Oh my goodness, after that ending, please tell me there is another book coming! This was such a good Mulan retelling. It had the basic elements of the Mulan story— pretending to be a boy and joining the war, “Shang” aka Sky, and a dragon. However, I think it also stood on its own. I loved the lore and power behind the jade and how it links to the dragon. In Mulan, she fought for her family, but in this one she is driven by ambition and to essentially fight the patriarchy. I was not expecting the twist of Lei but okay. We all love a little morally grey. Lol I was not even halfway through and I already knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me, I just could not put it down.

Thank you again @BerkleyPub and @AceBooksPub for the free book

Thank you to Berkley Pub @BerkleyPub and Netgalley @Netgalley for an e-arc copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Unofficial Synopsis:
The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the draft. He plans to sell Meilin for her dowry, but when Meilin learns that her betrothed is violent, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the army in her dad’s place.

In the army, Meilin finds friendship and recognition. As she grows close with Sky she learns she must determine who to trust.

Review:
Ah Mulan. So many childhood memories are tied to this movie, so when I heard there was going to be a retelling, I was excited beyond belief.

Meilin was a wonderful character and I appreciated why she ran off to join the army. She needed to escape the situation that she was in and being forced into and saw it as her only option. As with any fantasy there was a lot of world building in the beginning, and I felt bogged down with new information and the pacing was slow. This is usually why I shy away from this genre; it is just almost too much for me to handle. But I persevered because, well Mulan and I felt that I was rewarded. I loved that there seemed to be scenes straight from the movies I knew as well as characters in the book. Not everything was the same, but enough to give me hints of familiarity and comfort. I enjoyed the inclusion of the cardinal spirits and their seals along with magic. And who doesn’t like dragons?

I think that this book is going to appeal to a wide audience and become this summer’s must read. Plus, I already ordered a gorgeous edition (not pictured) and am excited for it to come!

Make sure to grab a copy of this one, you won’t want to miss it.

4.5 ⭐️

“they would never let a woman get away with something like this.
they would never let a woman hold on to power."

this book WAS BATSHIT CRAZY. i genuinly didn’t even know what i was going into as i started this - i expected a general mulan-based plot, girlboss energy, comedic relief, cute romcom scenes, and happily ever after.

NOT ONE BIT OF THAT WAS RIGHT.
😭😭😭

this book has dark magic, mythological aspects, political rivarly, comradery, betrayal (to the highest degree), and just 0.0001% fluff. UGH I LOVED IT SM I CAN’T EVEN EXPLAIN AAAAAAAHHHH (i’m still reeling from that last chapter and i hate this sm BC I WANT THE NEXT BOOK IN MY HANDS RN except book 1 hasnt even officially released yet 🪦🪦)


🗡️₊⊹ ꒱ hai meilin
“ma, i don't want to just survive. i want to be the best. i want others to respect me to fear me. to know my name and know it with awe.”
HAI MEILIN, THE WORLD FEARS YOU. I BOW DOWN TO YOU OMFG U QUEEN-
i actually have no words for this lady because SHE. SHE IS THE WOMAN. who needs a man when hai meilin exists??? ugh she’s literally what i want to be (if i wasnt lazy and procrastinating every damn task)
genuinly though, i admire her character so so much. she wants to prove her worth, wants to make people bow to her. I WILL. and the things she goes through…. MEN 🍵🍵👎👎👎 ugh i hated how most of the men depict women… it’s so disgusting and just sad.

🗝₊⊹ ꒱ prince liu sky
SKY THEY COULD NEVER MAKE ME HATE YOU 😔😔😔 && the way we were ROBBED of so much sky/meilin content… he’s literally the only good male organism in this book why did we get sky-deprived 😫💔 i better get a novella or much more of them in book 2 as compensation. in fact, there wasn’t nearly enough sky content…

♟️₊⊹ ꒱ cao ming lei
WHY DOES HE EXIST!??!? i’m actually so conflicted with this character because i truly do hate him with such passion but why did he kinda glow up a bit towards the end..?? why did we get sm lei/meilin content instead like huh?!?! i DID NOT expect meilin having two guys at her feet 😪

