I have mixed feelings, personally, on Zhao’s epic fantasy. My undergrad was EAS (strong emphasis on China) and I felt some of the world building was tedious and academic. I would have loved to have seen a glossary of words to support readers. The East vs West themes were also very strong in such a way, that parts of character motivations seemed shallow.

For the story, I loved it. Until I realized we weren’t concluding the story in 1 book. It’s not that I didn’t like the story, either, but it was a lot to absorb.

Based on the epilogue, I WOULD like to read the sequel and would recommend to others to read. However, I wish this had been a one-and-done book or a longer book.

The world building is beautiful. I could see this being a popular pick from our libraries, especially with the beautiful cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did. Well, as someone who mostly reads fantasy like this I did but I didn't expect it to quickly become one of my favorite books of the year. The world was absolutely beautiful, with an incredible magic system and amazing characters. This book was beautiful and I'm beyond excited to read more books from Amélie, with the way she writes it was easy to be pulled into this story and I ended up finishing it extremely quickly once I picked it up.

I loved reading about Lan and Zen's journey, however, I found the first half of the story to be more enjoyable than the second half; it also felt very similar to Spin the Dawn with the involvement of demons, etc. and the second half felt like I was reading its sequel (Unravel The Dusk), which I did not enjoy as much as the first. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and would definitely read the sequel.

Amelie can create a world like no other. She is intricate, detailed, and immersive. Her worlds leap off the page and fantasy lovers will fall in love with her characters and settings.

However, the pacing dragged a bit for my taste. Whether it was just the fact that I’ve been out of fantasy for awhile, or something else, I still think this book will be great for a lot of people.

At some point in my life I watched many dramas with beautiful universes and fantasy worlds. Well, none of them matched the feeling this book gave me. It was so beautiful written, lyrical in some ways, I felt it deeply in my heart how much research the author put to make this worldbuilding so vast and unique.

I love fantasy, I love romance, I love everything that have to do with forbbiden love and powers who can bent a person will and make him go beyond repairs to protect the ones he loves. This book is about sacrifices, about the helpelness that comes when all you ever wanted is to protect and keep alive the ones you love. Is about a found family and cherish good memories, about lost, about making new friends.

The book was well written, with such a complex worldbuilding and characters that are so real, so vivid, so true to their nature. I loved Lan, definitely she's becoming one of my favorites of this year, as she was just a mere girl trying to protect the one she loved. She's been thru a lot and she still knew how to smile, how to love. Zen had my heart since the beginning and I felt bad for him so many times I can't count them on my fingers. All he ever wanted was to protect them, to love them, and that is something I can only admire. Ya, maybe he took bad decisions but he made them only thinking of the greater good.

I don't think there was a single thing that happened that wasn't answered. The cover itself made sense at the end of the book and I loved what that meant. After all, because of the cover I fall in love with this book. I simply saw it and I knew it I want to read this book. And good that I did. It was mindblowing, such a roller coster of emotions and feelings.

In a world here their people doomed them, these people found in them the power to do good, to do better. This is a book you need to read to fully understand my words and love for it. I recommend it to everyone who loves fantasy. Who loves forbbiden love. Found family. Found friends. Powers and gods and demons.

This was a DNF for me, A lush world glimpsed through the pervasive yet unbelievable romance was intriguing, but never reached. The antagonist was so overpowered that it seemed all geared to set up sequels, but reading the first book was a slog. The characters beyond the main pair are NPCs, there to offer a hint or quest to the leads, or to die dramatically to set them on their way. The leads are flat as well, and the magic system incoherent in what seems to be an effort to remain true to Chinese mythology without being set in China. Read Joan He's Strike the Zither instead, and put this one on the return shelf along with Last of the Talons.

If I could give this a million stars I would. HOW PHENOMENAL! I loved Amelie’s other series and couldn’t wait for this. This blew my expectations out of the water. The qi based magic, the weaving of Chinese folklore into this fantastical world. I loved it and can’t wait for book 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Hello and welcome to one of my new favorite books of all time! That's it. That's the review. It's literally so amazing from start to finish that the last thing I wanted to do was put it down. The world immediately immerses you and is so unique that it was unlike anything I've read before, even when it takes so much from Chinese lore and legend, with yin and yang and qi being the basis of the magic system. I wanted to know more not only about the characters, but I wanted to understand how the world worked and the intricacies of qi.

The characters are so relatable even from the beginning, and I loved watching their growth. I can't say too much more about that without spoilers, but the journeys they go on are so touching and heartbreaking at the same time, and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

The plot kept me essentially screaming, and the last 20% of the book turned into me just switching between crying and screaming and gaping with an open mouth. The plot twists were things that I absolutely did not see coming, and they were so well revealed for the maximum effect.

When I finished the book, I felt empty and wanted to stare at the wall for 2 hours. That's how you know it's good!

