Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book!

I would give this book a 3.5 star rating. I felt like the book was a little slow in the beginning and I wasn't really hooked until about 80% through the book. Also the main character was not my favorite, which made it hard for me to be interested in what happened. Although, I think the authors writing style was excellent and her plot towards the end was very good. So that's why I would give the book a 3.5.

4.5 stars - I was so excited to receive a copy of this book via Netgalley. I mean, look at that cover! It's gorgeous. I'll admit I was apprehensive going into this book, but my caution ended up being unnecessary.

Lan is a likeable, unlikable character. She's had an incredibly hard life and her attitude shows it. She's a bit crass and slightly rude, but also courageous and kind. I've read characters in the past who were supposed to be unlikeable or at least "not perfect" but it's done in a way that is over the top and obnoxious. They practically scream, "look at me, I'm quirky and an asshole!" Lan's character was done very well. She's fleshed out in a way that makes her wholly human. She's got good parts and bad parts, but the bad parts are what makes her more relatable.

Then we have Zen. He is much like Lan in that he is both good and bad. He's so straight-laced at first, but his trauma slowly resurfaces in a way that causes things to be a little less black and white for him. He's your standard tall, dark, and handsome love interest, but it's not shoved in your face. We don't get descriptions of him every other paragraph, and Lan is able to function as a person without him. She doesn't become a damsel in distress once the handsome man comes around and I love that. I'm ready to see what happens with them in book two. Their slow burn romance was a breath of fresh air over the insta-love I've been reading lately. I smiled like a goon when there was only one bed at the inn.

(The disciples of the school have earned a place in my heart as well!)

This book isn't even out yet but I'm ready for more! D:

This book has a lot of good things going for it: complex characters with character development, twists and turns and reveals that are surprising but also make complete sense and fit when you look back, excellent worldbuilding, and a good quest storyline. However, it didn't completely resonate with me, and I found that I was able to put it down for a while to read another book. I can't quite pinpoint the reason, but I did still enjoy it overall, and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

I DNF’d this book about 20% of the way in, not because there’s anything wrong with it or anything; in fact, I’m sure there’s a ton of people who would absolutely love this book. However, it was just not for me. I’m a mood based reader, so this just may not have been the vibe I was feeling at the moment, but the main character was also rather unlikeable and plain, and truthfully nothing immediately stuck out to me about this world or story as being particularly unique or interesting. Just my opinion of course, if you feel drawn to this novel do pick it up. I love the cover artwork, it’s beautiful.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in a breathtaking new series by Amélie Wen Zhao. Rich with Chinese inspiration, this book takes you to a new world. Zhao paints a vivid picture of her fictitious the Last Kingdom.

When building a new high fantasy world, one can only expect a lot of world building and there is in this novel. But the words on the page are like a brush stroke in a picture, painting a vivid picture of the Last Kingdom. Ever word, paragraph, page is important for the reader to understand the world the book is set in.

Our two main characters, Lan and Zen, were easy to connect to. I actually really loved the dual-pov as it brought together and more well-rounded story than if it was just in Lan’s pov. The interactions between these two characters were witty and had me grinning at certain points.

This book packs so much into the novel in just 500 words, you’d think you’d had read an epic. But nothing is too fast or two slow paced, I think the novel flows at a perfect speed. I definitely found myself getting stretched to the characters.

I’d recommend Song of Silver, Flame Like Night to anyone who wants to read a high fantasy novel rich in Chinese mythology and folklore.

Thank you to the publisher and Turn the Page Tours for an eARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

One girl holds the secret to reuniting a broken kingdom.
I am so excited for this book to hit shelves! One of my favourite books is "Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon. However, at the middle school reading level, Shannon's literature is out of reach of the average reader. Zhao's book will be a fantastic substitute! The story is wonderfully written, especially since it provided a chronology. This is always helpful considering even as an adult, I find it hard to remember some events in a fantasy world. One of the best parts is, IT HAS A MAP! Kid's will go absolutely feral with a book that includes a map, so this will induce a frenzy of kids wanting to read the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I tell you I was *so* excited to get my hands on this ARC… I was SO EXCITED to get my hands on this ARC. I’d read the premise and heard great things about the author (my first book from her and definitely will be checking out her back list), so I had a feeling I’d enjoy it. I clicked on it immediately.

