Everyone wears masks, metaphorically speaking. We show different versions of ourselves to different people. And conversely, we shield off other parts, for better or worse, depending on who we’re with, what surrounds us, or how much we’ve explored, and embraced who we fundamentally are.

Neon Yang makes those masks literal for the protagonist in their latest novella, Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame. Kunlin Yeva has become the notorious guildknight from Mithrandon, a dragon-slayer with no equal in the Sun Empire, who never takes off their armor, including the helm on their head.

This masked guildknight is a symbol, a fearsome living myth much more—and much less—than a person. Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame, however, gives us a tender examination of Yeva and who she is (and was before her time at Mithrandon).

[rest on webiste]

The cover -- obsessed. At first glance, I was expecting an epic/high fantasy story and was grateful that someone informed me it was a cozy fantasy novella.

The prose is beautiful. I loved the theme of finding the sense of belonging, reconnecting with the main character's mother's story, and dismantling what they were told to believe. I would have loved this novella to have a full story because I was invested in the character's background, their journey, and would have wanted the relationship to be flushed out more.

The twist in the end was predictable and that aside I enjoyed the novella.

at face value, this book really seemed like it would be for me. dragon slayers, lady knights, sapphic romance--these are all things that make a story exciting to me. unfortunately i felt like this one fell flat. my biggest issue was the way the narrative was told (third person present tense)--it felt like a fairytale or a story told around a campfire instead of an immersive experience in which we actually have the ability to get to know the characters. for this reason, most of it felt pretty surface level. i felt like i was being told what was happening instead of being shown, which really took me out of it. i think this can be a really fun way to while a prologue to introduce the main plot line/lore, but for an entire 200 page novella, it was complete overkill and took me out of the story.

i think this could be a great pallet cleaner for the right reader being as it is so short, however it was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan publishers for the eARC copy of this book!

Yeva becomes a dragon slayer knight at a young age and is separated from her family to train for her new life. She never removes the armor she has been using to train for many years as it has become her identity and many people know her by it. Even though everyone knows her as a knight, nobody remembers the girl she was or the woman she becomes. She must go to the kingdom of Quanbao in search of a dragon they supposedly keep within their borders. In Quanbao, the dragons are not slayed but worshipped.

The cover of this book drew me in but the story itself kept me interested. Its short length made it easy to follow along. The writing style was simple but detailed which made it a beautiful read, specially for the descriptions of the scenery and creatures. The main characters were well written, I liked that their backstories were easy to follow and made sense with the development of the story and characters themselves. I liked that the romance is not too cheesy nor the main/prevalent focus of the story. It is important to the story but in a way that makes sense and is not just mindlessly added to create a hook. I love the queer/lesbian representation here, it was described so naturally that it made it seem as if it was not a weird occurrence for the characters in those kingdoms (and it shouldn't be.)

The only reason why I did not give it a 5 star rating is because I haven't read many stories of the same or similar topic so I'm technically new to reading about dragons. But it was the best way I could have imagined for getting into dragons. Another thing is that the ending left me wanting to know more of Yeva's family and Sookhee's ancestors and past life (maybe a novella or extra/special chapter?)

Overall, the book was lovely and I enjoyed reading it. From the beautiful cover to the character's backgrounds, this book managed to capture my attention and make me want to read more.

Ahoy there mateys. This is "A new Queer, Asian-inspired fantasy novella about a renowned dragon slayer who never takes her armor off in public."  There is also a f/f romance element as well.  I like elements of this novella well enough.  The main character, Yeva, is a dragon hunter sent to the reclusive nation of Quanbao as a diplomat.  It is rumored that Quanbao worships dragons.  The ruler, Lady Sookhee, has secrets and Yeva is supposed to find them out, not fall in love with the queen.  I did feel that the first part of the book was much stronger than when Yeva goes to Quanbao.

