I don't know what I expected when I started this book but it took me on one heck of a journey and I loved every moment of it. This book is so much fun to read and the characters are amazing. Looking forward to more books by Amelie.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the eARc for an exchange for my honest review.
I really loved this book as an Asian fantasy and Chinese drama enthusiast. The concept of the 3 realms (Sky, River, and Night) was especially unique in this book's fantasy world. The worldbuilding was very good making it seem as if I was watching a xianxia Chinese drama with the mó (demons) and xian (immortals)

I absolutely loved the relationship between Àn yīng and Yùchén. The chemistry is SO SO GOOD. After she discovered what he was , Àn yīng became wary and mistrustful of him, seeing him as an enemy. However, despite this, there was still an unexplainable connection and attraction she felt towards him. The extent to which Yùchén protected her even when she doubted him only made her feel even more conflicted and made their relationship more interesting. The connection between them was full of tension and pining, creating a slow-burn romance that had me hooked. Their relationship gave off 'right person wrong time vibes' which is one of my absolute favorite tropes especially combined with enemies to lovers! There was one particular scene that had me gasping and nearly squealing.

Individually, I really loved An yīng's character a lot! She is capable of protecting herself with her blades and is an absolute badass. I love her resilience and her determination to protect her family. As for Yùchén, while I did like his character, I didn't find him as interesting as the female lead. This most likely has to do with the fact that it is her perspective and we don't really get to see or read into Yùchén's thoughts and feelings. I'm hoping in the next book, there will be a dual POV. I would love to learn more about Yùchén's background!

To conclude my review, I had a really good time reading this book. If you're looking for a book with a unique fantasy world, rich worldbuilding, political intrigue, forbidden enemies to lovers, this book is for you. I definitely highly recommend it!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Asian Literature, Asian Fantasy, Romantasy
Spice level: There is full on spice on the page

Fans of Asian fantasy are going to devour THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM!

Here's why:

Creepy vibes
Vampire-like creature/demons that will eat you
A quest
A legacy
Family secrets
Love interests
Betrayal
Gods and Goddesses
Immortal realm
Politics

If you loved books like Immortal or Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this book is your jam, but remember, it's spicy.

Happy reading!

I always have to preface my fantasy reviews with the fact that I am not the biggest fantasy reader.... like, for as much as I try, it's a commitment I struggle with because I know GREAT fantasy reads typically (but I know not always) must include very robust and dense world-building— which, again, is a commitment I wish but cannot always readily connect with. That being said.... I LOVED this book! It immediately absorbed me into its orbit what with its opulent and rich setting; Zhao's lovely style of prose; and a solid mixture of angst, romance, darkness, and goodness all wrapped up into one satisfying read. The twists and turns throughout didn't feel forced or out of the blue, and I like how part of this journey for us, as readers, is following Àn’yīng as she acknowledges and works to unlearn the hatred/bigotry she [understandably] feels towards *all* demons, and how both the traumatic experience she and her family had, coupled with her later, more complex entanglement with Yù’chén during the trials, affects her mentally and her relationships with those around her. The only thing I'm sad about is that I didn't realize it was a duology (LOL my bad; I probably did know though and just forgot), so now I just have to patiently wait until the final installment. 5/5, a true winner for me!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyecd this story overall.

I loved the Chinese culture and mythology woven into the story as well as the names of the characters. The plot was dramatic in its flow. I struggled to stay attached to the story in sections, and other sections were so engaging that I struggled to put the book down to do adulty things like work and sleep.

There is no foul language and only one spicy scene. (Yes, it has an open door scene!)

I had a great time with this book! It’s making me wonder if I need to start looking at C-dramas because if I’m enjoying books that are inspired by those shows, then maybe it’ll be my way to get back into watching TV again. 🤔

The story follows Àn’yīng, a young woman who is struggling to survive in a world taken over by demons while taking care of her little sister and comatose mother. I really enjoyed her perseverance and devotion to her loved ones while still remaining steadfast to her goals and dreams. I also liked that she was able to work past her prejudices of yāo’jīng, halflings, and see them as beings with hearts and emotions instead of just mindless and soulless creatures. This sadly didn’t extend to a certain character which really irked me for a good portion of the book, and while I understand her reluctance to accept this character, I still wanted to just shake some sense into her hypocrisy ever so often. 😮‍💨