++ dear tao and sparrow, i hope you both never find peace. i hope you both never find the good spot in your pillow and always stub your toes into a wall. i suspected them being traitors when they left after finding out she had dark magic BUT DAMN THAT BETRAYL ON LITERALLY THE SECOND-TO-LAST PAGE- i couldn’t even breath 😭😭


⛓️₊⊹ ꒱ final thoughts
- i LOVED the quotes in the beginning of each chapter, they were each so beautiful ++ meaningful ❤️‍🩹
“and if i ever write ‘tonight the moonlight is strong," i am trying to say that i miss you.” 🩶🌟
- mwah mwah mwah UGH THIS WAS SO FREAKIN GOODDDDD ugh i wanna re-read this book already
- the writing in this book was incredible. i was hooked from the first page and i could NOT put this book down to save my life!! i was so invested, especially in part 3.


thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc! 💌

Sorry, this one is crap. Imagine a Mulan who hates her family, falls in love with a prince, and is unable to bond with her fellow soldiers or do much fighting at all -not much of a Mulan in my view, but that's what we get in The Night Ends with Fire. Our Mulan figure needs the help of her prince to manage even the basic training, only practicing alone for a few weeks before her begins training her, goes to the prince for all of her problems, and tells him her secret before their first battle. I gave up after the second time she's held captive and the second prince falls in love with her.

if you’re in the mood for an epic, sweeping fantasy with a badass female warrior protagonist inspired by mulan and interwoven with chinese folklore and mythology — ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR TBR.

as a mulan retelling, there’s a lot of overlap with one of our most beloved childhood films, as our main character tries to prove herself amidst the ranks of male soldiers (cosplaying as a man, of course, because: “they would never let a woman get away with something like this. they would never let a woman hold on to power.”) ultimately, this is a sweeping tale of what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated world, what it means to want as a woman, and the fine line between want and greed.

this book tells the story of meilin — daughter to a cruel, addict father, trying to find a way out of an arranged marriage with an equally cruel male. her best bet? claiming the identity of a man and running off to enlist in the war in an attempt to grasp a slice of freedom and power for herself, aided by her late mother’s necklace — a necklace that brings forth latent magic, allowing meilin to traverse the spirit world and connect with someone — or something — very powerful.

though this slowed down a little in the middle, the story itself was thrilling in every way for me, as a fantasy girlie, as a mulan girlie, and as a 'how hard can it be? boys do it' girlie. truly, this is a delicious fantasy with enough hints of romance scattered throughout to keep you in a constant state of anticipating the next longing glance, too-long stare, and casual brush of the hands.

if you’re looking for a read with a badass female FMC, a bit of a love triangle, and a slow burn warm enough to keep you blushing at the smallest gesture, pick this up when it releases on july 2, and then strap in for a long wait for the sequel.

Full review has been posted on my Instagram page.

Thank you Netgalley and Ace for my digital arc!

4.5⭐

This Mulan-inspired fantasy is one that you need to keep an eye out for! It was easy to read and follow the magical world system of dragons and the spiritual realm. I loved the characters, the premise, and the ending?! I was heartbroken with the ending, BUT @acepub announced that this will be a duology, and the second book is in the works! 🙌🏼

♡

read if you enjoy:
- action-packed story, war, gory scenes
- first-person pov
- multi-layered family dynamics, duty, and linage
- dragons, spiritual realm, magic
- female rage
- love interest or maybe interests? you'll have to read it yourself to find out 🤭
- the ending?! This bumped up my four-star rating to a four-and-a-half after all that. I'm looking forward to the second book! 🔥

*please look up CW, if needed.

This book hit HARD. It was powerful and beautifully written. I can't wait for more people to read this and to own this beautiful book!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, K.X. Song for allowing me to read an eARC of this book! *all thoughts/opinions are my own*

I always thought, “How cool would it be to find a book that I believe has the ability to become the next BIG BOOKTOK sensation?” And honestly, I think I found it!!!

