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.

A captivating Asian-inspired romantasy woven with intricate world-building and a mysterious magic system. However, what made this story really shine is the compellingly flawed characters.

Lifeng Fei’s fate has been prophesied since birth. She will be “the empress of all empresses” and whomever claims her hand in marriage will rule over a united empire. All her life she has lived in a gilded cage, her worth defined by her position, not her character. But instead of accepting her predetermined destiny, she defies fate by carving out her own path. Unfortunately, her freedom comes with consequences, and I loved how the author explores Fei’s internal conflict, particularly her struggle with guilt and her yearning for freedom. Her growth was incredible to read. She is definitely an admirable character. Selfish in the beginning, but after seeing the consequences of her actions and witnessing the devastating impact of war, she becomes someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for her family and her people.

The story also features two potential love interests, each with their own significant flaws:
one consumed by duty and pride, and the other skilled in manipulation and secrecy. Although both are possessive and resort to morally questionable actions to achieve their goals, only one (in my opinion) listened and respected Fei’s choices rather than imposing his will upon her. What I loved about this dynamic is that Fei is not blind to their flaws. Although her feelings might be swayed by shared past or forbidden desires, in the end, she still chooses her freedom and her people over love.

Overall, this book was just incredible. The ending was really emotional <spoiler> Luyao! </spoiler>. There is still a lot of unknowns regarding the prophecy, Fei’s fate that continuously changes as she defies it, and the magic between her and the nightblood prince. I am so excited to continue with this series because I am curious to see where this story goes.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

**Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Posted to: NetGalley and The StoryGraph 
Posted on: 11 July 2025

3 out of 5 stars.

(Okay I know I’m mildly late posting this, I’m so sorry! Life happens sometimes a little too intensely. Anyways, here is my belated review!)

So genuinely I don’t know where to start with this one. I want to say I enjoyed it, but I didn’t quite love it… I didn’t exactly hate it either though? I feel very meh about this which explains the easily acquired 3-star rating it totaled to (following my personal rating criteria guidelines anyways). Which that isn’t to say that it’s a bad read! I actually enjoyed the writing for the fact that it was digestible and written in a way that makes it easy to binge. There is enough detail to paint the scene, but strays from overly flowery prose that can sometimes be tedious and tiring to read if it’s not done right. I think the real problem for me lies in the way the plot is moving. The main word I think of when it comes to describing this book is ‘disjointed’. It felt like, at times, the story was battling with the way the romance wanted things to unfold. The pacing is also weird and there were times where I’d have to read a few paragraphs over again just because the way the scene moved on, it made me feel like I had missed when it moved.
The romance also wasn’t my favorite. Overall, this book feels very trope-y to me. That usually is not a bad thing and honestly works well for people who know what they like in a read! Just personally, it wasn’t my favorite. It made the read feel like an amalgamation of ideas vs a cohesively joined thread of a song. I felt like it was lacking in the premise of the idea. The summary and the way the book was promoted felt so uneven with the actual story. Maybe I just wanted more vampires or more Cassandra vibes or more… something. I can’t quite put my finger on it. The romance definitely took the lead here, though, but that also unraveled in a way that I wasn’t quite expecting.

The overall feeling I’m getting as I wrap up this pretty short review is that I was left wanting from this. It was a good story! But maybe it just wasn’t for me. Lots of others found something to love in it, and I’m glad! Genuinely, I almost wish I could have loved it more, but I also wish that it would have almost gone differently somehow? I binged parts of it nonetheless though. I found myself unable to put it down all the same.


CONTENT WARNING(S):
Blood, animal death, injury, war, death from war, misogyny, sexual content (on-page scene, pretty brief and mildly graphic without too many details), suicidal ideation and thoughts, suicide, death of a parent, fire/death by fire

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Now, my first question is: in a book about how Fei is fighting to make decisions of her own in a world of men trying to own her for their own glory, why is the title of the book about Yexue?

I am really happy about how this book went. I think Fei’s arc is satisfying and I really like the character she grew into. Her narration felt real, I could understand where she was coming from and why she was making the decisions she was making. This book was ultimately about her journey as a person.

There was a war going on, but the outcome of that felt less impactful than the growth of Fei.

The world building was good and I didn’t struggle to understand the dynamics of the different countries in this world. I thought the writing was well done too. The story and pacing flowed very smoothly.

Spoiler below!!!

I also love that she didn’t choose either boy in her life. She was not going to let a man dictate her life or actions any more and I’m just very happy for her. She’s 18, let her be free and figure out her own life!

Anyway, I did enjoy this book and recommend it especially to readers who like books that focus on the character arcs.

DNF @ 31%

While I did love the feminism in this book, it was nonstop and felt forced at times. Not much else was discussed. I wasn't invested in the characters or in the plot.

The Nightblood Prince was a really great read that pulled me in from the start. I absolutely loved the two male leads—their personalities were sharp and memorable, adding layers of tension and charm. The story itself kept me hooked, balancing political drama with moments of genuine emotion. After a while, it became the kind of book you don’t want to put down, making it a satisfying and enjoyable fantasy pick.

