4.5 stars!

The Magic. There are two magic systems in this book: a divergence between the traditional methods that draw upon balance and the new methods which use metals. I think the author did a wonderful job at explaining the traditional methods - I was super immersed as they were describing performing magic. But because these traditional methods are what the main characters use, I was confused as to how the other metal-bending type methods worked at all. I definitely wanted more explanation on that front.

The World. The world itself is very thought out. I'd say the biggest emphasis of this book is on history; the plot and characters are really driven by trying to or trying NOT to repeat history and past mistakes. While this world has its own history, it's meant to somewhat mirror that of China's. I thought that was super interesting, even though I'm not a big history fan myself. In the beginning of the book, it was a bit hard to follow the different era's, and sometimes, I felt there were long paragraphs of explanation that took me out of the story. Overall, it was a positive from me!

The Characters! I became very attached to all of the characters, and at the same time very frustrated with their decisions (as is custom for a YA novel). Still, I am already so excited to read about them again in the next book.

The Plot & Pacing. While I enjoyed the plot, I think that the pacing was what held me back from 5 stars. The plot and pacing really pick up in the later half of the novel. I couldn't put it down. However, the first half seemed to drag and drag and drag. There's some important character relationships forming; however, that's about it. It felt like the whole first half of the book could be condensed into a few chapters, and still have the same character development and plot progression. That's really the only reason I couldn't give this book 5 stars.

All in all, I highly recommend and am anticipating book 2! Thank you to Random House Children's and Net Galley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!

Song of Silver, Flame like Night was a magical take on Chinese folklore. I loved that Amélie made colonization apart of the story. It’s an important topic and I love when fantasy can incorporate a message within it. The characters were solid and there was a steady development in the two MC’s relationship.

Story is based on the mythology and folklore of China and builds the world of the Last Kingdom and the battle that is to come. First book in the duology..

The Elantians are on a quest to destroy other practitioners of magic/qi and control the power of the Demon Gods.
Lan carries a symbol on her skin that is invisible - unfortunately, her mother was killed before telling her the meaning behind it. As she seeks to uncover information about the symbol. she encounters the person who killed her mother. When she escapes capture, she meets Zen who is on his own journey of revenge. Both have secrets but join forces against a common enemy. As the enemy gets closer, each discovers more about their powers and how to wield them. Their methods in using qi, the energy force, will cause a divide and a safe haven will be destroyed. What are they willing to sacrifice to bring the enemy down?
#SongofSilverFlameLikeNight #NetGalley

Zhao’s Chinese fantasy novel “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is every bit as epic as it is lyrical!

“Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” alternates between the perspectives of Lan, a songgirl, and Zen, one of the few surviving practitioners of the Last Kingdom. The two are brought together by fate at a teahouse in Haak’gong, a city colonized by the Elantian regime. Lan discovers that Zen is the only one that is able to see the mark on her arm left by her mother before she was killed—the mark of practitioner with a powerful ability that the Elantians seek to destroy. With danger lurking everywhere, Lan and Zen escape to the only remaining school of practitioning in hopes of finding the answers they seek to the secrets buried within.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the origin of Lan and Zen’s secrets whilst occupying their minds. Their distinct voices and their flaws made them all the more compelling and contributed to my love for the relationship that bloomed between them.

Another aspect of the novel I appreciated is Zhao’s world-building. It is absolutely phenomenal! She immerses the reader in her world by providing rich descriptions of the land, detailing important elements of Hin culture, and dedicating an entire section of the preface to the history of the Last Kingdom leading up to the Elantian conquest.

Zhao’s complex magic system compliments the world she establishes. She draws from the mythology and folklore of ancient China to inspire the way of the practitioners (magicians in a sense). In her fictional tale, practitioners draw qi from the natural world and channel it into Seals that have certain functions, which I found fascinating. The most skilled practitioners draw from both yīn and yáng energies, the two halves of all qi, to stay balanced. Demonic practitioners, however, wield qi consisting largely of yīn energies and bind demons to themselves to borrow their power.

