I was so grateful to have received an ARC of this book; I was so excited about this one! Also, the cover is absolutely STUNNING. Overall, I gave this book three stars, but I don't think it was a "bad book". I think there was some content that I don't typically enjoy (just little things like one or two comments about body shaming/thinness, things like that- again, this is just something I don't enjoy seeing in books, but does not mean I think the book was bad!). The plot was really interesting and definitely thickened near the end of the book; the concept was really unique and well-done, but I just don't think this book was entirely for me. There were some points of the plot that moved more quickly than others and could have been fleshed out a bit more, but overall I had an enjoyable time reading this book. The plot twists in this book were great- I truly didn't see them coming! I think the plot will really be built upon in the sequel(s) and will give the author a lot of great possibilities to build upon. Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved that this book is influenced by Chinese mythology, the world is beautifully described. Lan and Zen's relationship is interesting; her a headstrong song girl, him a reserved magic practitioner, each with their own secrets waiting to be "unleashed". Their personalities may clash at times but they continue to care and put trust in one another. As much as I loved learning about the mythology, there was a LOT of history that is covered. At times, it felt like it slowed the effect of a scene with action or suspense.

All in all, I really liked this story and will probably read again, especially in anticipation of the next book.

Song of Silver, Flake Like Night is fantasy novel by Amélie Wen Zhao. It centers around a young woman who has to navigate her life after a foreign entity conquers her homeland. With her family gone, Lan, our main protagonist, must learn how to survive when she learns more and more about the circumstances around her mothers death.

This book is great for people who enjoy fantasy books with world building and magical systems. Amélie mentions in an excerpt before the book that the plot honors the stories and legends told to her as a child by her grandmother. This comes off really well in the book.

SoS, FLN tackles the concept of colonialism really well and the way an entire culture and people can just be replaced and taken over. I found the magic system intriguing and it was incorporated into the plot really well. Our two main leads, Lan and Zen, were fun to read about and you can see their clear character development as you progress through the book.

I don't understand who this book is meant for. When I got this eARC, it was sent to me by Random House Children. However, there are themes in this book that would suggest its adult. While at the same time the banter between characters at times felt middle grade. Overall, it felt like it's meant to be young adult. Through these inconsistencies of who the audience of this book is meant to be, we loose momentum when it comes to the overall book and character development.

I felt like the beginning of the book and the world building could have been flushed out more. It would have made the middle of the book less confusing. The ending was extremely well done and makes me intrigued to see what happens in book 2. However, the lack of development in certain areas throughout the books leads plot choices at the end to not hold as much weight as they might of if the plot was flushed out more.

Overall, Song of Silver, Flake Like Night is an overall compelling fantasy book. However, slight bumps in the road make it so that you can't fully immerse yourself in the story like you would want to. I would still recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy books, especially people trying to get into the fantasy genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for giving me an eARC of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night!

3.75 stars


This is an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. Lan and Zen are two of the most tragic characters I’ve read in a long time. This book was deeply engrossing and it did take me a while to read but the lore was so deep I wanted to make sure I really understood all of it before moving on. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment despite this novel not even being out yet!!

If you loved Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, the Poppy War, or Six Crimson Cranes, consider picking up this incredible and lyrical fantasy that follows a girl into a world of magic and danger.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book for early review!

With a luxurious writing style and intricate magic system, Amelie Wen Zhao carefully transports you into the world of Lan, a songgirl with a devastating past and future, learning the ways of a world previously only known to her in folktales and superstition. Meeting the first practitioner of magic ended in her mother's death and the invisible seal on her wrist. Meeting the second practitioner, Zen, leads to bloodshed, but this mysterious figure is able to see the seal on her wrist and sense the magic within her.

Together, these two magic users will set off on a journey to escape from evil Elantian soldiers and magicians, making for the Hin sanctuary of a practitioner school, all while the mystery of Lan's seal unravels around them. The Winter Magician who killed her mother tracks them ceaselessly, and it is up to Lan and Zen to make it out alive.

I greatly enjoyed this fantasy story filled with Chinese myth and legend. I am excited to see how the series will continue and I definitely recommend it for fans of political drama, mythology, and slow-burn romance.

I don't know where to begin: Lan and Zen, you have my heart!

This book made me realize why I love fantasy all over again. The world building was easy to follow and the descriptions were very detailed and vivid to the point I felt like I was watching a Chinese drama in my head from start to finish. The magic system was quite unique: Hin practitioners and Elatian magic with metal. Love the plot twists and character development 80% toward the book until the end.

Lan was a refreshing and bright girl who I really enjoy reading her POV. She was snarky and witty with comments here and there-made me enjoy the book even more!
Zen- He was the opposite from Lan, but in a cute way. Always smart, practical, and follows the Way- but when it comes to Lan, he opens up little by little and is very protective of her. Even towards the end of the book.(He gives me Sasuke vibes for those who watched Naruto series)

Demon gods, colonialism, secret-school and society jam packed into one book- it was a fun ride and great execution.

