This was an enjoyable Wuxia-inspired fantasy that brought to mind Mo Dao Zhu Shi in a lot of ways. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, magic system, and main character although I thought the book overall was a bit too long and suffered from "telling" rather than "showing." Still, I recommend it to anyone who can't get enough of Asian-inspired fantasies - this is another solid one to add to the genre.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Do you ever read a book and just know it’s going to take a long time to recover from it and all the next books are sure to destroy you? That’s this book. I really connected with Lan and Zen and their journey and struggles. The exploration of their culture being destroyed and erased was so heartbreaking.
The story really picks up by the 50% mark and I basically couldn’t stop crying from the 80% mark to the end. I’m actually tearing up again thinking about it. (I’m being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers). This series is absolutely going to wreck me and I can’t wait!

4.5 stars

It seems there are Young Adult novels releasing every single day, and at times the genre can get bogged down in tired clichés and recurring tropes. The Chosen One who doesn't know they're special? The forbidden romantic love interest/love triangle? The magical McGuffin that holds the key to everything? A world-ending threat only our hero can stop? All of these novels seem to use a variation of these ideas and after a while they tend to blur into one another without much to separate them all.

Song Of Silver, Flame Like Night looks set to kick off 2023 with a delightful YA adventure, one that actually adopts a lot of those aforementioned clichés, but combines them with unfamiliar Chinese lore. The result is a surprisingly gripping book, full of great worldbuilding, likable characters and a decent magic system.

That strong characterization is typified by plucky Lan, whom we follow as the book's protagonist. Lan lives in Haak'gong, a former Hin City that was invaded by Elantian colonizers when she was a child. As a result, Lan is forced to work, paying off a binding contract at the local teahouse. However, she's haunted by memories of her past and secrets involving her mother, typified by a strange mark burned into her arm twelve years (cycles) ago.

It doesn't take long for Lan to cross paths with Zen, a practitioner (fabled magician) from the Last Kingdom. He recognizes the mark on Lan's arm and whisks her off on an adventure she'll never forget. Hunted by Elantian soldiers and with the lingering sense of impending war on the horizon, Lan and Zen start to understand more of their past, with the latter holding a fair few shocking truths of his own.

As the book progresses, we're introduced to a whole rabble of new characters that join them, each with their own agendas and goals, which eventually collides into a shocking and pulsating final act. I won't spoil what happens here but suffice to say, everything in this first book is nicely paced and you'll be anxious to find out where this story goes next when the epilogue closes out.

The magic system and worldbuilding help to make this feel like a real, vibrant land. It helps that a lot of what's been created here harks back to the age of Imperialism, which essentially works as a blend of fantasy and Chinese history together. For anyone who watched the K-drama Alchemy of Souls or watched a fantasy Chinese drama as of late, they'll instantly see some similarities.

It's the characters of Lan and Zen who will ultimately keep you reading when things get a bit cliched though. Both of them have clear goals and motivations, and are well-defined throughout. It helps that the novel jumps back and forth between both characters throughout, seeing events from both perspectives and understanding how they both feel about each other and the wider world around them.

The whimsical prose keeps this one engaging and you can tell the book is tailored for teenagers. While there are some strong and pretty dark themes here, they're not explored with any sort of visceral violence or nail-biting depth. Likewise, there's not much in the way of swearing beyond the odd curse word here and there, and only during heightened bouts of tension. Instead, nicknames like "Horse face" are used much more frequently, to amusing effect.

This actually suits the story, as the focus here is primarily on the magic - and boy does Song of Silver, Flame Like Night deliver on that front. The explanation around qi usage, as well as the four demon Gods, the different Seals and limitations to magic make perfect sense and it slips so seamlessly into this world. Too often these sort of stories introduce magic systems with huge flaws and you find yourself questioning where the tension lies. Not so with this one, as author Amélie Wen Zhao has managed to strengthen Lan while also keeping her vulnerable throughout the story, which is no easy feat.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night still adheres to the usual YA beats you've come to expect from a novel like this, and you'll definitely feel a sense of Deja vu while reading, especially toward the start and middle of the book. If you can make it past the halfway point though, Zhao takes the story in an interesting direction, leaving everything tantalizingly open for the second volume to follow. And by the time you finish that last page, you'll be counting down the cycles until the next is released!