The character of Yeva was my favorite.  I really enjoyed reading about Yeva's childhood and how she became a dragon hunter.  The juxtaposition of world building between Yeva's realm and the culture of Quanbao was nice.  Yeva's king seems to be an all-powerful, selfish dictator.  Lady Sookhee may be queen but rules with the help of a women's council.  The political details were rather lightly touched upon but I did enjoy what was presented.

The main issue for me was that I did not buy the romance.  I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either.  I did not get to really see the relationship start or evolve.  Instead, it just kinda skipped ahead.  I also thought that Yeva was rather dense about the queen's secret given how much time they spent together.  The ending was also fine but did not thrill me.  These issues may all stem from the novella-length.  I think I would have prefered a novel instead.

I liked the author's writing style enough that I bought the Tensorate series.  I shall see if I like those novellas better.

3.5 rounded down

The story told is stunning and the prose is beautiful. Unfortunately, the heart of the story is missing from the telling. There is clearly a full novel's worth of story here, but the important parts are cut out in the telling. The entire story is told as if seen by an impersonal 3rd party. At the heart of this story there is a romance, but every aspect of the couple's time together is skimmed over or referenced only in passing. This story could have been glorious, but instead it is merely good.

Neon Yang’s Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame is a book I’m definitely getting for my sister once it’s out — which, to those who know me/my sister tells you something right up front, but I’ll elaborate for the rest of the world! There are dragons, a female protagonist, and a lesbian relationship, which also meets her criteria that the lesbians don’t come to a tragic end.

It’s also a story of belonging, of dislocation from culture and finding your way back into it, which I’m sure will resonate for a lot of readers, even if the stakes aren’t as high as these for most people. Yeva is initially very divorced from her body and her “foreign” appearance, hiding it all to make her own place among the guildknights, but rest assured: that isn’t allowed to stand unchallenged (while at the same time she maintains some bond to her adopted home, in the form of her one friendship).

It’s a novella, so we don’t get large-scale worldbuilding or a very slow build relationship, but what we do get works well for me: Yeva’s fumbling attempts to fit into her new place, her confused loyalties, and her growing feelings for Lady Sookhee.

I predicted the twist of the story fairly swiftly, but it was still satisfying to see it play out. I’d have loved a little more play with the strangeness of… well, a certain character (not Yeva), but maybe that would’ve given the game away too much.

Overall, I really liked it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for an eARC of this title in exchange for my review.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang is a lovely novella framed in a folk fairy tale style about mythical dragon hunters and the lands and people who honor and hold them dear.

For a novella, the worldbuilding is great with interesting details, style and settings as well as simply beautiful prose. The author did a great job telling a complete tale with vivid imagery and depth of feeling, all while being deeply satisfying.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

The plot is predictable and the characters are...okay? I found the use of an unseen narrator kind of frustrating. It made me feel distanced from the characters and diminished the emotional depth I was hoping for.

Also, is anyone else annoyed that the cover art is white washed? I thought Yeva was described as having dark hair and golden skin, like her mom. Or did her description change throughout the story?

2025 is the year of the lady-knight!

I really think Neon Yang shines with their novellas. This was lush and romantic and told at just the right pace.

In this compact little book, we are told the story of a legendary dragon slayer- the mythic guildknight, Yeva, as they are sent on a covert mission to the fiercely independent nation of Quanbao to gather intel on the rumors of dragons. There, they must earn the trust of the mysterious Girl-King, Lady Sookhee. As they get closer, the mystery of the rumored dragons begins to unravel and Yeva must decide between their allegiance to the Empire or their growing affection for Lady Soookhee and the people of Quanbao.

☀️book review☀️
brighter than scale, swifter than flame by neon yang

This was one of the best fantasy novellas I read in a long while.

Yang’s novella takes place in the mystical land of Mithrandon, where the famed dragonknight Kunlin Yeva has made a name for herself by becoming the most lethal dragon hunter out there. She is sent to the Asian-inspired land of Qinbao on a diplomatic mission and as she becomes close to their queen Sookhee, she finds out secrets long hidden about the dragons she hunts and who she really is.