Àn’yīng’s budding relationship with Yù’chén was the star of this book for me. I loved their banter and the yearning that they both try to ignore without any success. Zhao is quickly becoming a favorite of mine with the way that she writes tragic love stories in these beautiful Chinese inspired worlds. I guess I’m just a sucker to tragic love or doomed relationships. 🥲

The ending is fast paced and man there was a point where I was hoping that Àn’yīng and Yù’chén could get a point to catch their breath. The reveals also felt like they were coming one after another without any pause, so be prepared to be rather bombarded in the best way possible! 🤯

All in all, I loved this new world and group of characters that Zhao has crafted here. I’m already desperate for the sequel and can’t wait to see how Zhao rips my heart out with these two. Huge thank you goes out to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. And to Zhao for once again crafting such a beautiful world and lovable group of characters; I hope I’m prepared for the sequel. 😅

Publication date: March 4!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

So if you have read The Serpent and the Wings of Night you are going to fall in love with this book. You have the deadly trials and enemies to lovers and an amazing mfc who is ready to conquer. She has the opportunity for emotional growth through her trials and ally. Very happy with the story

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao is an action-packed fantasy filled with deadly trials, fierce rivals, and a fight for survival. Àn’yīng will do anything to win the Immortality Trials and save her mother—but in a competition where betrayal is just as deadly as the battles, trust is a dangerous game. Enter Yù’chén, a mysterious competitor who might be her greatest ally… or her biggest threat. This book is fast, intense, and completely unputdownable, with epic fight scenes, dark twists, and a world dripping with mythology.

If you love books like The Hunger Games but want a more magical, bloodier twist, this one’s for you. Just be ready for an emotional rollercoaster!

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for the ARC!

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・“𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓯𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓼..”・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

⤿🌷02/03/25
3.5 stars, spoiler-free review 💫
release date: 4th March, 2025

To start off, this was my first book to read by the Author, and I did like her writing style. The pacing of the story was fast. I tried loving the book, but unfortunately, I couldn't. Maybe it's because I'm in a slump. I was hooked on the story until 35% ig, but after that, I just wanted to finish this book. The mythology in this book didn't have anything interesting or new to read. I wasn't wowed by the plot. And that ending just fell short for me. I'm not particularly keen on reading book 2 after that ending, but I do want to know who Àn’yīng ends up with. And I'm forever a Yù’chén apologist, I don't care about anything but him. I just hope book 2 doesn't have a love triangle trope 😩🤞🏻 (because then I won't continue it, because love triangle in books have always been my least fav). Yeah, so that pretty much sums up what I wanted to say. As it's Ramadan, I can't write a full review for this book as I have no time, so for now, this is my review.

what to expect 🌸:
🦂 He falls first & harder
🦂 Forbidden Love
🦂 Immortal Realms
🦂 Rivals-to-Lovers
🦂 “Touch her & die”
🦂 Chinese Mythology
🦂 Magical trials
🦂 One hot spring
🦂 Dragonhorse companion

Thank you to the Author, the Publisher, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review 💕

The beginning of this series is my favorite Amelie Wen Zhao book so far. Àn’yīng is working to save her mother and honor her father's memory all while trying to navigate brutal trials, demons, gods, and a man she doesn't know whether to trust or hate. The worldbuilding is extremely interesting and the action doesn't let up throughout the entire book. The constant pace makes this a very compelling read and extremely digestible. I'm looking forward to reading book two to see how Àn’yīng is able to solve the problems that have been laid out before her.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, written by Amélie Wen Zhao, is a captivating story that weaves together themes of duty, danger, and desire. The interplay of light and darkness creates a mysterious atmosphere, blurring the lines between friend and foe. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this enchanting tale.

In a world overrun by demons, Án’yīng needs the pill of immortality to cure her ailing mother, but dozens of other practitioners will do whatever it takes to secure it for themselves. To win, she will need to ally herself with the powerful and mysterious Yù’chén, even if he has motives of his own.

Zhao always writes a fast-paced adventure story with a fun heroine and some snark between her and the male lead. This book captures the energy of a fantastical xianxia cdrama with gorgeous visuals and its magical setting, grounded with the very human emotions of the characters. I was a little mixed on how some of the relationships were executed, though, and how the book weakened its pacing by setting up for the next one.

