I’m so impressed with the intricate world building and deep characters created in such a short novel. Yeva reveals her powers as a child and is sent to the capital to train as a guildknight and face down dragons. Yeva is tasked with tracking down rumors of dragons in the neighboring kingdom and is entirely out of her element. While there she falls for Lady Sookhee and starts to realize there is more important things to her than following orders and conquering for an emperor.

This was an enjoyable fantasy novella with a strong female protagonist. I enjoyed worldbuilding, which was easily my favourite aspect of this one. I wish I felt better connected to the characters but I still spending time in the world.

I would recommend this one to fantasy reading looking for a new familiar yet enjoyable story

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I had high hopes for this novella. The premise is great, and I feel like this could be turned into a fantastic novel with some tweaks. I love a good sapphic romance, add in some dragons.. count me in! It just seemed like there was too much information packed into so few pages. I didn’t get a chance to truly connect with the characters, and the narration felt a bit robotic. The ending was rushed, and I felt like the whole novella was very predictable. I did like the narrator’s voice. She was great for this novella! The content execution just wasn’t for me, but I do see why others may love it! Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you so much to netgalley. for the arc of this book. it came out 5/6 & is narrated by nancy wu who did a great job. this book is definitely cozy adjacent & i had a great time reading it & learning about the characters & the world. it was beautifully written & has dragons!

It was good but it was lacking

pros

- sapphic romance
- dragons and knight
- really good storytelling

cons :

- It felt much more longer than it actually is
- Like the handicap rep but I felt like some chapter forgot about her disability and then remind us about her hand
- entertaining but extremely predictable
- Did not like the MC personality, she is a empty shell with no opinion for herself. I know she had been tamed by guild knight but still... She was like " I know I shouldn't do that but I will do it anyway because though I want to disobey I don't want to" . She know she could do it but have no will.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame got me hooked. I loved the narration by Nancy Wu, who captured the feel of being told an oral legend. Yeva's story is not only one of finding love, but also of rediscovering the culture that she was deprived of as a child. There could be a full novel's worth of story here, but as a novella, it is still enthralling. I was personally fascinated with the sort of detached perspective you get with the storyteller style that this novella takes.

Best for those looking for a short, tight fantasy that feels satisfying and complete.

4.5 stars rounded down. The ending, from my perspective, walked back some of the key themes in a way that I didn't enjoy, nor did I think was necessary. For me, that was the difference between the four and five stars here.

I am admittedly very picky about my fantasy; I'll jump on any insincerity and the illusion will be broken for the rest of the story. However, this book successfully walked a thin line between world-building and character development in its tight, just-shy-of-five-hours runtime. Though the plot in this one followed a very predictable structure, it was gorgeously told. Nothing felt rushed, nor do I believe it would have benefitted from a longer runtime. It sits just right for its journey.

I really felt like the characters were both flesh and myth, which is a delicate balance that was so well executed here. Some of the dialogue was a bit wooden, but that can be forgiven remembering its storytelling structure. The narrator for the audiobook was also incredible. There was an appropriate amount of whimsy for a myth-like narrator without losing the very real emotion between the characters.

Overall, a great June read. I'd certainly recommend it to others, especially my close friends.

With love and thanks to RBmedia for the ARC audiobook!

This is a poignant and richly imagined queer fantasy novella that intertwines dragon-slaying, political intrigue, and personal identity. The story follows Yeva, a legendary guildknight whose life has been defined by her role as a dragon slayer. Encased in armor and detached from her past, Yeva is dispatched to the reclusive kingdom of Quanbao, where dragons are revered rather than hunted. There, she encounters Lady Sookhee, the enigmatic monarch of Quanbao, leading Yeva to question her loyalties and her past.

I really enjoyed everything in this novella from the characters and how they interacted to the world-building. Yeva’s journey from a detached warrior to someone rediscovering her identity is portrayed with nuance. The developing relationship between Yeva and Lady Sookhee was enticing, and I really enjoyed how this ended up.

Despite the novella length, the book offers a vivid portrayal of its setting. The cultural contrasts between Yeva’s homeland and Quanbao are explored thoughtfully, enhancing the story’s depth. Understanding the world and the dragons was such a key part to the book, and I was constantly intrigued.

This is a beautifully crafted novella that delves into themes of identity, duty, and personal transformation. It is a compelling blend of fantasy and character development, and a clear read for anyone who loves queer fantasy.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame was a quick and fun read that kept me engaged all the time. For me personally, the story throws you into the plot a little too suddenly and the romance aspect could have profited from a few more pages but both of these points are pretty common for novellas. I did see the "plot twist" coming from a mile away but I didn't mind that. In the end, I really enjoyed the story because the topic was very interesting and the writing style was just beautiful!

