While I did enjoy the story, I like how we saw our MC grow and deal with the anxiety of going back to her home country after being sent away to become a dragon rider and a soldier.
The book was rather short though, so I feel like there was a feeling of the story being rushed at times.
I was also a bit disappointed because I went into this book thinking it was going to be an epic high fantasy about dragons, but it had surprisingly little to actually do with dragons.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

wow! this is my first book by neon yang and what a powerful punch this novellea packed.

brighter than scale, swifter than flame is the perfect example that an incredibly descriptive, interesting world/magical system, and immersive story can accomplished so much in just under 200 pages.

as for the narrator, nancy wu is a favorite of mine and she always does a fantastic job!

i’ll be sure to check out neon yang’s backlist.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a gorgeous novella filled with dragons, secrets, and a sweet romance. I had a great time with this, helped by the fantastic audiobook narration by Nancy Wu.

The story and the world-building were robust for such a short story. I felt instantly immersed in the world and wanted to know what was happening. The overarching plot was compelling, but I felt that it was slightly predictable. However, this did not take away from my enjoyment as the strength of the story lay in the inner turmoil and growth of the main character. I can imagine that the challenges faced will resonate with many readers.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I enjoyed the narrator.

This follows the story of Yeva , who has become masked guildknight in a nation who is famed for fighting and slaying dragons. She feels isolated here as she comes from another nation and looks different. However, she feels more herself when she finally gets the full suit which covers her face and womanly features.

She became infamous behind this mask, as is sent as an emissary to Quanbao, which is a small reclusive nation where Dragons are not feared but worshipped. Here she meets the Girl King, Lady Sookhee.

Yeva feels Sookhee and her nation is hiding secrets and vows to uncover the truth.

This book had good bones, however I wish we had more of the love story between Yeva and Sookhee. It felt like they became lovers super quickly, and after knowing Sookhee secret it felt really rash of her to do this. I didn't feel the chemistry and love between them. The story wrapped up very quickly, which makes sense since it was a shorter story.

I wish this was longer and had more meat on the bones, we could've had another book in this series.

This cover is stunning though.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

A fantasy novella about a dragon hunters and a mysterious queen, and their relationship. I would have loved to see more of Yevas knight journey, but overall I enjoyed the book, especially the contrast between deciding to adapt yourself to fit in and the discovery that yout identity truly makes you happy.

For as short of an audiobook/story this is, it was enjoyable and made me feel very content. It's the perfect story for instant gratification in a single afternoon. The narrator was very calming and had an good cadence to tell a story the way this one is presented as a third party narrator. The pacing was good and the story itself was very reminiscent of books and movie i enjoyed growing up (relatable characters, simple and effective plot elements, gratification) but elevated for an adult audience. Themes of good and evil, duty and love, finding yourself and reclaiming who you are make this story reminiscent and definitely something I've seen before but enjoyable and satisfying.

Quanbao is a dragon slayer and thankfully, the book doesn't dwell too much on her slayer backstory. She is on a mission to find out Lady Sookhee's secret, and on this road, faces her own past and her mother's secret

A short and somewhat flat dragon romantasy stand-alone with a good twist and ending. I have no complaints!

Thank you, RBmedia via NetGalley for ARC. I liked the narrator and have given my honest review.

I dnf’d this book halfway through. I couldn’t make myself care about the characters at all. It might be due to the fact that I prefer great world building and character growth, so perhaps novellas are not my thing unless part of a series

One of the richest fantasy realms that I have read, at a fraction of the page length. Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang proves that you do not need 600+ pages of fluff to build an enriched fantasy world. The world that Yang paints is purely vivid with the Asian aesthetic. I loved reading about the different creatures within this world, as well as the main characters navigating their feelings vs. duty.

Yeva—our MFC and prolific dragon slayer—returns to her home town as an emissary for peace with a nation that is rumored to have dragons hiding in their mountains, but her true mission is to find the dragons and report back to her higherups for extermination. Yeva must woo the Queen of this land, Sookhee whilst fighting true feelings that might be developing.

I loved the story of this novel, and even though there were times that I wish we had more pages for me to swoon over, I think this novel did a great job telling a story in a cohesive way. I do think that there were some sections of the novel where the transition of time was a bit odd, and removed me from the story, such as fourth wall breaking. I think this could have been done a bit smoother with a few more pages dedicated to the story, but I don’t think it was so bad that it ruined the flow in any way, I’m just not a fan of the fourth wall break. But even as someone who doesn’t like that style, it is not prevalent enough to stay from this book. So don’t let that deter you.

