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.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. Also, a huge thanks and congratulations to author Amélie Wen Zhao for writing this amazing book! I hope that many people read and appreciate this work!

I have. So. Many. Thoughts.

Fantasy book Song of Silver, Flame like Night draws inspiration from traditional Chinese culture, beliefs, and history to create a compelling first novel in the Last Kingdom series. Set against the aftermath of Western (Elantian) invasion, the story follows Lan, an orphaned girl who works in a teahouse where she performs for the soldiers that terrorize her country. Lan bears a mark on her wrist, left by her late mother whose last moments the girl must decipher. The story picks up when a covert magician named Zen encounters Lan, kickstarting a chain of events.

This story includes magic, ghosts, demon gods, martial arts, and romance that is not the sole focus of the plot. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves you elated, terrified, and everything in between. Zhao crafts an immersive world and compelling characters without info dumping, and her prose is beautiful (I literally stopped reading to say “wow, that’s a nice metaphor”).

First off, I want to talk about the magic system. Last Kingdom magicians channel qí, and their magic system draws heavy inspiration from Taoism. Meanwhile, the Elantian invaders possess their own brand of magic centered around metals. The premise is cool, and I am hoping that the next books expand on this system because I am quite interested.

Next: the characters. Zhao peels each character like an onion, and you learn more about them as the story progresses. You love them, you hate them, and you understand them. They possess both virtues and flaws, and even non-pov characters feel fleshed out. Lan is witty and deals the best insults!

Third: plot. This story is fast-paced, and the stakes build throughout. Zhao foreshadows without providing too much information. There are oh so many plot twists, most of which feel earned and surprising—only once did something feel too out of left field for me, and a later installment may resolve that. Information regarding characters, motivations, setting, and history reveals itself in pieces, and the reader pieces together the clues just as Zhao reveals the truth.

Song explores legacy, power, corruption, morality and when do the ends justify the cost. It is serious, but interspersed with humor. I enjoyed reading this book very much, and I cannot wait to see where the next installment goes.

"Grief is for the living. The dead feel nothing."

Where do I begin with this epic novel? Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the adventure inside is as well.

We follow Lan who is an orphaned songgirl who is searching for the answers to the strange seal that is scarred into her wrist. As we are taken on her search, we meet Zen who is also on a journey of his own and the path they forge throughout this book. Around the middle of the book, we also are introduced to a bigger cast of characters as Lan and Zen try to unravel the mystery of their past.

This book is a slow burn in the beginning. The plot is moving but there is a lot of traveling in the first half of the book and I'm not always a huge fan of travel tropes. This book does rapidly pick up pace and I found myself losing all track of time while reading the second half. I enjoyed the complex plot and the epic mythology woven into this book. I only had two small complaints: the romance and the ending. The romance is only a faint whisper in this book and I was frustrated with the last 10% of the novel. Nothing went the way I had hoped and I really need answers from the sequel.

Overall I would recommend to anyone looking for epic fantasy, Chinese mythology, found family, demon gods and war sagas. This book would be great for anyone who has enjoyed: Mulan, Pokemon and Kung Fu Panda, as there are unique elements from all of these woven into parts of the story.

4 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for this ARC.

“Peace be upon our souls and may we find the path home.”

Thank you Amélie Wen Zhao, Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date for “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is 1/3/23.

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. 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. 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 destinies remain unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both have the power to destroy the world.

“Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is a YA fantasy book that is a retelling of Chinese folklore and mythology. This book is beautifully written. This book features dual POVs and and an action packed story! There is usually a lot of info dumping in the first book of a new fantasy series due to world building, but I didn’t notice it as much since the pacing was relatively fast in the first half of the book. I will say that some of the themes that are discussed might be a little mature for the younger part of the YA age group, so keep that in mind for younger readers that are on the cusp of Middle Grade and YA books. I gave “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” 4 ⭐️’s.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Delacourte Press , and Amélie Wen Zhao for the opportunity to review Song of Silver, Flame Like Night.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release date: 1/3/23

SOSFLN is an epic fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology/folklore - following Lan, a young woman in a colonized kingdom, and Zen, a magic practitioner - magic that was believed to be wiped out by the Elantians along with the Last Kingdom. Together, they must uncover answers to their own questions of their pasts, and find a way to liberate their people.

