A great way to start the New Year off right, I highly recommend "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night".

Fans of "Girls of Paper and Fire" will enjoy this quick read.

Could not put the book down and already ready for book two despite this book not technically being out for release yet. On that note, shoutout to NetGalley.com for this free copy. I will be buying two copies on it's release date, one for my personal collection and one for a friend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book early! As a huge fan of the xianxia (Chinese martial arts fantasy) genre already, I was so excited to hear about this book and then to read it. I love the idea of this book helping to introduce the genre to more international readers. Just like in any classic xianxia, this book included so many of the best tropes of the genre but then subverts them in surprising, interesting, and exceptional ways. In addition, I have yet to read a xianxia inspired fantasy taking place during the colonial period, as it is historically placed in ancient history. So, I loved the discussion of cultural heritage and efforts to preserve it despite all colonial efforts to erase it.
Lan is such an interesting character and I loved being able to experience her character growth as she investigated the mysterious legacy that has surrounded her since the occupation. I was pulled into her story quickly and I could hardly put the book down. At the beginning, I thought Zen’s chapters to be a bit slower, especially before I understood his motivations and how everything intersects.
I want to see more characters like Lan in future books. She is fierce and courageous in a quiet way when her only motivation was to survive, and even when she comes into her own, she never loses that side—and her independence—of her.
This is such a fantastic book and I can’t wait to recommend it anyone I know following its publication. I would recommend this to fans of the xianxia genre, but also those of The Poppy War Trilogy.

song of silver, flame like night was absolutely brilliant, well paced and impressive in lore and worldbuilding for being the first in its series. with the depth of the kingdom’s decades of history and intricate magic system of qì energy cannot express how immediately captivated i was into this book. in addition to once the story’s action and pace hit early on, it never slowed down for too long before picking right back up. to be honest though, i might be a bit biased as this book truly got me out of a long reading slump as this was a fantasy i very much enjoyed and had me on the edge of my seat to see where it would all go. like sure there's some of the usual young adult fantasy archetypes, but on personal preferences and being a mood reader it can be easily still entertaining for what i needed at this moment.

this had everything i love in a fantasy for the most part with such an interesting world of the last kingdom with its detailed history and current colonial conflicts, the magic system wielders being called practitioners with a hidden school for young students and secrets to uncover on small journeys that keeps readers attention and the pace consistent. mysterious empathizing backstories for our two mains lan and zen and their dynamic was so amusing with the contrast they had of not just personalities but in their qì energy as well. you can sense that sort of yin and yang between them, of opposite forces yet a shared pull of a bond to another. their emotions and attachment to one another is a bit quick of a whirlwind but keep in mind romance a very small subplot to the bigger plot as i personally think their emotions provided well to their trust in each other and furthering development each other's complex character development and hard decisions to make for the sake of their lives or saving the nation. lan our main character, she is one with goals to figure out her past she vaguely remembers and the legacy left to her, her actions are rather rash but it was compelling to see what of her experiences would affect her belief system and the tough choices ahead of her. along with zen, he's a usual mysterious brooding but fiercely protective though quite literally fighting demons of his past and present, as he seems to be more morally grey struggling with the choices he's given versus what has been taught to him.

but importantly other than our mains and their connections, it well covers themes of effects of colonialism on a nation and figuring out how to fight back without breaking one's ideals along with how history affects the generation to this day seeing things devastatingly repeat. a few other characters like shà’jūn and tài were charming side characters and a bit of affection and angst between them i can't wait to see more of, and there's dilaya who is frustrating to our mains at first but readers come to understand her hostility and see her development as well. there's more particular dynamics that hit my heart, a sort of adoptive father/kid found family and blood relation revelations. subjectively, especially the last 20 percent had me go through such a rollercoaster of emotions of shock and devastation that it emotionally is a 5 star read for me, but as a whole leaning towards a 4.5 star read. consequence of reading and getting invested in a first book of a series as an advanced copy, going to have to wait ages til the sequel. this was a strong, solid start and i have such high hopes and anticipations for the continuation of this series and following how these characters will grow in resolve to face what is next.

I received this eARC from Random House/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first ever piece of work I have read by Amelie and I loved her writing style and the beautiful pictures she can draw with words. In short, she has a way with words. I enjoyed the way she imbibed Chinese culture in storytelling in different aspects. From a person who's country was a colony not long ago, she depicted the Elantians really well. Honestly, none of their behavior was embellished. However, the book fell short on various other fronts.

