The was pretty good. Honestly, I just found myself wanting more. The characters were a little flat for me, and I wasn’t that invested in them. But it was overall enjoyable, and my opinion is just that, mine. If you love cozy fantasy, you’ll probably enjoy this book.

“You have the strength of the earth in you,” she used to tell her daughters. “The rains can come and the ploughs can carve through you and still you will remain.”

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame was a well written, but predictable novella. Nancy Wu did a great job as the audiobook narrator. The plot had similar vibes to the Fireborne Blade, so if you liked that novella, I think you’ll enjoy this one too. Thanks NetGalley and publishers for this audiobook ARC!

Wow! This one really surprised me! It has a really fun fairytale/folktale/oral tradition feel to it. More stories need to be like this. Very fitting for a story about a dragon slayer.

How I wish this book was longer, it has such an interesting plot and world. I would love to know more about the other characters, like the sister and their mother’s past.

note: i will rate the audiobook AND book individually since i've read and listen to this 😄

for the audiobook, i like the narrator's voice. it's sultry but i expect more. also, the closing remarks part is lacking

the book however, i have expectations for this sonce it's my anticipated release. i'm enjoying the first 50% of this, not until it went downhill (a little). there's so much happening and it is too rushed. but at least the plot twist got my jaw dropped 😲

This was a beautifully written fantasy novella with world building reminiscent of epic fantasy in a bite sized story. The lore was captivating and swept me away on a dragon slayer knight’s journey to breaking free from their kingdom’s indoctrination and finding where their heart lies. It left me yearning for a full length story of Yeva and Sookhee, for an epilogue with that much awaited familial reunion.

Thanks to the publisher for the ALC, thoughts are my own.

Thank you RBmedia and Neon Yang for providing me with the opportunity to listen to this advanced listeners copy of Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame.

I forgot I was reading a novella. I fell into this world so quickly and so deep, I’m mad it’s over!

I am in love with the prose. Lyrical, poetic, yet conversational like a retelling of a well-known myth. The story itself captured my interest immediately - reminiscent of traditional epics like Beowulf, with modern spins like the famed dragonslayer being a woman, a queer romance, and being torn between duty (as a nameless, faceless weapon) and the yearning for, and loyalty to, one's homeland (where Yeva can be a full person who possess individuality & personal preferences and desires).

The narrator of the audiobook, Nancy Wu, is well-chosen. Emotive, and excellent enunciation for unusual fantasy names and twisting sentences alike.

Unfortunately I am beginning to suspect that audio format just does not work for me. I have difficulty parsing the poetic prose on a single listen - I need to be able to read & re-read, especially for more lyrical writing. I will definitely purchase a physical book copy of this novel.

Despite my personal issues with the audio format, I know that if I was reading this instead of listening, it would be an easy 4 stars - so that is where I will rate it.

This novella is a captivating and inventive take on fantasy tropes, blending rich cultural influences with thoughtful exploration of identity and duty. The protagonist, Yeva, is a queer, disabled female dragon slayer set in an Asian-inspired fantasy world, which offers a fresh perspective amidst familiar genre conventions. Her mysterious, troubled backstory and consistent armor and helmet symbolize the masks we wear, echoing themes of colonization, biracial identity, disability, and reconnected cultural roots.
The story excels in its lush atmosphere, vivid descriptions, and character development. Yeva’s inner conflict—caught between her role as the emperor’s weapon and her own sense of belonging—feels authentic and emotionally resonant. The romance with the beautiful girl-king adds depth, seamlessly weaving themes of acceptance and self-discovery.
While the prose beautifully captures the setting and mood, some sections could benefit from more showing rather than telling, especially in the folkloric stylings. Nevertheless, as an early draft, it already offers a satisfying story arc with emotional punches and rewarding character growth.
Overall, this novella is a delightful and thought-provoking read that combines dragons, lady knights, and queer themes with cultural richness and poetic storytelling. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy who appreciate diverse representation, intricate world-building, and stories about reclaiming identity.

Yeva killed her first dragon at age thirteen. Since her powers showed themselves, by imperial law she was sent to the capital to become a guildknight.

Guildknights are dragon hunters. Over the years, Yeva has become the most famous guildknight of all.

When rumors of a dragon in a neighboring country start flying, Yeva is sent to find out if the rumors are true. What she finds will make her question everything she's ever known.

I am not usually a big fan of novellas, but this author can do them right. I loved her Tensorate series and was happy to see a new one by this author.
I enjoyed this one as well. The writing is beautiful, and I really liked Yeva's character. The narrator was great as well.

I love shorter novels but it it sometimes hard for a book to say everything they want to say with so little pages. In this books case I think it did a really great job delivering what it wanted to deliver. There were a lot of layers to this story. The characters are all very well developed and interesting to read about and there's loads of character development through the story. I really enjoyed the 'reveal' at the end though it was a bit obvious where that plot line was going. I would love to have another book with these characters cause I did really grow to care for them.

Loved the romance and the dragons overall it's a really solid novella that any fantasy fan will enjoy!