After being a massive fan of Zhao’s work through her Blood Heir trilogy, I was so excited to read her latest work. I completely fell in love with SOSFLN from the first page. This is a fantasy that has everything you could hope for: unique world building, rich lore, an evolving magic system, complex character arcs, and a phenomenal plot.

I was blown away by the details in this book that make it feel so complete. From the history guide in the beginning, to the generational consequences played out throughout the novel. Zhao makes this new world’s history digestible and enjoyable without it being overwhelming, which can be hard to do in a high fantasy novel. I’m so in love with this world, the characters, and the magic system. I cannot wait to see where this series goes from here.

Zhao’s writing has such an energy to it - you feel the world around you so richly that the reading experience becomes entirely immersive. If love is in the details, this book is a tome of love. You can feel the author’s soul in her writing as she builds out the lore and legacy of this universe character by character, story by story, legend by legend.

Also - I am so whipped for Zen and Lan, they are my OTP ❤️

I would recommend this book for fans of high fantasy, especially those seeking something different and special from the traditional European monarchy that many fantasy stories adopt. I am so excited for the next book to come out, and can’t wait to see what Zhao does in the future with her work!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟


Amélie Wen Zhao videos about this book featuring Mo Dao Zu Shi made me want to start reading it asap and I was not disappointed!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an amazing start to a fantasy series!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, our main characters Lan and Zen were both well written interesting characters and I loved the dynamic between them.

The explanation of the qi based magic system, the different seals and their usage was easy to understand, It was woven into the story and the world it's set in flawlessly.
Though I'm hoping we get more explanation of the opposing metal based magic in the next book.

If you love Chinese Xianxia fantasy stories then I think this is the perfect book for you!

I will definitely be picking up the sequel as well as more of Zhao's books ✨

Thank you to Delacorte Press & NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The info dumping during the first half of this book killed the mood for me. There was so much history thrown at you, and tons of paragraphs explaining the world, the magic, and the current political climate. It was just too much. It distracted from the characters for me, and I couldn't bring myself to sort through all the information. To be honest, I spent a lot of my time skimming.

However, this story is unique. It explores some cool ideas with differing magic systems that war against each other. The second half of the book has quite a bit of action too. I can definitely see how lots of people would enjoy this book and spend the time learning about the world and magic. But unfortunately, it didn't click with me.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Harper Voyager and NetGalley, for the ARC.

Trigger/Content Warnings: violence, death, kidnapping, kisses

Amélie Wen Zhao crafts prose like poetry, with unforgettable characters and a rich storyline that will have you begging for more. This novel is cleverly crafted and will have you both weeping and jumping for joy within the same page.

Long ago, practitioning had been taught to those born with the ability to control qí. After the fall of the Ninety-Nine Clans, its last remaining members are dispersed and forced to assimilate into the Hin identity. When the Elantians invade, the art of practitioning is considered lost.

As a songgirl in Madam Meng's Teahouse, Lan meets trouble when an Elantian guard requests her in the Peach Blossom Room, a place where noblemen pay not for the room, but the girl. Everything she knows tips into chaos when the Winter Magician challenges her world as she knows it, and a supposed Hin courtdog opens her eyes to an entirely new realm of possibilities.

As a student in one of the hidden schools of practitioning, Zen considers himself a devout disciple. After being forced to improvise an escape, he finds himself on the run from Elantian soldiers as he tries to outrun his past. With a wealth of secrets at his back, Zen knows only what's ahead.

As his and Lan's paths intertwine inexplicably, he soon learns that there's more to the songgirl than first meets the eye. Together, they learn the costs of true power, and whether it will ultimately bring them closer, or tear them apart.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

My word was this fantastic! I’ve read a lot of great Asian-folklore fantasy this year and this one is right up there - gives me hope that 2023 will start with such a fantastic book.

This story has it all - beautiful world building, imaginative and rich lore, imperfect and relatable characters….I truly enjoyed everything about it and am DYING for the sequel.

Lan, Zen, and the whole cast of supporting characters are just brilliant - they feel real with their faults but also otherworldly with their power; both controlled by pasts they’re so desperately trying to escape, they take us on a journey that feels mystical but relatable at the same time.

The world and history and lore are rich and beautiful and captivating, giving us enough to feel enveloped but keeping us asking for more. I can see and feel Skies End and the rest of the landscape like a dream.

And the Elantians…we all know colonization was bad right? These characters just put that on full display and it’s painful to know that despite its magical properties, this fantasy novel isn’t far from reality in that respect.