I recommend this book for anyone looking for an Asian inspired world that is a quick read, but doesn’t sacrifice the richness of its world and narrative.

Thank you NetGalley, RB Media, and Neon Yang for the audiobook version of this ARC!

This book was so very amazing 😍 I loved the growth and change that the main character went through. The setting was so beautifully described, it felt almost ethereal. The plot......well it was very predictable.....but did I care 🤔 NO, no I did not. The story was amazing......my only other criticism is the audiobook narrator 🫠 I have listened to several audiobooks narrated by her in the past and I've been less than impressed several times. Her voice is very monotoned.....it's very off putting and I wish they had picked someone else to do the audiobook. But overall an amazing short story ❤️❤️❤️

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in return for a full and honest review.

I definitely think that if you are a person who enjoys sapphic romance OR you just enjoy a good short fantasy read then you will love this book ❤️📖

Yang is the master of the folklore novellas. This was a fantastic read. The world is easily built and imaginable in a short amount of time. Our main character is interesting to follow, with a troubled past and a complicated relationship to her cultural and familial identity. This story does well of using it's time but not overstaying it's welcome, the length is perfect. The audiobook is easy to follow and enjoy to listen to.

If you've enjoyed Yang's other work or the enjoy Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle, you will love this as well.

I've been wanting to read a book by this author for a while now, so I was so excited to receive an ARC of their newest release!

In this novella, Yeva (a renowned dragon slayer who never removes her armor), is sent to a foreign country where dragons are revered, rather than reviled. We follow along as she reconnects with her roots, finds belonging, and grows closer to the kingdom's sickly girl-king.

I had a really good time with this novella. The author could have easily lengthened this considerably, but I'm actually really happy that they chose to make it a novella instead. It kept my attention all the way throughout, and I really liked the main character's arc. The romantic element of this book was important, but I would say that Yeva's journey of self-discovery was the driving force.

I'd definitely read more from this author, and I honestly think that there is potential for more books to be set in this world.

A novella with a strong female lead questioning the direction she’s supposed to choose after hiding behind a mask for the longest time. A queer romantic subplot and well rounded side characters for a novella. The world building was very good, and I really enjoyed the reveal even though it was predictable. I feel like that was the point, the knowing without being 100% sure, like Yeva.

I was not crazy about this audiobook. The story felt a bit bland and it was written in 3rd person, which is not for me.

I listened to the audiobook of Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang, beautifully narrated by Nancy Wu, and it was an enchanting experience from start to finish. NetGalley kindly provided me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review—thank you!

This novella follows Yeva, a disabled dragon hunter sent to the land of Quanbao, where dragons are rumored to be worshipped instead of slain. Her mission is to uncover whether the girl-king, Lady Sookhee, is secretly hiding dragons.

The worldbuilding was one of my favorite aspects! The way dragons and myth interwove with history felt unique and compelling. Neon Yang’s writing style is hard to pin down, only that it’s gorgeously vivid and immersive, perfectly suited to this kind of story. Even though the novella is short, it manages to pack in a rich sense of place, cultural depth, and emotional nuance without ever feeling rushed.

The pacing starts strong and slows a bit in the middle, which actually worked well for me. It gave space to explore Quanbao alongside Yeva and to see her reconnect with her mother’s homeland. There’s a moment of discovery in every scene, and while I can’t say too much without spoilers, the ending—though quick and a little predictable—lands with power. I only wish we’d gotten a small glimpse into the future, especially after that last chapter.

The story is experienced through Yeva’s perspective, and her voice is so strong and thoughtful. Watching her navigate a new land while also confronting her own complicated sense of self was deeply affecting. Lady Sookhee was fascinating as well, though she felt slightly more distant. I would’ve loved to learn even more about her. The romance, while sweet, felt like it happened mostly off-page. I wanted a little more buildup between the two.

Nancy Wu’s narration was excellent! Her voice felt like a perfect match for the tone of the book and especially for Yeva’s perspective. I could clearly distinguish every character, and the pacing, emotion, and atmosphere she brought to the reading made it easy to sink into the story. Her delivery was clear, slow, and immersive. I would absolutely recommend this as an audiobook; it enhances the atmosphere and characters in a really special way!

