I really liked this book. The characters were fun and engaging and while the story can feel similar to other Asian fantasies, it wasn't overdone and I am very eager for book 2 in this series.
The first half did move fast and the second half was slower making the pacing a bit off but overall , a solid 4 star.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with the ARC

Thought: I love love love this trend of magical beings possessing a host in order to both assist and hinder our heroes. This book also gave me Poppy War vibes but for Children. It has dark themes of colonialism and classism/ racism but is definitely written with a younger audience in mind. That being said it is still a super fun and interesting read. Lan is a fun character with a firm goal and principle that she tries to hold on to and I loved her and Zen’s relationship. the book does alternate between Zen and Lan’s POV but I wish we got a more even distribution of POV I really like Lan and even though Lan has a lot of secrets that we need to uncover, Zen’s story and character is just more interesting and engaging. His backstory is super interesting and I need to see more of it and him in the next book! I love demon stories and the use of the demon gods in this is so fun. I cannot wait to see what happens next with both Zen and Lan in the next book.

TLDR:

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the latest YA Fantasy novel by Ruth Amélie Wen Zhao. She is best known for writing the Blood Heir trilogy.

Notable Elements:

Chinese Folklore
Alchemical Magic
Spiritual Practitioning
Solve-the-Mystery
Likes:

Complex Characters — Lan and Zen are equally fascinating points-of-view, namely for how complex and realistic their thoughts/actions are. Their internal dialogue doesn’t always match what they end up actually saying or doing, which makes for nuanced social situations with tons of dramatic irony for the reader to enjoy. My attachment to this book is my attachment to these characters.
Refined Magic Systems — There are two magic systems in the novel: “The Way” (pursued by Practitioners), and metal magic (practiced by the Elantian conquerors). Both, unique and advanced, are beautifully woven into Zhao’s newest Fantasy world.
Palpable Emotion — I felt every emotion in this book with every ounce of my body: Love, Joy, Anger, Grief. How can made-up words make me feel so deeply?
Dislikes:

None.
Final Thoughts:

I loved everything about Song of Silver, Flame Like Night! I can’t believe I waited this long to read one of Amelie Wen Zhao’s books; if you need me, I’ll be busy playing catch-up by reading her Blood Heir trilogy.

Rating:

5.0/5.0

This was an action-packed start to a new series by Amelie Wen Zhao. After having loved the Blood Heir trilogy, I was super excited to read Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. The book was definitely different than the type of story I was expecting--the first few chapters of the novel reminded me a lot of the setting and vibes of These Violent Delights, with themes of colonization and influences from Chinese magic and lore. Then, the book evolved into something else entirely, with the main characters journeying to a boarding school of students trained in ancient Chinese magic. While I did enjoy the novel for the most part, I think the marketing of the book was what threw me off the most, as the promotion of the book didn't really match the story (For example, there's no enemies to lovers at all?? So I'm confused where that trope came from in the book's marketing.). I think the book was also incredibly fast-paced, with twists and turns popping up left and right. This made it hard for me to fully connect with the characters and empathize with what was happening to them. I think I'll still read Book 2 of this series, as this book ends with a reasonably enticing cliffhanger, but I definitely wish the plot had slowed down a little and the characters were more developed. 3.75 stars rounded up.

This was a very interesting read. I love books where you get immersed into a totally different culture, and that’s what this book does.
Our main character is a girl who has been left with so many questions, and at the end of the day, is just trying to survive. I felt she was written in a very realistic, and relatable way. Her counterpart, Zen is a mystery for much of the book. It made you want to keep reading in order to unravel his mystery, and what his back story is.

I did feel at times the story was moving slowly. This book is marketed as a romance as well, but I would take it further and classify it as slow-burn. At the halfway point of the book, their relationship still hasn’t really made any progress.
I like it when romances don’t move quite as slow, but that’s just a personal preference, and I suppose that considering all the stuff going on in the story, it made more sense for it to progress slowly.
Overall, a very intriguing, and interesting read. Would definitely recommend!