I’m very excited to read the next installment!

“In each life, we are born to walk a path,” I say. “If this is the path the fates or my destiny has drawn for me in this life, then I will walk with you to the end.” - @ameliewenzhao

A war between the Kingdom of the Sky, Kingdom of the River, and Kingdom of the Night found the Kingdom of the River to fighting the demons of the Night and Gods in the Kingdom of the Sky closing their borders and the mortals fighting for their lives.

Àn’yīng lost her father to a Mó, a demon- think Venin but more evil. Her mother was left catatonic with half of her soul devoured by the Mó who killed her father. Her only hope to heal her mother is to win a pill of immortality at the Immortality trials in the Kingdom of the Sky. Her path is not an easy one. She carries her beloved blades, memories of her mother and sister, and a magical Jade necklace. She not only faces beasts and demons, but the reality of her past and the role she has in saving the mortal realm.

This story is beautifully crafted. The imagery is stunning. The action doesn’t let up. Hunger Game vibes in a world of Gods with a strong female lead in an internal battle of just how much off herself she’ll risk to save those she loves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@ameliewenzhao I can’t wait for this sequel. I’m such a fan. All your other books are in my queue.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousechildrens for this #advancedreaderscopy - pub day is 3/4/25 - go buy it!!!!!

#2025bookchallengebook15of100
#thescorpionandthenightblossom
#netgalley

💖❤️ The Scorpion and the Night Blossom ARC Review ❤️💖

Thank you so much to Amélie Wen Zhao and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a fantasy romance novel and book one in The Three Realms duology. Nine years ago, war against the demons ripped apart Àn’yīng’s family. Now she is grown and ready to enter the Immortal Trials to help save her ailing mother. Can she survive long enough to win the prize?

This book was a fantastic read and a good start to this duology! Àn’yīng was an awesome character and I really enjoyed reading her story. There trial aspect of the story was well done and I really enjoyed the world building! Yù’chén was such a good character and I found myself wishing for some of his PoV. I personally was a little frustrated at how long it took Àn’yīng to break some of her habits, but eventually she got there

Overall this was a five star read! I loved the characters and the complexity of this story! I can’t wait for the next one on the series! This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book did have a romantic subplot but it was a slow burn with minimal on-page action, so overall one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy novels with beautiful world building, complex characters and a great story, then absolutely pick this one up!!

"We have only this short life, this one life. If there is something we want, something we desire, we must fight for it."

An extremely captivating story that follows Àn’yīng, a girl forced to enter a deadly competition for the chance to save her mother’s soul.

Amélie once again created a beautiful world steeped in ancient Chinese Mythology and Folklore. I didn’t think it was possible to love this even more than the authors ‘Song of the Last Kingdom’ duology, but I was pleasantly surprised. I fell in love with her writing style and world building all over again.

The trials were done so well. Often times I can find myself bored because the stakes just aren’t high enough, but that was not the case here. Not only were the stakes high, but the competition also felt original. The twists and turns had me riveted to the pages. The pacing was perfection which made it easy to devour this book.

Àn’yīng is a badass FMC and overall entirely relatable. I loved her weaponry and how the blades performed different tasks. Amélie has a talent for coming up with unique magic systems and that is one of the many reasons she is at the top of my auto-buy authors list. Horror elements were weaved throughout adding even more tension to an already deadly competition.

When the book dedication reads “This one's for the C-drama girlies.", you just know the romance will be good and I was not disappointed. The chemistry could be felt through the pages and the banter will have you kicking your feet. I could have done without the potential love triangle, but I get it.

Highly recommend if you love fast-paced romantasy books, charming characters, deadly trials, Chinese Mythology, and unique magic systems.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC.

This book was devastating but so interesting and easy to get swept up in!

“The nights have been longer and more beautiful since their world began to bleed into ours.”

As always, Zhao’s writing was spectacular. Her world-building with demons (beautiful, terrifying demons – the best kind), a magical school (that was also a brutal competition for immortality), and unique magic was so, so captivating. There was never a boring page, and I felt really immersed in the world.

