I enjoyed this one, even if the two main characters made multiple eye-roll worthy decisions that did knock this down a bit for me. Set in a world inspired by ancient China, we follow Lan, a song girl living under Elatian rule and a past she keeps trying to figure out. Her uneasy existence is upended when Zen enters her life because he is a practitioner, and there is something in her past that is associated with that. And the Elatians want the power that comes from practitioning to add to their already strong magic. Lan and Zen go on the run all while trying to figure out her past and how they are much more connected than they realize. As I said, enjoyable book, interesting magic and a quick moving plot. But bone headed decisions made by the main characters, and the older, secondary characters pulling the “we will tell you when you are ready” on some big, life changing information

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in a new YA fantasy series, and it is an immersive and exciting read. There’s a lot to like about the story. The premise is intriguing, and the characters are dynamically developed, complex, and layered, as is the world-building. Oh, and the romance – loved the romance! Stylistically, I loved the book too. The author’s use of language and imagery is exceptional.

Influenced by Chinese mythology and folklore, this is an immersive and immense world that is easy to get lost in. The chronology at the beginning of the book also offers more insight into the history of the world. Everything is so vivid and rich, and the unique fantasy elements and magic system are fascinating. The setting, plot, and characters also serve to criticize forced assimilation, colonialism, cultural appropriation, sexism, and racism. There are parts at the beginning where there was a lot of information about the world and the magic and mythology, which threw the pacing off for me, but it doesn’t take away from the exceptional development and well-crafted world and characters.

Lan and Zen are both such interesting protagonists, and I like that we have dual perspectives. It definitely gives you the chance to see both of their points of view. And their slow-building love story is fantastic! You can feel the chemistry between Lan and Zen from their first meeting, and that chemistry only increases as the story progresses. Their stories are compelling and heartbreaking, and I didn’t always agree with their decisions, but I’m so curious to find out what happens next!!!

I thought this was an entertaining start to the series. There are a lot of twists and turns, secrets and lies, betrayal, and a few surprising revelations. I’m eager to read the next book in the series, as there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and I can’t wait to learn more about the characters and their journeys.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This book is strong in many aspects: the worldbuilding, magic system, and history are well-established, lushly written, and an excellent incorporation of dynastic Chinese history. The story moves through multiple interesting, varied settings: a teahouse, forests, schools of magic, and villages. The central and side conflicts are clearly depicted with character motivations on each side described in detail. I especially enjoyed the epithets at the beginning of each chapter, which added to the immersive worldbuilding. The pacing is fine; it builds toward an explosive climax that gives greater insight into the book's title. I also liked the discussions of power: its cost, uses, and implications. The ending does well in setting up for the sequel, which I am eagerly anticipating.

Where this book falls slightly flat for me is in the characterization. The two main characters at times do not seem all that distinct from each other. The story being told from primarily both their viewpoints makes this even more difficult, although the key differences between them were more clearly established by the end. Since the majority of the book focuses on these two, some of the other side characters and relationships didn't seem fully developed, although I am sure that we will see more of them in the second book. Additionally, some of the action scenes were written in a choppy way that could make it difficult to follow what exactly was happening, although this did improve as the book went on.

With all that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is an exciting start to a new book series. The story has dark and light moments, with some genuinely funny interactions and quips. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fantasy, who is looking for an immersive read, and who enjoys moments in which characters step into their rage and embrace their destructive potential.

