Ever pick up a book and think, “Whoa—this is so different… and I love it”? 🐉💖

I just finished Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame by Neon Yang and I seriously flew through it! It’s fast-paced, super unique, and had me hooked from the first page. I gave it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ because while it’s short, it packs in so much emotion, worldbuilding, and DRAGONS. Oh—and the slow-burn sapphic romance? Yes please. 👀💫

Tropes you’ll find:
🐉 Dragon slayers & dragon worshippers
👩‍❤️‍👩 Soft sapphic slow burn
🛡️ Stoic knight with secrets
🌏 Asian-inspired fantasy vibes
💭 Finding yourself along the way

If you’re looking for a quick fantasy read that feels fresh and different, definitely check this one out!

This was such an enjoyable novella.

We follow Yeva, a dragon slayer who was sent away from home at a young age to be trained as a weapon to the Emperor. She is sent on an assignment close to her childhood home, in a nation where dragons are worshipped instead of hunted, to try to track down a specific dragon. However, she finds herself pulled by the Girl-King and realizes that not all is as it seems.

This was a well-written fantasy novel with loveable characters and a lesbian storyline that I really vibed with. I wanted more time with the characters, but agree that this story worked best as a novella rather than a full novel. The world building was incredible, especially in such a short amount of pages. I recommend this to anyone looking for a short and engaging Fantasy novel.

The narrator was also wonderful. I really enjoyed listening to her,

Oh my god. I loved this. For a short novella it was so beautifully written, and the world so amazingly crafted. I felt connected to the characters and deeply rooted in their emotions and in the story. I love the length of this novella I think it was perfect, it didn’t feel too short but didn’t drag on and feel too long or rushed either. Absolutely loved it.

I received this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review. Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for this opportunity!

Actual rating 3.5/5 stars

Overall this was an interesting and solid fantasy novella that explores the divergent lives of a dragon hunter and the girl king of a nation sworn to protect dragons who’s paths cross due to the rising threat of a dragon never before seen in the lands. The fantasy elements are really well done, and I liked how Yang used different worldbuilding elements such as Yeva’s wearing of armour to explore complex themes regarding identity and belonging and also how both Yeva and Sookhee lives are impacted by their respective disabilities/chronic illnesses.

I liked the relationship between Yeva and Sookhee though I do think Yang could have done a bit more to develop the relationship as it felt a bit instalovey for me, but given the short length it sort of makes sense. I also would have liked a bit more worldbuilding regarding the dragons and why Yeva’s nation hunts them, but I feel like for the length of the book that this was still nicely developed but I do think there could have been more depth. I also found some of the plot lines rather predictable but that also means that the plot lines were set up instead of coming out of nowhere.

Overall, if you are looking for a short and interesting story with some solid fantasy and romantic elements that explores the themes of identity, belonging and morality, I would recommend this book!

This was an enjoyable, short, but emotional and satisfying read. The story featured a strong female protagonist and solid worldbuilding. I do wish we had spent more time with the characters to build a deeper emotional connection.
There was less dragon-slaying than I expected, it leaned more toward romantasy but the twist at the end was a pleasant surprise.
I really hope we get a full-length story set in this world; it has so much potential. Overall, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame was a fun and engaging fantasy read.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang is a stunningly lyrical and mysterious novella that absolutely gripped me from start to finish. The slow unraveling of the dragon’s enigma was masterfully done, building a quiet, taut tension that never let up. Yang’s prose is immersive and haunting, pulling readers through a world that’s both fantastical and deeply emotional. The mystery surrounding the dragon kept me guessing, and the ending—both powerful and unexpected—landed with the kind of impact that lingers long after the final page. An easy five stars.

A beautifully written and engaging read from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, the plot is compelling, and the writing style draws you in immediately. A perfect choice for anyone looking for a story that’s both heartfelt and memorable. Highly recommended!

For such a short novella, the amount of worldbuilding that was achieved is incredibly impressive. It's full of incredibly interesting concepts and I'd be very interested to read more within this same universe.

Issue for me really comes down to…it’s all an incredibly interesting concept. I don’t think this was a good idea for a NOVELLA. I liked the characters, I liked the world, but it just felt like there was a much bigger story to share. Character arcs were understandably rushed through, but the issue really is the arcs that were set up weren’t really doable in such a short amount of time.

I REALLY liked this one, but it really should not have been a novella. I think it missed the mark completely because of its length.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

The masked knight is famous for her ruthless and fierce dragon slaying, but in reality she is a woman who left home when she was very young and donned her armor in order to fit in. When she is sent to the neighboring country of Quanbao to investigate reports of harboring a dragon, she finds more mysteries than she anticipated, including a surprising friendship with the country's monarch.

Neon Yang has been on my to-read list for ages, and I'm so happy to finally pick up one their books! I really enjoyed this novella, especially the relationships, and of course the dragons. It was touching to see how Yeva started shedding her armor as she became more comfortable in herself than she had in years. I liked the cultural piece of feeling more at home in this neighboring place, near her home, where her mother had often been. I also enjoyed the snippets of dragon lore we got, and I would have liked even more of that. Did I see the twist coming from a mile away? Yes, but did that diminish my enjoyment? Absolutely not. I recommend this for fans of fantasy novellas like the Singing Hills series.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter thank Flame somehow took a whole novel and condensed it into a novella. While this is a novella/shorter story, the reader still gets an amazing experience with worldbuilding like a full length novel. This read felt very lyrical I think. I wish I had a little more showing vs telling, but Yeva's narrative was still enjoyable to read. This book has dragons, political dynamics, lady knights and lesbians, which are all things I thoroughly love. The story is a big predictable but that did not make the twist any less enjoyable. All in all, it was a nice short read and pallet cleanser between some larger series I am reading.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the ARC.