7.5/10

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of Song of silver, flame like night.

I really enjoyed the book overall - Lan and Zen were both strong and interesting characters. I have to say that it felt a little too similar to other Asian fantasies, but being emerged into another culture and history again was amazing as always. The tropes were all the classic ones though i loved the way they were written in the book, it made them feel fresh and new.
I can't wait for the sequel and see how the story continues!!

Liked the book. Something different. Liked the Chinese folklore about the demon creatures, the qi based on magical system. Buuuut some parts were too long. Still loved it

The writing and imagery in this book was stunning. So vivid and breathtaking. Chinese folklore, demon gods, magic… this story was intricately woven with darkness and light. Both main characters had such incredible, heart-breaking backgrounds and they complimented/balanced each other well.

YA is usually hit or miss for me, but this world was so beautiful. I would definitely recommend it to epic fantasy YA fans 🐉

I’m still working out how I feel about this one. The first half I absolutely loved, but I went into a bit of a read slump in the second half (I’m not sure if it’s a me problem or a book problem). There are a lot of things to love- the folklore, the critique of colonialism and forced assimilation, the qi based magic system, the imagery. The things I didn’t love- some of the decisions made by one of the MCs in the latter half of the book don’t seem to fit the character, occasional modern phrases feel jarring in the story. It felt like a (very) baby Poppy War, but that may be due to both stories drawing on the same lore. If the description sounds interesting, I would definitely add it to your TBR.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a spellbinding read, containing rememberable and compelling characters, magical events, and lush world building, with a breathtaking cover.

How The Story Read:
The lyrical writing style was very easy to get into. The pacing of the writing was smooth. The plot flowed quickly, though not too quickly so there was adequate time to sit with the characters and the events of Song. I felt there were no sections that dragged. I felt very immersed while reading. Song is an atmospheric and magical read.

The world building within Song, is immense, rich of stunning, worldly views, cultures and histories of the world within.

There is some romance, and that romance felt realistic and unfolded (or was revealed), organically.

Characters:
There is a great cast of rememberable characters, from the likeable Lan, the mysterious Zen, to the endearing Shàn'jūn, the villainous Erascius, and much more.

I really enjoyed reading about Lan and Zen, their stories are so compelling and heartwrenching. I liked the cast of supporting characters, their impact to the story is crucial, and was written in a way that felt very natural to the story.

There is a great amount of character development and different types of relationships.

Embellishments:
I liked the Letter to Reader and Chronology. I liked the nice addition of the chapter headings. All of these embellishments offered a richer reading experience and more insight to the cultures and views within Song.

Note for Sensitive Readers:
I liked how some events were handled, events that could have been potentially triggering, was written in a way that sensitive readers could still really enjoy reading Song.

Overall Thoughts:
Overall, I felt Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was very well and elegantly written. I would highly recommend Song to other readers, both young adult and adult. I can't wait to read the next installment in the Song of the Last Kingdom Series.

Extra Thoughts:
This would be the fourth novel I have read from Amélie Wen Zhao, the previous three being of the Blood Heir Trilogy; Blood Heir, Red Tigress, and Crimson Reign. Every book I have read thus far has been five star reads for me, and a favorite read for me. I will continue to read more books written by Amélie Wen Zhao.

I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy through Netgalley and I give my honest review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my experience in reading this story.

I thought that this was a great fast paced start to a series. However, I felt there was almost too much information/plot in one book. There were at least three different parts that I felt could’ve been the climax of the book at the end. While that’s good because it keeps the reader invested and interested, it also can become too much information in such a short amount of time. I really like Lan and think she is easy to root for. There are a couple of side characters too that I absolutely loved and I can’t wait to see more of their character growth! The ending is a perfect setup for the next book and I’m excited to see what comes next for all our characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC of this book.

4.5/5 stars

———

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the beginning of a magical (literally) new YA series by Amélie Wen Zhao. We follow young Lin, navigating life in the colonized city of Haak’gong, chasing every vestige of the Hin kingdom, lost when the Elantians arrived. Marked by a strange seal she alone can see, the last gift of her dying mother, Lin will do anything to translate it. Then along comes Zen. Zen is a practitioner, one of the last left of the Lost Kingdom, hidden from the Elantians at all costs. Lin and Zen both have secrets, secrets that could save their kingdom or destroy it.