(Big thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving us this eARC in exchange for an honest review!)

This was an amazing start to a fantasy series, especially since I haven't read fantasy in a while and have found trying to get into fantasy kind of difficult lately.. However, this was not the case for this book. The writing was beautiful and fascinating in a way. I fell in love with the Chinese folklore and the headstrong protagonist. The main character was super complex, especially when the Elantian colonized her kingdom and had to grow up as an orphan. Her writing was absolutely stunning and helped me get into the world building and not make it feel like it was too much and too heavy. I loved all the characters and the blending of the Chinese myths into the character's brutal world. It was refreshing to read a book with Asian heritage and how the author seemed to dive so deeply into her culture and history. I would highly recommend this to everyone who wants to get into a fantasy series with Asian main characters.

Wow, okay. I’m going to keep this fairly simple as there’s a lot to unpack towards the end of this book. Lots of revelations, betrayal, and heartbreak. I do think the author could’ve pulled back on the reins a bit for some of the near-end events, and fleshed out a few things better. They just didn’t hit me as hard as they should have because of how fast everything plays out…

However.

I loved this book. The main characters’ dynamic reminded me so much of Anidala’s and Reylo’s in Star Wars it was almost painful for me to read. :’) Call me boo-boo but I have so much hope for their relationship even after that ending.

The imagery in this book is *chef’s kiss.* I was immediately sucked into the world. Although I do feel that the third act was a bit rushed I’m still invested enough to read the sequel!

I would like to give a huge than you to Amelie Wen Zhao, Random House and Netgalley for allowing me to have the privilege of reading this book as an eARC.

I have to start out this glowing review by saying that this is one of the best books I have read this year. I am a fantasy lover and Song of Silver, Flame Like Night checked all the boxes for me. In the beginning, I was a bit confused as I glossed over the (very helpful) timeline that starts out the book but once I figured out the context and history of the world,

I was sucked in by Lan and her desperation to survive in a world that hasn't been the kindest to her or anyone else for that matter. The way she slowly let her guard down, allowing herself to be vulnerable and hold empathy for others was so beautiful to watch. Especially in her relationship with Zen. I want nothing more than to see the two of them be happy, but in a world full of demons and invaders, I know that might not happen (at least not for a while as this is the first book in a series).

The world AWZ created a world that sucked me in with it's magic and parallels to the world around us in real life. I gasped, laughed and even cried for the characters in these pages. And I want to do nothing more than kick that royal magician in the shin myself.

My only complaint is that the next books in the series are not available and I have to wait impatiently to see what is in store for Lan, Zen and everyone else in this beautiful world.

This is a book I will definitely be shortlisting for my store and will be getting face outs on the shelves and a spot on a table on the book floor.

It was truly magical.

Really solid writing but it didn’t captivate my attention the way I had hoped it would. I read about half of it and I would leave it unrated if NetGalley would let me! I can see a lot of merit in this it’s just not for me at this time.

Full review closer to publication date!

I'd like to thank the publisher, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars rounded up.

Lan used to have a different name. Before her mother died. Before the Elantians invaded and conquered her homeland and outlawed her people's magic. She now works as a song girl in a port city all while looking to the past to unlock the mysterious scar that her mother burned into her arm before she died. No one else can see it, until Zen, a fabled practitioner comes to save her life one night. Zen can see it, but he doesn't understand it either, and will bring Lan into a secret part of the Hin homeland that still has practitioners. The pair both have secrets that they hide from each other and themselves. Will the Hin people succeed?

Wow, wow, wow. This reminds me so much of the period dramas on TVB that I watched growing up. There is such a mystery to who Lan is and a new land. Some of the names of the cities in the story remind me of actual cities in China as well. I love that the author gave the heroine a blade, rather than having her be a fragile flower. I think there were certain things that felt rushed, but it's a good setup for the next novel. Absolutely captivating writing. I thought that this was like Mistborn crossed with Chinese Drama. 

