When I read the Iron Widow duology, I saw A Bright Heart in the recommended books, and was immediately drawn to the cover. Luckily my library had the audiobook and I was able to start it without too much of a wait.
A Bright Heart opens after Mingshin has been tortured for treason against the king she helped get on the throne, her beloved Ren who promised she would be Queen if she funded his endeavors. She is finally shown his true colors when he declares his three brothers and her traitors, and when she is taken from the prison to see him, he tells her how he just used her for her money and wanted her cousin, Aylin, the whole time. Just as Mingshin is about to die, she begs the gods and universe to give her another chance because this is not the ending she wants to have. She then wakes up two years in the past, and uses this opportunity to ensure Ren will never sit on the throne.
i really enjoyed that Mingshin is a clever heroine, using her knowledge from her previous life to see a bigger picture. She also uses this second chance as an opportunity to solidify alliances and strengthen her ties to the people around her. But there are changes from her previous life, namely the Nan’Yü elder who is supposedly there to make an alliance and treaty, when Dazhou has forbidden even the knowledge of magic while Nan’Yüans are known in particular for their magical prowess. This change creates ripples and new challenges Mingshin can’t predict. But even as she doesn’t know what will happen, she has a better understanding of the political players, especially Ren and her mother’s family, to be able to plan and counteract several plots.
The ending of A Bright Heart segues perfectly to A Fiery Spirit and new challenges and adversaries. Mingshin’s political acumen and ability to see a bigger picture really helps her with keeping those she cares about safe and working to protect the Dazhou kingdom. I don’t want to give too much away about book two (which releases June 17), but it does a lot of additional world building and gives Mingshin new ways to show her capability and power. I also really liked how much is about the connections she makes with people, and how those connections strengthen her and give her purpose.
There is also a side sapphic romance that gets a happy ending across the duology, if that’s a selling point!
But really, this is a really satisfying duology that has magic, politics, and second chances. There is a lot of self-sacrifice that maybe isn’t my favorite element, but overall it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I had difficulty putting these books down because the political intrigue kept me invested, and the various stakes kept the tension high enough without making it too stressful to enjoy. The romance between Mingshin and Jieh was also a really sweet element, and seeing the ways they help each other grow but also Mingshin won’t allow her dreams to be minimized or tossed aside for the prince. She really was a great character, and I look forward to seeing what Kate Chenli will write in the future.
Content notes: suicide, death, murder, misogyny, ableism (challenged), torture, manipulation, mind control