Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children’s Publishing, & Molly X. Chang for the opportunity to read & review this ARC.

The Nightblood Prince is an intriguing fantasy that blurs the lines between heroes and villains, keeping readers guessing where loyalties truly lie. The standout element is the world-building—clear, immersive, and easy to follow without being overcomplicated. At the heart of it all is Fei, a strong, uncertain, but deeply compelling protagonist. Her resilience, especially as she navigates identity and ambition (often while undercover, Mulan-style), makes her someone worth rooting for. I'm still unsure who I trust in this story, but one thing is clear: I’m hoping Fei ends up as the Empress of all empresses, no emperor required. I'm eager to see how not just her prophecy but all of them unfold in the next book.

This is like a YA Mulan x vampire crossover, and I gotta say, I enjoyed it!! ⚔️❤️ We've got prophecies and a love triangle with TWO morally grey men (but grey in different ways) - what's not to love there!?! Also the cover is BEAUTIFUL!

Fei is a good FMC, and I'm sure it was very difficult to write our two princes, Siwang and Yexue. They both had to be likeable - but not too likeable - which is such a fine line!! Props there 👏🏼

I loved the storyline and the setting - but the character relationships weren't very deep for me! As Fei is falling in love, I just wasn't getting that 😞 it read very shallow in the relationship department. BUT it was still a good read, and I will definitely be reading book 2 when it releases!!

Thanks so much to the author and netgalley for my copy to review ❤️

OMG!! This was a riveting Rollercoaster ride of a tale. The prophecy painting Fei's existence and the paradox of her position in the political millue was beautifully juxtaposed! I thoroughly enjoyed her fighting her destiny while realizing its hold loomed larger than her at all times. The simmering tension between Fei and the 2 princes were also etched where you could justify her decisions. The familial bonds were chef's kiss. I particularly enjoyed her father explaing the significance of her name, masterstroke move!! The tale gallows through a Mulanesque landscape where Fei feels she's no longer a player but still reels from the understanding that enemies still fight under her prophecies bane. The premise was justified beautifully, and I thoroughly relished Fei's attempts at retaining mastery over her fate.
All in all, a scrumptious book that I cannot wait to continue!!

this was such an amazing read. I had such a fun time reading this. I was hooked with every character. the plot was Mulan with a mix of mo dao zu shi in the sense of yexue and his vampire army (like Wei wuxian and his zombie army). the love between characters kept me guessing and going back and forth between who was the true villain in Fei's story. I seriously loved every point in this story and I can't wait to read more. I still can't find the words for my excitement for this story

I truly loved this book.

Fei was born with a prophesy upon her. She was to be The Empress of all Empresses and whoever she married would be The Emperor of Emperor's.
So of course when the Emperor of Rong heard tell of the prophesy and identified her by the mark of the phoenix she was taken from her family to grow alongside Siwang The Prince of Rong.
The problem is the Fei wants her freedom and to keep the fact that with the mark of the phoenix she is able to see glimpses of fate. Magic isn't meant for mortals and you are not considered anything good if you have it.

One night an opportunity arises for her to try and change her fate and give her the freedom she wants so badly. But since when have things ever worked out that way?

Yexue has been a pampered captive of Rong for many years until he finds himself no longer one on the same night he finds himself at deaths door only to be saved by the woman meant to be The Empress of Empress's.That night changes his life and his ambitions.

Now not only does Fei have Siwang declaring his love while also trying to control her but she has Yexue who isn't above manipulation to win Fei. Fei only wants to save as many lives as she is able to she just isn't sure how to make that happen.

I thought this book was fantastic, I couldn't put it down. I started reading #TheNightloodPrince by #MollyX.Chang 2 days ago and just like that I am finished. I may have stayed up a bit late at night but it was worth it! I can't wait to add this one to my collection!!!

I'd like to thank #Netgalley and #RandomHouseChildrensBooks for the chance to read the arc of this amazing book publishing on July 1st 2025!

