practitioners in her novels do. 1 Àn’yīng Xī’lín Village, Central Province, Kingdom of Rivers My mother always told me the sunrises were the most beautiful part of our realm. A sky on fire in shades of rose and persimmon, clouds streaked with flame, and the breath of a world waking to the light. I remember Mā’s words as I move through the pine forest on velvet tread. I hold a bow and arrow—but my crescent blades are tucked in the bodice and sleeves of my black gauze dress, like quiet companions in the predawn silence. This morning, I am hunting. Dew from pine needles wets my sleeves as I slip past, a trailing shadow. I hear a slight rustling, and a speckle-coated hare darts through the brush. I squint through the foliage, following glimpses of the hare’s coat as it skitters through the browning leaves, unaware of my pursuit. Méi’zi will cry that I’ve killed a rabbit, but Mā needs the nutrients as her body returns to full health. Autumn has arrived, bringing a crisp bite to the morning air. The flowers are beginning to lose their bloom; soon, winter’s snows will cover everything in white, and my realm will be made anew with the turn of a year. Yet ever since I’ve returned here to the mortal realm, its colors have seemed duller, the landscapes imperfect, compared with the ethereal beauty of the immortal realm. Real, a voice in the back of my mind whispers. It’s real. The hare leaps into a small clearing and stops, nose twitching, as though scenting for danger. I, too, stop in my tracks. It’s a long shot from here, but I might make it. As I raise my bow and arrow and take aim, a sudden gust of wind stirs, shifting the clouds overhead. The clearing fills with the warm glow of dawn, and my mind conjures a dreamlike memory. He stands in the clearing, turning toward me as though time has slowed. Hair, billowing like swirls of ink. Eyes, flashing like golden embers. The phantom of a smile on his face as his gaze lifts to meet mine— I take a swift step back. Blink and the vision’s gone—there’s only an empty clearing, leaves falling like the wings of