If you like The Poppy War series, but in YA version, this book is just for you. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
I gave this book 5/5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children publisher for this Arc!

Plot: 9/10
This book is fairly fast-paced, which I appreciated. The plot gets started within the first few chapters, and it moves pretty steadily for the rest of the book. There are some parts that are predictable for the genre and age group, but there were also some good plot twists. Lan's mother's seal in particular went in an unexpected direction for me; I was anticipating something different being hidden in it. There were a couple moments here and there that dragged a little, but for the most part, there was always something happening.

The worldbuilding is very interesting. There's a lot of symbolism to be found in that practitioners utilize the natural energy of qi while Elantian magicians use refined metals, and it is explained well. The fact that there's a lot of historical erasure and revisionism going on allows for Lan to be Hin and familiar with mundane elements of the Last Kingdom while still being fairly clueless about practitioning, allowing the reader to learn alongside her.

This book reminded me very strongly of The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, in a good way. If someone were averse to the extreme content of The Poppy War, this would be a great alternative since it deals with similar moral dilemmas and worldbuilding styles.

Characters: 8/10
Lan and Zen were pretty typical for YA protagonists. They were well-developed and their characterization was consistent, they just had a lot of traits that you would expect to see. As such, I don't think I was as invested in them as I could have been. While the plot provided some good twists, their character arcs were predictable for me. I like them both, especially Lan, as people, but I want some more complexity in their characters. I think the second book will provide that, especially for Zen, for reasons that are definitely spoilers.

One thing that definitely intrigues me is that the entire book is in Lan and Zen's POV—except for one chapter at the very end. That chapter is from the perspective of Lishabeth, a member of the Elantian army. It isn't even the epilogue, which is Zen. It makes me wonder if maybe she will become a staple point of view in the next book, which would be very cool.

Of the side characters, my favorite was definitely Dilaya. I just really like characters that are difficult and clash with the main character in certain situations but know how to put aside differences when shit hits the fan. I really hope she and Lan's relationship develops as the story continues.

Writing Style : 7/10
I'd say the writing is also standard for YA. Nothing about it particularly stood out to me, but nothing was bad about it either. I liked that it was split perspective since Lan and Zen work very well as deuteragonists since they share similar pasts. Getting to see the way they react to certain situations, especially considering how alike they are, was very interesting.

The pacing was pretty good; other than a few moments of drag it stayed steady for the most part.

Overall: 8/10
I enjoyed this book. I think the plot is particularly strong, and it deals with a lot of issues that are intriguing to me. The main characters are a little predictable, but I want to see how they'll develop, and there are some really strong side characters. The worldbuilding is super interesting, and there are certain things, like Hin history and Elantian magic, that I want to know more about. The writing is pretty standard, but there's nothing that irked me. Overall, a very solid book that I would definitely recommend to fans of The Poppy War.

4.5 rounded up
Thrilled to have had the chance yo read this. Really looking forward to more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press for letting me read this early in exchange for an HONEST review.

I am in love with this book. This story reminded me why I love fantasy so much as a genre because you’re brought into this world that has been taken over by this force and yet there’s still magic and people who practice the old ways and it has love and friendship and I couldn’t put it down and I’m so incredibly excited for the sequel.

I appreciate the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, the story didn't quite work for me. The first 25% of it was great. I loved Lan and her sense of humor right away. It moved at a quick pace so I sped through it. However, at about the 40% mark things slowed down a lot and it lost me and I never found my way back.

The world building was a big challenge for me. There was a lot of history referenced, as well as a confusing magic system, and characters who had minimal descriptions. It all felt like I couldn't get to know any aspect of the story really well. While I was invested in learning about the world, it was a bit too complex for me to grasp it enough to feel the power of the story. I might reread this another time, as maybe it was just me and I didn't understand it properly.

4.5 stars. This book somewhere between Elizabeth Lim and R. F. Kuang’s work. It’s very rich in Chinese folklore and borrows it for the fantasy world building, yet very profound in the analysis of colonialism. Song of Silver, Flame like Night is like a Chinese drama but less dramatic and not overwhelming with the romance. It’s definitely an underlying plot with a slow burn. The main focus was the characters’ individual journeys.