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I found The Nightblood Prince to be a pretty quick and well-paced read. At times I felt a little frustrated with the FMC as parts of her character didn't really make much sense to me. How does she have all these survival skills but seemingly is incapable of surviving. She needs to be saved quite frequently which has me perplexed how she is an amazing fighter/archer. Additionally, I don't understand her magic. She has the ability to see the future but seemingly is blindsided by everything. I'm not a huge fan of the love triangle trope but I would be interested in a sequel to see how this plays out. Overall, a decent read. Gave it four stars but is more like a 3.5 star read for me.

I thought Fei was a really strong protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her character grow throughout the story. However, both of the male love interests drive me crazy. They both have a few good moments with Fei but it just doesn’t make up for how they treat her most of the time. Honestly neither of them deserve Fei at this point and maybe they need to end up with each other so they can both be miserable and insufferable together. Hopefully we will get to see more character growth from the boys in the next book.

The Nightblood Prince is a lush and emotionally charged fantasy that weaves romance, prophecy, and political intrigue into a gripping tale of destiny and defiance. Fei is a compelling heroine, fierce yet vulnerable, whose journey from palace pawn to self-determined force is as heartbreaking as it is empowering. The worldbuilding is rich with folklore-inspired magic, and the chemistry between Fei and the enigmatic Yexue crackles with tension. A captivating start to what promises to be a thrilling saga.

Like many others have said, this book is very much Helen of Troy meets Mulan, just without Mushu and with vampires. It was enjoyable and I liked the writing and the pacing of the story, but while I liked the vampire addition, it was really a small part. It was very much more tell rather than show. I am really hoping we get more of everything in the sequel, because there is so much more that can be done with this premise. I liked that we had the golden retriever boyfriend and the morally grey diversion which then flips roles and suddenly we're rooting for the "bad guy." Honestly, our main character just needs to forget about both of them and find option number three. She is destined to be the empress of all empresses and both of these guys are stuck in the ways of the times where a woman means nothing except as an extension of them. Not that the boys don't try and each has moments of redemption, but I sure hope we find more to love about them in the next book, because this one hasn't convinced me yet. All in all, the story was entertaining and quick paced. I want to thank NetGalley for the Arc opportunity.

I requested this solely for the cover and was not disappointed! I loved Fei, our FMC. She’s strong and determined to change her fate. I thought the plot was fast paced and entertaining. I do think there could’ve been more world building and the plot could’ve been tightened up. I’m still very much looking forward to sequel. The love triangle had me stressed and I can’t wait for more romantic development.

❤️🖤 The Nightblood Prince ARC Review 🖤❤️

Thank you so much to Molly X Chang and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Nightblood Prince is a YA fantasy romance. Two kingdoms are on the brink of battle and only the prophecy of the empress can unite them. Seventeen years ago, Fei was born with the mark of the phoenix, taken from her life and raised to fulfill this prophecy. But when she’s caught between two princes of two warring kingdoms, can they overcome everything to end this war?

This was such a cool read! I really loved the combination of Chinese lore and fantasy world building. Fei was a wonderful character and I really enjoyed her strength in this book. Her story of being caught between Siwang, her childhood friend, and Yexue, the intriguing rival prince, was really interesting and not the typical love triangle vibes. I would have really liked to see the PoV of the guys throughout the book

This was a fun 4 star read! I really enjoyed these characters and this world. This book definitely has some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book did have a romantic plot with on page spice, but it was a little vague, only one scene and not super descriptive, so overall one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of strong independent characters, historical fantasy, and cool world building, then absolutely pick this one up!

I didnt know how I was going to feel about this book. I had an issue with a previous book by this author, but I have to say, I liked this one more than the last one I read.
The plot had promise I wanted a Mulan retelling, but it underwhelming and rushed. I wanted to blame it on it being YA but I had a really hard time with the FMC because she annoyed me. The pacing wasn't bad though. I just felt like it could have been more. I will probably try the next book in hopes of the plot having a point.