Happy Friday y’all and happy beginning of the holiday season, if you celebrate! My family does a very commercialized version of the holidays, which I’m always a big fan of, so tonight is going to be all about wrapping presents for me- and reading of course, which ties in nicely with this post! Today’s my stop on the Song of Silver, Flame like Night tour with Turn the Page tours! This book comes out on January 3 from Delacorte Press, so make sure you add it to your lists is if isn’t already on there! Turn the Page tours and the publisher are also sponsoring a giveaway for one of two finished copies of the book, so make sure you go and enter today!
Song of Silver, Flame like Night 3.5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: 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.
Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak’gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and her days scavenging for what she can find of the past. Anything to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died.
The mark is mysterious—an untranslatable Hin character—and no one but Lan can see it. Until the night a boy appears at her teahouse and saves her life.
Zen is a practitioner—one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic was rumored to have been drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Now it must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.
When Zen comes across Lan, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He’s never seen anything like it—but he knows that if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.
Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within—secrets they must hide from others, and secrets that they themselves have yet to discover. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.
Now the battle for the Last Kingdom begins.
Man, I have so many thoughts about this book! Like, there were so many good things about Song of Silver, Flame like Night, but there were also things that made it so hard for me to keep reading- but those are all probably personal preference, so I really don’t think those would outweigh the goods for other people, which is why I’m going to tell y’all about all the things! So let’s get started!
The goods:
I really liked the character stories and the general premise of the book- the Hins being taken over by the Elantians and a hidden school of Hin practitioners rebelling and practicing their old magic even though it’s outlawed were all great elements that I loved. I also really liked the idea of the clans and the four demon gods- I loved that the book itself was based on Chinese mythology! It really had so many elements of everything I could have wanted in a book!
The bad:
I could not get behind the pacing in this book. There were so many times where I was questioning the point of drawing something out or not explaining thins and the forced romance between Lan and Zen- why! It really didn’t feel like they needed to love each other or for them to get physical for us to understand the depth of what happened later in the book. I know that might be controversial option, but I fully stand by it.
All in all though, besides the pacing, and the fact that I was not a fan of the romance, I enjoyed the book! I wouldn’t reread it, but I am really glad I read it! And I’m very excited to see where things go in book two, so take that as an endorsement as well! Be sure to pre-order Song of Silver, Flame like Night today!

Author Amélie Wen Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a beautifully written new fantasy novel with sweeping descriptions that draws heavily on ancient Chinese culture and mythology for its inspiration. Woven among the tale of Lan, a young woman carrying a secret inside her that she must unravel left to her by mother, is the beginnings of romance that will leave the reader wanting more in possible future sequels.

Overall, I liked this book. I will admit it is a slow read and not necessarily an easy one. There is a lot of world building and the descriptions often slows down the plot. The book picks up steam towards the end and it’s almost a race to the finish that made me wish the action had started sooner. Yet, it is a rewarding read as you go on this journey with Lan to discover the truth of her past and make sense of what lies in her future.

The main characters are extremely well written, although none of them truly stood out to me. The 3rd person narration is split between Lan and her love interest Zen. I liked Lan, and her story drives the plot, but I found myself hoping that in future installments we get more from Zen. I think there is the potential for a lot of character development and I hope the author will continue to bring these characters to life on the page.

I gave this book a 4 out 5 as it is a beautiful read. There is virtually no spice, just a sweet romance, so it is suitable for all YA readers.

Wow, this book is breathtaking!
Now I haven’t finished yet (I’m halfway done) because I unfortunately had exams and a lot of doctor appointments but I can already tell this is going to be an all time favorite.

The author created the kind of world I would definitely would want to visit despite probably being killed if I was being hunted like Lan and Zen. I’m f I could I would take the first plane out and discover the land and country because it sounds entirely magical, except the you know probably getting killed part!

Every time the is a scene between Lan and Zen I’m blushing like I’m still in 6th grade and I highlight their scenes way to much. I absolutely love them together and also on their own. They’re both strong and smart characters.
I can tell you this if Zen excited in real life I would melt on the spot if I met him.

Amelie wen Zhao created a world and story you can get truly lost in and cannot put down and want to continue reading despite having exams (whoupsie).

"A sword's purpose may be determined by its wielder, but take the weapon away entirely, and neither the merciful nor the cruel may draw blood with it."

Song of Silver has been an absolute whirlwind to read. Amelie Wen Zhao is a master of words, stringing them so lyrically in a way that will make you feel so much love right before so much heartbreak. Lan is a witty and sharp girl who I fell in love with immediately. On the flip side, Zen is composed, strictly following the rules in shit hits the fan. They are two sides of the same coin which make watching their story unfold so much more fulfilling.

I think one of my favorite parts of the book where the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Most seem to be taken from the books that guide the Way of practitioning within the story, adding to the dimensions of storytelling that Wen Zhao weaves. They foreshadow their respective chapters, and provide insight to the reader on the culture of the Way. They're also just really beautifully written quotes to live by.