I'd highly recommend this if you like a fantasy world filled with magic and discovering yourself. This is perfect for fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Six Crimson Cranes.

The relationships between the main characters are deeper than a lot of YA books which gives more complexity to the story. The story itself is based on Chinese mythology but it's a different myth from some of the others I've read lately so don't worry about it being a repeat of other recent books. First if you liked the book Daughter of the moon goddess; I really feel like you’ll enjoy this book too. Second of all how dare you kill off Old Wei two chapters in!!! Lan deserved better than that. Okay, rant over about that. This was really great. I expected a generic YA novel and instead got a full and complex story about colonization and the difficult choices people will make to reclaim the power that was taken from them.

This book just seemed to fall flat for me. I never got hooked into the story and if I was one to DNF books, I might have given up at several points. The story had a lot of potential, as did the characters, but nothing felt fully built out and the story seemed to drag on and on. The Asian heritage brought to the storyline was probably its most engaging feature, but it wasn’t enough to save it.

Absolutely magical in every way possible.

AWZ has masterfully crafted a story that is powerful, writing that is lyrical, a plot that is adventurous, and characters that are heartfelt. I'm obsessed with the vivid mythology and tangible soul of this story. There is not one aspect of this book that is lacking.

AWZ has already written a pretty successful series before, but I have a feeling this is going to be the book/series will make her a well-known author. And she deserves every second of attention and praise she gets for this. Definitely a release to be looking forward to in the new year!

Wow. This. Book. I absolutely loved this book. This was an amazing read from beginning and end. Such a beautiful take on the 4 guardians. These characters are everything. Everyone needs to read this book

4.75/5 stars

Wow wow wow! This book was so thrilling from start to finish. I think I got whiplash a few times while reading this...but in the best way! I think this was such a unique take on the Four Guardians and I absolutely loved it! Most of the books I have read on them before present them as a being of power who usually is used by a good and powerful person--the take on them being demons was just so good!

I love Lan so much, and I also love Zen so much. My heart broke over and over thinking of how strong both of them tried to be and the different paths they walk down because of their experiences. I needed the good times to last more and I need things to be happy in book 2...PLEASE!!

Amelie has such beautiful writing and the prose really brought everything to life. I think my one complaint is that I felt like I didn't spend enough time with any of the locations or the cast outside of Lan and Zen, but this is also what made the book so fast-paced and a total whirlwind! I think if the book had been 200 pages longer I would have been supremely happy.

Overall, I really really enjoyed this book and I loved getting the chance to read it early. I think that Song like Silver, Flame like Night lives up to the standards I had set for it (which is very high considering that I consume C-novels like no other). In the wave of authors writing based upon their culture, Amelie did an absolutely beautiful job and I can't wait to see where Lan and Zen's story goes from here.

This is a work of art. I loved everything about this book, not only the cover is immaculate but the story itself is gorgeous and the writing made me gasp a few times. I recommend this book with my eyes closed.

Song of Silver, Flame like Night might be my favorite book of 2022. Sometimes I find that 500+ page books drag on or aren't exciting, but this one was action-packed. Not a second of this book was boring. This is a stay up late, ruin your sleep schedule, and sleep through your alarms kind of book.

I've been on an Asian fantasy kick recently. Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Six Crimson Cranes, Magic Steeped in Poison. They've all been so much fun, but this one takes the cake. Lan and Zen are complex and mysterious, with tons of secrets and the desire to uncover the other person's history. Zen is by the book, while Lan is more free-spirited (the best kind of grumpy x sunshine, if you ask me). The characters are rich and interesting with world-building to match.

Song of Silver, Flame like Night is a book about balance, will, power, and sacrifice. How far are you willing to go to protect the ones you love? How far is too far? Amélie Wen Zhao does a great job of creating a scratch that you just *need* to itch, questions you won't stop thinking about long after you've finished the first in this thrilling, fantastical series.

This review is posted on GoodReads and submitted to Barnes and Noble and Amazon as of 10/24.