**5 stars**

Overall, I loved this story. All the elements that I require in a fantasy novel for peak enjoyment and immersion were present in this story. The story was carefully and passionately told, with a lot of rich history and lore weaved throughout. We had a complex and interesting plot that was well paced and as such delivered extraordinary impact. We had intriguing and organic character arcs, and strong but flawed characters. I highly recommend his novel for anyone who loves fantasy! So now, let’s get into the details of the review:

The story itself immediately captivated me, I was pulled in by the atmosphere, and the compelling but strong character that is Lan.
The character arcs were very well done, they felt seamless and organic. Natural progressions for each character based on hints and glimpses we’d seen of the character, and their background, to get them to each point they found themselves throughout the story. The relationships and ways the characters simply related to themselves felt believable and relatable - like something you’d find in regular life, but made into something more by the fantastical world around them. My favorites were definitely Lan and Zen’s character arcs, I would say especially Zen intrigues me. The societal tensions, warring and intricacies were very interesting and despite those themes generally being complex, they were quite easy to follow and well explained in order to be easy to follow throughout the novel.

I also really enjoyed the world-building. It never felt bulky or that much was needed to be explained all at once. Rather, the environment and world unfolded as the story went on, and as such, it felt natural to the progression of the story. There is still some more detail of the landscape I would have liked, and I do hope that hard copies come with a map (or that future copies do incorporate a map) as it does help to visualize where everything is.

The writing and the style of writing is beautiful. It flows smoothly and there is so much control and care regarding what should be dramatic, heartfelt, artful and precise. It almost feels a bit like a prose style, but not as many words or descriptions, which is the perfect point for my preference - I loved it and I will be looking into the author’s backlist on that alone!

This was 100% my type of fantasy novel, there was emotion, action, an interesting magic system, conflict, meaningful relationships, etc. I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for the next books in the series to be released. I will definitely be checking out more books by Amélie Wen Zhao!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an incredibly compelling story that takes place in a detailed, immersive world. A foolproof recommendation if you (like me!) have enjoyed recent asian mythology-inspired books like Girls of Paper and Fire, Descendant of the Crane, and Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

In Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, we follow a songgirl named Lan, whose country has been violently colonized; as a result, she was required to take a single-syllable version of her given name. This is highly effective as a reminder of the forced assimilation taking place all around her. When Lan’s mother was killed by the invaders, she left a strange sigil imprinted on Lan’s arm. To find out what it means, Lan must journey to the School of the White Pines, the last of the former Hundred Schools of practitioning. From there, she gets wrapped up in powers that she had previously thought were only legends.

Song deals with incredibly complex moral and cultural questions that kept me thinking about this book long after I finished it: What is the purpose of power? How can we avoid its corrupting influence? Is true balance achievable? If not, is it still worth striving for? Each character has their own nuanced set of answers to these questions, just like each reader will. The narrative poses these questions, but never preaches. Its focus is on making you think, and it is absolutely successful in doing so.

Amelie Wen Zhao puts it best in her introduction: “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an interrogation of and a response to history. This is a tale of my heritage. Welcome to the Last Kingdom.”

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night was a very anticipated book for me. I was instantly drawn by the beautiful cover, and the description seemed nice too.

I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit disappointed with this. The story was a bit boring and the book dragged a little. The pacing was not the best.

I think it had some cool concepts. At one point of the book I was thinking that things got an interesting turn but there was too much generic plot lines, the characters felt a little undeveloped.

I think some people might like it more than I did, It’s not a bad book by any means, I just couldn’t connect with the characters as much.

What a great read! We follow Lan, who was left with a mysterious mark on her wrist after her mothers death that no one else can see, until she meets Zen. This story is ethereal, gripping, and beautifully written. It was easy to get into and action packed from the start. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Looking forward to the next book.

4.5/5!

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! I was interested in the book by chapter 2…but by chapter 6 I couldn’t put the book down and the last 20% of the book had me in the edge of my seat!

Incredibly well written! I can’t wait for the next one.

5/5 stars…will recommend to everyone and will definitely be pre ordering a physical copy for my shelf!

I enjoyed this one, even if the two main characters made multiple eye-roll worthy decisions that did knock this down a bit for me. Set in a world inspired by ancient China, we follow Lan, a song girl living under Elatian rule and a past she keeps trying to figure out. Her uneasy existence is upended when Zen enters her life because he is a practitioner, and there is something in her past that is associated with that. And the Elatians want the power that comes from practitioning to add to their already strong magic. Lan and Zen go on the run all while trying to figure out her past and how they are much more connected than they realize. As I said, enjoyable book, interesting magic and a quick moving plot. But bone headed decisions made by the main characters, and the older, secondary characters pulling the “we will tell you when you are ready” on some big, life changing information

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in a new YA fantasy series, and it is an immersive and exciting read. There’s a lot to like about the story. The premise is intriguing, and the characters are dynamically developed, complex, and layered, as is the world-building. Oh, and the romance – loved the romance! Stylistically, I loved the book too. The author’s use of language and imagery is exceptional.