Song kept me on my toes the entire way through; I realized exactly what was happening only a split second before it was explained each time (and I love it)! The only frustrating part is that the villain just won't die and it's so annoying.

Song of Silver,Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao is an elegantly written work of fantasy interspersed with the tragedy relatable to our real world.
What Worked for me
-The Character chemistry and and writing style flowed together beautifully to create an immersive and intriguing world for the reader to explore.
-The impact of colonialism on the world our main character is living in is both believable and heart breaking.
-I adore the magic of this world and how the reader gets to learn about it alongside the main character.
What didn't work as well for me
- The pacing for the exposition was a bit wonky for the first fourth of the book.
- I definitely need a second book which while it is excellent to want more of the writing I'm spoiled for stories that can stand alone within a series by author authors.
Who I would recommend the book for
Song of Silver, Flame Like night is a great read for fans of books such as the Poppy war or Babel.

Loved everything about this book. An adventurous story filled with mythology and strong, relatable characters. I really enjoyed the system of magic. The author painted a beautiful world that you Feel compelled to exist inside permanently. The pacing was even and the writing was lyrical.

I received an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

A song of silver night like flame is such a beautifully written story. The author writes in a very lyrical way that makes all the information being thrown at you feel somewhat more manageable. As with most fantasy novels that are the first in a series, there is a lot of information dumping. What is nice about how it was written in this story is that we are learning about most things as Lan is learning because she is as in the dark about qí as the readers are. I will say, having Zen be here teacher for the first part of the book made him feel a little robotic and hard to connect too.

Once Zen started being less of a teacher and more of a friend to Lan, I really began to enjoy his character more and their journey more. Both would do anything to save their loved ones which is something that they were able to relate to each other about. I really enjoyed Lan’s wits and while she didn’t always make the smartest decisions, I enjoyed her spitfire personality. When it came to the romance, I enjoyed the build-up and loved that they knew that they could trust each other with their lives.

Everything really starts to happen around the 70% mark. So much is revealed and a lot begins to happen. I really enjoyed the ending. I know for some the ending didn’t feel right, but I was thought it was perfect and very well written. I really ended up enjoying this book. While it had a slow start, I loved how it developed. I definitely recommend this book and cannot wait until until the next book is released!

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review **

What can I say….this book was an absolute masterpiece. It was achingly beautiful and heartbreaking. Amelie Wen Zhao masterfully created an enthralling YA fantasy world rooted in Chinese mythology with themes of cultural assimilation and colonialism effortlessly interwoven in. This was an incredible first installment to a new duology and I’m excited (AND TERRIFIED) to see where things go.

One of the best things about this book was all of the incredible characters, especially our main dynamic duo Lan and Zen. In a lot of ways, Lan was a stereotypical headstrong YA fantasy heroine. However, unlike a lot of other YA books I’ve read, she had a ton of depth and dimension to her character that made her so much more than just another other YA heroine. We got a good mix of her independent boss lady moments but also a lot of vulnerability that made her that much more endearing and someone you could easily root for. Zen was such a cold grump and I loved every second of it. He was a man of duty and rigidity, but It didn’t take much for Lan to start melting down his icy exterior. I obviously won’t get into spoilers here, but Zen is bound and determined to break me by the end of this duology

The sloooooow burn romance between Zen and Lan was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was filled with “knife to throat” enemies to lovers vibes paired with soft touches and eye contact that made me INVESTED. You could feel the natural chemistry and mutual respect these two had for each other. They were both so protective of each other and willing to put themselves on the line for the other no matter the cost…which, given the way the plot goes, makes this book that much more enthralling and heartbreaking.

All of the side characters were so dynamic and interesting. In particular, Shanjun and Tai were sweet baby angels and need to be protected at all costs. But one thing you should know going into this…Amelie Wen Zhao is not afraid to put her characters THROUGH IT. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The colonialism and cultural assimilation subplot should and will make you uncomfortable at times. Without going into spoilers, it was really interesting to analyze the way that a desire for power plays out differently amongst both the oppressed and the oppressor (each with heartbreaking consequences).

My only regret in picking this book up now is that now I’m stuck with my unanswered questions until the final book come out (and who knows when that’s going to happen!). But it was worth it in the end.

I just can’t wait to get my hands on my preorder of the physical copy!