The first and last 25% were incredibly engaging but the middle dragged a bit. Song is an incredibly strong first book in a series. I knew from the time I started I wanted all 3 books immediately so I could continue following these characters. Some books suffer from having the same voice for all POVs or restating the same perspectives despite POV shifts. Song did not suffer this at all. I couldn’t wait for the next POV shift because I couldn’t guess the inner workings of the other MCs. Lan and Zen are opposites so it was fascinating and compelling to read from both of their POVs. Their dynamic kept shifting as their characters grew. A lot of ground was covered in these 500 pages. I had some theories in the start but it was so artfully done that I was distracted by other plot points the time everything was revealed. The villain simultaneously made me sick and see red. Zhao did a fantastic job and conveying all the rage, love and sorrow the MCs felt.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. Also, a huge thanks and congratulations to author Amélie Wen Zhao for writing this amazing book! I hope that many people read and appreciate this work!

I have. So. Many. Thoughts.

Fantasy book Song of Silver, Flame like Night draws inspiration from traditional Chinese culture, beliefs, and history to create a compelling first novel in the Last Kingdom series. Set against the aftermath of Western (Elantian) invasion, the story follows Lan, an orphaned girl who works in a teahouse where she performs for the soldiers that terrorize her country. Lan bears a mark on her wrist, left by her late mother whose last moments the girl must decipher. The story picks up when a covert magician named Zen encounters Lan, kickstarting a chain of events.

This story includes magic, ghosts, demon gods, martial arts, and romance that is not the sole focus of the plot. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves you elated, terrified, and everything in between. Zhao crafts an immersive world and compelling characters without info dumping, and her prose is beautiful (I literally stopped reading to say “wow, that’s a nice metaphor”).

First off, I want to talk about the magic system. Last Kingdom magicians channel qí, and their magic system draws heavy inspiration from Taoism. Meanwhile, the Elantian invaders possess their own brand of magic centered around metals. The premise is cool, and I am hoping that the next books expand on this system because I am quite interested.

Next: the characters. Zhao peels each character like an onion, and you learn more about them as the story progresses. You love them, you hate them, and you understand them. They possess both virtues and flaws, and even non-pov characters feel fleshed out. Lan is witty and deals the best insults!

Third: plot. This story is fast-paced, and the stakes build throughout. Zhao foreshadows without providing too much information. There are oh so many plot twists, most of which feel earned and surprising—only once did something feel too out of left field for me, and a later installment may resolve that. Information regarding characters, motivations, setting, and history reveals itself in pieces, and the reader pieces together the clues just as Zhao reveals the truth.

Song explores legacy, power, corruption, morality and when do the ends justify the cost. It is serious, but interspersed with humor. I enjoyed reading this book very much, and I cannot wait to see where the next installment goes.

"Grief is for the living. The dead feel nothing."

Where do I begin with this epic novel? Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the adventure inside is as well.

We follow Lan who is an orphaned songgirl who is searching for the answers to the strange seal that is scarred into her wrist. As we are taken on her search, we meet Zen who is also on a journey of his own and the path they forge throughout this book. Around the middle of the book, we also are introduced to a bigger cast of characters as Lan and Zen try to unravel the mystery of their past.

This book is a slow burn in the beginning. The plot is moving but there is a lot of traveling in the first half of the book and I'm not always a huge fan of travel tropes. This book does rapidly pick up pace and I found myself losing all track of time while reading the second half. I enjoyed the complex plot and the epic mythology woven into this book. I only had two small complaints: the romance and the ending. The romance is only a faint whisper in this book and I was frustrated with the last 10% of the novel. Nothing went the way I had hoped and I really need answers from the sequel.

Overall I would recommend to anyone looking for epic fantasy, Chinese mythology, found family, demon gods and war sagas. This book would be great for anyone who has enjoyed: Mulan, Pokemon and Kung Fu Panda, as there are unique elements from all of these woven into parts of the story.

4 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for this ARC.

“Peace be upon our souls and may we find the path home.”

Thank you Amélie Wen Zhao, Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date for “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is 1/3/23.

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. 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. 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 destinies remain unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both have the power to destroy the world.

“Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” is a YA fantasy book that is a retelling of Chinese folklore and mythology. This book is beautifully written. This book features dual POVs and and an action packed story! There is usually a lot of info dumping in the first book of a new fantasy series due to world building, but I didn’t notice it as much since the pacing was relatively fast in the first half of the book. I will say that some of the themes that are discussed might be a little mature for the younger part of the YA age group, so keep that in mind for younger readers that are on the cusp of Middle Grade and YA books. I gave “Song of Silver, Flame Like Night” 4 ⭐️’s.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Delacourte Press , and Amélie Wen Zhao for the opportunity to review Song of Silver, Flame Like Night.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release date: 1/3/23

SOSFLN is an epic fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology/folklore - following Lan, a young woman in a colonized kingdom, and Zen, a magic practitioner - magic that was believed to be wiped out by the Elantians along with the Last Kingdom. Together, they must uncover answers to their own questions of their pasts, and find a way to liberate their people.