The Elantians have magic of their own that matches that of the practitioners and make them formidable foes. They are able to harness the power of metal to create their magic. Bronzes and Coppers have the ability to wield only a single metal to do their bidding whereas Alloys have the ability to work multiple metals.

The end of “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is devastating and powerful in equal measure. I cannot wait to see where Zhao takes her readers in book two of this magical duology!

It is the duty of those with power to protect those without.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House–Delacorte Press for an advanced galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There has been an epic fantasy novel shaped-hole in my heart since I finished Priory of the Orange Tree last summer. I’ve picked up new fantasy books since then, but none have captivated me with that unique cocktail of brilliant storytelling, complicated characters, and a magic system that I wish I could use. And then I read Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, and that hole in my heart was finally filled.

This novel is a young adult epic fantasy woven with Chinese culture, lore, and mythology. The Priory of the Orange Tree meets A Magic Steeped in Poison is the best way I can describe it. But Amelie Wen Zhao creates a world so unique and powerful that it is difficult to compare it to anything else.

This book was full of my favorite fantasy tropes: our protagonist, Lan, learns that she is actually a practitioner of qí (magic) thought to be lost after the conquest of her people. She meets a dark and mysterious boy, Zen, who helps her unlock her powers, but has his own demons to deal with. A training montage, betrayal, family secrets, and epic battles galore. What more could you ask for?

The world Zhao creates is detailed and so rich. At first, I was a little nervous about how difficult it was going to be to keep locations, people, and the magic system straight, especially after the novel begins with a mini history lesson in a short section titled “Chronology.” But that information ended up aiding me in adjusting to the world as a whole and added to my experience. After the first few chapters, I was fully immersed in the history and culture of the world.

Lan, the protagonist, is one of my favorite female fantasy characters. (Closely followed by the bad*ss, sword-wielding ____, of course.) In her letter to the reader before the novel begins, Zhao says, “I’m tired of Chinese girls being portrayed as beautiful, fragile, flowers. I want to be a blade.” Lan is definitely a blade. She is fearless and protective of those she loves, and will do anything to keep them safe. You couldn't have a more perfect leader in this story.

The history Zhao weaves into the novel is based in truth as well–she recounts how her grandparents would tell her stories about China’s Century of Humiliation, after the fall of Qīng imperial regime and the Western invasion. She says, “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an interrogation of and a response to history. This is a tale of my heritage.” I absolutely adore when authors put some of themselves into their works. And the discourse around Western occupation and imperialism is incredibly important and impactful. I definitely learned something new while reading this novel, which is always delightful to me.
The expansive nature of Chinese culture, mythology, and folklore in this book is also refreshing. In the letter to the reader, Zhao mentions how she incorporated “Chinese heroes and old gods and magic…mythos and legend inspired by our ancient texts of Confucianism and Taoism…[and] fabled martial arts temples nestled deep between pine forests and roaring rivers.” The beauty of the qí magic, of sensing the threads of life that weave through the world, was captivating. I loved being immersed in these ideas from Chinese culture, and learning with and through the characters themselves.

Also the ending?? I am overjoyed I got the opportunity to read this novel early, but it also means I have longer to wait until I can dive back into this world. But don’t worry–I’ve already pre-ordered my copy so I can read it over and over again.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an incredibly beautiful and important epic fantasy. There really isn’t anything like it out in the YA market that I can think of. It is an adventure all its own. I can’t wait for you all to be able to read it and lose yourself in the world that Amélie Wen Zhao has created. Look for it in stores on January 3, 2023 OR pre-order a copy now (you could even get it signed and personalized and get cool items that come with it!! https://www.yuandmebooks.com/preorder/p/song-of-silver-flame-like-night)