I love a solid novella that tells a really solid plot with established characters, and this story really captures that for me. Yeva’s conflict and understanding of herself is the main thing you focus on in the story but it weaves reallg well with the plot and the pacing never stalls because of it.

The worldbuilding is fantastic - despite its shorter length, it doesn’t skimp on anything and covers everything necessary in a really effortless way. The important parts of the world are weaved into Yeva’s conflict and the plot as a whole masterfully. It really is storytelling at its finest.

It covers some compelling themes such as imperialism, biracial identity, and how we accept who we are and how we find home. Its a short and sweet fantasy read that really speaks to the reader.

I cannot recommend this enough - it blew me away!

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this review.

"The Mandalorian" meets sapphic dragon slayers. Need I say more?

Neon Yang has a knack for crafting SFF stories that not only have unique premises but are also just badass. This novella was just so satisfying to read. Being able to witness the character progression and growth for Yeva that happens from page one until the end was just incredibly gratifying.

This may be a short little novella, but it has a lot to say about questioning the people and systems we've pledged our loyalty to, and whether allegiance supercedes justice. Overall, I absolutely loved the vibes and writing style employed in this novella. Honestly, I would take ten more just like it!

I'm really liking novella's written like this. It's a short story, but the world is very fleshed out and the characters are very compelling. The story was a bit basic in terms of I was able to figure it out pretty early on, but I thought it was interesting and I wouldn't mind coming back to this world.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a standalone sapphic fantasy about a knight, Yeva, who is scooped up by the imperial guard for her innate ability to kill dragons. She is sent to a neighboring kingdom to investigate rumors of dragons in their possession, and there learns more about her parents and family as she spies for her king.

I found this story a bit slow moving, but overall enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Tordotcom for this ARC Copy!

Gorgeous cover, sapphic, tea, and dragons, what more could a girl possibly want from a book right? Maybe for the story to be just a little longer because I was not ready to leave the world. When will I ever learn with novellas that I will always be left wanting more. That is in no way a complaint about this book and actually quite a bit of praise.

I really enjoyed the folklorist prose and the world building, and I am definitely interested in reading more works from this author.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame
Author. Neon Yang
Thank you so much Netgalley and Tor publishing group for this copy! This is a fantasy novella that follows Yeva, a masked guildknight that slays dragons. She is sent to the kingdom of Quanbao where she ends up encountering Lady Sookhee, the “girl king” who challenges her beliefs and stirs feelings she did not even know she had within her. As their bond deepens, Yeva must choose between her sworn duty and the possibility of a new path forged through love and self-discovery. I really loved Yeva as a main character, and reading as she struggled through situations she felt extremely uncomfortable in and her growth throughout them. I felt the twist coming from a ways away, but it was still really good. I enjoyed that this was more romance focused, then action packed. The main focus is the relationship between the the dragon slayer and Lady Sookhee. I would love to read more in this world, and would not be opposed to a full length novel of this. I really enjoyed this.

For such a short story, this novella is brimming with rich and interesting world-building. The descriptions were lush and vivid, and the story read like a fairytale.

I do feel like the narration felt distant from Yeva at times, which lent to the fairytale feeling of this novella but ultimately made me have trouble connecting to the characters. I also wish the romance had more buildup with one or two scenes in its early stages to establish a deeper connection between Yeva and Sookhee. I think if their chemistry was further explored, Yeva’s devotion would feel more authentic.

All in all, a fun and quick read!

This was a really solid novella!

Unfortunately I fell into a pretty gnarly slump and missed the pub date, but better late than never I guess. I thought this had a really great, immersive amount of lore and exposition without feeling like I was being overwhelmed. Everything read like it had its place and I enjoyed the time I got to spend in this world and its kingdoms!

I liked our main characters and enjoyed the development between them--my only real complaint is that the conclusion of the climax felt a little lackluster and it didn't entirely match the tone of the conflict up until that point. Otherwise, I liked this a lot!