After being a massive fan of Zhao’s work through her Blood Heir trilogy, I was so excited to read her latest work. I completely fell in love with SOSFLN from the first page. This is a fantasy that has everything you could hope for: unique world building, rich lore, an evolving magic system, complex character arcs, and a phenomenal plot.

I was blown away by the details in this book that make it feel so complete. From the history guide in the beginning, to the generational consequences played out throughout the novel. Zhao makes this new world’s history digestible and enjoyable without it being overwhelming, which can be hard to do in a high fantasy novel. I’m so in love with this world, the characters, and the magic system. I cannot wait to see where this series goes from here.

Zhao’s writing has such an energy to it - you feel the world around you so richly that the reading experience becomes entirely immersive. If love is in the details, this book is a tome of love. You can feel the author’s soul in her writing as she builds out the lore and legacy of this universe character by character, story by story, legend by legend.

Also - I am so whipped for Zen and Lan, they are my OTP ❤️

I would recommend this book for fans of high fantasy, especially those seeking something different and special from the traditional European monarchy that many fantasy stories adopt. I am so excited for the next book to come out, and can’t wait to see what Zhao does in the future with her work!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟


Amélie Wen Zhao videos about this book featuring Mo Dao Zu Shi made me want to start reading it asap and I was not disappointed!

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is an amazing start to a fantasy series!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, our main characters Lan and Zen were both well written interesting characters and I loved the dynamic between them.

The explanation of the qi based magic system, the different seals and their usage was easy to understand, It was woven into the story and the world it's set in flawlessly.
Though I'm hoping we get more explanation of the opposing metal based magic in the next book.

If you love Chinese Xianxia fantasy stories then I think this is the perfect book for you!

I will definitely be picking up the sequel as well as more of Zhao's books ✨

Thank you to Delacorte Press & NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The info dumping during the first half of this book killed the mood for me. There was so much history thrown at you, and tons of paragraphs explaining the world, the magic, and the current political climate. It was just too much. It distracted from the characters for me, and I couldn't bring myself to sort through all the information. To be honest, I spent a lot of my time skimming.

However, this story is unique. It explores some cool ideas with differing magic systems that war against each other. The second half of the book has quite a bit of action too. I can definitely see how lots of people would enjoy this book and spend the time learning about the world and magic. But unfortunately, it didn't click with me.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Harper Voyager and NetGalley, for the ARC.

Trigger/Content Warnings: violence, death, kidnapping, kisses

Amélie Wen Zhao crafts prose like poetry, with unforgettable characters and a rich storyline that will have you begging for more. This novel is cleverly crafted and will have you both weeping and jumping for joy within the same page.

Long ago, practitioning had been taught to those born with the ability to control qí. After the fall of the Ninety-Nine Clans, its last remaining members are dispersed and forced to assimilate into the Hin identity. When the Elantians invade, the art of practitioning is considered lost.

As a songgirl in Madam Meng's Teahouse, Lan meets trouble when an Elantian guard requests her in the Peach Blossom Room, a place where noblemen pay not for the room, but the girl. Everything she knows tips into chaos when the Winter Magician challenges her world as she knows it, and a supposed Hin courtdog opens her eyes to an entirely new realm of possibilities.

As a student in one of the hidden schools of practitioning, Zen considers himself a devout disciple. After being forced to improvise an escape, he finds himself on the run from Elantian soldiers as he tries to outrun his past. With a wealth of secrets at his back, Zen knows only what's ahead.

As his and Lan's paths intertwine inexplicably, he soon learns that there's more to the songgirl than first meets the eye. Together, they learn the costs of true power, and whether it will ultimately bring them closer, or tear them apart.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

My word was this fantastic! I’ve read a lot of great Asian-folklore fantasy this year and this one is right up there - gives me hope that 2023 will start with such a fantastic book.

This story has it all - beautiful world building, imaginative and rich lore, imperfect and relatable characters….I truly enjoyed everything about it and am DYING for the sequel.

Lan, Zen, and the whole cast of supporting characters are just brilliant - they feel real with their faults but also otherworldly with their power; both controlled by pasts they’re so desperately trying to escape, they take us on a journey that feels mystical but relatable at the same time.

The world and history and lore are rich and beautiful and captivating, giving us enough to feel enveloped but keeping us asking for more. I can see and feel Skies End and the rest of the landscape like a dream.

And the Elantians…we all know colonization was bad right? These characters just put that on full display and it’s painful to know that despite its magical properties, this fantasy novel isn’t far from reality in that respect.

This book gave me Poppy War vibes but wasn’t quite as heavy, and I loved it. I highly recommend it for any reader, especially one that loves fantasy.

It was okay. I felt that it was trying to accomplish several fantasy tropes at once without giving enough time to each. IE: quest theme, magic school training, etc. That said the story was compelling enough to push me forward. I would tentatively recommend this to those who enjoy epic fantasy.