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

this was unfortunately a disappointing read for me. I don’t think there was a single redeeming quality that I enjoyed.

the world building? nonexistent. couldn’t tell you why our characters have magic that was just a given. also why were these kingdoms at war?? all that was constantly repeated was that emperors always want to go to war to conquer land. which makes sense, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want an explanation of why that’s occurring in this specific world and within the context of these characters.

the FMC - genuinely one of the most insufferable people I’ve ever read about. she was always whining about something and you COULDNT WIN WITH HER. she was mad that she had to grow up in the palace and was destined to marry the prince. ok fair enough! so she decides to break the engagement and leave, except her family is exiled alongside her. so now she’s complaining about living in the village and having to go hunt and support her family 😐 GIRL YOU CHOSE THIS. AND THEN she decides to go on some quest to find someone and all her family asks is that she writes to them to make sure she’s ok. and what does she do? NOTHING. the least she could’ve done after screwing them over. and this is just a few examples of similar instances.

the “romance” - it would be a crime to call whatever lovey moments happened in this book a romance. we were told constantly that the prince was in love with her but genuinely what qualities did she have that were lovable?? NONE she was insufferable. and we were always told about their childhood and that’s where their love began, but it’s hard to feel any connection to the characters through just words and not actions. in addition, the back and forth made no sense at all? I made a note that at 56% she said she should tell siwang, the prince, that she missed him and thought about him all the time, but that it would be a lie and that she shouldn’t toy with his heart. BUT THEN 2 PAGES LATER SHE GOES “but the more time we spent together, the more I longed for more.” MAKE IT MAKE SENSE???? and then don’t get me started on the second love interest that gets introduced. he served no real purpose and was such a simp for her in the most embarrassing way.

the writing - no depth at all, I don’t know if this is due to it being an arc and not being fully edited, but there were many issues that took away from the story. lots of repetitiveness and contradictory statements throughout the whole thing.

final thoughts - this is probably one of the most disappointing reads of this year and I don’t think this author is for me.

thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters:⭐️⭐️
World Building:⭐️⭐️
Themes:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️.5

This book has been described as a Mulan and Helen of Troy retelling with Vampires. I think the book does deliver on its premise. This book is for people who want a Chinese-inspired romantasy with a strong-willed heroine, a love triangle, prophecies, morally grey love interests, and vampires.

I want to start review with a discussion about the writing. The writing leans purple and, at times, it is melodramtic. I found the writing lovely. However, despite how lovely the writing is, I think it hindered the story because there is more telling than showing, which limits the scope of the story. As readers, we need specific examples rather than a telling of how something is. Additionally, this writing style and the first person POV are conducive for internal monologue, and as such, we spend a lot of time in Fei's head (main character). This may annoy some readers because it takes space away from the story and slows the pacing.

Next, we need to address the characters. The main character, Fei, is prophesied for to be the Empress of Empressess. But this is a fate that she does not want. All she wants is the choice to choose her own life, regardless of how that affects others. And it does have devastating consequences for others because two princes are willing to go to war for her because of her prophesy. She's on a journey to try to undo her prophesy.

I empathized with her and the theme of being able to choose one’s destiny. But Fei’s characterization became quite contradictory. One moment she’s described as good at something and then a few chapters later she’s described as not good. Additionally, her wants and desires in this book were all over the place in this book. There’s very little consistency in her thoughts, and I feel like most of the book is her agonizing and analyzing her contrary thoughts. There’s a lot of overthinking, and it feels unnecessarily tortured. I hope to see in the next book that there’s a grounding of her emotions and thoughts.

The two male main characters are villains, or at least that’s how I see both of them. Their characterization is filtered through Fei’s thoughts, and because she is so contradictory, they become contradictory too. For example, one love interest is doing horrible things for selfish reasons, and through the filter of the wish-washy main character, we’re given the message that he’s “good.” Maybe I’m misinterpreting. It is unfortunate because I was intrigued by the concept of dual villain love interests.

The romances in this story are complicated by Fee’s prophesy. Do the princes love her because of who she is or because of who they believe she will become? One of the romances feels too instalove, and I think it wasn’t believable that he’d go to war for her. And the other romance feels selfishly obsessive. If that's the kind of loves Fei wants, than get it, girl. But, at this point, I am not rooting for either of them, and I do not care who she ends up with. I actually hope she burns both of them down.

The world is heavily Chinese-inspired, and I enjoyed the additional touch of Chinese proverbs. The Vampires, however, keep the the lore of the West (ex. sun is bad). I think the World-building needed more explanation and expansion. However, I do understand that because that first-person perspective can often make world-building seem info-dumping, but I would have wanted more. I want to know more about the magic system and Fei's magic, specifically how and why it works.