“So long as we live on, he’d said, we carry inside us all that they have destroyed. And that is our triumph; that is our rebellion.”
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In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
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This book was so amazing! I loved every bit of it. I can’t wait for book 2! I love anything that is based in mythology. The folklore of the ancient demon Gods and the different magic structures was amazing!
The magician was scary AF just hunting them down to learn about them. Treating them as less than human.
This kept me interested in learning more about the kingdoms, politics, magic and folklore. There was also a bit of romance in there. I felt it between Zen and Lan.
I loved the focus on Yin and Yang I’ve also loved anything with that symbol on it.
I just loved the plot and pacing of this book!
I also felt the undercurrents of rewriting history, once all of these that are gone don’t remember, to your own benefit. The new rulers were rewriting the past to paint them as the problem.

Thank you delacortepress and turnthepagetours for the gifted copy!

There is a breakdown summary of the Empires and history of the world in the beginning of the book which helped with understanding the world building (it’s pretty complex, but the summary is easy to understand).

I loved the Magic systems, the morally grey characters, and the mystery of her mom and her people.

I loved the relationships she built with some of the other students at the academy and her relationship with Zen.

It may have started off a little slow, or I may have just been very tired since I read it the week before Christmas and it was very busy week. However, the last 1/4 is filled with action and twists and turns and I couldn’t put it down once I got to that part of the story. I seriously can’t stop thinking about it.

This was a great story and I can not wait for the next book.

I think you would like this book if you like: Six Crimson Cranes, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and Last of the Talons.

What an adventure this book was! So many twists and turns - I had a hard time putting it down!

I loved that this book was full of folklore and mythology. There was so much mystery and unknown that kept me turning the pages.

I can’t say I loved Lan and Zen’s characters, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You never knew what they were hiding or what their reaction would be. So evidently, I found it hard to trust either of them… but that added so much to the story. And without giving anything away, there are others who I absolutely adored who have a role in the kingdom’s future.

So many secrets, near-misses and dangerous journeys. You won’t want to miss this 2023 release if you love fantasy!

Thanks a bunch to @netgalley and @delacortepress for the opportunity to read this book. The review expresses my own personal opinions.

First I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night.

This book easily made it into the top 5 books I've read this year. It is so wonderfully written and pulls you in from the first page. I went through a wide rang of emotions in this book: I laughed, I cried, I was heartbroken, and I was so stressed I had to step away at times.

We follow Lan and Zen who both have been impacted by war and those who have sought to conquer others. They both also have things from their pasts that they try hard to forget. Lan has a mysterious mark on her arm that her mother placed prior to her death. She has spent years trying figure out what the mark means and why she is the only one who can see it. Zen is a practitioner (someone who uses qi energy) and when he meets Lan he sees her mark and takes her to his school.

The magic systems in this book are some of the best I have read. For the Hins they use qi to produce magic and are guided by Yin and Yang. The Elantians have the ability to use metals to produce magic. There is also the power of gods and demons that can be utilized if one makes a bargain with them however, we see within the book how these bargains are not a great thing.

There is definitely the underlying theme that the conquered is the one who writes the history books. For Zen it was the imperial army who conquered the 99 clans while for Lan it is the Elantians who have conquered the Hins. The Elantians invaded 12 years prior to the start of the books and we see that much of the Hin culture has been destroyed. We see the struggle that the characters within this book go through in terms of the current occupation of the Elantians as well as the scares both physical and emotional that the Elantians have left on them.

I don't think I could recommend this book enough. Every character was so well developed and written. The magic systems and history were also really well developed. This book constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book!

I would give this book a 3.5 star rating. I felt like the book was a little slow in the beginning and I wasn't really hooked until about 80% through the book. Also the main character was not my favorite, which made it hard for me to be interested in what happened. Although, I think the authors writing style was excellent and her plot towards the end was very good. So that's why I would give the book a 3.5.

4.5 stars - I was so excited to receive a copy of this book via Netgalley. I mean, look at that cover! It's gorgeous. I'll admit I was apprehensive going into this book, but my caution ended up being unnecessary.