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I was so grateful to have received an ARC of this book; I was so excited about this one! Also, the cover is absolutely STUNNING. Overall, I gave this book three stars, but I don't think it was a "bad book". I think there was some content that I don't typically enjoy (just little things like one or two comments about body shaming/thinness, things like that- again, this is just something I don't enjoy seeing in books, but does not mean I think the book was bad!). The plot was really interesting and definitely thickened near the end of the book; the concept was really unique and well-done, but I just don't think this book was entirely for me. There were some points of the plot that moved more quickly than others and could have been fleshed out a bit more, but overall I had an enjoyable time reading this book. The plot twists in this book were great- I truly didn't see them coming! I think the plot will really be built upon in the sequel(s) and will give the author a lot of great possibilities to build upon. Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved that this book is influenced by Chinese mythology, the world is beautifully described. Lan and Zen's relationship is interesting; her a headstrong song girl, him a reserved magic practitioner, each with their own secrets waiting to be "unleashed". Their personalities may clash at times but they continue to care and put trust in one another. As much as I loved learning about the mythology, there was a LOT of history that is covered. At times, it felt like it slowed the effect of a scene with action or suspense.

All in all, I really liked this story and will probably read again, especially in anticipation of the next book.

Song of Silver, Flake Like Night is fantasy novel by Amélie Wen Zhao. It centers around a young woman who has to navigate her life after a foreign entity conquers her homeland. With her family gone, Lan, our main protagonist, must learn how to survive when she learns more and more about the circumstances around her mothers death.

This book is great for people who enjoy fantasy books with world building and magical systems. Amélie mentions in an excerpt before the book that the plot honors the stories and legends told to her as a child by her grandmother. This comes off really well in the book.

SoS, FLN tackles the concept of colonialism really well and the way an entire culture and people can just be replaced and taken over. I found the magic system intriguing and it was incorporated into the plot really well. Our two main leads, Lan and Zen, were fun to read about and you can see their clear character development as you progress through the book.

I don't understand who this book is meant for. When I got this eARC, it was sent to me by Random House Children. However, there are themes in this book that would suggest its adult. While at the same time the banter between characters at times felt middle grade. Overall, it felt like it's meant to be young adult. Through these inconsistencies of who the audience of this book is meant to be, we loose momentum when it comes to the overall book and character development.

I felt like the beginning of the book and the world building could have been flushed out more. It would have made the middle of the book less confusing. The ending was extremely well done and makes me intrigued to see what happens in book 2. However, the lack of development in certain areas throughout the books leads plot choices at the end to not hold as much weight as they might of if the plot was flushed out more.

Overall, Song of Silver, Flake Like Night is an overall compelling fantasy book. However, slight bumps in the road make it so that you can't fully immerse yourself in the story like you would want to. I would still recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy books, especially people trying to get into the fantasy genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for giving me an eARC of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night!

3.75 stars


This is an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. Lan and Zen are two of the most tragic characters I’ve read in a long time. This book was deeply engrossing and it did take me a while to read but the lore was so deep I wanted to make sure I really understood all of it before moving on. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment despite this novel not even being out yet!!

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, the Poppy War, or Six Crimson Cranes, consider picking up this incredible and lyrical fantasy that follows a girl into a world of magic and danger.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book for early review!

With a luxurious writing style and intricate magic system, Amelie Wen Zhao carefully transports you into the world of Lan, a songgirl with a devastating past and future, learning the ways of a world previously only known to her in folktales and superstition. Meeting the first practitioner of magic ended in her mother's death and the invisible seal on her wrist. Meeting the second practitioner, Zen, leads to bloodshed, but this mysterious figure is able to see the seal on her wrist and sense the magic within her.

Together, these two magic users will set off on a journey to escape from evil Elantian soldiers and magicians, making for the Hin sanctuary of a practitioner school, all while the mystery of Lan's seal unravels around them. The Winter Magician who killed her mother tracks them ceaselessly, and it is up to Lan and Zen to make it out alive.

I greatly enjoyed this fantasy story filled with Chinese myth and legend. I am excited to see how the series will continue and I definitely recommend it for fans of political drama, mythology, and slow-burn romance.

I don't know where to begin: Lan and Zen, you have my heart!

This book made me realize why I love fantasy all over again. The world building was easy to follow and the descriptions were very detailed and vivid to the point I felt like I was watching a Chinese drama in my head from start to finish. The magic system was quite unique: Hin practitioners and Elatian magic with metal. Love the plot twists and character development 80% toward the book until the end.

Lan was a refreshing and bright girl who I really enjoy reading her POV. She was snarky and witty with comments here and there-made me enjoy the book even more!
Zen- He was the opposite from Lan, but in a cute way. Always smart, practical, and follows the Way- but when it comes to Lan, he opens up little by little and is very protective of her. Even towards the end of the book.(He gives me Sasuke vibes for those who watched Naruto series)

Demon gods, colonialism, secret-school and society jam packed into one book- it was a fun ride and great execution.

