I’ve read and loved previous books by this author, so I was thrilled to have the chance to read The Scorpion and the Night Blossom early. I had high expectations and this book easily lived up to them. I enjoyed the overall premise of this book where mortals are fighting to survive in a world overtaken by demons. There’s so much world building and set up that went into this book; however, it never slowed the story down. It was shared and integrated in a way that still kept you engaged while reading. I thoroughly loved the chemistry and dynamic between An’yīng and Yu’chén. The relationship development between them was so well done while also adding a complexity to the story as you learn more about Yu’chén’s past. The plot felt well balanced between the action and intensity of reaching the trials, learning more about the immortals, and the trials themselves. There were also plenty of twists and surprises woven throughout the story, some of which I guess while others left me absolutely stunned. I can’t wait to see how this duology concludes.

ARC review 🦂🌺🤍The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao

Why do I not read Chinese historical dramas more?!

What an amazing book, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter and did a superb job of holding it through to the very last page, leaving me gasping.
It is packed with fabulously done enemies to lovers tension and banter, forbidden love and darkly romantic atmosphere. Paired with a kick-ass main character, a vibrant and nuanced plot-line, plenty of fast paced action mythological and folkloric elements woven throughout the story, and a romance that completely blew me away, along with a healthy dose of female rage, this book was just impossible not to love. This story was an absolute blast to read, I loved every second! The characters practically jumped off the page with their relatability, in-depth personalities and well developed character arcs.

The banter between Àn’yīin and Yù’chén was some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to witness. I caught myself giggling and talking aloud to myself a few more times then I would like to admit.
I also really appreciated how much depth we got to Àn’yīng’s character. Usually it’s either the main character is so hardened by their traumatic past, or they’re a complete softie and mostly oblivious to the things going on around them. But we got to see so much more of her character than just those black and white options in this book.
Her fierce protecter, caring and loving older sister type, and her ‘I may do an amazing job with my knives but I still love to sew and make pretty things’ side make a delicious juxtaposition.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a fast paced historical fantasy with a forbidden enemies to lovers romance, with political intrigue, Chinese mythology, and one plot twist after another, then The Scorpion And The Night Blossom is (dare I say it) a pretty much perfect book for you. If so, then make sure to mark your calendars because this book comes out very soon!
The 4th of March in the US
And
The 27th of February in the UK
Thank you so much to Amélie, HarperVoyagerUK and NetGalley for giving me the chance to experience this magical book ahead of release!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao is a first person-POV YA fantasy romance inspired by Chinese historical fantasy romance dramas. Àn’yīng was trained by her father to protect her family from beautiful demons who can kill with a single kiss. When a chance to win an immortality pill comes up, Àn’yīng goes to the land of the immortals to save her ailing mother. But things won't be easy for her and there's secrets behind every corner.

While Àn’yīng and Yù’chén’s overarching romance arc could be classified as enemies-to-lovers, it's actually more complex than that within the story. They are initially rivals and they are also enemies and allies and lovers at various points in the plot and that makes their dynamic more complex and harder to pin down to a single relationship dynamic. This is further complicated by the revelations throughout the story about who Àn’yīng and Yù’chén are as people, their heritage, and in their relationships with each other and the world at large.

One of the details I really liked was that all of the blades Àn’yīng received from her father have names and she uses those names every time the specific blade is mentioned. It's little details like that that help establish characters, as we so often personify inanimate objects but the kind of objects we personify varies from person to person. The blades are also something of an extension of her father and they are one of the few things he left her besides a jade amulet.

The worldbuilding is fairly fleshed out. We have a decent understanding of politics in the immortal kingdoms, clothes are given some descriptions to help readers visualize, and the demons are given some explanation. The setting feels very wuxia and like a historical fantasy romance C-drama. I'm not exactly sure which time period it would be most analogous to, but I definitely could get a strong feel for the world because of my reference bank and the details introduced by Zhao.

Content warning for gore

I would recommend this to fans of historical fantasy romance C-dramas and readers of fantasy romance looking for more twists

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this book ahead of it's release date. This one was a quick, fast paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the romance, the characters were likeable and the descriptions were vividly painted by the author. I can't wait to add this one to my physical shelf!