Lan is a likeable, unlikable character. She's had an incredibly hard life and her attitude shows it. She's a bit crass and slightly rude, but also courageous and kind. I've read characters in the past who were supposed to be unlikeable or at least "not perfect" but it's done in a way that is over the top and obnoxious. They practically scream, "look at me, I'm quirky and an asshole!" Lan's character was done very well. She's fleshed out in a way that makes her wholly human. She's got good parts and bad parts, but the bad parts are what makes her more relatable.

Then we have Zen. He is much like Lan in that he is both good and bad. He's so straight-laced at first, but his trauma slowly resurfaces in a way that causes things to be a little less black and white for him. He's your standard tall, dark, and handsome love interest, but it's not shoved in your face. We don't get descriptions of him every other paragraph, and Lan is able to function as a person without him. She doesn't become a damsel in distress once the handsome man comes around and I love that. I'm ready to see what happens with them in book two. Their slow burn romance was a breath of fresh air over the insta-love I've been reading lately. I smiled like a goon when there was only one bed at the inn.

(The disciples of the school have earned a place in my heart as well!)

This book isn't even out yet but I'm ready for more! D:

This book has a lot of good things going for it: complex characters with character development, twists and turns and reveals that are surprising but also make complete sense and fit when you look back, excellent worldbuilding, and a good quest storyline. However, it didn't completely resonate with me, and I found that I was able to put it down for a while to read another book. I can't quite pinpoint the reason, but I did still enjoy it overall, and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

I DNF’d this book about 20% of the way in, not because there’s anything wrong with it or anything; in fact, I’m sure there’s a ton of people who would absolutely love this book. However, it was just not for me. I’m a mood based reader, so this just may not have been the vibe I was feeling at the moment, but the main character was also rather unlikeable and plain, and truthfully nothing immediately stuck out to me about this world or story as being particularly unique or interesting. Just my opinion of course, if you feel drawn to this novel do pick it up. I love the cover artwork, it’s beautiful.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in a breathtaking new series by Amélie Wen Zhao. Rich with Chinese inspiration, this book takes you to a new world. Zhao paints a vivid picture of her fictitious the Last Kingdom.

When building a new high fantasy world, one can only expect a lot of world building and there is in this novel. But the words on the page are like a brush stroke in a picture, painting a vivid picture of the Last Kingdom. Ever word, paragraph, page is important for the reader to understand the world the book is set in.

Our two main characters, Lan and Zen, were easy to connect to. I actually really loved the dual-pov as it brought together and more well-rounded story than if it was just in Lan’s pov. The interactions between these two characters were witty and had me grinning at certain points.

This book packs so much into the novel in just 500 words, you’d think you’d had read an epic. But nothing is too fast or two slow paced, I think the novel flows at a perfect speed. I definitely found myself getting stretched to the characters.

I’d recommend Song of Silver, Flame Like Night to anyone who wants to read a high fantasy novel rich in Chinese mythology and folklore.

Thank you to the publisher and Turn the Page Tours for an eARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

One girl holds the secret to reuniting a broken kingdom.
I am so excited for this book to hit shelves! One of my favourite books is "Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon. However, at the middle school reading level, Shannon's literature is out of reach of the average reader. Zhao's book will be a fantastic substitute! The story is wonderfully written, especially since it provided a chronology. This is always helpful considering even as an adult, I find it hard to remember some events in a fantasy world. One of the best parts is, IT HAS A MAP! Kid's will go absolutely feral with a book that includes a map, so this will induce a frenzy of kids wanting to read the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I tell you I was *so* excited to get my hands on this ARC… I was SO EXCITED to get my hands on this ARC. I’d read the premise and heard great things about the author (my first book from her and definitely will be checking out her back list), so I had a feeling I’d enjoy it. I clicked on it immediately.

