I do not have much to say about this book. The world was well-developed with the multiple sides and the ambiguity of how everyone is prejudiced. The discussion of the tactics and results of colonization was also demonstrated well and very relevant. However, I was bored while reading this, and even though events did happen, the pace felt meandering. I did not have strong feelings of attachment to either POV, though I liked Lan slightly more, and I felt almost nothing about the side characters.

A tale of ancient demon gods and those doomed to repeat history.

A story of a girl named Lan who’s people have been colonized and forced to give up their culture, language, and power. As a song girl, Lan finds ways to hide from her past but she can only do so for so long until she is discovered by those hunting her once again.

The first chapter was dull but chapter two is where it’s at man! This is one that gets better as you go on.

This reminds me of The Poppy War, not just bc of imperialism but the powers the main characters acquire, going to a school, and the fight and war thereafter.

Definitely recommend picking this up if you haven’t already. There is a book 2 and there is an unfinished ending (that I am not too happy about the decisions that were made but shall read anyway). So be prepared when going into this. You will end up loving it.

Okay, this is a generous 4 for me, but this book had me F’ed up, fr. 😅🙈 I wasn’t totally sure in the first half, but the second got me with all the feels, especially with the found fam and disciple/master relationships.
Now backtrack - the map is amazingly gorgeous and hope we see a new one in the next book, also, the chronology really helped set the stage and was so useful to go back to as you’re learning about this world and its history.
The first third was definitely on the bumpy side, a little impenetrable with the info dumps and some personal pet peeves like repetitive words and modern phrasing (which didn’t wholly stop throughout, but got better). Watching the world, characters, and story grow did pan out and was worth it for me. Not even mad about Lan being somewhat of a speshul savior character, she kept fighting, wasn’t overly angry, and didn’t fall into giant pits of despair after setbacks, all of which felt liked worked for the YA tone. Grandmaster Dé’zi was my favorite character (and maybe Lan’s mother, would love even more about her), his dialogue and manner were comforting and inspiring, while I felt Zen was overall the weakest execution-wise, though I still liked him enough.
The details of the world and mythology were beautiful, the description of Zen’s/Lan’s dagger, That Which Cuts Stars, reminded me in a way of The Subtle Knife from His Dark Materials in a good way. The descriptive detail was more successful for me than in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, felt like it encompassed the whole world vs. focusing on a few specific things that got over-described repeatedly. Probably closer to a 3.75 in reality, but whatev, looking forward to the next one. ☺️

<b>CW:</b> colonization, racism, torture, blood, genocide (historical, mostly off page)

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte / Random House for an e-ARC of this book!</i>

I love books that incorporate mythology and fairytales so I was pretty much bound to enjoy this one especially since Chinese mythology is one of my favorites.

I’m not sure why exactly but I ended up reading this book pretty slowly. I don’t know if I was subconsciously wanting to take my time with the prose or if there wasn’t really a reason, but I often felt like I’d read a ton and then I’d glance at the page number and realize I’d only gotten through like two chapters.

Lan and Zen definitely grew on me as main characters. Lan is very feisty for lack of a better word and she will do what she needs to achieve her goal. She has a very interesting inner-conflict and I like reading her journey and seeing how she adapted to the school and how on the quest she began to learn more about herself and the world. The reveal about the characters on the Seal on her arm was amazing as well. I did not love Zen’s POV as much as Lan’s but I really did like how it felt like he was keeping secrets even from the reader. There were twists and turns all throughout regarding him and his backstory and I was never expecting all the mysteries that were uncovered about him. A lot of the other characters were interesting enough to read about in the moment, but I doubt they’re going to stick with me as much as Lan and Zen. There was a POV character added in one of the last chapters that I’m very intrigued by and I hope to read more from her in the sequel!

The story itself was super engaging. This was so chock-full of story that it honestly had series finale energy. As I was reading the second half I was thinking how this book could have been split into two installments because of how crazy and intense the latter half of the book was. There were events that felt like they could be things worthy of a closing of a story/series so I was really impressed with that and it made me very excited about what Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White will hold. The plot kept me guessing and I never really knew what to expect. I wonder if I would like the book even more on reread now that I know the trajectory of the story a bit more.