I am obsessed with the world building in this book. She does such an amazing job of weaving smaller details back into the story and the way we learn about the magic system and magical beings through the story is so well done. There is a lot going on but all the exposition feels so natural to the flow of the story, just so well done. The story itself is exciting and I really enjoyed the mysteries along the way and how that worked into the trials. The romance is one of the strongest points of the book and the back and forth as the characters become more involved and then push each other away was well done. The way both characters let the way they think they are perceived by the other stand in the way was a great tool for the slow burn of their pairing. That said this was a bit less effective overall with the characters, both main characters fluctuate a lot with how powerful they see themselves and how much they trust in their own abilities and each other. With Yù’chén and the secrets he keeps this works a little better and makes more sense. For Àn’yīng it is more problematic, at the start of the book I thought she was such a strong heroine who clearly had more to learn to strengthen her abilities but was starting with a great amount of resilience and strength. Then through out the book it starts to come across more as kind of dumb luck that she has gotten as far as she has. She's still a strong person in many ways but compared to the other competitors she suddenly seems much weaker both as a warrior but also in how she handles hardship. I am really curious about the next book and hope that Àn’yīng will step up and come back to being a more powerful and confident character.

I devoured this book from the start! This is my first Chinese Mythology book and I have to say I really enjoyed it! The mythology and otherworldly creatures were awe-inspiring and interesting to read.

Àn’yīng, the main character was easy to root for. She had a compassionate heart and was a fighter. For the most part I enjoyed her character; but I won’t lie there were a couple of times I wanted to just shake her lol especially in regards to “Yù’chén. Now Yù’chén, I absolutely loved everything about it! I felt for him and wished we got his POV but there was enough revealed through his words and actions that had my heart aching for him. I don’t want to give way anything but I’m totally rooting for him hands down!!

The story was fast-paced completed with deadly trials, evil demons, magic, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers, touch her and xx vibes, dagger to the thrxxt, tension, angst, pining, prejudice, forced proximity, and more!

I was thoroughly surprised by this book. I hadn't read this author before, but I did look up reviews before requesting this book. I'm so glad I did, because I honestly got hooked immediately. I really enjoyed the world building and the intrigue the author created. Then the characters were just enticing enough to keep me around until their story grabbed me by the throat. I didn't expect to enjoy the relationship created as much as I did. I also loved all of the characters. They were the reason I kept reading. Some may not enjoy the quick affection created, but sometimes it just hits you as it did with this read. I cannot wait to read the sequel! I'll be looking to read more from this author.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom’s dedication reads "this is for the cdrama girlies", and wow does it deliver. If you liked Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, you will probably enjoy this one too.

Àn’yīng’s family was ripped apart nearly a decade ago– her father killed by a blood-drinking demon and her mother’s soul damaged to the point she’s nearly catatonic.
Àn’yīng is determined to win a heavenly competition, the prize of which is a pill of immortality that will heal her mother. She sets off on her journey and instantly encounters a mysterious rival and ally for the competition, Yù’chén.

I think this represents some of the worst and best of xianxia novels. First, the best. The growing relationship between Àn’yīng and the mysterious Yù’chén has moments of true sweetness. While some reviewers complain about how many times Àn’yīng is rescued by Yù’chén, she does plenty of rescuing too. This is not a wilting blossom of a character.

Now the worst. The plot twists are predictable and not in a fun way that encourages careful reading and speculation. There’s so much clunky exposition. There’s a love triangle with a glaringly obvious winner. The supernatural beings have tissue-paper thin motivations.

While I still enjoyed myself, there are some things specific to this book that drove me crazy. I’ll list those here in no particular order.

The primary love interest and primary antagonist have names that begin with the same letter and are the same length. Maybe this is just me, but I often just kind of mentally categorize a character as “the one with the long name that begins with an M”, so this tripped me up several times.

The word halfling is used to describe individuals who are half human and half immortal. This was used to refer to a person previously described as a tall, handsome figure and I just about died thinking about him shrinking to about three feet tall or becoming very fond of second breakfasts. (BTW, in addition to its common use in fantasy to describe short, hobbit-like humanoids, the word is also used in Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland to refer to a child who is not yet fully grown.) Another word choice– any word choice– would have been better. And there are so many options! Demigod, half-god, half-demon, cambion, jinn, half-kitsune, etc. I will not assume bad intent as some reviewers have, calling the author out for being racist (seriously, folks-- Occam's Razor. Or maybe Hanlon's Razor). I think this is just a poor choice of words and an instance where an editor should have stepped in.