A female dragon slayer (whom few know is a lady) is told to embark on a political mission to a land close to the one she is from. While there, she is befriended by the newly minted female King of the land, and our heroine learns about her roots and where she truly belongs.

Almost like the elves in Lord of the Rings, beautiful yet deadly. Our FMC is badass but also very native. It is apparent from the beginning that there is a war going on within between her duty and her heart. At one point, she starts to explore a life that would make her happy, instead of one where someone is always telling her what to do. The FMC is inspired by the King of the land, who is heartwarming and mysterious all in one.
​The prose is lush and rich. It is dreamy yet strong. I enjoyed the lyrical nature of the writing, which (to me) compounds the fantasy nature of the whole story. Deep and poignant, it is a book that will leave you satisfied in the end.

The narration on this one is calm, yet strong. Petfect for the lyrical setting.

*received for free from netgalley for hones review* This was a great short read, i would definitely read more if this was made into a series

This was a really great book. I loved the strong female protagonist, she was compelling to read about. Lady Sookee made for an interesting companion for her. The plot was interesting, but took about half the book to pick up. Finally, the world was simply but engaging. I think where this book suffers the most is from its length. I would have loved a full length novel to flesh out Yeva, Sookee, the world and its politics and history, and a plot that was propelled towards a climatic ending. The book was great, but lacked just enough to be what I wanted it to be.

I’m so sorry. I wanted to love this book so badly. It just fell flat for me. I don’t know if it was the story itself or the narration. It felt very anti-climactic. I do love that an Asian narrator was used though.

4/5 stars ✨️

At this moment, at this twilight, she is allowed to take on new form—not just the valiant guildknight of the Sun Empire, not the faithful servant whose only purpose is to wield a blade, not the faceless, nameless creature who exists only as terror and whispered legend.
She never lets herself be so exposed, yet she does not feel vulnerable.

Thank you, netgalley and the publishers, for this beautiful arc! (I'm a bit late ik)
it's always books like this with so few pages that take me days to finish.
The depth of the story in each and every line makes it impossible to skim through, which makes this even more beautiful.
I picked this up for a short read, but this small book has left a huge impact in my life.
I could emphatise with yeva, always pushed and prodded to fit a mould, or in this case, a constructive armour. Forced to be the best out there, the most ideal.
And when she finally tears down all that had kept her suppressed - that's the part that brought me the most joy,
her freedom.

4.5/5
Once again, Neon Yang accomplishes much within the confines of a novella. Their poignant prose is better than ever and Nancy Wu's narration brings it to life. This is the tale of a dragon hunter who goes to a neighboring kingdom in search of a mythic beast, but as she befriends its king, she learns that not all is as it seems.

The story told is stunning and the prose is beautiful. Unfortunately, the heart of the story is missing from the telling. There is clearly a full novel's worth of story here, but the important parts are cut out in the telling. The entire story is told as if seen by an impersonal 3rd party. At the heart of this story there is a romance, but every aspect of the couple's time together is skimmed over or referenced only in passing. This story could have been glorious, but instead it is merely good. The audio narrator is really what saved this from becoming a slog.

4.5 stars I read this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me do so for an honest review. 4.75 stars. The beginning is a little slow and things arent clear but then it really picks up and the story draws you in with loveable characters and a great Fantasy story. Nancy Wu does a great job with the narration.
Highly recommend and it was a great read for API month!

A young girl fights off a baby dragon only to discover she has powers. Powers that force her parents to send her to the Sun empire. There she is trained to hunt down dragons and kill them. But then she has to go to a neighboring Kingdom and investigate a dragon infestation. But she not only found the dragon. She found her love.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC audiobook copy of this, narrated by Nancy Wu

This book is a gorgeously written queer fantasy novella with dragons, sapphic romance, and deep emotional themes.

Yeva, a dragon-slaying knight, is sent to a kingdom where dragons are worshipped, not killed—and meets Lady Sookhee, a ruler who challenges everything she believes.

What I Loved:

- Thoughtful exploration of identity & duty
- Quiet, powerful sapphic romance

What I didn’t like

- Pacing felt uneven in the middle
- Some world-building felt rushed or unfinished

A solid read if you’re into introspective, romantic fantasy, but I wanted a little more from the journey and more emotional connection to the characters.

Book is so sweet with an absolutely adorable main character who has killed dragons, but is scared to have a conversation. Murderbot diaries vibes with a beautiful romance.