Unfortunately this book was exactly what I expected out of it. It was honestly pretty boring and surface level. Very predictable and generic. I can't even say that I would want more of this because I don't even know that there's enough substance here to even make a full fledged story. it's fine if you just want something quick to read but honestly there wasn't much to it.

Novellas are not my niche, but I thought this one was very well constructed, Do I think this would have been a knock-out standalone novel? Yes. Do I think this was still a very well done novella? Also yes. Yang did a great job of getting me to form an attachment to the characters while also sidestepping any of the drawn-out tension that this romance would have had. I liked the journey our main character Yeva goes on while finding out who she is and what she wants to be. I think her romance with the love interest and falling in love with Quanbao and its people was symbolic of how cultures are feared and are sought out until they become too dangerous.
This is for fans of The Madalorian, and you will know what I mean as soon as you read this. A Queer, Asian-inspired Mandalorian fantasy novella is the best description for this book.
The audio was incredibly done! I enjoyed the whole listen. This is a great short listen to recommend to sci-fi and fantasy lovers!

Brighter than scale, swifter than flame by Neon Yang was a fine read for me. I didn't love the writing style; the story was written almost exclusively as "telling, not showing". This created a distance between me and the characters. I didn't feel connected with any of them. However, the story itself was enjoyable, and the audiobook narrator did a great job.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for an ALC copy.

Otra cosa no tendrá Neon Yang, pero desde luego tiene un ojo para poner títulos llamativos a sus obras. Con Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame, le autore nos entrega en esta ocasión una fantasía sobre caza dragones bastante típica, sin muchos sobresaltos que se lee (o se escucha como hice yo) con gusto pero sin mucho apego.


La protagonista es Yeva, que en su juventud descubrió su poder para acabar con los dragones, herencia de su padre. Ha tenido una vida recluida, ya que a muy temprana edad la separaron de su familia para formarla como caza dragones. En el transcurso de esta formación y como forma de autodefensa decidió no volver a mostrar su rostro en público (un poquito mandaloriano esto). Sin embargo, ahora la mandan como embajadora a un reino extranjero para investigar sobre la posible presencia de dragones allí, un movimiento un tanto extraño ya que mandar a una guerrera a desplegar una labor diplomática no parece muy lógico. Sin embargo, Yeva dedicará todo su empeño a desvelar los misterios de la reina del lugar, Lady Sookhee.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame es una novela corta bastante previsible, que no destaca por nada en especial. Neon Yang acostumbra a ofrecer una prosa más elaborada que la que podemos ver en esta Nancy Wu es correcta, pero le falta algo de vida, aunque no os puedo asegurar que sea por la labor de la narradora o por el propio texto de origen, que me ha parecido bastante plano. Entiendo el mensaje que pretende hacernos llegar le autore sobre colonización y pérdida de identidad de los colonizados, así como también un poquito de disforia corporal acrecentada por la excesiva rigidez de sus años formativos, pero creo que el manto en que lo envuelve resulta ser menos atractivo de lo esperado, por la trayectoria de Neon Yang.

La parte romántica también deja cosas que desear, ya que es bastante previsible, como el libro en su conjunto. Espero que la siguiente publicación de Neon Yang vuelva a otros cauces más embaucadores, porque esta historia en particular se borrará pronto de mi mente.

Dragons!! This felt like historical fiction. It read so real, and that I had just forgotten that dragons existed. The narrator was perfect too!

I really enjoyed this novella! I absolutely love stories about Asian mythology! And the MC being a dragon slayer?! Say LESS!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc copy of this audiobook!

This short audiobook introduced me to Neon Yang and their lovely lyrical writing. I loved the world and could honestly have done with this being a longer book. The twist wasn’t hard to predict, but I don’t think it was meant to be impossible to guess. The story read like a fable. You don’t really get a deep grasp of the characters as it is short and told like a fairy tale, but I still enjoy it! The audiobook narrator was honestly a little flat imo, but still easy to listen to.

3.5 stars!

The writing of this story is beautiful. It paints a detailed society with varied cultures and well rounded characters.

I quite enjoyed the beginning, but the plot didn't keep my attention by the end. I did finish it in one go, in part thanks to the lovely narration, diverse cast and quality of the writing.

Arc Reader- Audio
The story of this book was so good, but a bit predictable. I do think it could have been taken a bit further, and Yeva alludes to it in the end. That the blood that gives her the magic that she wields might give her the power to also turn into a dragon. I was waiting for that moment, for her to shift to a dragon in the end with the Girl-King. The Dragon Slayer becomes what she has murdered for years. The high fantasy aesthetics are there and the feel of the book was great, but I think this would have served really well to be a bit longer. I know Neon Yang's style is well suited for the novella but I felt like they had more to say!
A note on the audio book itself. The narrator was a bit breathy where they did not need to be at times. Overall though, I felt like Nancy Wu did a great job!

I was thrilled to be approved for the audiobook for this title, I binged it over a single day, and honestly wish the story was longer. While the back story is of a fierce dragon slayer, the story itself is of self discovery, growth, and love. It was beautiful and well told for the length of the book. The narrator was creative with voices, and I think did a decent job with the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this audiobook!