On a related note, some words were really overused. For example, the antagonist’s crew were constantly referred to as lackeys. There are so many other words that could have been mixed in for some variety without coming off as an obnoxious thesaurus user– toady, follower, flunky, muscle, gang, minions, underlings, etc.

3.5-3.75?

Okay I'm going to start with a disclaimer and that I have been yearning for a slow burn. I don't dislike the romance in this book but there are some parts that feel like it was written specifically to fill tropes which I don't love but overall it didn't bother me too much.
Plotwise, it was relatively fast paced. I'm curious to see where this book goes. The prose itself is beautiful and I do like our main character.

I flew through The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. An’Ying was such a fun protagonist and Yù’chén stole my heart from his first appearance.

This was a quick read, in part because a lot of the plot twists were predictable, but that made it an effortless read. I was a little leery of going into this book because I really enjoyed the first book in Zhao’s previous duology but found the second one to drag. I was really excited not to feel any of that in TSATNB, but I suppose time will tell if its sequel lives up to this.

Overall if you like the gimmicky, dramatic fun of c-dramas, I think you’ll have a great time with this. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC!

This is such a fun reads and one of the better Romantasies I’ve read! Zhao is a master at lush worldbuilding, and her work keeps growing with each book. There was a great balance of atmosphere and plot that kept me engaged throughout the book.

I think my favorite aspect is how the author took a common trope (one I’ve been getting bored with, frankly) and managed to turn it on its head into something I was genuinely happy with in the end. (I don’t want to start listing the tropes bc spoilers but they’ve been giving me the ick lol) I loved the end, and I feel this could be read as an open-ended standalone, but I am eager to see how the rest plays out.

3.5/5 stars

Summary: In a world at war with demons, Àn’yīng enters the dangerous Immortality Trials to save her mother's soul from eternal death. Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and Kingdom of Rivers left her family broken, with her mother on the brink of death. Now, demons known as mó threaten the mortal realm. To heal her mother, Àn’yīng must survive the deadly Trials, where death is common. Along the way, a mysterious and powerful contestant, Yù’chén, protects her, but his secretive motives and past raise doubts. As she navigates the Trials, Àn’yīng must determine if she can trust Yù’chén or if he’s a threat to her and all the realms.

Possible Spoilers: Let me start with the lore - I LOVED the mythology and mystical elements woven throughout this story. It had action, demons, heartless immortals (and not-so-heartless love interests). The pictures that Amélie Wen Zhao was able to create through her writing were descriptive and vivid. However, I had a couple of challenges with this story. Although the writing was beautiful, there were chunks of the storyline missing that made me double back on paragraphs to make sure I hadn't inadvertently skipped over pieces. A large example of this is when Àn’yīng sees the monster from the demon world for the first time as it feasts on a still-alive contestant 5. Àn’yīng is so adamant that she cannot leave this girl or her death will be on her hands. A very short "battle" ensues, the monster runs away and the trial begins. Without another thought or look back at the (dead? dying?) candidate 5, Àn’yīng is off running toward the trial. How can Àn’yīng be so adamant about another dying character and then switch focus so quickly without wrapping up the death of the character she was just agonizing over? There were a couple of other unexplained setting pieces similar to that one that made the story feel a bit choppy or disjointed.

My other complaint with The Scorpion and the Night Blossom had to do with the constant yo-yo effect of Àn’yīng and Yù’chén's relationship. It was an annoying mix of I love you and can't stay away from you, but am disgusted by you and hate you. I. Can't. Stand. The. Constant. Whiplash. I get why this was a main theme between these two characters, but it made me want to tear my hair out, or at least stop reading the book. I'm unsure of whether I'll read the second book - we'll see how I feel when it pops up near publication.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Amélie Wen Zhao for giving me access to the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and was immediately intrigued with the comparison to throne of glass with Chinese culture intertwined. It took me a while to get into the story, which was a struggle to be motivated to finish this book, but I powered through and I’m glad I did. The premise that there are 4 realms (mortal, immortal, demon, dragon) and all have magic in their own way is really what captured me near the end. At first I thought this was a love triangle with a trial game aspect but it slowly revealed a long standing war between the realms with destinies intertwined.

