I got super into it in the beginning, got slightly bored midway, then it picked up the rest of the way. But generally, it is a magical story based on Chinese folklore, and the main couple is worth getting invested in. Despite my slightly low rating, I will be giving the sequel a chance.

I could taste this book. The setting, characters and magic system really transported me into the story.

Omg I finally finished this. Not because I didn't enjoy it but because I have such a struggle with physically reading books. And I tried to do this on audio but I hated the narrator so physical copy it was. And I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the magic system, the story, the setting, the debate between good and evil. There was so much happening here and it was written in such a good way that I never felt bored. I always wanted to know what happened next. I'm honestly kind of glad it did take me longer to read this because the sequel is out so I can dive right in.

Along with such an interesting storyline, I loved the characters. Lan was phenomenal. She was strong. She was brave. She was sassy. And all in a good way. Lan acknowledged her weakness and eager to learn how to hone her powers. Lan cared, SO DEEPLY, and she just had so much character. Her remarks made me laugh out loud and her sorrow made my heart hurt. And then Zen. Oh what to say about Zen. You know what his outcome was going to be by the end but it still kills you to read it happen. I'm so eager for the next book to see how Zen will overcome his fate! But not only were the main character captivating, but I was invested in every single side character.

Overall, Song of Silver, Flame by Night by Amelie Wen Zhao was such a good read. Even though it took me a while to read it, I savored every single moment. This plot was so well developed and I loved every moment of the path. The magic system was interesting along with this world. And then the characters. I am obsessed. Lan is everything I want in a heroine. And Zen is our poor lost soul that we just want to hug. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy magic, demons, and forbidden arts.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I felt like this had a good start, a somewhat meandering middle, and a strong ending. I definitely want to see what happens in the sequel! I was drawn in pretty quickly, but I do think that this could have been a bit shorter/tighter in places. There were some noticeable moments of info dumping, particularly when Zen is explaining practioning to Lan. I do think this could have been worked in more naturally, but this wasn't the most bothersome case of info dumping to me personally.

The setting and magic were very interesting overall. We get to read from the points of view of characters whose country has been occupied by foreigners, and I think this was a great exploration of that, particularly with the variety of feelings and actions that come up. For example, some characters have resigned to this occupation, some are seen as traitors to their country because they are involved in Elantian court/politics, and some are actively fighting against the Elantians. We get to journey around the country some and see how these attitudes are different in various places. I liked seeing some of the different settings, though I think my favorite was probably the school since I generally like school settings.

There are multiple types of magic here. The Elantians are able to wield metal which admittedly did remind me of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, though it's a bit different here. There are different types of practioning, including wielding magic through the use of music and summoning demons. I really liked this variety, especially since some of this is dependent on which clans people are from. The demons were interesting (not super nice but powerful), and I hope to see more of them in the next book!

I did like both Lan and Zen overall, though Zen in particular makes some poor choices (definitely want to see how this pans out). I liked seeing their different approaches to fight the Elantians, and I think this will provide some tense moments in the sequel. I can appreciate Lan's desire for power in order to protect those she loves, and I felt like she held on to this consistently throughout the book. It was really great seeing her learn to be a practioner, and I'm looking forward to seeing her develop even more in the next book.

Just like the front quote of the book states, “devastatingly gorgeous”. I fell in love with how magical this was and my heart hasn’t raced with so much adrenaline as it did with the last 150 pages!

My heart BROKE for Zen! This cinnamon roll stud can never catch a break and I’m hoping he finds happiness in the next book because I’m still grieving for him.