Despite my criticisms, I think this story has potential, and I hope the next books in the series will expand on the world-building and characterization. I am very willing to give the sequel a chance when it comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an eARC to review.

Ughhh how do I feel about this… I debated between 2 or 3 stars but ultimately, she’s a 2. The plot had promise, then felt undeveloped and underwhelming. At first I thought maybe it’s because it’s YA, but after a while I just realized the FMC was kind of annoying and unoriginal. I am interested to see how the next book may change my thoughts on this series (if I read it lol).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

2.5-3/6
Decided to do this review a different way and made it a running commentary as I was reading… So there WILL be SPOILERS!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!



Another book where the pampered princess doesn’t want the pampered life, even though she acknowledges multiple times in the beginning that no woman can live a “free” life, they’re all pawns of their fathers, then brothers, and then husbands. So unless she decides to live as a boy (somehow) she’ll never be free. Even though she is part of a prophecy that would make her husband the greatest emperor and to unite the kingdoms. One would think she would have a little more freedom than some others, but she just meekly goes along with what everyone else tells her, never rocking the boat. Also, for someone who “doesn’t know her parents” and has “stilted small talk” with them, she certainly has a lot to say about the advice her father supposedly gives her. Haven’t seen him talk to her at all so far.
.
The Chinese phrases used in the story are usually translated so I can understand in English, but there was one that wasn’t and it made me wonder if it had been used before, but because I can’t read them, my eyes just glazed over it.

And suddenly, a Mulan retelling?!?
And now a love SQUARE???
Square averted. Mulan discovered immediately
One minute the prince never drinks wine because he didn’t want to lose control, and he only drank if someone tried to force Fei to drink. And the next “we used to steal the plum wines as children”. Is this not the same thing? Is plum wine not real wine?

Triangle averted (I think?)
Triangle restored???????
“He’s not telling you things” trope
Red string of fate????
One bed trope

Mistakenly read the first line of another review… this is a series? Or will be? Thank goodness, cuz I’m at like 85% and idk how everything is gonna get wrapped up in so few pages lol

I just want to say, both princes indulge Fei way too much and yet not at all. Siwang just straight up ignores her advice and blames Fei for starting this war to “be worthy of her greatness” aka the prophecy, but she never asked that of him. And Yexue just goes along with her cuz he thinks it’s fun or something cuz he has supernatural powers that make most things trivial. He’s super fast and has healing abilities that heal him in seconds, how the hell you think you’re gonna kill him? -eye roll emoji-

The epilogue was a waste… it was two lines, just make it be the last two lines of the final chapter….

Finished the book. Final thoughts:
So the ending is left ambiguous, open to a sequel, but also “complete”.
Overall it was a quick read (I probably could have read it in 2-3 sittings had I not been distracted constantly).
This will not be a buy from me. And while my arc had mistakes, (multiple sentences or paragraphs being reused not even a page later) the story and the characters felt shallow. There was one intimate scene that was vaguely written (compared to an adult book, since this is YA I think). I wanted to like it, but it didn’t really live up to my expectations.

Fei was born with a mark on her forehead that sealed her fate.
She was destined for greatness in a world where its men who get all the glory.

When she was born a prophecy was told that she will be the “empress of all empresses” so the current emperor of Rong decided to take her for his son and change the prophecy to his son being the “emperor of all emperors.”

All Fei wants is to be free to be a person, and not a symbol, pawn, wife. She plots to win the annual Beiying tiger hunt and use the wish granted to the winner for freedom.

Instead in the snow covered mountains she finds Yexue, the exiled prisoner prince of Lan dying. She saves his life and sets fate on a new track.

With her selfless choice Rong and Lan go to war. Fei is torn between choosing Siwang, the son she was promised to, and Yexue the one she saved. All she wants is herself.

I love that the ending isn’t what you’re expecting. I love that this isn’t actually a romance, it’s a story about a woman fighting to be seen as a person.

I would definitely consider this a 5 star book if it was a bit longer to cover all the missing details.