Influenced by Chinese mythology and folklore, this is an immersive and immense world that is easy to get lost in. The chronology at the beginning of the book also offers more insight into the history of the world. Everything is so vivid and rich, and the unique fantasy elements and magic system are fascinating. The setting, plot, and characters also serve to criticize forced assimilation, colonialism, cultural appropriation, sexism, and racism. There are parts at the beginning where there was a lot of information about the world and the magic and mythology, which threw the pacing off for me, but it doesn’t take away from the exceptional development and well-crafted world and characters.

Lan and Zen are both such interesting protagonists, and I like that we have dual perspectives. It definitely gives you the chance to see both of their points of view. And their slow-building love story is fantastic! You can feel the chemistry between Lan and Zen from their first meeting, and that chemistry only increases as the story progresses. Their stories are compelling and heartbreaking, and I didn’t always agree with their decisions, but I’m so curious to find out what happens next!!!

I thought this was an entertaining start to the series. There are a lot of twists and turns, secrets and lies, betrayal, and a few surprising revelations. I’m eager to read the next book in the series, as there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and I can’t wait to learn more about the characters and their journeys.

Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This book is strong in many aspects: the worldbuilding, magic system, and history are well-established, lushly written, and an excellent incorporation of dynastic Chinese history. The story moves through multiple interesting, varied settings: a teahouse, forests, schools of magic, and villages. The central and side conflicts are clearly depicted with character motivations on each side described in detail. I especially enjoyed the epithets at the beginning of each chapter, which added to the immersive worldbuilding. The pacing is fine; it builds toward an explosive climax that gives greater insight into the book's title. I also liked the discussions of power: its cost, uses, and implications. The ending does well in setting up for the sequel, which I am eagerly anticipating.

Where this book falls slightly flat for me is in the characterization. The two main characters at times do not seem all that distinct from each other. The story being told from primarily both their viewpoints makes this even more difficult, although the key differences between them were more clearly established by the end. Since the majority of the book focuses on these two, some of the other side characters and relationships didn't seem fully developed, although I am sure that we will see more of them in the second book. Additionally, some of the action scenes were written in a choppy way that could make it difficult to follow what exactly was happening, although this did improve as the book went on.

With all that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is an exciting start to a new book series. The story has dark and light moments, with some genuinely funny interactions and quips. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fantasy, who is looking for an immersive read, and who enjoys moments in which characters step into their rage and embrace their destructive potential.

Happy Friday y’all and happy beginning of the holiday season, if you celebrate! My family does a very commercialized version of the holidays, which I’m always a big fan of, so tonight is going to be all about wrapping presents for me- and reading of course, which ties in nicely with this post! Today’s my stop on the Song of Silver, Flame like Night tour with Turn the Page tours! This book comes out on January 3 from Delacorte Press, so make sure you add it to your lists is if isn’t already on there! Turn the Page tours and the publisher are also sponsoring a giveaway for one of two finished copies of the book, so make sure you go and enter today!
Song of Silver, Flame like Night 3.5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak’gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and her days scavenging for what she can find of the past. Anything to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died.
The mark is mysterious—an untranslatable Hin character—and no one but Lan can see it. Until the night a boy appears at her teahouse and saves her life.
Zen is a practitioner—one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic was rumored to have been drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Now it must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.
When Zen comes across Lan, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He’s never seen anything like it—but he knows that if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.
Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within—secrets they must hide from others, and secrets that they themselves have yet to discover. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.
Now the battle for the Last Kingdom begins.
Man, I have so many thoughts about this book! Like, there were so many good things about Song of Silver, Flame like Night, but there were also things that made it so hard for me to keep reading- but those are all probably personal preference, so I really don’t think those would outweigh the goods for other people, which is why I’m going to tell y’all about all the things! So let’s get started!
The goods:
I really liked the character stories and the general premise of the book- the Hins being taken over by the Elantians and a hidden school of Hin practitioners rebelling and practicing their old magic even though it’s outlawed were all great elements that I loved. I also really liked the idea of the clans and the four demon gods- I loved that the book itself was based on Chinese mythology! It really had so many elements of everything I could have wanted in a book!
The bad:
I could not get behind the pacing in this book. There were so many times where I was questioning the point of drawing something out or not explaining thins and the forced romance between Lan and Zen- why! It really didn’t feel like they needed to love each other or for them to get physical for us to understand the depth of what happened later in the book. I know that might be controversial option, but I fully stand by it.
All in all though, besides the pacing, and the fact that I was not a fan of the romance, I enjoyed the book! I wouldn’t reread it, but I am really glad I read it! And I’m very excited to see where things go in book two, so take that as an endorsement as well! Be sure to pre-order Song of Silver, Flame like Night today!