If you like The Poppy War series, but in YA version, this book is just for you. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
I gave this book 5/5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children publisher for this Arc!

Plot: 9/10
This book is fairly fast-paced, which I appreciated. The plot gets started within the first few chapters, and it moves pretty steadily for the rest of the book. There are some parts that are predictable for the genre and age group, but there were also some good plot twists. Lan's mother's seal in particular went in an unexpected direction for me; I was anticipating something different being hidden in it. There were a couple moments here and there that dragged a little, but for the most part, there was always something happening.

The worldbuilding is very interesting. There's a lot of symbolism to be found in that practitioners utilize the natural energy of qi while Elantian magicians use refined metals, and it is explained well. The fact that there's a lot of historical erasure and revisionism going on allows for Lan to be Hin and familiar with mundane elements of the Last Kingdom while still being fairly clueless about practitioning, allowing the reader to learn alongside her.

This book reminded me very strongly of The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, in a good way. If someone were averse to the extreme content of The Poppy War, this would be a great alternative since it deals with similar moral dilemmas and worldbuilding styles.

Characters: 8/10
Lan and Zen were pretty typical for YA protagonists. They were well-developed and their characterization was consistent, they just had a lot of traits that you would expect to see. As such, I don't think I was as invested in them as I could have been. While the plot provided some good twists, their character arcs were predictable for me. I like them both, especially Lan, as people, but I want some more complexity in their characters. I think the second book will provide that, especially for Zen, for reasons that are definitely spoilers.

One thing that definitely intrigues me is that the entire book is in Lan and Zen's POV—except for one chapter at the very end. That chapter is from the perspective of Lishabeth, a member of the Elantian army. It isn't even the epilogue, which is Zen. It makes me wonder if maybe she will become a staple point of view in the next book, which would be very cool.

Of the side characters, my favorite was definitely Dilaya. I just really like characters that are difficult and clash with the main character in certain situations but know how to put aside differences when shit hits the fan. I really hope she and Lan's relationship develops as the story continues.

Writing Style : 7/10
I'd say the writing is also standard for YA. Nothing about it particularly stood out to me, but nothing was bad about it either. I liked that it was split perspective since Lan and Zen work very well as deuteragonists since they share similar pasts. Getting to see the way they react to certain situations, especially considering how alike they are, was very interesting.

The pacing was pretty good; other than a few moments of drag it stayed steady for the most part.

Overall: 8/10
I enjoyed this book. I think the plot is particularly strong, and it deals with a lot of issues that are intriguing to me. The main characters are a little predictable, but I want to see how they'll develop, and there are some really strong side characters. The worldbuilding is super interesting, and there are certain things, like Hin history and Elantian magic, that I want to know more about. The writing is pretty standard, but there's nothing that irked me. Overall, a very solid book that I would definitely recommend to fans of The Poppy War.

4.5 rounded up
Thrilled to have had the chance yo read this. Really looking forward to more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press for letting me read this early in exchange for an HONEST review.

I am in love with this book. This story reminded me why I love fantasy so much as a genre because you’re brought into this world that has been taken over by this force and yet there’s still magic and people who practice the old ways and it has love and friendship and I couldn’t put it down and I’m so incredibly excited for the sequel.

I appreciate the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, the story didn't quite work for me. The first 25% of it was great. I loved Lan and her sense of humor right away. It moved at a quick pace so I sped through it. However, at about the 40% mark things slowed down a lot and it lost me and I never found my way back.

The world building was a big challenge for me. There was a lot of history referenced, as well as a confusing magic system, and characters who had minimal descriptions. It all felt like I couldn't get to know any aspect of the story really well. While I was invested in learning about the world, it was a bit too complex for me to grasp it enough to feel the power of the story. I might reread this another time, as maybe it was just me and I didn't understand it properly.

4.5 stars. This book somewhere between Elizabeth Lim and R. F. Kuang’s work. It’s very rich in Chinese folklore and borrows it for the fantasy world building, yet very profound in the analysis of colonialism. Song of Silver, Flame like Night is like a Chinese drama but less dramatic and not overwhelming with the romance. It’s definitely an underlying plot with a slow burn. The main focus was the characters’ individual journeys.

The first and last 25% were incredibly engaging but the middle dragged a bit. Song is an incredibly strong first book in a series. I knew from the time I started I wanted all 3 books immediately so I could continue following these characters. Some books suffer from having the same voice for all POVs or restating the same perspectives despite POV shifts. Song did not suffer this at all. I couldn’t wait for the next POV shift because I couldn’t guess the inner workings of the other MCs. Lan and Zen are opposites so it was fascinating and compelling to read from both of their POVs. Their dynamic kept shifting as their characters grew. A lot of ground was covered in these 500 pages. I had some theories in the start but it was so artfully done that I was distracted by other plot points the time everything was revealed. The villain simultaneously made me sick and see red. Zhao did a fantastic job and conveying all the rage, love and sorrow the MCs felt.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for the eARC.