Yeva slew a dragon when she was 13 and it cost her her hand — and life as she knew it. Instead of living happily with her parents and her sister, instead of finally being old enough to join her mother in her trips to the markets of Quanbao, Yeva finds herself exiled to Mithrandon, where the Emperor lives, to become one of his guildknights and spend the rest of her days as a weapon in the Emperor’s hand, slaying dragon after dragon after dragon.

When the Emperor wants to send a battalion of his knights into Quanbao to hunt down an escaped dragon, the guildmaster sends Yeva, instead. And Yeva is … unsettled. On the one hand, she’s far away from her routine, away from the comfort of rules and restrictions, but on the other, she’s finally in Quanbao, a place that brought her mother so much joy. There’s new food to eat, a new language to learn, and a queen whose playful smiles make Yeva’s heart skip, whose friendship has her longing for something she’s never been brave enough to want for herself.

Killing dragons? Easy. Falling in love? Harder.

This novella is inspired by Asian cultures, food, and dragons. These aren’t fire breathing winged monsters; instead, they’re sinuous creatures with elemental powers and ancient lifespans, near mythic gifts, and compassionate hearts. And Yeva kills them with ruthless, thoughtless skill. She doesn’t ask — never has — what dragons are or why they have to die; she only knows that they’re dangerous. When she learns that the Quanbao culture reveres them rather than slays them, she tries her hardest not to think about all the dragons she’s killed, tries her hardest to keep seeing them as mere animals rather than as thinking beings.

However, the story’s focus isn’t on the world building or even the dragons — though both are a highlight, skillfully put forth in a way to shape the story without drawing too much focus away from the romance. Sookhee, queen of Quanbao, is a capricious, charming, clever queen. She takes one look at the guildknight sent to her and understands both the threat she is, and the weaknesses she sees in Yeva, who is alone, isolated, and vulnerable, who is trying to reach out to people in search of answers to questions she doesn’t know how to ask.

When Yeva was taken into to the guildknights, she was three things: a girl, a mixed race child, and gifted with magic. Thrown in with other guildknights who were boys of the right blood and background but had no magic, she was further isolated and bullied. However, when Yeva put on her helmet and armor she became … invisible. No one could point and say she was different when they all looked the same; her armor and her helmet became her sanctuary, as well as her cage. When Sookhee offers her a half mask — to allow her to eat and drink while still keeping her anonymity — it’s a kindness no one else has ever shown her. With Sookhee, Yeva is able to become a person, again. A woman. Someone whose black hair and tanned skin don’t mark her as Other, but instead as belonging. Sookhee offers friendship, because she, too, is an Other, even in her own kingdom. She’s a queen, which forces a power disparity, even between her and her closest friends. But with Yeva, the two of them can be Other together.

The story has a predictable twist, which I think is a good thing. I enjoy when the book — having handed out all the clues — plays fair with me, allows me to be able to guess at the twist and then rewards me with a well-written scene that plays out just as it should. Yeva tries to avoid knowing what she should know because she doesn’t want to; because she would rather be happily ignorant rather than dutiful; and she wants to stay with Sookhee, to be happy, to be … a person. Herself. To have a chance to be a daughter again, a sister.

The writing is lyrical, reminiscent of a fairy tale with the story being told to the reader by a storyteller. The pace is perfect for a novella, though a very selfish part of me wants so much more. More of this world, more of Yeva and Sookee, more of the dragons and the Quanbao. Honestly, I think that’s the sign of an excellent novella where the story feels finished, but the reader is still left wanting more.

This is an excellent book if you’re into character studies, dragons, romance, and redemption arcs. It’s beautifully told, quick to read, and well worth your time.

Always a big Neon Yang fan, especially when they’re writing fantasy. While I wouldn’t categorize this as a favorite, I do think that this was a really interesting and enjoyable read. Also, it made me feel very accomplished for guessing the plot twist so I appreciate that. It really plays with themes of identity and loyalty that make it that much more interesting than a sapphic romance with a dragon involved. A lot of the moments feel pretty simple, but I think that made it a little bit more enjoyable. Worth the read if it sounds like your thing!