A wonderfully written introduction to a Chinese inspired world, with their mythology and folklore imbedded into this world, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is absolutely enchanting. When I say I devoured this book, it’s an under statement. I sat and read this book in one sitting and was so sad when it ended.

This book has great world building, to the point of full immersion into the story. The world is so intricate, with all of these hidden gems alone the way. The way this book dealt with colonized cities and kingdoms was incredibly well done and really portrays the angst of the people and the negative impact on the colonized culture.

The magic system is like nothing I’ve seen before, with both good magic and demonic magic. You can see the Chinese inspiration across the system and the practitioners of it. I loved seeing both sides of magic, which often gets left out of novels. You see the dark magic first hand in this book as well as the good and the opposition of them is stunning.

The characters were well written, with their secrets and flaws clear, as well as their triumphs. Strong lead Lin is written as flawed and broken, but also fearless and determined to avenge her mother’s death at all costs. Opposite, you have stoic and secretive Zen, who is well versed in the magic that Lin is craving. Their back and forth dialogue and relationship adds a lot to the story as a whole and makes it even more relatable. There are so many strong female characters within the book, opposed by slightly weaker male characters that really make the book pop.

Strong core idea, strong execution. This is a must read for 2023.

Song of Silver, flame like night by Amelie Wen Zhao is composed of some of the most beautiful poetic writing I've ever read.

We follow Lan, a song girl in a Chinese kingdom who doesn't know her past and is uncertain about her future. When she accidentally summoned some hidden magic within herself it attracts some people that I've been searching for her since childhood. This leads Lan on a desperate race to find out her heritage and her past while also cementing her future and her place in her kingdom. Based on Chinese mythology and folklore, this book has so many interesting ideas associated with it. The magic system is extremely unique and the gods represented are very intriguing. This book easily held my attention throughout and was action packed from almost the first few pages.

I give song of Silver, flame like night of 5/5. It was beautifully written and set you up perfectly for sequels.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A fabulous start to a new series I can tell is going to be a hit! I was hooked from the very beginning. It winds Chinese folklore with a well thought-out magic system (based around qi, and the balance of yin and yang), and then brings in demons and some dynamic characters. Under the oppression of their western conquerors (who channel their own magic through metal, and are there to bleed the country of its resources and wipe out their culture and history in the process), Lan has never forgotten how her other was violently taken from her. Upon finding herself in danger, she inadvertently used magic, which draws practitioner Zen to her side.
We then follow along as Lan and Zen try to unravel the mystery left behind by Lan's mom - one that could save their country. I really loved the juxtaposition between Lan and Zen, both dealing with similar backstories, both capable of immense power, both longing for vengeance, but handling it all in very different ways.
I cannot wait to see where this story goes. The downside of reading ARCs is its that much longer before we get a sequel ;)

Did I just enjoy a YA fantasy? Who am I? Remember the 23487923482374 other YA books I just shat on?

I'm going to treat this as a one off, and once I finish my ARCs, actively not request any more YA novels. I'm in my mid thirties. It's time.

Lan and Zen are my new babies. I need everyone to lay off hurting them at this time, even if they make extremely bad decisions.

➼ Don't summon a demon practitioner? They do.
➼ Don't fall in love? They do.
➼ Don't keep your family heritage secret? They do.
➼ Don't harm others? They do.

You get the picture.

Lan is the oh so special chosen one in this series. Her dying mother left her a gift in the form of a seal on her wrist. Only practitioners can see it. It is invisible to most. The magic system in this series is quite intricate and well thought out.

Separate to all of this, their land has been conquered. I'm assuming the Elantian overlords are white, as they shit on every bit of imperial culture. Rude of them, but not surprised.

I'll 100% be picking up the sequel, YA be damned.

Than you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for allowing me early access to this eARC in exchange for my review.

This book was exceptional. I devoured it. I got to the 80% mark and didn’t noticed and then had to 🙏 pray 🙏 that GoodReads was going to have it marked as the start to a series.

My heart. Broken. My feelings. Felt.

I need to stop getting emotionally invested in characters that either are A) possessed my demons to save their home or B) just are demon-ish boys but not really.