Erascius better die for real next time lol…

Wasn't the biggest fan of this - the execution was alright but after trying the author's other series, I think I'm done with her work for now

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This is actually my first book by Amélie Wen Zhao, but I was immediately intrigued by the Asian fantasy aspect and the comparison to the Untamed. I enjoyed the Wuxia aspects with the similar themes of qi and demonic cultivation. It did feel like a rather slow start with things picking up exponentially in the last 70% of the book. I feel like Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a really good setup for the rest of the series in providing the reader with a foundation to the worldbuilding, characters, and plot/conflict. But because it almost acts like an exposition, it is a slow read for the majority of the book. I wouldn't necessarily call it repetitive, but it does feel like the overall plot is the characters running from the eustrians. The base of the plot doesn't seem like anything particularly novel, but the fantasy elements add a nice twist. Some of the reveals were a bit predictable, but I liked all the reveals regarding Lan and her seals. I thought that plot point was very interesting and done well. It was a slow buildup, but when things ramped up it had me fully hooked.

Regarding the characters, in the beginning, Lan did feel a bit like the stereotypical tough YA girl main character, but I grew to like her more and more throughout the book as she gained a better grasp on her powers. I liked Zen as well but I feel like his character could've been a bit more fleshed out. I'm assuming we'll see more of him in the sequel, so perhaps we'll get to know more of him there. The side characters were nice but not necessarily particularly remarkable (but yay for Tai and his boyfriend).

While this wasn't the most memorable read for me, I'm still interested in the sequel and finding out what happens next, especially with the demon gods.

I wasn't going to post today, because I've got nothing to say, but I walked into the house and my dad was "your mom made pork buns. That's all there is for dinner." So I immediately ran to get my copies of SONG OF SILVER, FLAME LIKE NIGHT by Amélie Wen Zhao off the shelves to take a photo.

Pork buns are Lan's favorite food, and there are quite a few mentions of them.

It's been ages since I've read this book. I remember very little in regards to details, beyond it being a Chinese fantasy based on Ancient Chinese mythology. The villains are colonizers, doing as colonizers do - trying to grab all the power and getting rid of everyone in their way. And the small band of misfits/students trying to save themselves and prevent the colonizers from gaining more power.

It's a young adult novel, and I feel that it actually is written for it's target audience. There's just enough simplification, and explanation of the mythology for audiences of all backgrounds to understand. Maybe some new audiences will get into xianxia and wuxia.

I listened to most of this book, and the narrator, Annie Q, did a great job, particularly with Lan. I felt she really brought Lan's worries and confusions to life.

The pacing of the novel can feel uneven. Periods of slow where nothing is going on as they learn in the school, hide from villains, or match towards their quest. These slow periods are quickly followed but faster, or at least more emotionally tense battle scenes. However, I think it works for the novel overall.

I'm excited for the next book to be out sometime in 2024.

Content Notes: violent death of parent in front of child, other violence.

First I want to start by saying the cover for this book is beautiful. Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a young adult fantasy novel. The book includes mythology from China. I love learning and reading retellings of all kinds. I especially love learning new things. I honestly am new to the world of mythology, especially mythology from around the world. Fantastic world-building. I have not read the poppy wars, so I cannot speak on how it compares. I felt like some parts were a bit slow. Book one in the series can sometimes start slow or become an info dump. I will continue with the series!
Thank you, NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

Amélie Wen Zhao's "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night" is a fascinating fantasy story that transports readers to a shattered kingdom steeped in mysteries, magic, and echoes of a rich and intricate past. The plot develops in a world where a little girl named Lan holds the key to unlocking her nation's past and revealing the sleeping demons that lurk inside, with origins in ancient Chinese mythology and folklore.

Lan, the story's resilient protagonist, struggles with a new identity placed upon her by Elantian colonisers after they overrun her realm. Lan navigates the altered city of Haak'gong as a songgirl by night and a scavenger of the past by day, haunted by the memory of her mother's death and driven by a mysterious mark on her arm. The mark, an enigmatic Hin character, distinguishes her, and its significance forms the central mystery driving the tale forward.
The arrival of Zen, a practitioner of mythical magic thought to be lost, adds a fresh dimension of interest to Lan's trip. As Zen recognises the powerful talent hidden within Lan's mark, the two embark on a journey through pine forests and foggy mountains, where an order of practitioning masters holds the knowledge needed to defeat the repressive Elantian rule.
Amélie Wen Zhao brilliantly weaves a story of connected fates, as Lan and Zen keep secrets from others and, maybe more importantly, from themselves. The protagonists' palpable bond is set against the backdrop of a monarchy on the verge of liberation or annihilation.
The evocative prose of the author offers a realistic image of the Last Kingdom, capturing the essence of its landscapes and the tension that pervades the air. The novel deftly blends aspects of fantasy, magic, and political intrigue to create a world that feels both fanciful and all too real.