Author Amélie Wen Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is a beautifully written new fantasy novel with sweeping descriptions that draws heavily on ancient Chinese culture and mythology for its inspiration. Woven among the tale of Lan, a young woman carrying a secret inside her that she must unravel left to her by mother, is the beginnings of romance that will leave the reader wanting more in possible future sequels.

Overall, I liked this book. I will admit it is a slow read and not necessarily an easy one. There is a lot of world building and the descriptions often slows down the plot. The book picks up steam towards the end and it’s almost a race to the finish that made me wish the action had started sooner. Yet, it is a rewarding read as you go on this journey with Lan to discover the truth of her past and make sense of what lies in her future.

The main characters are extremely well written, although none of them truly stood out to me. The 3rd person narration is split between Lan and her love interest Zen. I liked Lan, and her story drives the plot, but I found myself hoping that in future installments we get more from Zen. I think there is the potential for a lot of character development and I hope the author will continue to bring these characters to life on the page.

I gave this book a 4 out 5 as it is a beautiful read. There is virtually no spice, just a sweet romance, so it is suitable for all YA readers.

Wow, this book is breathtaking!
Now I haven’t finished yet (I’m halfway done) because I unfortunately had exams and a lot of doctor appointments but I can already tell this is going to be an all time favorite.

The author created the kind of world I would definitely would want to visit despite probably being killed if I was being hunted like Lan and Zen. I’m f I could I would take the first plane out and discover the land and country because it sounds entirely magical, except the you know probably getting killed part!

Every time the is a scene between Lan and Zen I’m blushing like I’m still in 6th grade and I highlight their scenes way to much. I absolutely love them together and also on their own. They’re both strong and smart characters.
I can tell you this if Zen excited in real life I would melt on the spot if I met him.

Amelie wen Zhao created a world and story you can get truly lost in and cannot put down and want to continue reading despite having exams (whoupsie).

"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."

Song of Silver has been an absolute whirlwind to read. Amelie Wen Zhao is a master of words, stringing them so lyrically in a way that will make you feel so much love right before so much heartbreak. Lan is a witty and sharp girl who I fell in love with immediately. On the flip side, Zen is composed, strictly following the rules in shit hits the fan. They are two sides of the same coin which make watching their story unfold so much more fulfilling.

I think one of my favorite parts of the book where the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Most seem to be taken from the books that guide the Way of practitioning within the story, adding to the dimensions of storytelling that Wen Zhao weaves. They foreshadow their respective chapters, and provide insight to the reader on the culture of the Way. They're also just really beautifully written quotes to live by.

Song kept me on my toes the entire way through; I realized exactly what was happening only a split second before it was explained each time (and I love it)! The only frustrating part is that the villain just won't die and it's so annoying.

Song of Silver,Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao is an elegantly written work of fantasy interspersed with the tragedy relatable to our real world.
What Worked for me
-The Character chemistry and and writing style flowed together beautifully to create an immersive and intriguing world for the reader to explore.
-The impact of colonialism on the world our main character is living in is both believable and heart breaking.
-I adore the magic of this world and how the reader gets to learn about it alongside the main character.
What didn't work as well for me
- The pacing for the exposition was a bit wonky for the first fourth of the book.
- I definitely need a second book which while it is excellent to want more of the writing I'm spoiled for stories that can stand alone within a series by author authors.
Who I would recommend the book for
Song of Silver, Flame Like night is a great read for fans of books such as the Poppy war or Babel.

Loved everything about this book. An adventurous story filled with mythology and strong, relatable characters. I really enjoyed the system of magic. The author painted a beautiful world that you Feel compelled to exist inside permanently. The pacing was even and the writing was lyrical.