I was provided an ARC for honest review. The story revolves around a FMC that’s been part of a prophecy her entire life essentially tying her to a prince and she wants nothing more than to have her freedom and live above the expectations of her being the empress. Part of the story has some Mulan vibes with more fantasy and as you can tell from the cover there’s a love triangle, which is one of my least favorite tropes. At the end of the book you honestly aren’t rooting for either of the men. The authors writing style is a bit on the stiffer side, but it was still well written and a fast paced read. The ending doesn’t really leave you super eager for the next book, but is set up in a way that you expect the story to continue.

The Nightblood Prince is a fast paced and engaging fantasy.

Fei was born with a unique birthmark and a prophecy marked her as the future "empress of empresses." Betrothed to Siwang, the son and heir of the emperor, she grew up in the palace, stifled by court life and wishing for her freedom. When an incident with the mysterious and dangerous Prince Yexue ends her betrothal, Fei gains her freedom but also loses her status. She seeks out the stargazer who first issued the prophecy, hoping to end her visions and change her fate. But war descends on the land, with Siwang and Yexue leading their armies, both hoping for victory. And Fei is caught up in the middle of two princes, with her fate still unescapable.

I really enjoyed this book! There was a lot going on in this story. We have a love triangle, a vicious vampire army, a mysterious prophecy, forbidden magic, and a bit of a Mulan-inspired storyline with Fei going to war in her father's place. But it all magically works together in this intricately woven tale. I also enjoyed how the story bounced between visions and the present, as we begin to learn more about the fate Fei hopes to avoid. I did think the early part of the story was a bit confusing, as there were a lot of moving parts and I wasn't fully following Fei's decision making - but as the story progressed, I had a few "ooohhh" moments of clarity that brought it all together for me. I was completely sold by Part 2, and fully invested in the story. I am super intrigued by both Siwang and Yexue - they both have interesting motivations, and they are portrayed as a hero and a villain, but the lines of which character is which is blurry, and I went back and forth many times throughout the story on who was really on Fei's side. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the next one in this series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

✨I'd like to start with a heartfelt thank you to the author, Molly X. Chang, Random House Children's, and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to read a digital copy of The Nightblood Prince. I will share my review to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads upon release. ✨

From the moment I saw the stunning cover art and sprayed edges, I was captivated and wanted to know more about the book. The illustrations of the characters, full of mystery and allure, hints at the complex relationships and magical tension within. The ethereal color palette and intricate design perfectly set the stage for the lush and powerful story inside. And yet, nothing could have prepared me for how thoroughly I’d fall under its spell!

As a lover of romantic fantasy with rich worldbuilding and high-stakes political intrigue, The Nightblood Prince delivered everything I craved—and more. The story follows Fei, a young woman raised as a political pawn, groomed to marry Crown Prince Siwang and fulfill a prophecy. But when she crosses paths with Yexue, the darkly enchanting prince of a rival kingdom, Fei’s carefully scripted destiny unravels.

Fei's decision has consequences further than just her love life - and she must face a choice between her family duty and a predetermined destiny, or a life with more independence but forever burdened with loss. The growth Fei shows throughout was one of the best parts of this novel - we as readers get to watch her transform from a more naive pawn to a woman challenging the power of empires. The love triangle between the main characters kept me intrigued and turning pages, but in the end I was surprised at how well the whole story came together.

There were moments throughout that I felt could've been edited out, as they were repetitive thoughts and not really new material that needed to be added, but minor quibbles in an otherwise addictive, emotionally charged story. Overall, I really, really enjoyed The Nightblood Prince, and I can't wait to read more from Molly X. Chang.

If you liked her previous work, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, or if you like Sue Lynn Tan, RF Kuang, or Kylie Lee Baker, you'll probably love this one, and I would totally recommend! Young Adult/Adult reading level/content (ages 16 and older).

Main themes & tropes:
🖤 morally gray love interests
🌠 main character growth
👑 systemic oppression/patriarchal society
🔮 prophecy
⚔️ political tension
🩸vampire magic!
💘enemies to lovers
🔥 single bed/forced proximity
🖋️ set up for sequel!

✨4.2/5 stars!✨