Amelie Wen Zhao really impressed me with her writing style. It’s so descriptive and the exact balance I love.

This world was probably my favorite aspect. It’s so magical and whimsical and I just adore all the Chinese mythology and the history of this world so much. The epigraphs before each chapter really helped immerse you and I loved how the magic system was all about qi and the balance between yin and yang. The tortoise, tiger, Phoenix, and dragon story is one of my favorites and I love how integral to this novel it became at the end. I’m very excited to see where it goes and how it develops in the next book.

☯️🪷🏯⚔️🐅🐉🐢🪶

Lan is a song girl in a city overrun by Elantian colonizers. All she has left of her mother is a strange mark on her arm that no one else can see but her. Until one evening, when she finds herself in a dangerous situation in the tea house, she is saved by a young boy who can also see the mark. Desperate for answers, Lan follows Zen and attempts to learn from him. Though they both have secrets, they seem connected by fate. What will it cost Lan to find the answers she seeks?

One of the biggest strengths of this work is the worldbuilding. The amount of time the author spent creating a compelling and immersive world is evident. From things as small to spices in food to as large as demon gods and cosmology, details were incorporated throughout the story to create a beautiful and engaging world. The characters were written well enough to not detract from the book although they were too archetypal/tropey for my liking (a special girl with unexplainable magic, a dark handsome dangerous boy, an aggressive by-the-books girl who hates the special girl, etc.). This story was told from both Lan's and Zen's POVs, which was well balanced and provided good insight. I disliked the romance though as there was no palpable chemistry between the characters involved.

One of my biggest dislikes in this work is related to the worldbuilding. The author relied on info dumping throughout to provide the readers with enough background information to make the plot and characters' actions understandable. Due to how expansive the world of this book is and how much depth the author included, the information provided was certainly necessary. But knowing this still didn't make the paragraphs of background information that constantly interrupted the plot/dialogue any more enjoyable. I also would have preferred if the colonization aspect of the work was less heavy handed and took up less page time. I know it made up much of the main conflicts in this work, but I've read other books where it's included in a compelling way without being spelled out so repeatedly and obviously.

There was also a great deal of repetition throughout the work, especially related to explaining things. Something would be referenced and an explanation given, then a few pages later when it was referenced again, the author included the whole initial explanation again. Between this and the info-dumping, this book was sometimes difficult to be excited to read.

All of that being said, I did enjoy this work of fantasy overall and will likely read the next book. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

LOVED IT, the worldbuilding, the magic system, the characters, the vastness of the morally gray area was really satisfying! What choice will YOU make in the face of danger!?
Really loved this story and cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

Okay. I’m sure you all might have noticed that I’m a bit of a “judges books by their covers” kind of person. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a beautiful book! So when I saw the cover for Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, it immediately ended up on my TBR. Now, having finally read it, I’m happy to report that this book is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside!

This story follows a young woman who goes by the name of Lan. At night, Lan is a singer at a teahouse in a city occupied by the colonizers of her country, the Elantians. By day, she searches for artifacts from the past, pre-occupation, to help her make sense of the mysterious mark on her wrist that only she can see. That all changes when she meets Zen, a practitioner of arts long thought squashed by the Elantians. With their fates thrown together, they set out on a journey that could save their people… or destroy the world.

I’m finding it hard to put into words how much I loved this book. Y’all, it was everything! This YA fantasy took me on a journey and I was fully invested for the entire trip. I suppose we’ll start with the worldbuilding. Zhao has crafted a world so vivid that I feel like I should be able to find it on a map! I loved learning about the magic, the country, the demons… all of it was so flawlessly woven into the story that it never felt info-dumpy or like it bogged down the plot.