I absolutely am 100% obsessed with this book. I finished it and wanted to flip back to the beginning immediately. 😍

First, we have a Mulan Retelling which is why I initially asked for this ARC so we have hidden identity, found family, adventure, a sus spirit dragon, a quest to stop a war…a love triangle (plz, I beg, don’t make me choose!!!) and a POWERFUL story about a woman daring to make her mark in a male dominated society and be free. 😭 It was perfect. And while there are a lot of similarities in these pages to the original Mulan story that I loved as a kid, there was so much that makes this book its own.

The ending about took me out 👏 K.X. Song…I need this story to continue!

Two of my favorite passages:

“Do you think they’ll let you live,” she’s asked me on our last night together. “They would never let a woman get away with something like this.”
“Something like what?”
“They would never let a woman hold onto power.”
…………….
A woman who could use a blade endangered the social order.
A woman who could think for herself jeopardized the morality of the law.
A woman who could take power away from those who held it threatened the welfare of the state.

🤯 all the female rage and I am here for it!!!

The Night Ends with Fire is a Mulan-esque story that follows Meilin from taking her father’s place in the military draft he refused, through a face paced climax that sped into an unexpected ending. This is a wonderfully written story with a main character that is fantastically well developed. The landscape is rich in detail, and the plot full of twists and turns that keep one coming back for more. The climax is brilliant and speeds toward an unexpected but emotionally fraught ending that will leave one hoping for a continuation of the story. All in all a great read that will leave one hoping for more.

Thus, my heart is searching…searching for an end to the imprisonment of Hai Meilin. After everything … that is what befalls a woman with ambition. Part of me feels this story is the true “Mulan” story as it would have happened. This retelling of sorts has a darker side mixed in with the romances, the victories, the false comradery, the woman who deigned to have more in life and became a man to get it. She alone saved a Kingdom from losing a war and yet it was she who ultimately is made lesser for it. My heart honestly hurts after this one. I hope in the next the three kingdoms is introduced to a Merlin who is out to take power from the same men who betrayed and vilified her. Skies I was not prepared for that ending.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC! I was giving a copy for an honest review and all thoughts are my own.

I absolutely and highly recommend this novel if you are a fan of the Mulan story and want a more accurate portrayal of what her journey must have truly been like. I was rooting for her the whole time knowing in the back of my mind this wasn’t going to end well for her, but i am hopeless when it comes to my desire for happy endings…this was not that kind of ending.
We follow Meilin through some very tough decisions and her inner struggle to balance her need to feed her ambition and change her fate with an unwavering commitment to securing victory for a kingdom that doesn’t deserve it, BUT a kingdom where the people she loves, lives. Impossible decisions haunt her every move, and while I was irritated with her inability to see Lei’s motives and clear deceptions, I also recognize her weakness was in strategy. I hope in the ext installment of this series the author gives Merlin a bit more “smarts” in this area. Especially now that she has more worldly experience under her boots.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

NO REGRETS!!!!
5 out of 5 stars

This was such a lovely and magical Mulan retelling! I am all for women taking back their power and loved Meilin’s determination and strength as she tried to keep her head afloat in a world of men.

Trying to avoid a marriage that would cripple her, Meilin sneaks off to war and enlists as a soldier. She is scrawny and scrappy but proves her aptitude for battle and quickly surpasses peers in skills. At the same time, the Jade gifted to her from her recently deceased mother starts to haunt and tug at her mind. Soon, a new battle takes place within her and the spirit world as she reconciles her growing elemental power and the spirit who drives her forward.

There’s multiple love interests, battle scenes, strong wit, resiliency, and magical lore steeped in mythology and creativity. I really enjoyed the story telling and was hooked from the very beginning.