Readers who appreciated "The Untamed"(like me) will feel right at home in Zhao's surreal world. "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night" is an engaging read with sophisticated world-building, compelling characters, and a thrilling plot that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next volume. Amélie Wen Zhao has established herself as a significant voice in the fantasy genre, producing a story that is rich in both depth and enchantment.

I loved the world of this book and the characters, too. It was enchanting and unique from other fantasies I have read recently. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I found the story itself to reflect that with how well-written it was. It was a book I became quickly absorbed into and couldn’t put down. I would definitely recommend this book to others and plan to continue reading the series myself.

This book was so incredibly magical. It genuinely felt straight out of a C-Drama and there was just something so vivid about Amélie Wen Zhao's writing. I got approved for the ARC for the second book and I am BEYOND excited to dive in!

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I was so late to reading this, but I loved it. As someone who has read some wuxia stories (Chinese Fantasy) I think Zhao did a fantastic job of incorporating some of the traditional tropes and elements while incorporating new and interesting variations. Her themes are excellent, particularly the discussion around colonization and subsequent forced assimilation in an effort to eradicate the existing culture and history of the conquered people. The romance was sweet and developed well, though the conflict felt a little forced towards the end. I was surprised at where certain characters ended up, but it left me curious about how their arcs will progress in the future.

I think readers who are looking for fantasies that are different from the typical Western style and structure will enjoy this one, and it's a great transitional work for people who are interested in checking out Chinese genre fiction like wuxia or xianxia or even danmei.


I can't wait to read the sequel!

Definitely a 4.5 and I’m happily rounding up.

I actually got the arc of this one when it released very early in the year 2023 but it also coincided with my first trimester, so I just kept it aside for a later and better time. And I don’t regret waiting because I was able to focus on it nicely this time (especially with the audiobook) and had a grand time throughout.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve gotten obsessed with cdramas - wuxia and xianxia in particular - and have enjoyed reading quite a few translated books too. Which means I’ve also tried to learn atleast some of the most common mandarin words or phrases used in the dramas, and feeling giddy when I actually understand something. And this book gave me that exact giddy feeling. It’s literally a cdrama in book form and I really couldn’t have asked for anything better to end this year with. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, firing up my imagination and bringing the scenes to life in my head like they were shot in Hengdian. The plot is interesting, with the perfect pace, giving us just enough foreshadowing and twists that we never feel like anything comes out of left field.

It’s still the world building though that impressed me so much. I love the little inspirations from Chinese history though I’m sure I didn’t recognize many of the little hints. The themes of colonization, forced assimilation, destroying of indigenous cultures and traditions and promoting homogeneity - all felt very close to our real world and these hit me as a reader pretty hard, and they also form the main beating heart of the story. The mythological aspects and magic system are intricately woven into the plot, making for some very cool and awwww moments. I loved that I didn’t need a huge learning curve for understanding the qi based magic system, especially the Light Arts and Seals form of practitioning - while the qinggong was like any wuxia drama, the Seals reminded me so much of the arrays and talismans in the MDZS donghua. I was delighted that the supernatural creatures and their lore, and Demon Gods present in the narrative are all ones I’m familiar with and I love how they were incorporated into this exciting tale.

There are just so many characters to love in this too. Lan’s childhood was destroyed when her mother was brutally murdered and she was forced to become a song girl to survive, but when presented with the chance to get some freedom, she is full of determination to gain power and protect her loved ones. Despite her dire circumstances though, she is still funny and sassy and enjoys the little things in life like her favorite pork buns and her music. She is immensely troubled by all the knowledge of her lineage and history that she has lost, and it’s so heartening to see her discover bits and pieces of it as the story goes on. Even when she gains power, she grapples with many questions about how to make the best use of it - whether for the common good or for personal revenge or rebellion against the colonial powers.