Speaking of which, this story had me in its grip from page one and I didn’t want it to let go! I was invested, okay? I needed to know what was going to happen next, how Lan and Zen were going to overcome the numerous obstacles in front of them. I thought the pacing of this story, though not consistent, made sense for what was happening in the novel. There were also some twists at the end that I predicted, but the way they were accomplished on page just blew me away! The fact that this author is also tackling the issue of colonization in this fantasy setting just added another level to this story that made it *chef’s kiss*

Now, my favorite part of this novel has to be our two main characters, Lan and Zen. I loved Lan and Zen! Moreso Lan, but Zen definitely still has a place in my heart. They are such interesting and compelling characters that it was easy to get lost in their story. I loved watching their relationship deepen and grow. I loved how they played off each other, their dynamic was absolutely top shelf. And, those the two of them are the ones that shine the most in this story, the side characters had just as much depth and nuance to them.

Overall, I loved every minute of this book and I’m happy this is not the end because I definitely want more from this world!

The Chinese mythology and folklore that was interwoven into this story was amazing and I had so much fun getting to know all of these characters - especially our main. She was so much fun to learn about, to get to know just as much as it was to understand the setting and the world building of what will be a very amazing series I can already tell. As a beloved author to me already, reading one of Zhao’s books again was nothing short of magical and I was filled with joy as I read.

Another stellar series starter from Amélie Wen Zhao! Thank you for this free arc in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this book! I was unable to post my review at the time of publication due to the strike.
If Amélie writes it, I will read it (and most likely love it).

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is such a beautifully written YA fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Song of Silver, Flame Like Night today.

Full review to come. I adored this story and it's one of my favorite reads so far this year. Amelie's writing is fun, entertaining, and compelling. I'm truly intrigued and fascinated by the lore and the world and there were so many wonderful characters to love and even hate to love. It was a wonderful start to this duology and I'm excited to know what happens next!

This took me a while to get through but I am glad I pushed through. Amélie Wen Zhao crafted an absolutely beautiful story with a lot of history and magic. While my biggest struggle was the extensive information presented to readers, it made the story more unique and memorable. I love the relationships between the characters and how their slow trust of each other grew - I'm smiling just thinking of them. I will definitely be checking out the author's backlist now!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night had me sucked in from the minute I started reading. I felt like I was watching a drama only it was a book. Amélie Wen Zhao did a great job of creating a world and mythology that you get lost in.

I just happened to be watching Alchemy of Souls at the same time I was reading this book and they were kind of perfect companions to one another. Especially from the magic school point of view so I felt like it was easy for me to picture how the school worked. I also think the descriptives used helped as well.

I really liked the characters. I’ve never been a fan of the perfect character. I love when you can both hate and love a character at the same time. Also that they might make bad decisions with good intentions. Lan and Zen were both not perfect and they both had motivations for their actions that seemed right to them but might not have aligned with one another.

I did also like them discovering what they like about each other because it was very cute.

I love mythology and I’ve always really liked the mythology of the four gods. I think I started with my love of Fushigi Yûgi manga as a kid. Which made me look into Chinese mythology and the mythical creatures guarding the four directions. I loved seeing the mythology incorporated into the story and reading about it.

The book was fast paced, I was very into and read it very quickly. I think it’s hard to keep good pacing with a fantasy novel and Amélie Wen Zhao does it well.

Overall I just really loved the book and I can’t wait for the next installment.

Many regards to Random House Children's for providing me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange of my honest review.

"A sword's purpose may be determined by its wielder, but take the weapon away entirely, and neither the merciful nor the cruel may draw blood with it.


This book brought me onto a roller-coaster of emotions with a great start, a mediocre medium, and an excellant ending. I rarely change my rating as quickly as this: at the 50% mark, I was convinced that this was going to be a 2-star-read, but the last action sequence blew my mind, and now we're here, with a 3.75/5 rounded down (because the ending left me a little disappointed).

The book started out smoothly: we were introduced to our main characters, Lan and Zen, who I quickly fell in love with. I love their dynamic, and how they balance each other. The slowburn is exquisite, and I loved seeing how they came to trust and to lean on each other.

However, the middle bit of this book was incredibly tedious as the actions were quite repetitive. I honestly didn't know that this book is 500-page-long (which is a lot for a first book of a YA Fantasy series), and I think that a big chunk of it could have been cut off or condensed. Nevertheless, I was really getting into the tension around the 75% mark. Amélie Wen Zhao knew how to build up tension for an explosive final battle and I can appreciate that. I was on my toes, reading as if my life depended on it.

