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.

all at once a shattering tale of power and a heart-wrenching tale of destiny elegantly woven in with momentous themes of colonialism and embellished with glittering elements of fantasy, song of silver, flame like night, penned by amélie wen zhao is a book that’ll have you enthralled from the very first line.

without a doubt the one of the finest books i've had the pleasure of reading in 2022. with a prose that sings, a plotline that grasps your mind and refuses to let go, and characters which will definitely own your heart, this book is nothing short of a literary tour de force.

What a phenomenal book. Not one, but two interesting magic systems, plus a likeable main character in a YA novel? Delightful.

This book really hooked me in the beginning but lost some steam in the middle. It picked up towards the end - overall a great fantasy read.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is exciting and magical! A thrilling read that is based on Chinese folklore that Wen Zhao's own mother told her as a child.

The novel follows Lan, a song girl with a scar only she can see in a language no one knows how to read. Lan lives in The Last Kingdom, a country conquered by the Elantians. Her mission is to figure out what her scar means, the last gift her mother gave her after she died while protecting Lan during the beginning of the Elantian invasion. And so begins Lan's journey, assisted by the practitioner Zen and a few more quirky characters.

The thing that I liked the most about Song of Silver, Flame like Night was the amazing magical system and the backdrop of a conquered land struggling to hold on to its culture, people, and land. Song of Silver, Flame like Night is undoubtedly set in a fantasy world, but too many things ring true to our current and historical reality. I felt like I was reading historical fiction, but with a hearty load of magic. I loved it!

My one-star deduction is mainly because I felt that at some point that there was a bit too much repetition of events that got a bit tiring after a while. I still absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone and believe that it will be a must-read for 2023.

Oh, also, Lan and Zen are cute but oh, so heartbreaking. Looking forward to book #2!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5. Thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

"Strength with restraint and power without balance are akin to a path into darkness without light."

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a lush, layered and beautifully written fantasy tale based on a turbulent time in Chinese history. It will be a duology. Amelie Wen Zhao pulls from her family's history to create the world of the Last Kingdom, born from the power struggles of the 99 clans as they are subsumed under one emperor and what remains of those clans are forced to assimilate as the Hin people. Each of these clans has a magic specialty passed down through the bloodline, but under the new regime many clans are wiped out and these magical abilities seem to have disappeared. Then from across the sea the Elantians invade and topple the Last Kingdom using their metal based magic and the Hin people are forced into subservience and the remaining clan magic users are hunted and killed.
Lan was orphaned after the Elantians killed her mother and she performs as a songgirl in a teahouse that serves the ruling Elantians. At her death, Lan's mother pressed a design into her skin that she has been trying to decipher ever since. An encounter with a vicious Elantian guard forces a stranger at the teahouse to save Lan's life and she and Zen then flee to escape pursuit. This sudden partnership leads Lan to a secret school, new friends, new skills, revelations and danger.
There is just so, so much to love in this story. You can tell Amelie poured her heart into telling a version of her family's story. The world feels like you could walk right into it. From the history and cultures represented to the food, clothing, languages and then add on the amazing magic of both the clans and the Elantians and it's a thoroughly fleshed out world. The qi based magic of the clans founded on the flow of yin and yang energies is fantastic. Both Zen and Lan are compelling characters and their actions and choices feel realistic and they have consequences that both have to deal with. Erascius is a wonderful villain and counterpoint to Zen and Lan.
I was completely captivated throughout this entire story so I would certainly recommend it to fantasy fans and absolutely if you are looking for Asian-based fantasy this is a must read!!

This one is super difficult for me to review. There were things I truly loved about it and things that I struggled with. At times I loved the writing (like really loved) and at times I felt it was hard to keep up with and stay invested in. And the ending left me confused on how the characters could make the decisions they made (it didn’t really track to me) but also left me excited to read the next book.

So I know this is the most confusing review ever. And though I’m only giving it 3 stars, I would recommend it for anyone who likes Chinese mythology inspired tales with magic, romance, and action! And I am so happy I preordered it because this book cover is gorgeous!