All about the novel Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White

Who is Amélie Wen Zhao?

Amélie Wen Zhao 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.

What is Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White about?

The Demon Gods have risen. Skies’ End has fallen to the colonizers. And Lan and Zen have chosen sides.

But they will not fight together.

Though Lan inherited the power of the Silver Dragon, she understands the path she must take. She believes the Demon Gods to be the cause of war, conflict, and turmoil, and that the future of the Last Kingdom depends on their being eliminated forever. Worse, she knows that if the Elantians manage to bind one of the legendary beings, their army will be unstoppable. To save her kingdom and her people, Lan will need to find the only mythical weapon capable of destroying the Demon Gods: the Godslayer.

Zen is sure that the only way to free the Last Kingdom is to use the power of the Demon Gods. When he bound the Black Tortoise, he paid the ultimate price: to inherit its strength, he will forfeit his body, his mind, and his soul. Yet one Demon God is not enough against the might of the colonizers. In the ruins of the northern Mansorian lands slumbers a magical army of demonic practitioners capable of facing off against the Elantians—but Zen must find the Seal to awaken them to fight by his side.

At the center of both Lan’s and Zen’s journeys is one city: Shaklahira, a former stronghold of the Imperial Court that vanished without a trace when the Elantians invaded. Its location is a mystery, and both are sure that it holds the answers they need, but the past it hides might be more dangerous than anything they’ve faced yet.

The battle for the Last Kingdom rages on. But to win the war, Lan will have to decide: Can she face the boy she loves again? And when she does, can she kill him to free her people?

Interview

What was your inspiration for Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White? 

My family history and my heritage were my inspiration for the Song of the Last Kingdom series. I grew up in Beijing listening to my grandmother tell stories about her past, of the wars and natural disasters and political turmoil she survived growing up. Every Sunday, we visited her in her courtyard house filled with hidden treasures and relics of the past — I felt like I was in an ancient place brimming with magic. So I wrote that into my books.

What drew you to writing fantasy? 

I grew up watching Chinese fantasy TV shows and movies (the wuxia and xianxia genres); I also learned English by reading British and American middle grade fantasy. I’ve always loved the possibility of a world filled with magic, dragons, and mythical creatures.

How did you choose which character to center the story around? 

Lan came to me in a scene as I was dreaming up my next book: I saw a girl in a white silk dress, spinning onstage in the dim light of lanterns and singing with the purest voice. I wanted to find out who she was and why she was there! And then came Zen, like the yīn to her yáng; I feel like I just pulled him out of my imagination like he’d always lived there, waiting for his turn in a story.

What was your process for writing Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White? 

With most of my books, I curate a playlist as I draft. The music brings me to another world. I drafted the book in several months, then spent another few months revising, as is the process for traditional publishing. No tears were shed, but I came close!

What is your approach to world and character building? 

I love world-building. I always start with a specific scene or concept that interests me, and I dive in from there. As I write, I begin to ask a lot of questions: why is the girl in the teahouse? Why is she sad? Is she there against her will? What’s her backstory? What does she desire? And from then, details about both the character and the world — because the two are tightly correlated — become fleshed out. A lot of it also comes to me as I write, and I have to go back to adjust certain elements in the beginning. As for character, I think of what they most desire and what they most fear, and I put them through the most difficult situations where they have to make choices. That defines their arc.

How would you describe Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White in five words? 

Epic, mythical, fiery, dark, hopeful.

Did you have a favorite moment in the book to write? 

The ending and the prologue. (I won’t say more to avoid spoilers!)

What was your favorite book growing up? 

It’s so hard to choose one favorite because I had so many! I loved the monsters and myths in the Chinese classic, Journey to the West.

Do you have a favorite genre to read? 

Fantasy. No question!