Pacing problems aside, what really prevents me from loving this book was its lack of uniqueness. At this point, every mythology-inspired book starts to read the same, because the authors would take the original myths and dress it up as worldbuilding with little to no change. I think that's why I tend to enjoy Adult Fantasy more, because the YA Fantasy genre lack the freshness I crave. The same can be said for the characters and the events: a lot of them falls into archetypes or clichés that I have seen again and again. For example, I wish the ending was a little different, more intense perhaps, because I feel like I have read this before in other books.

Bottom-line: I didn't plan to read the sequel, but the last 80 pages changed my mind. I hope Amélie Wen Zhao has planned something explosive for the second book and the publisher has a gorgeous cover waiting for it *wink wink*.

Find me on my bookstagram @shardsofdeadlove

The characters are rich and detailed as is the story's history and lore. There is a lot of information given throughout the book but it doesn't feel overwhelming or confusing. The author does a wonderful job of delivering information at a pace that keeps you invested in the characters and their story. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys epic fantasies.

I loved the world building in this story so far. The way that Lan and Zen's backgrounds are unveiled come across quite naturally. Lan's character is easy to root for since she continues to be motivate throughout her hardships. I like the mystery behind Zen's character and how he leans toward being more morally grey at times. The ending definitely sets up the next book well. The magic system is interesting to see, and I would like to see more direct combat between magicians using metal magic and the practitioners with their more traditional style. Overall, I'm excited to see how Zhao continues this series.

Being the start of a new series, there is a lot to learn about this world, so much of the book deals with explanations and the flow of magic. At times, the latter becomes redundant. There is interesting worldbuilding alongside commentary on colonization. The book also retains Zhao's descriptive style, which allowed me to easily immerse myself into the story. Despite liking the story and the characters, I was not fond of the pacing and the story sometimes dragged.

Zhao writes of wanting “to be a blade,” and successfully creates Yan and other female characters as such, although Yan still has ways to go. While Yan is being shaped into a blade, certain pivotal scenes that would show Yan as one fade to black. This was also common with the battles, which I was often disappointed with. Not only were they not detailed enough, they often occurred off the pages with just a few lines about the aftermath.

While I might have jumped between books when trying to finish this one, I still liked the story. I want to know what happens to Yan and Zen, so I will definitely be picking up the next one. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Oh, I enjoy this sweet fantasy novel. I really enjoyed seeing LAN through her eyes as she goes from a struggling dancer to fleeing for her life. She doesn’t know anything in her past except for her mother’s murder. She runs into Zen expectedly who changes her life by saving her and escaping with her. They go on a journey where Lan is trying to remember her past and has been totally honest where Zen has not been. The finally reached their destination, a very secret s school and sanctuary. They learn more of dreams, magics and powers. Zen has irritated me a lot with his poor decisions and secrets. The ending was most definitely a cliff hanger. I’ll just have to wait and see what the second book will bring.
The beginning was strong then the story line will have ups and downs. This isn’t a fast paced book if this is what you’re looking for. Three and half stars from me.
Thank you, Delacorte Press for this sweet ARC ebook. As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher.

Not your easy-relax-turn off your brain fantasy (trust me I know. I tried to read this during covid and almost died from the awesome overload.) This is a Chinese mythology intersecting intersecting with cultural assimilation and colonialism, tied together with a mind stabbing mystery and living breathing characters. Well they’re not living and breathing, but they may as well be with how perfect they are written. If all these benchmarks that the best of books sometimes fail to meet aren’t enough, then the love story between Lan and Zen will leave your heart quivering! The world building will keep your mind spinning. And what can I say, I just enjoyed it!
If you want epic fantasy that surpasses cliché story settings and plot devices, you will love this!

Song of Silver, Flame like Night hit on a lot of C-Drama vibes. The 4 Demon Gods a darker take on the cardinal animals was a really different take. The story content and and tone land. Both MCs are looking for revenge and eventually redemption after finding power. But they learn the high cost of this in the brutality of actual war. Thought it was a one off so the ending threw me a bit, but it was good and it will be interesting to see the further conflict of the powers at the end.