Lan came off as quite childish which I find surprising given that she had to grow up quick and learn to fend for herself quite early on in life. All Zen did was be good looking and help move the plot forward. Lan looked at him like a piece of meat. There was so much potential with Zen's character, but we don't get to see much. Further, I felt like I was never given a chance to know the side characters given their potential to the story.

The pacing of the book was off. In some instances, it was fast and in other quite slow. There were multiple times I could point out where the author should've taken time and written more for the scene and on the other spectrum scenes where much detail wasn't required.

Will nobody in the book address that the Lan picked up magic so fast and there could've been more to it? Zen mentions it once and then we get the reveal. I feel like more could've been done in that regard. In general, the magic system left much to be desired in the book as well. This book had a lot of potential. I can only hope that the author tries to conquer the shortcomings in the next book.

I don't know if anybody noticed, but this book is uncannily similar to the poppy war, just the male and female lead are swapped.

I do want to continue with the series for the prose and writing style of the author. However, the book could've been done better.

For those anticipating this release, it won’t let you down. If you are a YA fantasy lover and haven’t added this to your TBR yet, do so now.

Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night
By Amelie Wen Zhao
Out January 3rd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brief synopsis: Lan has lost everything. Her mother was killed and her city was taken over by Elantians. Her world changes suddenly when her life is saved by a stranger, Zen. Lan then sets off on a journey that will teach her about magic, her history, and herself. It may even help her save what’s most important to her.

This book has some plot points that made it feel typical YA fantasy, but the Chinese mythology and unique magic system made it stand out.

I enjoyed this until the end and I’m excited for the next book in the series.

thank you Netgalley for the arc !!

Fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess will DEFINITELY love this book. Some of the plot points remind me of The Poppy War as well! (loosely, and make it YA). I thought the world-building was well done and the characters were very unique with their own backstories. Lan's character was so cheeky so that was fun to read. AND THE ENDING? I NEED BOOK 2 RN. gimme that angst pls.

And the way Lan and Zen's dynamic reminds me a lot of the untamed cdrama🤭

Minor things I didn't like: (aka me just being nitpicky😭)
— I don't think Lan and Zen had much chemistry. It was alright at best. It was a good thing I was rooting for Lan's journey and not relying on the romance to keep me reading!
— For the writing style, sometimes it felt like we were being spoon-fed information, which I can appreciate at times because I have two brain cells but we would have scenes unfold right in front of us and it would be reiterated again, like trying to make it feel more dramatic ??
— A little bit more show and less tell would be great

Despite the bits I mentioned above, I still think this is a fantasy book many people would enjoy !! It was very easy to follow, had a unique magic system, and many other things I can't mention without spoiling the book so I guess you'll just have to read it :D

5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the E-ARC!
I can't wait for book 2 of the duology! Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was a fascinating book, with a lot of diverse characters and plot building. The story was perfectly spaced out, with no section too fast-paced or too slow-paced. The romance is enemies-to-lovers with just the right amount of slow burn. I have already pre-ordered for a physical copy, and I'm so grateful to be able to read this story before publication.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s Pub for this earc!

One of the biggest problems I had with this book is the world building and all the terminology. There were sooo many moments when I just couldn’t keep track of what was happening or which part of the magic we were talking about. It definitely got worse by the second part of the story.

The writing was another thing that didn’t make this book easy to read. It’s one thing to have all the unique words and names of Demons, completely another when you put them together with “pretty” writing.

One thing I am very sad about is not feeling the romance. Zen and Lan had so much potential but we totally didn’t get to see it. We didn’t really get an explanation of what the rules of dating are in this world, so when Zen basically proposed to Lan after knowing each other for a month, I was super confused.

The plot twists in this story were hit or miss, some I saw coming from miles away)Old Wei being Lan’s father. Can it be any more YA?) The others were kind of cool (Lan having a Demon King attached to her) When Zen finally gets freed and then gets possessed again to second later on the other, totally annoyed me.

In the second part of the book, when we get a whole new set of characters, one thing that makes it hard to connect to them is the jumping between scenes. One moment we are at the school, then we are dying somewhere in the woods, then we get possessed. So when some of them were hurt or killed, I didn’t really care much because they didn’t get enough page time for me to get to know them.

Overall, I think this book should have been longer or split in two. That way we would have a lot more time to get used to the world and learn about the characters.

This story is full of heart and a true love story enriched with Chinese culture. Readers will enjoy the strong characters and beautiful world!

There are two characters at the center of this story, Lan and Zen. They are polar opposites in many ways but share a lot of similarities as well. Neither of them has family left. Lan has been trying to survive as a small-town songgirl and Zen has been taken in by one of the last schools of practicioning. Given where they are in their lives it seems impossible that they would ever cross paths but fate has other plans for them.