The storyline was also fascinating – a life-or-death competition may not be a unique plot, but the concept of fighting for that pill of immortality through dangerous, magical trials is always such fun to read! I honestly wanted many more trials and magic. Add in the threat of demons invading, and I was intrigued!

“I have known how our story would end since the very beginning. I have resisted, but I no longer wish to.”

It helps that Zhao’s writing style is so lyrical and beautiful. I’m tempted to highlight every second line – she almost writes fairytales, they’re so poetic and enchanting. But with this lyrical writing comes the most devastating romances – Zhao just will not let a couple live peacefully! However, this is only book 1 of 2, so I hold out hope for a happy ending…

“But meeting the right person at the wrong time, the right love in the wrong life, is a tragedy written from the start.”

My god, these characters. Our fmc was courageous and angry and vicious, and I loved witnessing her growth as she made friends, learnt about power, and fell in love. She had the burdens of every Asian eldest daughter x 100, and she was so realistic that I couldn’t help but love her. And our main mmc… he had me giggling and kicking my feet. Always watching over her, helping out, THE SEWING KIT?!?! No spoilers, but I almost screamed.

My only complaint – the dreaded love triangle. I spent 99% of this book attempting to convince myself that no, there’s no way there’s another love interest, he can be her platonic brother-friend-tutor… but I fear my gaslighting only got me so far, and there’s definitely a love triangle. Ah well, I hold out hope, and we all know who I’m picking out of the funny, dangerous guy and sweet, wholesome one…

“You have poisoned me, little scorpion, and I would gladly let you do it over and over and over again.”

All in all, such a gorgeous, captivating, devastating story. Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and TBR & Beyond Tours for the ARC copy provided!

A brand new trilogy by Amelie Wen Zhao, and she's an auto-read author for me so I was so thrilled to receive this arc! Eastern fantasy and trials with romance - i loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful story of forbidden love based in Chinese Folklore. This story has many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and I am usually good at sussing those out. With interesting trials and compelling characters this story is one I would recommend for people who are interested in a forbidden love triangle. Very excited for the next book when that come out to see where the story goes next.

Let me tell you that I've not had a fantasy book rock my world in the way this one did in quite some time. I am absolutely OBSESSED. I need the next book asap, which is wild because this first book doesn't even come out until next Tuesday. Sooo I guess I'll be waiting in anticipation for the next year for book two. Nbd.

Seriously though, this book was amazing and took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. First, I would love to give my appreciation to the author who is an incredible writer and story-teller. She was able to create a story that was dark and magical and seeped with Chinese-inspired mythology and folklore. It was just so well-crafted.

The romance in this story is what really gripped me, though. It's was so angsty and full of yearning (my favorite kind) and it completely destroyed me. The "Disarm me." scene? Are you kidding? I literally melted. If you're into a MMC that falls first and falls harder, this is for you. This also plays on the forbidden love trope and it was done so so well. And it absolutely broke me.

This book also has my new favorite stabby FMC. I loved that out main character is portrayed as this helpless maiden that lures you in only to use her many (many) blades to unalive you. Oh and if you're a fan of daggers-to-the-throat, you will absolutely love this, too.

Anyways, TSATNB was an absolutely stunning story with magic, immersive world-building, forbidden romance, and rich Chinese-inspired mythology. Highly recommend for fantasy lovers!! ✨

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for this arc.

"Hope, as I've said, is the cruelest affliction. And I'm no exception to its lure."

This book starts off with our mc, An'ying, out getting a flower that helps out her mothers sickness, and there finds a mo, a demon, consuming a person. She has to fight it, and from there, its a hooking story that has you wanting more. "The Scorpion and the Night Blossom" is oriented as a trial/competition- where mortals can compete in the Immortal Trials and one human earns an immortal pill, a pill An'ying needs to save her mother.

It has a little bit of dark themes and gore, it is listed as an adult book bit I would say its more for the dark themes rather than spice, which is quite refreshing. The writing is beautiful, and easy to follow. The world building and magic system is similar to other books I've read so it was easy for me. This book is also much more character driven, which I don't mind but others might, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

I did enjoy this book, although sometimes I felt that some of the characters felt a bit flat. They were introduced with amazing potential but then just stayed that way. I'm hoping we get to dive into it more in the next book. Overall though, awesome story that stayed fresh and had good twists!