I loved the friends to lovers to reluctant enemies that we got in this book. I’m such a sucker for lovers to enemies and am always needing more of that pained betrayal and angst. This successfully broke my soul in all the ways I want. The stakes in this book are so much higher than I thought they would. Like none of the characters are safe and I love that. The writing was also beautifully done and the world building is phenomenal. We really got a whole history lesson for the world we were entering and the events that had played out.

I will be ✨ anxiously ✨ waiting for the sequel

At first, I found it hard to connect to the story. As I continue I find THIS is so magical and adventurous. Thank you for giving me a chance to read this Arc. This book is one of the great books I read this year.

Song of Silver, Flame like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao was an absolutely beautiful novel. It was so magical and full of adventure, heartbreak, love, and hope.

The magic system is very creative and it was eye opening/inspiring to read about Chinese mythology/Chinese culture.

The world building was so easy to follow that it felt like stepping into a familiar place, despite never being there before. All the characters were written very well, and I felt like I was on this journey with them. The complexity of each character was very captivating. I enjoyed every page, word, scene, and felt myself slowing way down towards the end because I was not ready for it to end.

I cannot wait to read more in this world, and am very grateful to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC. I look forward to reading part two of this duology!

4.5 stars rounded up because the last... 20 percent??? went so hard.

I haven't read any Amélie Wen Zhao before this, but this has been on my radar for a couple of months and I cannot help but to immediately want to read anything about magic and gods and demons and fighting colonialism.

While it took me a second to settle into Lan and Zen as characters, I immediately loved the magic and the world Zhao constructed. I also loved the side/secondary characters immediately, and while it did take me roughly halfway through to like our point of view characters, I found their motives were very clear from the beginning and it was obvious that Zhao has spent a lot of time with them and the world.

I'll admit that when I first started reading I wasn't wholly sure if I'd love this novel, but the latter half hit all of the notes for me and I'm obsessed and can't wait for the second book, and I definitely think this is the kind of book that I'll get a lot out of with each re-read.

Lan used to have another name and purpose before her mothers murder and the Elantian regime. Now all she has of her past is a Hin character burned in her arm.
Zen is one the magicians who follow traces of demonic magic; he meets Lan and recognizes the mark on her arm. He realizes she has no idea what she can do.
Lan and Zen must team up to overthrow the Elantian Regime.

Everything about the story is magical; from the Chinese folklore demon creatures to the love story to the qi based magical system!
The world building was FLAWLESSLY done, it was almost like you were there with the MC's. I was so impressed and ensnared through out the whole book. If you love high fantasy, romance, folklore, and unique magical systems, this is the book for you.

Thank you, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, for allowing me to read Song of Silver, Flame Like Night early!

I had never read anything by Zhao and therefore I wasn't completely sure about requesting this novel, but Parker-Chan's quote about it convinced me. Sadly, it was not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC!

I loved this. I’ve been reading mostly fantasy for the past few years, and this checks all my boxes for books that I completely fall for. There’s a beautiful map that was super useful as a reference throughout the story. The world building was immersive. Every time the location switches, and it switches a lot because the characters go on many journeys, the descriptions of the locations paint such a clear picture that I see these locations more clearly than if I’d watched them on a movie screen.

There’s also a chronology at the beginning of the book that gives us some historical insight. This was crucial to my initial understanding of the history and politics of the world, and I really appreciated it.

I loved the magic system and the fact that there are two types of magic (qi versus metal). The metal magic isn’t explained as well, I think on purpose since that’s the magic of the oppressor, and it would be really cool if this is explained a little more in the next book.

The story is rich with magic, action, tragedy, and even a lil bit of romance. Lan and Zen are fantastic main characters, and their backstories are complex with many layers that are revealed little by little throughout the story. I wrote down my questions about the characters as they came up, and in the end I found that all of them had been answered except for one, which I’m guessing will be covered in the sequel.

One of the main themes throughout the story is power. The main characters have lived through tragedies and are still actively trying to fight back an invasion. Both characters’ internal struggles revolve around searching for and attaining power, sometimes making choices that aren’t necessarily “good.” How far would you go to protect your people?

To sum it up, I loved it. I love a well-developed world, an intricate magic system, multiple strong female characters, characters with layers that aren’t all revealed at once, shifting POVS, and a promise that there will be more.