When Zen finds himself in the same town as Lan it doesn’t take long for the two to meet. Lan knows there’s something different about Zen and Zen can instantly tell that Lan holds powerful magic within her. When they find themselves in a disturbing situation they must put their trust in each other despite having just met. This is when the real fun begins!

Lan and Zen are great characters! I enjoyed their chemistry. Lan is the “chosen one” who holds incredible power with no knowledge of how to wield it. Zen is a stoic and mysterious guy who is actually very genuine. They balance one another out and I think readers will enjoy them, even if they make bad decisions throughout the story. Plus, they have a fantastic slow-burn romance!

I instantly loved the world that Amélie Wen Zhao created in this series. Everything is set up perfectly in this first book. I have a good understanding of this world’s magic enough to fully enjoy the next installment and I hope that means there will be more action-packed scenes. There were a lot of fun moments in this book, but there were times when the pacing felt off. When something needed explanation it tended to take away from fully enjoying the action. Overall it didn’t stop me from enjoying the plot though.

The exploration of colonization and what one will do for power was interesting in this story. This is my first book that I’ve read by Amélie Wen Zhao and I found her writing poetic. Every word had a meaning and was perfectly placed in order for the reader to root for Lan and Zen as they try to take down the Elantian colonizers. I definitely think 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night' is going to be a huge hit!

One thing I wish there was more of was when Lan and Zen eventually end up at the school of practicioning where Zen resides. It was so interesting! There are more characters that get introduced and I enjoyed learning about the magic as Lan did. Of course just as Lan is finding a sense of home, her world gets turned upside down.

The last act of this book is amazing! I can’t say much without spoiling it but there are a lot of revelations and readers will find out the truth behind both Lan and Zen’s characters. There were a few shocking moments and some that were easy to predict. I still enjoyed all of it!

Overall, 'Song of Silver, Flame Like Night' is an emotional adventure! If you’re in the mood for a new fantasy series with Chinese folklore then this book is perfect for you. It’ll be released at the beginning of next year on January 3. It’s perfect to start the new year with!

This book has so many things I loved: a beautiful backdrop, a magic school, and some great friendships.

What was difficult for me was the world-building and the magic system. I was eventually able to understand the magic system after lots of highlighting and re-reading, but I could never get quite settled in this world. There was so much constantly being thrown at me and I couldn’t quite get my bearings.

I did absolutely love the setting and how it encouraged me to learn more about China and its history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the author’s Tiktok’s talking about how this book had cdrama aesthetics it instantly became an anticipated read of 2023 for me and when I received an arc I was even more excited. As someone who loves Chinese dramas and all the aesthetics involved in them, this book was perfect for me. Song of Silver Flame Like Night read and felt like a chinese drama and i fell into love so quickly.
I’ve never read a book from Amélie Wen Zhao but I know now I have to start her other series. The worldbuilding in this book was beautiful. Learning the background of the kingdom, of the magic system and the bits of mythology sprinkled throughout everything was a wonderful experience. In books like this, I worry that characters may not have the greatest development throughout or I’ll end up hating at least one character but I didn’t hate a single character in this book and was satisfied with how each character progress/developed in this story ( Especially Lan ), I’m super excited for book two and can’t wait to see where Amélie brings us next.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Childrens, Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2023! When I tell you I SCREAMED when I got approved to read the ARC after already pre-ordering 2 different versions of this book. Pretty covers do me in and each variation of this book is stunning. Add that one of my favorite book boxes is supposedly doing this, and I was beyond excited to read it.

This book did not disappoint. The world-building is lush and exquisite and makes you feel as if you are really there. Although you might not want to be there with all the turmoil taking place. The main character isn't super likable in the beginning, but over the course of the story, you realize the reasoning behind this and she grows on you. There is so much culture and history woven into the threads of this story. I don't have any direct comparisons for it, but I will say I haven't enjoyed a YA fantasy book this much since I read "Daughter of No Worlds" Go pre-order this asap because you will not regret it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for this honest review:
I think the easiest way for me to go about this review is to do a pros and cons list. So here it is.

Pros:
- Chinese mythology
- Morally grey characters
- Artful prose

Cons:
- Typical YA protagonist
- Info-dumping/clunky world-building
- Artful prose

Overall, I think a lot of people would really enjoy this story. I don't think it was for me, mainly because the detailed world-building and constant info-dumping distracted me too much from the plot. This book reads like the first in a series (it is) for that reason, which is perfectly fine for readers with more patience than I have.