Ok so first of all why are all the book titles so so good now? Like, who decided that? Where can I get their title-making prowness so I can make titles that great?

No one will tell me? Fine, anyway, let’s get on with the review.

So I want to offer the disclaimer that I am not Asian nor am I particularly informed about Asian mythology or the history of Asia (american school system, give us history other than american please). So another reviewer might be more informed than I, and I would recommend listening to them as well as/or more than myself.

Disclaimer over I freaking loved this book. It was really fun and I was immediately drawn in and captivated by the world and the Demon Gods and the magic system! It was super fun to read about and I had so so many questions, and only some of them were answered this book (do not become a netgalley reviewer if you don’t think you can wait for the next book to come out; pro tip). I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I really loved it.

Zen and Lan were both fantabulous characters and I was rooting for both of them at the same time. They way their pasts so clearly guided them, even when the reader wasn’t 100% certain about what happened in their past, was so so fun. I really enjoyed it and got close to both characters.

However, Lan was definitely my favorite. I liked how driven she was and how she tried to balance her need for connection with her need to protect other people. It seemed really realistic to me and I loved that a lot. She wasn’t a character that I massively connected with, but she was so cool and I aspire to have her ambition.

The relationship between Lan and Zen was also super nice. I liked how it grew throughout the book and I could tell they had feelings for each other without kissing. I also loved how torn they were between their feelings for each other and…other things. But I can’t say any more without spoiling!

The world was so creative and fun to read! All of the different magic systems were super fun and the way the characters viewed each other and their different magics was really fun to read. All of the characters had predujices against various other magic systems and that made it all seem…more real, which I appreciated. I did have a few questions left unanswered (like do the Hin and Elantians get their magic from the same source), but I hope I will learn more in the next book.

And now for that thing that you only ever hear me talk about at the end of a review: the plot. Once again, I really enjoyed it! I thought it was super fun and was always waiting to see what happened next. The way the conflicts and character growth were interspersed throughout the story really made this book great and I was always excited to read more, whether it was learning more about a character’s backstory or reading a battle. It was really nice.

All in all, I would definitely give this book a five star rating and recommend it! Please go buy this book! It’s diverse, fun to read, and the characters are nice to connect to! I recommend it!

This is fabulous start to a brand new fantasy series! Chinese folklore about demon creatures, the qi based magical system, the action packed, hearth throbbing, riveting chapters, execution of the big mystery and well crafted characterization make you addicted to this book! You don’t want to put it down but at the same time you curse yourself for finishing it faster because you don’t want it end so quickly!

The colonialism, the cultural assimilation and Chinese mythology couldn’t get blended perfectly!

Lan is truly complex character: scrap of an orphan begging on the streets of Haakgong. Old Wei: an old mysterious merchant selling contrabands in his store takes her to the only place hed known that would welcome
a girl with no name and no reputation: Madam Meng's Teahouse. She signs a contract
whose terms shed barely been able to decipher, and whose length only seemed to swell and
swell the harder she worked. She becomes a song girl!

Once upon a time she had a different name and different life purpose she cannot remember! Elantian colonizers invaded her kingdom and killed her mother! Only thing left her from her deceased mother is a burn mark on her arm: a mysterious, untranslatable Hin character. Finding the true meaning of the mark may help her to remember her true purpose, saving her from this miserable trapped life!

Zen is practitioner, one of fabled magicians of the kingdom follows the traces of demonic magic. When he meets with Lan, he recognizes the mark on her arm. He realizes she has no idea how powerful she is. She can serve for the survival of the kingdom but if she cannot control her own power, she can turn into a very dangerous enemy.

They have to team up to overthrow Elantian regime but their mission might be more excruciating they imagine!

The love story between Lan and Zen was poignant. The world building, the riveting pacing are as great as the character development.

I honestly devoured this book and enjoyed it a lot! I cannot wait to read more! It absolutely earns highly deserved fine shining, magical, epic, powerful stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.