**5 stars**

Overall, I loved this story. All the elements that I require in a fantasy novel for peak enjoyment and immersion were present in this story. The story was carefully and passionately told, with a lot of rich history and lore weaved throughout. We had a complex and interesting plot that was well paced and as such delivered extraordinary impact. We had intriguing and organic character arcs, and strong but flawed characters. I highly recommend his novel for anyone who loves fantasy! So now, let’s get into the details of the review:

The story itself immediately captivated me, I was pulled in by the atmosphere, and the compelling but strong character that is Lan.
The character arcs were very well done, they felt seamless and organic. Natural progressions for each character based on hints and glimpses we’d seen of the character, and their background, to get them to each point they found themselves throughout the story. The relationships and ways the characters simply related to themselves felt believable and relatable - like something you’d find in regular life, but made into something more by the fantastical world around them. My favorites were definitely Lan and Zen’s character arcs, I would say especially Zen intrigues me. The societal tensions, warring and intricacies were very interesting and despite those themes generally being complex, they were quite easy to follow and well explained in order to be easy to follow throughout the novel.

I also really enjoyed the world-building. It never felt bulky or that much was needed to be explained all at once. Rather, the environment and world unfolded as the story went on, and as such, it felt natural to the progression of the story. There is still some more detail of the landscape I would have liked, and I do hope that hard copies come with a map (or that future copies do incorporate a map) as it does help to visualize where everything is.

The writing and the style of writing is beautiful. It flows smoothly and there is so much control and care regarding what should be dramatic, heartfelt, artful and precise. It almost feels a bit like a prose style, but not as many words or descriptions, which is the perfect point for my preference - I loved it and I will be looking into the author’s backlist on that alone!

This was 100% my type of fantasy novel, there was emotion, action, an interesting magic system, conflict, meaningful relationships, etc. I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for the next books in the series to be released. I will definitely be checking out more books by Amélie Wen Zhao!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an incredibly compelling story that takes place in a detailed, immersive world. A foolproof recommendation if you (like me!) have enjoyed recent asian mythology-inspired books like Girls of Paper and Fire, Descendant of the Crane, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

In Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, we follow a songgirl named Lan, whose country has been violently colonized; as a result, she was required to take a single-syllable version of her given name. This is highly effective as a reminder of the forced assimilation taking place all around her. When Lan’s mother was killed by the invaders, she left a strange sigil imprinted on Lan’s arm. To find out what it means, Lan must journey to the School of the White Pines, the last of the former Hundred Schools of practitioning. From there, she gets wrapped up in powers that she had previously thought were only legends.

Song deals with incredibly complex moral and cultural questions that kept me thinking about this book long after I finished it: What is the purpose of power? How can we avoid its corrupting influence? Is true balance achievable? If not, is it still worth striving for? Each character has their own nuanced set of answers to these questions, just like each reader will. The narrative poses these questions, but never preaches. Its focus is on making you think, and it is absolutely successful in doing so.

Amelie Wen Zhao puts it best in her introduction: “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an interrogation of and a response to history. This is a tale of my heritage. Welcome to the Last Kingdom.”

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was a very anticipated book for me. I was instantly drawn by the beautiful cover, and the description seemed nice too.

I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit disappointed with this. The story was a bit boring and the book dragged a little. The pacing was not the best.

I think it had some cool concepts. At one point of the book I was thinking that things got an interesting turn but there was too much generic plot lines, the characters felt a little undeveloped.

I think some people might like it more than I did, It’s not a bad book by any means, I just couldn’t connect with the characters as much.

What a great read! We follow Lan, who was left with a mysterious mark on her wrist after her mothers death that no one else can see, until she meets Zen. This story is ethereal, gripping, and beautifully written. It was easy to get into and action packed from the start. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Looking forward to the next book.

4.5/5!

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! I was interested in the book by chapter 2…but by chapter 6 I couldn’t put the book down and the last 20% of the book had me in the edge of my seat!

Incredibly well written! I can’t wait for the next one.

5/5 stars…will recommend to everyone and will definitely be pre ordering a physical copy for my shelf!