This book gave me Poppy War vibes but wasn’t quite as heavy, and I loved it. I highly recommend it for any reader, especially one that loves fantasy.

It was okay. I felt that it was trying to accomplish several fantasy tropes at once without giving enough time to each. IE: quest theme, magic school training, etc. That said the story was compelling enough to push me forward. I would tentatively recommend this to those who enjoy epic fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the eARC of Song of Silver, Flame like Night!

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, then you will love Amelie Wen Zhao's latest novel!

Absolutely floored. This was an incredible work of fantasy and culture. I absolutely devoured Song of Silver, Flame like Night and pre-ordered it instantly so that I can have the pleasure of reading it over and over again. Rich in Chinese folklore, Song of Silver, Flame like Night takes you on a magical journey that will have you on the edge of your seat wanting more. The dynamic between the two main characters, Lan and Zen, is swoon-worthy. The world-building is top-tier. And the ending... phew, be prepared for a bit of heart ache! Anxiously awaiting the next installment!

A conquered kingdom. A songgirl with a secret mark upon her wrist. A practitioner of old and forbidden magic. Fate brings the two together in an adventure to find the truth of who they both are as the battle for their kingdom begins anew.

Breathtaking. That was the first word out of my mouth as soon as I finished reading this book. This was the first book I read from Amélie and I’ve already added her debut series to my TBR because I cannot get enough of her writing.

When we are first introduced to Lan, she comes off as strong and sure of herself, but you start to see her vulnerable side soon after she returns to the Teahouse. With the introduction of Zen, she is portrayed as a bit clueless and weak, which allows for beautiful character development as the story progresses. 

Amélie uses Lan’s lack of knowledge about the magic system she thought was long dead to build the world for the readers in a way that doesn’t feel like strict exposition, which can cause the story to drag on. In addition to the world building, we are able to also watch the relationship blossom between Lan and Zen in a way that sneaks up on the characters (and the reader as well to a certain extent). 

The stakes are high throughout the whole story which left me on the edge of my seat and continually saying “just one more chapter.” A third act twist had me clutching at my chest and audibly gasping while sitting alone in my bedroom with only my Kindle for company. The story ends on a cliffhanger that has me itching for book two in a way that hurts my feelings. I have a strong suspicion I will not want to leave this world even after the conclusion of the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This gorgeous story has swept me off my feet into a land of myths and magic. I can go ahead and say that I highly recommend this!

I feel like this is a fantasy book that I was able to wrap around myself like a blanket and just cozily read and read and read. Lan is a song girl in a nation that has been overrun with conquerors that are trying their best to squash the soul, customs and culture of her land. Her own power surprises her when she is somehow able to defend herself in a bad situation. When the handsome Zen shows up she isn't completely thrilled to hear that she must accompany him to learn her way as a Practitioner.

There is romance, adventure, war and drama ya'll! Definitely check this one out!

Out January 3, 2023!

This book felt way too long. I liked the premise and the characters, and it definitely has potential to be a great series, but I felt like there was way too much filler, which is something I didn't experience in Zhao's last series. I also thought that there could have been a bit more explanation of the magic system. However, I did really like Lan's character, and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Zen develop over the course of the book. Lan and Zen were a lot different than Ana and Ramson from the Blood Heir trilogy, but in a good way. I'm also hopeful that Dilaya will get a little more time on the page in the next book and maybe we'll find that her character has some redeeming qualities.

Song of Silver, Flame like Night was everything I didn’t know I wanted in a story. There was intrigue, love, betrayal and sacrifice. It is an understatement to say how much I adored this book. Immediately we are thrown into the story through Lan's eyes. I was deeply immersed in the culture. As much as I loved this book, I felt the minor characters fell a little flat. The minor characters only served a purpose to the story. There wasn’t much depth added to them. They felt very one dimensional. The two main characters I adored. I resonated deeply with Zen but also with Lan. I could see both their books and which I loved being torn between decisions.

This book takes place in a China-inspired country after colonization, and focused on Lan, a young girl working in a tea house with an unusual tattoo on her wrist that she’s had since her mothers murder and only she can see. In her attempts to figure out what it means. She is nearly captured by the conquerors and meets Zen, a young practitioner of magic, and finds out that her tattoo is a magical symbol and is intimately wrapped up in the politics of their realm. This book has romance, political intrigue, secrets, demons, and a whole lot of Chinese mythology, and was super fun to read.