I have never read this author prior to THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE but I did live this story well enough. It had some of my favorite things.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I had no prior knowledge of this author before I requested this arc and did so purely because the plot sounded interesting. That being said, the execution unfortunately didn’t work for me. I thought the story was all over the place and it was hard to figure out what exactly the story was trying to achieve.

Fei is a character who is presented to be brave and strong-willed, but the story didn’t do much in the way of making her a likable character. I found her and the two male leads annoying, boring even.

The romance plot was also a bit hard to buy into. While Siwang’s love for Fei was believable, Yexue had exactly one interaction with her, and we were suddenly meant to believe they had this undeniable attraction... sigh

Lastly, I’m usually not a fan of love triangles because indecisiveness is a pet peeve, but I do occasionally give them a try. I can’t see why Fei would struggle to choose between two bad options in the story when she’ll be better off on her own.

Fei, has taken from her family as a child and is being groomed to marry the Crown Prince, but she changing all that when escapes to hunt a legendary tiger and then ends up bound to Yexue, the enigmatic vampire prince of a rival realm
There is an enemies to lover tension which makes the story intense.
There’s
Enemies to lovers
Battles
World building
Vampires
Supernatural element
And this was
A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick

I was looking forward to this one because I thought this author had good writing in her adult fantasy, but I wasn't a fan of the characters and was looking forward to seeing what she could do within the YA genre. I did like some aspects of it, but it ultimately ended up not being for me.

A lot of the writing felt repetitive, especially with how the MC talked about men, but still had feelings for the two main guys. I frankly didn't know what she say in them and felt both were terrible choices. I am usually a fan of love triangles but because I wasn't a fan of either pick it was just unbearable.

I was confused with timelines and trying to understand the politics of this world because it felt like loyalties were changing and it was never consistent which was fine but I would have liked more depth into it.

Overall, this was okay but it ended up being not for me.

Fei was prophesied to become the Empress of All Empresses, so she was taken from her family and raised in the palace. While she is intended to marry the Crown Prince, she is incredibly lonely. She decides to hunt a legendary tiger as a means to seize control of her destiny. This brings her into contact with Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. He harbors dangerous magic and commands an army of vampires. To outrun destiny, Fei must change the world as she knows it.

Fei is incredibly angry with the lot in life she has, trapped in a gilded cage with no agency, meant to be used as property for Siwang's eventual glory. As much as the two genuinely care for and live with each other, Siwang never questions this and doesn't understand the simmering rage coiled inside of Fei. The first third covers life in Rong, and the tension between the kingdom and that of Lan, where Yexue is from. Both love her, which she questions because of the prophecy declaring her the Empress of all empresses, so the princes, emperor, and people of all kingdoms on the continent assume whoever marries her will be the emperor of all emperors.

From the gilded cage of the palace to going to war in her father's place like Fa Mulan, Fei continually strives to be her own woman. She tries to make choices for herself, feeling guilty for not being a good enough daughter. The final third of the novel is from a different perspective of the war, further complicating what we know about both princes and their role in Fei's life. She has the best interests of ordinary people in mind, not national pride or prophecy. It still hangs over her at the end of the novel, and I look forward to seeing what happens with it in future novels.

‘Never trust powerful men’s words.’ A prophecy, a girl destined to become the "empress of all empresses," and a quest to gain freedom and her own place in the world make Fei’s journey a compelling one. It gave me Mulan vibes at times, but with unique magical twists that kept things fresh and unpredictable. I was genuinely curious to see what Fei would do next, this is an adventurous and empowering read!

The Nightblood Prince was the Mulan retelling I didn’t know I needed. It was a beautifully written, excellent YA romantasy brimming with female rage, defiance, prophecy, and magic. It had rich world building, vibrant Chinese folklore, high stakes political intrigue, an interesting take on vampires, and the beginnings of an intriguing love triangle.

I loved Fei as a protagonist. She was courageous, determined, and fought for the future she wanted, instead of letting men determine her life. She turned down an arranged marriage, even though it was to her best friend who she loved, because she knew he would become corrupt with too much power, and because she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to save her kingdom.

Siwang and Yexue are enemy princes of warring kingdoms and both want Fei, to use her for her prophecy and also because they both have feelings for her. They are both morally grey and both do terrible things to try and win the war, but I have a clear favorite and it’s Yexue. He’s misunderstood and villainized for things outside of his control, but he’s willing to listen to what Fei wants and to try and give it to her. He doesn’t push his will on her, but gives her the facts and lets her come to her own conclusions.

This book set things up perfectly for the next one, and I’m so excited to see where Fei’s journey takes her. If you want a high-stakes YA romantasy with a strong-willed heroine fighting against her destiny, warring kingdoms, dangerous magic, vampires, Mulan vibes, and two love interests, definitely pick this up!

Thank you to Get Underlined, Random House Books for Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, Penguin Random House, Molly X. Chang, and NetGalley for the eARC, physical ARC, and finished copy.

📔The Nightblood Prince
✏️ Molly X. Chang
📆 July 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
⚔️ the “chosen” one
⚔️ Mulan retelling
⚔️ prophecy & visions
⚔️ magic & vampires
⚔️ warring kingdoms
⚔️ female rage
⚔️ morally grey characters
⚔️ beginning of a love triangle