The slow unveiling of the main character realizing it matters more who a person is than what they are mixed with the discovery of multiple halflings existence, to include herself, made me respect the drawn out character development the author was building to. Knowing this will be a series I am excited to see where this story goes and how the characters continue to evolve along with the exploration of the realms in more detail.

I was hooked from the first page. Zhao writes a vivid story that is impossible to put down. You're immediately drawn into the world of demons and mortals and left with the hunger for the sequel. A unique and addicting dark romance.

This was Amelie Wen Zhao's most romantic work to date. I enjoyed this fantasy and the two main leads. Found the pacing faster than her previous series, and that was a huge plus for me. If I had to nitpick, I would've wanted to see An'ying be more self-sufficient. Despite her proclaimed toughness and bad*ssery, it feels like she was continuously being rescued by the two guys in the story. The angst and pining was well done, though her stubbornness towards Yu'chen annoyed me a bit. All in all an enjoyable read and one we would be happy to have as part of our collection.

3.5 stars

Amélie Wen Zhao has a beautiful way with words and the way she cracks her world-building is truly captivating.

I was very intrigued by the plot and premise. Trails and competitions and immortals are right up my alley. But around the 40% mark, it did start to lag a bit. I found myself getting a bit lost and losing some focus. I found the romance had so much promise and there were certainly areas I loved, but overall, I feel like they lacked that oomph. That sparks and those integral pillar moments that really make a bookish couple feel raw and real. An’ying is such a strong character on her own, but whenever he entered the scene, I feel like she would change a bit. And rather than have her change, I wanted to see more how their personalities and character arcs would clash and form a brilliant love story.

But overall, the way the story went as a whole and how it ended with that twist definitely leave me wanting more!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am mesmerized by The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. At times I was left breathless, other times left swooning, and other times left devastated. I felt the high and low of every emotion, and together it induced an experience I'll always remember in reading.

This tale follows our heroine Àn’yīng as she enters a competition for mortals hosted by immortals in which the winner will receive an immortality pill. A prize Àn’yīng seeks in order to restore her mother to full health. A journey Àn’yīng does not expect to follow the unexpected path it eventually does...

Àn’yīng is our heroine who takes on the perilous path in hopes of gaining the remedy to heal her mother. Her will is great, her resolve relentless, and her heart beats strong. She's a heroine I was always compelled by and always rooted for. But she was also a character that caused frustration and disbelief at times. Why couldn't she be more open-minded?! Why couldn't she trust more readily those who continuously helped her? Admittedly I wondered if this frustration should affect my rating...but then two things came to mind. The first? Oh how nice it is to read a heroine who isn't perfect and right in every way. Instead she's of fallible character, she makes mistakes, she stumbles, she falls, and can be wrong-minded and prejudiced. But she learns-- in fact she's still learning. She is able to self-reflect, to regret, to strive to make amends. At times it did feel like every step forward was followed by two steps back, but I am very optimistic and hopeful Àn’yīng will continue to learn in full, just as she continues to inspire in facing every danger head on. For her courage never failed and always inspired. And it takes that courage to right wrongs.
The second reason? Àn’yīng used to be a girl who dreamed of the ocean and being a seamstress. Àn’yīng may appear prickly with sharp edges, but those whispered secrets of the quietest dreams of her heart reminded me that at her core there's a softness yearning for such simple yet poignant hopes. Of oceans, of sewing, of a quiet life. But so far, life has only shown her tragedy. So I am forgiving of Àn’yīng shortcomings because it reminds me of our own mortal vulnerabilities and it reminds me of our dreams yearning for more. Àn’yīng has much to learn, and I do believe she will, just like the rest of us. Her relatability and vulnerability become her strength. And it centers her on a path towards betterment, and on a path I hope grants her the happiness and so wholly deserves. Àn’yīng has sacrificed her very dreams, and all I hope is that they find their way back to her, so she may realize them in full.

