eARC Review: The Dragon Wakes with Thunder by K.X. Song
Fantasy
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder
Book Info
Released Date: August 19th
Publication: Ace
Pages: 448
Format: eBook
“Written by a wonderfully talented author from a diverse background, this story breathes with authenticity”
The way I requested this eARC the moment it dropped on NetGalley? Unreal—yet so perfectly believable. Why? Because I had to know what happened to Hai Meilin after that massive cliffhanger in book one. I needed to see how she would escape that prison—and more importantly, how she would reclaim herself.
And let me tell you, it’s a bit of a doozy.
I won’t go into too much detail because this sequel deserves to be experienced fresh. What I will say is that so much happens, I’m still thinking about it days later. This is not just a fantasy sequel—it’s a deep, sometimes painful exploration of what it means to be true to yourself when everything around you says don’t.
After a year in a literal prison, Meilin walks free… only to realize that the palace is just another kind of cage. She plays the part they expect of her, even as the truth claws its way to the surface. Watching her struggle—not just with external forces, but with the fear of being who she really is—was gut-wrenching and incredibly real.
This is what makes the book shine. Written by a wonderfully talented author from a diverse background, this story breathes with authenticity. The Asian cultural influences aren't just window dressing—they're deeply woven into the story’s heart, its politics, its language, its magic. Meilin’s journey, both personal and political, is steeped in those roots, and it’s powerful.
If the first book had you clutching the pages in suspense, this one will leave you wrecked and inspired. Meilin’s path isn’t easy. But her fight to live as her true self? It’s one of the most compelling arcs I’ve read in a long time.