Story: 4/5

I really liked this one! I've been bingeing a Middle Grade series for the past two weeks, so adjusting to this one was a bit tough, but once I had that figured out, it was smooth sailing.

I will admit that the pacing for this one was a bit funky. I enjoyed it, because it felt very much like a complex high fantasy, but that's not for everyone. It took until the 50% mark to reach a place in which I felt confident in the plot direction, everything before that felt like buildup. I enjoyed it, but again, it can be a struggle.

That buildup allowed SO much time to get to know the characters though! I loved them, and I'm not even sure why. I loved Zen, I found him to be adorable. Again, not sure why, but I wanted more of him. I liked Lan too, even though she bugged me at times.

I do wish that we'd had a bit more involvement from the side characters. I can't even name them, they were that inconsequential. Ensemble casts are one of my favorite things, and even though I can understand why Song of Silver, Flame Like Night didn't feature one, I wish it did.

Despite my few complaints, I'll definitely be looking forward to the sequel! This was an engaging read, and I loved the world and characters. I'd recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

a huge thank you to netgalley and randomhouse children’s/ delacortepress for the e-arc <3

this was a very magical read! i loved the authors writing style with the deep lore that she wove within the story as well as the demons that play a huge part of it! i found the intricate magical system based off qì so intriguing and the way she described the action was like a little movie playing in my head :,)

we follow two characters in this story. one is the main pov, Lan, who has lost so much and navigates not only the world around her as it’s being conquered but also herself. and the other pov is Zen, who is the main love interest and is also waging a war with himself based off his past

as the story progresses we get to see more of the impact of colonialism and how the people were affected by it. also the villain(s) in this story were very interesting as they have their own form of magic based around metals. i loved how it’s basically nature vs metals and how each magic system functioned/ were used

not to mention all the other characters within this book fighting to restore their country and take it back. i wish we could have delved a bit deeper into their stories but nonetheless i loved them

i recommend picking this book up and giving it a read when it comes out on January 3rd & i can’t wait for the next installment!

pros:
- loved the writing style
- the worldbuilding
- the lore >>>
- the unique magic system!!
- the characters <3

cons:
- repetitive descriptive words at times
- dialogue could have been a bit more in depth
- there could have been a bit more chemistry between the two main love interests

Oh my gosh. This was so so well done. First of all, the worldbuilding is stellar. Zhao beautifully crafts this amazing world, built on Chinese history and elements, and it teleports me. The writing, the descriptions, are all so beautiful, and I really felt like I was immersed in it. And Lan and Zen are so well written. I felt captivated by both of them and thought that the story was captivating from start to finish. It was a rollercoaster of a journey and I'm now just eagerly anticipating the end of this amazing duology. Amazing job from Amelie Wen Zhao for TRULY crafting a beautiful tale steeped in Chinese history.

Beautifully written with Zhao's lush prose, this unique world and engaging characters made for a great reading experience.

3.75/5

I would like to start out by saying the writing and the plot of this book are amazing. I absolutely adore her writing style. She is precise with her words and it flows wonderfully. The way Amélie Wen Zhaós sets everything up was wonderful to read and explore.

Now the characters of this book took a little while to get used to and begin to enjoy. There were a few times when I wanted to reach into the computer and shake Len for some of the choices/decisions she makes. I will say her character has some amazing character development and growth. I loved reading about her journey to learn more about her mother and the past.

I love how she wrote all of the relationships in this book. They aren’t forced they are allowed to grow and they felt natural. Like the relationship between Len and Zen they weren’t pushed together it too it’s time and slowly showed us how they bonded and grew.

The pacing at the beginning of the book was slow and I understand that with her building this wonderful new world and exploring and learning about the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of Song of Silver, Flame like Night in return for my honest opinions.

Amélie Wen Zhao created a xianxia world that I want to live in. Inspired by ancient China, the story of heroes and demons in Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is one to follow. Excluding translated novels, English books focused on xianxia and cultivation are few and far between. I’m incredibly glad that a book in this genre will be released. What a great start to the new year. Song of Silver, Flame like Night highlighted Chinese folklore with the cultivation of qi by practitioners. Experiencing all the heartbreak and suffering, the characters find it hard to refuse the temptation to fall to the dark side, but cultivating demonic arts will cause them to be shunned.