Yù’chén may not have POV, but his character captivates upon his every appearance on the page. To borrow the words of Amélie Wen Zhao on a social post she wrote: Yù’chén is the greenest red flag. The lack of POV places him as an enigmatic character that is hard to decipher, but his actions and his words throughout had me wishing and hoping for Àn’yīng to trust in him. To give him a chance. To see him for him. Whether wise or not, I wanted that so desperately. Yù’chén broke my heart in so many ways. But I left this narrative with him placed as my favorite part of this journey. To discover his character, even bit by bit, is one of the grandest part of this gorgeous tale. Savor it, savor it!

There is the possibility of romance that weaves Àn’yīng and Yù’chén towards one another. They are rarely on the same page, and yet there seems to always be something that ties them together. And when they are together, it's dynamite. Whether at odds or at truce, there is a constant pull that feels undeniable. That what they have can blossom into more, if they only take the leap. There is yearning and longing, there is suspicion and angst, and there is that mere potential of something more that feels encaged and ready to be freed.

The supporting cast fill the margins in variously memorable ways. Some fill the page with their love, some bring chaos and violence with their hate, some bring fealty and trust with their friendship, and some bring revelation and shock with their truths. Together, this cast helps elevate the narrative as a whole. Coupled with an eclectic cast of characters is vivid, vibrant world-building that creates the stage, a stage that allows suspense to build, mystery to intrigue, fear to pulsate, adventure to explore, and the possibility of love to flourish. Every facet of this story matters, tying together a journey that's ever rewarding.

By story's end there is a possibility of a love triangle, I tend not to favor these, but, if correct, I believe Zhao framed this potential triangle in a way where it's less about the choice of love and more about love or duty. And I hope, above all hopes, that love will conquer all.

I will be impatiently awaiting the final book of this duology. I'm ready for it!

If you love fantasy with a dark edge, if you love romance filled with yearning and tragedy, and if you love adventure that brings twists and surprise-- then you won't want to miss out on this tantalizing elixir of a tale, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

this novel of was such a fascinating read, from our main characters to the world building to the central antagonists. i particularly adored the main character, from her headstrong personality to her motives to her weapons (!!!), and found myself swooning over the love interest. i loved where the ending went, setting up beautifully for the sequel. i can 100% see myself going back and rereading this novel and can't wait for the second book to come out! (4.5★)

Somehow both dark and whimsical, this fast-paced, high-stakes, easy-to-binge romantasy is a must read!

What’s to love…
- badass FMC with assassin skills who will do anything to protect her family
- bad boy MMC / forbidden love
- “touch her and die” 😏
- top notch tension and chemistry
- fast-paced plot
- elegant world-building and NO info-dumps
- trials (as a verified trial hated I can confirm I actually enjoyed these trials!)
- epic start to a duology!
- lush imagery and stunning prose
- inspired by Chinese mythology and lore

What’s not to love…
- I’d have liked a little more depth and relationship development from the side characters and would have gladly read a longer book to accommodate this.
- some may find the plot twists a tad predictable but despite guessing the twists I still had an amazing time.

1🫑 - This has enough steam to warrant a mild pepper, the tension was top notch and I was sweating at the hot springs/rain scene (Ch. 17). This is YA though so no explicit content - but there are two steamy scenes and 1 that eludes to intercourse (Ch. 26). Publisher states 14+ and I’d even go so far as to say I’d be ok recommending mature middle schooler.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's (Delacorte) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is compared to Throne of Glass, however, I think An'ying and the trials are more reminiscent of Feyre in ACOTAR because An'ying isn't as skilled and fiere in the trials as Celena was in ToG. Also, the love interest frequently swoops in to save An'ying in the trials much like Rhys kept secretly helping Feyre. I will say that her being described as this skilled and capable contestant and then pretty much needing to be rescued each time was a bit of a disappointment, though it didn't make me dislike the story. From the onset, the author did a really good job of building this beautiful work and introducing the reader to the magical system and beings. The character development was lacking, unfortunately, so while the characters were likable, I never found myself invested in them or their outcome. I prefer when books have really well-developed characters, so I become emotionally connected to them, and so some emotion is elicited when something happens to them. That never happened for me with this book with any of the characters. The pacing started off well, got scattered midway through, and then got back on track towards the end of the book. Based on the writing, I knew the book would end on a cliffhanger with a plot twist. Overall, this was a good book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.