My only reason for not ranking this five stars was being a little confused in the middle about the jades, who was who, and not agreeing that greed was her motivating force - I think she was just like every woman trying to prove herself and fight for her worth in a man’s world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

I loved reading The Night Ends with Fire; with such lyrical prose and beautiful imagery, it was really easy to picture myself in the world of the Three Kingdoms. I haven't read such a delightful Mulan retelling in quite some time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Night Ends with Fire is a sweeping tale of magic, war, and romance. But at its heart, it is a story about women fighting for power and agency. Fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and The Poppy War will enjoy this thrilling, action-packed first installment in an epic

Song's beautiful writing reminded me of the writing in Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Beautiful narrative prose that somehow gave off a nostalgic feeling as the main character, Meilin, narrated her journey. The writing uplifted the magical atmosphere of the book and made for a steady flow that was easy to read without my mind wandering.

The world-building and magic intrigued me immensely. The book is inspired by the story of Mulan and while it definitely gave off Mulan vibes, it wasn't a mere Mulan retelling (yes there is a dragon. No he's no Mushu). It went far beyond that. It holds complex war politics, intricate magic, ancient lore and myths, and dangerous spirits and their alluring power.

Meilin was a great main character. She was stubborn and selfish, greedy, and a little naive at times. But she never stopped fighting for what she wanted, did not let anyone stop her from creating her own destiny, and always got back up after failure. She was resourceful, tenacious, and, at times, a little mad, but this combination of characteristics made her persona all the more authentic. I loved that she would go to any lengths to obtain her freedom and power. She refused to accept society's view of women and refused to fill her role as property to her father and then her husband-to-be, never getting the freedom to make her own choices.
If there is a character trait I absolutely love in my female characters, it is when they spend hours alone, secretly training to become better and then the best. Through pure stubbornness and her want to become the best, Meilin spent her nights training again and again until she could best her comrades.

Both male love interests were very intriguing to read about. I still can't decide if I ship Meilin more with Lei or Sky. Song had a way of writing their interaction in such a way that I always shipped Meilin with the man she was interacting with. I can't possibly predict who will be endgame and it makes it all the more fun.

The Night Ends with Fire comes out July 2nd. This is a solid first book and I cannot wait to read the sequel and see what happens next. This is a tale of freedom and choice, of ambition and power. There is joy, there is pain, but underneath is all there is rage. The unending rage of women who have been forced into silence and are tired of it. They are ready to break free.

5 STARS
This story is AMAZING and Meilen has quickly become one of my favorite FMC’s. I loved how powerful she is and her storyline. I could not put this book down, I NEEEEEED book 2 as soon as possible.

Thank you so much to AceBooks for sending me a copy!

Every now and then I’ll pick up a fantasy type book and every time I’m reminded that I need it more often!!! This one’s a Mulan retelling woven with mythological magic, warring territories, and distinct characters that’ll easily paint this 400+ pg story

it’s a stunningly thicc book but the story moves quick with its short chapters!! there’s ambition, war strategies, secrets, historical magic, dragons, a phoenix!!! and as a romance girlie, I was hoping for moooore romance but I guess when am I not asking for more

In the first half I had to constantly remind myself not to align it with my memory of the Disney film 1998 version. *steps on soapbox* Mulan is one of the best 90s Disney movies for me bc of the representation back when I was little girl, the quotable lines (that I use in my every day convos), and the absolute fire soundtrack!!!!! SO, I was able to recognize the similarities to the Mulan story I knew beforehand and was also able to see the Mulan retelling aspect in this read. I love how retellings can wonderfully change and add new layers to something we once knew.

I read between my physical and then on my kindle. the story has always moved quick but then in the second half I couldn’t pry myself away (also bc I wanted to be ready for Berkley’s book club discussion). I saw the percentage getting closer to the end and still couldn’t figure out how it’d end! Needless to say, I am very ready for book #2!!!! 💳💥💳💥💳💥

This is one of the Mulan retellings that will be published soon. So don't be surprised by the scene that involves a woman dresses herself as a man and joins in military training for war, <i>Hai Meilin</i>. But there was something peculiar about Meilin; she appeared to have another soul speaking to herself, which turned out to be Qinglong: Azure Dragon. Many peculiar happenings happened. The question is why. And how will Meilin reconcile with Qinglong? How about the war then?