This is a story about identity—biracial heritage, disability, the pull of ancestral ties—and the quiet strength it takes to reclaim your own narrative in a world that’s tried to define you. It’s rich, lyrical, and quietly powerful. I loved my time in this world and would gladly return if given the chance!

An absolutely wonderful novella I really enjoyed listening to! This queer, Asian-inspired fantasy was so much fun and had such a great atmosphere. Even though I don't think it quite fits as cosy fantasy, it's definitely adjacent to it, and just works really nicely as a feel-good queer legend about sapphic knights and dragons.

While it's mainly marketed as fantasy (and definitely is in that genre) I think the things that stood out to me about this novella were the romance and story of self discovery. The romance element was absolutely adorable and I loved the queernormative world that allowed Yeva and Sookhee to build trust and love naturally. Yeva's journey throughout this book was such a joy to read, seeing her learn to have her own desires and thoughts, and reclaiming her culture and identity. She was a really wonderful character with an emotional and satisfying arc.

Even though this is a novella, there was still room for some commentary on conflicting cultures, imperialism, duty, and family, which created created some great internal conflict and a backdrop for the romantic relationship at the heart of this book.

Overall, while not groundbreaking, this is a book I really loved and would recommend to anyone looking for a short sapphic story about dragons, duty, and self-acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this audio ARC in return for my honest review.

(Disclaimer: I received the audiobook from the publisher, but this has in no way influenced my review. My thoughts are entirely unbiased and honest.)

4.75 Stars!

Definitely judge this book by its cover because Neon Yang's prose is so vivid I could smell what transpired (I promise it's a good thing).

I'll be honest and say this was my most anticipated release of 2025, and thankfully, it met my expectations.

No surprise that Nancy Wu's performance is still wonderful. I've been listening to their voice since I started audiobooks.

Besides the production, the book really shines in its prose. It's not an easy feat to tackle queerness, colonization, and diaspora angst in just a few chapters. That's impressive writing right there, baby!

The backdrop of fantasy, political tension, and the struggles of our main protagonist are all really well done, so this will definitely be one of my book recommendations moving forward.

This is not romantasy, and it's a nice break for once.

The romance is barely there, and the few moments we get...I gobbled them up.

My only complaint is that I think a few extra chapters would’ve made the build-up more satisfying. Just a preference though, and it's honestly well-edited.

Kudos to everyone! Highly recommended!

Yeva, a hardened dragon slayer, is sent near her childhood home to investigate a foreign kingdom rumored to be harboring a dragon. Torn between her loyalty to the emperor and the allure of the young Queen, who's secrets run deep, Yeva must decide where her true purpose lies.

Readers get dropped right into the world, but the author expertly uses engaging and interesting prose to orient us, and it takes no time at all to become entranced by the vivid folkloric telling of the story. Right from the start, I found myself wishing this novella were longer so I could spend more time exploring the world and its characters. Still, there's a lot to like about this novella, particularly its diverse representation, and it reminded me of The Fireborne Blade duology by Charlotte Bond and the Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo. The main character was likeable: I wanted her to succeed, and the ending, though predicatable, was satisfying. I also thought the audiobook narrator did an excellent job of capturing the exact tone to match both the author's writing style and intrigue of the plot.

Overall I thought this was well written and engrossing for the short time I read it, and I would certainly read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novella has confirmed my belief that Neon Yang is an absolute master of silkpunk queer fantasy in short form. Their Tensorate series was a game changer in the genre for me, but their full length novel was kind of a drag. This one harkens back to the vibes of the Tensorate series, but also like Nghi Vo's Singing Hills series. The worldbuilding is relatively less intricate than Tensorate, the plot much more simplistic and kind of predictable, but still a pretty solid story about cultural erasure, and homecoming. Nancy Wu's narration always elevates the folkloric narrative style of a story like this, and this one was no exception. I just wish there was a little bit more development of the side characters and that the end wasn't so conveniently neat. Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the audiobook ARC.

This was a really fun read, it had the feel of an epic high fantasy packed into a bite sized novella. I listened to this in a single sitting, the themes of identity, disability, and belonging draw you in and make this sapphic political fantasy even more compelling.

The narrator did an excellent job of bringing this story to life. This is a great audiobook to listen to on a longer drive or while do things around the house if you don’t want to get into a longer fantasy book/series.