I had great hopes for this one but sadly I did not enjoy it. I've only read one other book by this author and that one too left me feeling indifferent. I didn't feel any chemistry between any of the characters especially between the main ones. I found myself not caring about any of them. Lan's treatment of Dilaya was so childish and their interactions were hard to read. I feel like Zhao was trying to set up a frenemies situation but i don't think it was executed the right way.

Something i did like was the world building it was quite intricate but there was a lot of telling. A lot of info dumps that could have been presented in a less telly way.

Mainly I feel like this book just wasn't for me.

I AM SO SHOCKED. The ending was WILD.

This story kept going in ways I wasn’t expecting and it swept me away. The mythology and the magic system were so fascinating! This was adventurous, tense, endearing, and thrilling! Plus the romance was sprinkled in beautifully.

Lan and Zen!! Wow, my heart aches now. They had such sweet moments and I loved reading both of their perspectives. From their first meeting to the end of the book, I was so invested! Ugh. Now to wait for the sequel to see what happens next for them!

This book will sweep you away into a magical kingdom where you follow a teenage girl as she discovers the secrets of her past and faces colonization at the hands of metal magician conquerors. In this book you will explore the themes of identity, privilege and balance as you learn about the rich history of this Kingdom through the perspectives of our two main characters: Lan and Zen. The book is told in a third person omniscient point of view from our two main characters, altering perspectives every few chapters.

Lan is our quick-witted female main character who is just trying to survive in her newly colonized homeland while Zen is our mysterious male main character who is trying to adhere to the way of practitioning expected of him by his grandmaster. When he runs into Lan and realizes she is a practitioner who is unaware of her abilities, he decides he must help her figure out who she is and protect her from the colonizers that are after her magic. Although the characters may not be relatable for all readers, they will definitely have you rooting for them by the end of the book as they both have endured so much but still want to fight back and protect their homeland. Our main characters also give off chosen one vibes which can be fun in this type of story.

This book takes place in a fantasy world that feels like a Chinese period drama that has a dreamy feel to it like Daughter of the Moon Goddess. This kingdom has a similar history to China’s with all history of wars and colonization, which also makes this world have a similar vibe to the world of The Poppy War. However, our main character isn’t as brash and intense giving this a lighter feel than The Poppy War.

I enjoyed the mythical imagery and the interesting magic system we uncover with our main characters. I felt that the book had a lot of good twists and turns but I wasn’t too shocked by most of them. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for new young adult high fantasy series with magic and mystery. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not like chosen one tropes or is looking for an intense fantasy series.

I’d rate this a 4.5 Rounded up as I felt like most plot twists were predictable for me.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book for my honest review!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. The world was interesting and had so much to uncover. The characters felt realistic. The magic system was fun. The characters aren’t necessarily good and the story wasn’t exactly happy. I think fans of Wicked Saints would enjoy this book.

This is an epic story full of fantasy and fight.

The world building is ethereal and runs deeply rooted in history, and you learn along with the characters as they come to terms with whole they are and their past in regards to the world they're in.

The action was a steady constant even when the characters weren't in immediate danger, you felt on edge along with them as they waited for and learned more about their enemies.

I am blown away by the amount of care to detail to create such a fantastical world that makes you want to join the fight alongside strong characters!

This was one of the best books I've read this year.
The prose drew me in and immersed me in the story. The characters are wonderful, and the world and setting are so vivid. The magic system was very interesting to read and learn about, even if sometimes it felt a little like info-dumping.

Lan and Zen are fantastic characters. Both have their own amount of baggage to deal with. Both have their own traumas and secrets they feel the need to keep, and I really liked their slow-burn romance. They were so cute and I want only the best for them.

There is so much going on in this book and I feel like it's only the tip of the Iceberg for what's to come. I look forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.

This was a wonderfully crafted book, the worldbuilding and story were captivating and I really liked the characters. As we are getting more and more Chinese inspired stories in the YA market, it's nice to see something that completely twists the script and does something (that at least for me) feels really new. Lan is a girl living in a fallen, conquered kingdom. Stripped of her name, past, and family, Lan struggles to survive under the rule of the Elantians. One day her hidden magic (and unknown to her) reappears, making her target of the Elantian magician that killed her mother. With the help of Zen, an orphaned practitioner of Hin magic largely thought to be lost to time, Lan avoids her pursuers while trying to find out the clues her mother left behind. Lan and Zen are both very strong characters, who, while having some similarities in their backgrounds, developed very different personalities because of it. They play off each other well, and I felt that Lan in particular made a great heroine for this sort of story. I'm interested in seeing how the rest of the story plays out, and how everything will or will not get resolved.