On the other hand, we do get Zen’s pov but he is an enigma even when we are following him. It’s obvious that he has experienced deep trauma which influences his decisions, and he is constantly fighting between his need for revenge vs the people he loves. His dynamic with Lan is a delicious slow burn where distrust turns to reluctant allies to friends to something more - and it’s a matter of time to see what happens to their red string of fate.

There are also many excellent supporting characters and I loved every one of them - even when they came across as annoying, I came to like them eventually. Shanjun is an absolute sweetheart and such a caring friend, and his relationship with the broody mysterious Cho Tai is so sweet and heartwarming. Dilaya and her mother Ulara are very hard to like but they are bound by duty and family legacy, and will not bring disgrace to their ancestors. The masters at the School of White Pines are an ensemble of eccentric characters and I only wish we had more time with them, because they are all so brave and determined to do the right thing. The villains among the colonizers were a hateful bunch and there’s more I want to talk about but don’t wanna spoil the story.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, fantastically woven world full of magic, mysteries and monsters, with a whole host of brilliant characters. The audiobook is also superbly narrated by Annie Q, and I adored her different voices for everyone. I immensely enjoyed this series starter and can’t wait to read the imminently releasing sequel soon. And if you are cdrama obsessed like me or have an inclination towards Chinese history or mythology, then this series is absolutely perfect for you.

In the enchanting realms of "Song of Silver, Flame-Like Night," Lan's journey unfolds like a lyrical dance, blending Chinese folklore, a mesmerizing qi-based magical system, and a rich tapestry of cultural assimilation. This YA fantasy, the inaugural installment of a promising series, masterfully navigates the treacherous waters of colonialism, weaving in elements of Chinese mythology with finesse.

Meet Lan, a complex protagonist with a mysterious past and a destiny waiting to unfurl. From a beggar on the streets of Haakgong to a Song Girl at Madam Meng's Teahouse, Lan's life takes a compelling twist when she discovers a cryptic mark on her arm, a silent testament to her mother's tragic fate at the hands of Elantian colonizers. Her path crosses with Zen, a practitioner of formidable skills, and their destinies intertwine in a tale of power, destiny, and a kingdom on the brink.

The worldbuilding here is a triumph, transporting readers into a vividly detailed universe where every spice, every breath of wind, and every twist of fate is meticulously crafted. Lan and Zen's perspectives offer a balanced view, and while the romance echoes with poignancy, the narrative's strength lies in its meticulous character development and riveting pacing.

The narrative unfolds with layers of history, myths, and the dance of qi energy, captivating readers with its intricate construction. While the echoes of archetypal characters resonate, Lan and Zen's journey transcends tropes, pulling readers into a world where the line between history and fantasy blurs.

Zhao's writing is a marvel, capturing the essence of each setting with breathtaking precision. The novel's emotional core is a testament to the author's ability to balance a sweeping story with characters bearing histories, legacies, and the weight of their world.

Despite the book's fantastical elements, it delves into profound themes of colonialism, personal growth, and the echoes of the past that shape the present. This YA fantasy is a symphony of emotions, a kaleidoscope of cultures, and a promise of more enchanting tales to come. "Song of Silver, Flame-Like Night" is a must-read, leaving readers eager for the next magical chapter in Lan and Zen's entwined destinies.

Huge thank you Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press and NetGalley for sharing this captivating digital review copy, a portal to a world where silver notes meet the flames of destiny.

4 Stars

I really wanted to love this story, unfortunately I did not. The story is very predictable, and the writing is extremely slow.

This was not one of my favorites. Not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of book when I started it or what. It was honestly a DNF for me.

DNF at 10%. Nothing wrong with the book, but I couldn't get into it. The magic system and premise were intriguing, but I'm just not in the mood for epic fantasy right now!