_________________________

<b>3.5 stars</b>

It's too early for me to like this book because there are plenty of plot holes that will need to be addressed in the next book. The world building is additionally not particularly remarkable or a descriptive one but I am enjoying the romance part, which is brief but intense. Aside from that, when I read the last scene, I thought it was acceptable, if only there weren't so many things that needed to be discussed again lol. For now, I'm gonna consider the following book as a novella alternatively.

<b>ANYWAY. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for this Advance Reader Copy as an exchange for honest review.</b>

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an enchanting, exquisitely written, and intellectually stimulating historical fantasy, weaving mythology, magic and romance into a captivating retelling of the timeless Mulan narrative!! The exceptional world building, rich character development, morally complex figures, inclusion of mythical creatures and a spirit realm, pulsating tension, thrilling action sequences, poignant romance, mesmerizing magic, empowered female protagonist, harrowing wartime scenarios, gripping betrayals, unexpected plot twists, all set within an atmospheric backdrop, collectively render this narrative a truly spectacular and immersive reading experience. From the breathtakingly stunning cover to the irresistibly intriguing story, I was instantly captivated and found myself devouring the book with unbridled enthusiasm. I can confidently declare that this book has secured its place among my top favorites for the year 2024!!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

The Night Ends with Fire follows the journey of Meilin, a young woman determined to forge her own path, even if it means defying everyone she loves. Amidst the chaos of war in the Three Kingdoms, Meilin father, trapped by addiction, plans to sell her for her dowry. Faced with an arranged marriage to a violent man, Meilin disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the army in her father's place. As she rises through the ranks, forming bonds with comrades and navigating complex relationships, Meilin must confront visions of a sea dragon spirit offering power and freedom, but at a perilous cost. With the fate of the Three Kingdoms at stake, Meilin grapples with trust, torn between loyalty to Prince Sky, the enigmatic sea dragon spirit, and an enemy prince who challenges everything she thought she knew about herself and her kingdom.

When I reached the last page of this book, I couldn't contain my frustration and yelled "NO!"at my husband, as the ending left me I disbelief. However, after delving into some research, I discovered that it's jut6 the first part of a duology. While I am relieved that the story isn't over, the anticipation for the next installment is almost unbearable. Now, I find myself eagerly counting down the days until I can continue the adventure. Consider this your warning-once you're hooked, the wait for the next book becomes an agonizing test of patience!

In conclusion, this book had me completely captivated from the first page to the last. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a fantasy read Its enthralling storyline and richly developed characters deserve infinite stars of praise!! ♾️💫💫💫💫

I always appreciate a book full of female rage, and The Night Ends with Fire is overflowing with it.

You know the drill: our protagonist is set to be married, but with war on the horizon, she sets off disguised as a man to be a soldier for her homeland. Except this world is less forgiving than the Disney movie, and Hai Meilin is up against insurmountable odds... or are they?

It's a vicious, angry little 400 page book, and our protagonist is not afraid to get her hands dirty. The price of war is high, regardless of who you fight for, and I would've liked more of an examination of those themes. Some of the tropes were a bit overdone, especially when you've read as many Chinese fantasy novels and watched as many Chinese dramas as I have, but I had a great time following the emotional twists and turns. If you're looking to watch one girl's battle with her inner demons and the world at large, all at once, this one's for you.

But that ending... insane. I need the sequel to manifest at my doorstep pronto.

This book was amazing! I have longed for a Mulan retelling and this was it. It was hard to put down. The characters were complex and morally grey with rich storytelling. This will be in the top running of one of my favorite books of the year.

The Night Ends with Fire might have just become one of my favorite books. This was just amazing.
I couldn’t put it down, and when I wasn’t reading it, I was just thinking about the next time I could pick it up.

The Night Ends with Fire is a Mulan retelling, that follows Meilen. She doesn’t not want to be married to an abusive man, so she enlists in the military pretending to be a man.

So much happens throughout the story. There is so much world building and backstory and character development. The characters are very morally grey, and it is so interesting to read and be surprised by them.

I also loved the tiny hints of romance that are sprinkled through the book, and I love the bonds that form between characters.

I honestly was just amazed and in love with this whole story. Would recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy!