The Nightblood Prince was both epic and brilliant. I was so enraptured by this book- I ended up reading it one day! The characters and the world were excellently crafted. I truly loved and hated both love interests- which I don’t believe I’ve ever done before while reading! I can’t even begin to tell you how much of an emotional rollercoaster Molly X Chang took me on- I laughed, cried, swooned, cried again, sat on the edge of my seat freaking out a little bit.. honestly, this was a perfect read for me.

This story driven by prophecy and political was a nail biter. I was on the edge of my seat, absolutely captivated right from the beginning. While I wasn’t sure what to think of the Crown Prince at the beginning of the story, the reader feels that his love for Fei is true, especially when despite being able to keep her should he wish to, he allows her her freedom. Fei remains true to her strong character from page one until the very last line of the book. The love triangle in this book is very well written. Both Siwang and Yuexe are interesting potential love interests with their own winning and morally grey characteristics. While the reader can see that there is love for Fei, one can also not deny the selfishnesses in their desires as well.
So much of the plot moving forward is based on personal and political gain. I really enjoyed the Mulan-like twist, which was expected because of who Fei is, but even more entertaining is the vampire and dark magic aspect of the story. I am very curious as to how this story will move forward and really want to know more about what the prophecy entails. I really liked that in the end of this book, Fei did what was best for the people and not for one prince or the other - she bows down to no man and is in search of her own destiny.
I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers, especially if you are looking for one with a strong female lead that you will be rooting for throughout and does not take her lead from the men in her life.
Many thanks to Random House Children’s via Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for an early digital copy of the book. The opinion expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.

The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang was a book I picked up because the summary grabbed my attention. It is the first book I've read by this author and I have to say, I enjoyed it. There were times where I thought the pacing dragged a bit but the writing was good and the story kept me interested.

Fei is our fmc and we find out that when she was born, she was taken from her family and raised in the palace to marry the Crown Prince and become the Empress of all Empresses based on a prophecy. Because of this, she has been separated from her family and forced into a life she is not truly interested in. When she sees an opportunity to bargain her way out of this situation by hunting down a legendary tiger, everything changes for her.

There are two different princes in this book and I'm not really sure I liked either of them. First there is Siwang, the Crown Prince she is destined to marry. He clearly loves Fei and is willing to do whatever she wants him to but he is also determined to do everything he can to show his father that he is ready to rule his kingdom. He does some shady things that just don't put him in a good position with Fei.

Then you have Yexue.. From the start he challenges her and tries to get her to see him for who he is. When he finally escapes the Emperor's kingdom and gets back to his kingdom, he finally has access to his magic and can build an army and when Fei sees him next, he is a very different person. Going head-to-head with Siwang and the Emperor, Yexue's army of vampires is difficult to beat.

Fei truly goes on a journey here going from pampered royal, empress to be to a wanderer to eventually a soldier in the royal army. While the princes have a pivotal part in Fei's story, this book is really about her and how she changed her path. Overall, I enjoyed this book but as I mentioned, there were times that I felt the story dragged a bit. Other than that, the story kept me interested and turning the pages. If you're looking for a YA fantasy to pick up, consider this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC! I really enjoyed this book. Love triangle, Mulan vibes, and vampires...a strange mix. However, I love Chinese folklore and stories based on it. Can't wait for the next book! Highly entertaining!

The Nightblood Prince was a superb surprise—much better than I expected. As a debut, it does a great job laying the groundwork for a vivid world and intriguing characters, with strong buildup that left me wanting more. It definitely feels like the start of something bigger, and I’m really excited for the next book. The writing gave off soft Sue Lynn Tan vibes—lyrical, immersive, and full of promise.

when fei was born, she was prophesied to one day become the empress of all empresses. this led to her being taken from her family and raised in the palace to one day marry the crown prince of the most powerful empire. desperate to escape her loneliness and find her freedom, she sets out to hunt a legendary tiger…and soon falls into the mercy of another prince. torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she begins to question whether it really is possible to outrun destiny.

i really enjoyed molly x. chang’s to gaze upon wicked gods, so i was very excited to read another of her books! this did not lack the compelling writing style or plot twists i was expecting going in. i also enjoyed the love triangle, as both love interests were so different and had their own pros and cons. i loved when the vampires were introduced, as that’s one of my favorite kinds of creatures, and the way the vampires played into the story was pretty interesting!

overall, this was an enjoyable book. i’m looking forward to the sequel!

I was intrigued by the concept of a romantasy Mulan retelling with vampires. It was hard for me to get into the story initially due to grammar and editing issues that I hope were fixed by the time this novel was published. I appreciated the use of Chinese characters with translated text. Some of the internal thoughts came across as abruptly contradictory rather than Fei feeling conflicted. I wanted to like this more than I did but I'm hoping the prose and the dialogue will improve with the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.

“The Nightblood Prince” by Molly X. Chang offers a dynamic blend of romance, political intrigue, vampires, and high-stakes situations. With a fresh and imaginative storyline, it’s a standout addition to the romantasy genre. Readers who enjoy vampire lore, Kpop drams, and love-triangle narratives will enjoy the emotional intensity and dramatic pacing. If recommending this title to teen readers, be advised that it contains open-door romantic scenes that may not be suitable for younger YA readers.
Thank you to NetGallery and Random House Children's for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

"Two princes. One prophecy. And a girl born to change the world." Need I say more? The Nightblood Prince is an intoxicating, heart-wrenching whirlwind of palace intrigue, vampire magic, slow-burn romance, and destiny written in starlight—and I am utterly feral over it.

Fei is the kind of heroine you feel in your bones—raised in golden cages, made of steel beneath silk, and haunted by a prophecy that crowned her before she ever had a choice. Her journey from obedient royal pawn to a fierce force of her own is nothing short of epic. And when she crosses paths with Yexue—the exiled prince with shadows in his veins and fangs in his smile? Instant obsession. Yexue is danger incarnate, and yet every scene with him pulses with longing, tension, and quiet vulnerability.

Meanwhile, Fei’s bond with the Crown Prince is complicated, charged, and layered in history and obligation. It’s not just a love triangle—it’s a collision of duty, desire, and survival. Every relationship in this book hums with power and pain, and Molly X. Chang doesn’t let you look away for a second.

🩸 Vampiric lore, divine prophecies, royal court games, and one girl destined to shatter it all—this book is beautifully brutal, unapologetically romantic, and filled with writing that feels like poetry carved in obsidian.

“Beautifully written and brimming with defiance” — Xiran Jay Zhao was right. This book dares to give us heroines with teeth, magic with consequences, and love that doesn’t always come easy—but burns all the brighter for it.
🌘 5/5 stars – The Nightblood Prince is lush, lyrical, and laced with blood and betrayal. For fans of Iron Widow, The Shadows Between Us, and To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods (of course!), this is your next obsession.

Vampires, a love triangle, enemies to lover, magic and monsters.. there is SO much to love about this book.

This book was giving me very much c-drama vibes (LOVE THAT) and while I do not usually like love triangles, this one did not bother me. Not one bit.

While I do wish there was a teeny bit more romance in it, the story itself was engaging and had me enthralled, and was very well-written. The character development was great and I loved how my perspective changed over the course of the book.

Overall 10/10.

This book was a good start for this series and while I wasn’t blown away by the writing or story, it kept me entertained. Fei, our FMC, is a woman in a world run by men. She is destined to marry the crown prince and fulfill a prophecy. However, she wishes to determine her own destiny. She becomes caught between two princes. I am not a fan of love triangle situations but this wasn’t awful to read. This book contains tropes such as enemies to lovers, touch her and die, the chosen one, magic and court intrigue. While this book didn’t wasn’t necessarily a favorite read or one I would likely reread, I think it’s a good pick for those who don’t mind love triangles and like to see strong character development. This book will give the right readers just enough to leave you curious and wanting to read more.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @20%

I... Are you actually kidding me?

Literally did not give baby boy a chance at all. He offered to change the whole country, and she said, "Nope." She could have been the driving force to implement change WITH him, but did not give him a shot. The miscommunication trope done so badly. I am stunned.

Like, even if they get together in the end? Like no. Why? I'd almost be angry if they did because it seems like all this poor, dumb boy ever did was try to get to know her and give her the world. Does that mean he's entitled to her love? No. Of course not. And I'm not saying that.

However, this is an arranged marriage, taking place in a high fantasy world with a royal court dynamic. She has one of the most decent dudes (at least from her descriptions of him). He sounds like a wonderful boy who will not just be a good emperor but a good person when he grows up. And she keeps referencing this one time when they were kids, and I'm like... so... we're supposed to think he's a monster because he reacted badly to being jealous when he was under the age of 17? Did he have anyone maimed or killed? Is that why? Nope, just banished. Is that an overreaction? Yes, but still he was a kid and a spoiled prince... this could have been Much Worse when you put this in the context that the world is set in.

That being said, again, she isn't obligated to reciprocate his feelings, but here's the kicker. She does. At least it genuinely seems like she does! There are moments where it does seem like she has a romantic attachment to this boy. She has issues with the society they live in and how, eventually, their marriage might become bitter and FAIR. This is a valid concern!

HOWEVER, she is cutting off her nose to spite her face because guess what? Baby boy offers her EVERYTHING. To change the court, to give her more freedom, anything to try and win her over and do good in the process! He wants to work with her to have a future with her, and no, it isn't going to be instantly fixed, but they could have implemented changes slowly and worked towards refreshing outdated practices (WHICH THEY COULD HAVE DONE. HE MADE IT AN OPTION). She still says no, and I am baffled.

I'm trying to wrap my head around it because
a) It seems like there is a spark there, which is way more than just platonic love.
b) She wants to make the kingdom more fair for all, especially for women. (And he is up for it!!! Growing up, he was on her side and tried to give her every opportunity!)
c) She said she wanted more freedom. He panicked because she kinda dropped this on him out of nowhere, but he instantly started brainstorming what to do and how to accomplish that. So are his ideas perfect? No! But he's TRYING.

Make it make sense because I don't understand why there is a conflict here.

Maybe if he were rigid to the old way of doing things,
Maybe if he wasn't interested in giving her freedom and was willing to meet her halfway,
Maybe if she wasn't into him at all

I could get behind that! But this isn't the case? At least not from my perspective. From where I'm sitting, it seems like she's just rejecting him to go against society's expectations. There is actually a whole subplot that mentions a prophecy and her visions, but on that front? It's all tell and not show, and it's such a slow crawl getting into the meat of that plot point that I've lost interest.

I wish I had liked this more, but because the conflict is so forced I'm checking out. I'm so disappointed. That being said, the word choice and imagery of the prose were excellent so 2.5/5... It's probably someone's bread and butter, but it's not mine.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House. I'm sorry I didn't like this more... rounding up to 3 stars because of the technical writing aspects of the book.

First and foremost, I love how Molly X. Chang writes. I love how she integrates Chinese written characters, sayings, and names (both of people and places) into her work. It really helps to bring the worlds she creates to live. The Nightblood Prince is definitely for those who love a c-Drama, and unique vampire stories. I really love how she's left some insight into the vampire lore for the next book, and while the book was really satisfying on it's own, it has still left me ready for what comes next! (and wanting).

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made that she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.. but it lacked important details and now, Fei is stuck between two princes, the prophecy, and the fate that is coming for her. Following the prophecy at her birth, Fei is removed from her home and raised in the palace to prepare her for her marriage to the Crown Prince of the powerful empire she lives in. But it is a lonely life, and Fei doesn't have many that she can trust, particularly as she wishes to have a hand in her own destiny, rather than just the one that's been forced on her. Fi sees an opportunity for a favor from the king, (and a way out of her betrothal) by hunting for a legendary tiger. But, Fei ends up entangled wth Yexue, a dangerous and deadly prince from a rival kingdom has he runs from the palace where they're both kept. This sparks a series of events that will reshape the empire and Fei's world as she knows it.

This book was a really fun read, and a unique addition to vampire literature. I can't wait for the next book.

Une histoire qui m'intriguait depuis que des bloggeurs avaient publié leurs ARC sur tiktok. Quand je suis allée à Londres, je l'ai recroisé et je me suis laissée tenter surtout que c'est une réécriture de Mulan et Helen de Troy! J'ai tout bonnement adoré cette histoire qui est très originale! Alors oui, il y a un triangle amoureux et je déteste cette trope mais pourtant avec ce livre je l'ai adoré! Surtout que nos deux protagonistes ne sont pas des "gentils" mais des vilains avec toutes les nuances qui vont avec !! J'ai beaucoup aimé l'héroïne qui se bat vraiment pour ce qu'elle veut! Le rythme est un peu perturbante parfois lent parfois haletant mais j'ai été happé par cette histoire!
Je recommande vivement ce livre!

This book synopsis was right up my alley, and I knew right away that I wanted to read it. I loved following Fei and the legend of the Phoenix Queen, but even more, I loved her feisty and independent personality in a very patriarchal society. As the book went along, I bounced back and forth for which prince I was rooting for as Fei's love interest, Siwang or Yexue. As the paranormal elements in the book unfolded, I was enraptured. The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars is that it is marketed as YA, but there is an open-door bedroom scene. Spice has no place in YA literature.

This. Was. So. Good.
I really enjoyed this story, it was fun and fresh. I loved getting to follow Fei as she dealt with the Crown, but also how her thinking and choices could affect those around her. Fei was so compelling and really came to life for me---she felt real and her thinking/dialogue organic. I enjoyed the romance, even though I detested one of the characters, lol. Overall, I just had a great time reading this and I did like that it felt older than a lot of the YA I've read lately.

This book had Mulan vibes with a love triangle. I enjoyed it overall but I absolutely loathed Siwang (one of the men in the love triangle)

I loved the vibes of this story. It felt fresh and I really enjoyed it. I feel like it has been a while since I read a story like this and was happy to get to read it!

Molly X. Chang never disappoints when it comes to lovable and painfully realistic characters.

The Nightblood Prince is a Mulan retelling featuring vampires and prophecy. We follow Fei as she tries to gain independence and autonomy from the Crown, we see her struggles and guilt as she grapples with how her choices affect others. Fei is not a perfect person by any means, which is what makes her a compelling character, along with the others who are very morally grey (and in a cringe way, which was refreshing to read.)

My only critique, is that I think this book belongs with the New Adult demographic rather than YA, which is more of a publishing-wide issue as they try to slot books for younger adults in a demographic that is already wholly accepted in the industry. There was a light open door spice scene which is unnecessary in YA, and I fear that younger readers may not grasp that the romance portrayed in the book is unhealthy. With the book's themes, I think aging the characters up a few years could have made this a little stronger, but it is nonetheless a fantastic read worthy of your time.

I really, really, really tried to get into this book. I read about 25% and just didn't see myself reaching for it and wanting to continue reading it. The premise of it is really interesting, and maybe it was just a me thing where I just wasn't in the right mindset to read it. I will definitely give it another shot in the future, and hopefully my opinion of it changes. But as of right now, it just wasn't enticing enough for me to want to continue reading it resulting in a dnf.