Invasion by the Elantians eradicated the Last Kingdom and only some traces of it live. Zen is a descendant of one of the ninety-nine clans that used to prosper during the Last Kingdom era. When Elantians colonized their country, the survivors went underground. While Lan doesn’t have any memories of her parents or even her heritage, she knew that it was a powerful Elantian who killed her mother.

The teachings of the Way focused on yin and yang, good and bad, light and dark. It’s all about balance. One cannot live without the other without tipping the scale. Although Lan is new to all of these, the innate power within guides her through the training and even encounters with the Elantians.

Orphaned young, Zen was adopted by his shifu. Despite everyone else’s protest about taking in this kid, Zen’s master took him under his wings without hesitation. His vow of vengeance drove Zen to make dangerous decisions and it was heartbreaking. As for Lan, all she wanted is to know more about her background. Lan wanted to make sense of the last memories of her dying mother. What was Lan’s mother protecting that forfeited her life?

I loved how the growing romance was crafted. Just when you think a happily ever after is near and the couple will be fighting against evil side by side, reality hits. Of course, things have to go awry as how it does in xianxia and books. I’m hopeful about where things go on from here though. We have one more book!

This is my first novel by Amélie Wen Zhao. The ancient China setting and promise of Chinese folklore and mythology were what attracted me in the first place. I’m glad I picked up Song of Silver, Night like Flame. It was what I need.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023 and I am absolutely tickled to get to devour it a bit early.

It was truly incredible. There is the perfect amount of world building, the pace has the best balance and the characters have so much depth and experience wonderful growth. There aren’t enough words to say how magical this reading experience was.

I wanted this to last forever and dragged on my reading as long as I could to enjoy every moment. The action was riveting and it definitely contributed to quite a few late nights because I had to know what happened next.

I’m beyond ready for the next book and I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen so I have more people to talk about it with!

Thank you, Turn The Page Tours, for the chance to read Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in the Song of the Last Kingdom duology by Amélie Wen Zhao. This isn't the author's first series; she's better known for her debut, Blood Heir, which has been reviewed 12,744 times on Goodreads! Like Blood Heir, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is also published by Delacorte Press, a Random House imprint. It's 467 pages long and falls broadly under the category of fantasy (but more specifically under YA fantasy), mythology, and Chinese folklore.

Lan is a song girl in a colonized kingdom. By day, she alternatively flirts and avoids patrons of the teahouse to make ends meet, and by night sneaks out to try to understand the scar on her arm that no one but her can see. When she accidentally kills an Elantian soldier, she draws the attention of an Elantian magician who killed her mother and really wants her gone too. Lan escapes with Zen, the boy who can see she too is a practitioner (even if she doesn't know it), to go to a place the Elantians can't reach, a school of masters who can train her too. Once there, Lan discovers the truth about her mother's death and takes control to try and protect the ones she loves.

There are some really great things in this book! For one, I loved the magic system the author set up and the world she built. By making Zen Lan's teacher, Zhao could include a lot of information without it being out of place. The Zen and Lan chemistry was also done well; they're instantly attracted to each other. The author keeps going with that instead of randomly sliding it in somewhere. There are some really touching moments, such as when Lan talks about how Zen gives her information so freely when she used to have to beg for it before meeting him. The book also depicted colonialism fairly well, from how resources are extracted to how history is being re-written to suit the victor. The side characters have interesting stories and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the next book!

Some things did bug me. The language would sometimes go from being very pretty and slightly old-fashioned to being hyper-modern in the same sentence, which is occasionally jarring. I also noted this in the Iron Widow, and I wonder if this is a style that authors are now experimenting with. Lan also felt very stupid and childish; things like the dancing in the woods scene and when she bathes in the sacred spring just rubbed me the wrong way. The dramatic parent reveal was also a bit blegh.

I am intrigued by the ending with what both Lan and Zen chose, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Amélie Wen Zhao has done it again. I was entranced with her work with the Blood Heir series and this novel was everything I needed! Her writing style is beautiful and extremely descriptive, it’s clear how much work she puts into her stories. The cover as well is beautiful! Absolutely loved the plot and the characters