Thank you to Neon Yang, RBmedia & NetGalley for the audioARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.5 stars.
Genre(s): fantasy romance novella.

Overall impression: the blurb and gorgeous book cover were really intriguing. But unfortunately, this novella wasn't for me - largely because the writing style was too much 'telling' and not enough 'showing'. The world-building, character development, romance and plot all occurred very rapidly to the point it was impossible to submerse yourself within the story. And the plot was pretty much entirely summed up in the blurb, making the whole read feel quite unsatisfying. I enjoyed the narrator for the audiobook and she vocalised the characters really well, so if you're interested in picking up the book I'd recommend that format.

Tropes:
➵ Sapphic
➵ Forbidden romance
➵ Hidden identity
➵ Masked warrior
➵ Everyone has secrets
➵ Dragons & dragon slayers
➵ Fast paced

⤷ Plot:
I read the blurb and knew exactly what was going to happen in the story. There were no surprises or twists, making the read feel really unsatisfying. I think the blurb needs to be re-written because it spoils the entire book in my opinion.

⤷ Characters:
The characters were very two-dimensional and I felt very disengaged from them. The romance was fine but it happened so abruptly that it was jarring.

⤷ World-building:
The world-building could have been fleshed out more. I know it's a novella but you still have time to create a world with lore and unique locations. I felt like the author threw dragons and dragon hunters in and that was the extent of it. I couldn't really picture any of the locations in much detail which was a shame, though most of the time was spent within the castle and caves underneath it.

⤷ Writing:
The writing style was the biggest sticking point for me. There was too much 'telling' and not enough 'showing'. It felt like we were reading a synopsis of a book instead of reading the entire thing. Because of this, I never really felt submersed in the story and it took away a lot of the enjoyment.

⤷ Everything else:
I listened to the audiobook version by RBmedia. I was able to easily follow along with the story and the narrator spoke clearly and voiced the characters well. I probably would have been less engaged in the story or not finished it at all if I'd picked up the print copy.

The artist for the book cover did an amazing job. It represents the characters really well and shows their personalities even before you've picked up the book.

I absolutely loved the character voices the narrator did, but the actual narrative text often fell flat in terms of engaging or interesting narration. The overall balance was okay, but for less dialogue-heavy parts I did feel myself become uninterested and easily distracted. This would probably not have been as much of an issue if I had read it in text. The story was suprisingly rich for such a short book, the characters well fleshed out and their relationships deep and meaningful. I especially like the themes of honour and duty an d the complications thereoff. I will be sure to recommend this book to the right customers.

3.5 Stars

This one was a nice and intriguing book. It was a quick read which blended dragons, politics, and a sapphic romance with a strong female protagonist. The worldbuilding is definitely the standout feature, offering a rich setting inspired by Asian culture. This definitely added more depth to the overall story. Yeva, the dragon slayer, was a good character, and her journey to reconcile duty and personal identity added an emotional layer to the novella.

While the romantic development is engaging, it somewhat overshadows the potential for more dragon-slaying action, and the ending feels a bit rushed. Overall, it's a solid read with a cozy, fairy tale vibe, but it leaves you wanting more exploration of its world and characters.

I received an audio copy from NetGalley and the publisher, and the narrator truly brought the narrative to life, making the experience even more immersive.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio version!

Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame is a lighthearted yet emotionally resonant novella that gracefully balances beauty and depth. In under 200 pages, it manages to explore powerful themes—disability, racism, grief, and chronic illness—while weaving in a tender sapphic romance and lush, Asian-inspired fantasy.

While the plot follows a familiar narrative arc, its predictability doesn’t diminish the joy of reading it. The story is heartfelt and engaging, drawing you into a world that feels fully realized despite the novella's brevity. The prose is lyrical and evocative, offering moments of softness amid heavier themes.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that it ends too soon. I found myself wishing for more time with the characters and the world they inhabit. Still, this speaks more to the novella's strength than its shortcomings—its impact lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, Tordotcom, Neon Yang, and Nancy Wu (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame in exchange for an honest review.

Yeva, a nonbinary person with a sole mission, is born to slay dragons. They never take their armor off in public, keeping their identity hidden while maintaining their dragon-slaying code. 

While the rest of the world fears dragons and frequently seeks the aid of dragon slayers, one mysterious and isolated country, Quanbao, actually worships dragons! Yeva is tasked to meet with and woo the Queen to see what secrets may be unveiled about this strange worship of dragons. It is rumored that they even harbor a dragon! Yeva must find out if this rumor is true and hold true to their dragon-slaying upbringing.

This novel is a short fun flight. It encompasses intriguing characters and a code of which one lives by, demonstrating how important codes and beliefs are. It also explores some LGBTQ romance in an interesting Asian mythology inspired setting. As one who just had students to an archetype/genre subversion project, I enjoy the way the irony of Yeva's situation offers potential for subverting the fantasy hero archetype.

Underneath the plot is the key aspects of culture, and what it means to see and understand a culture different than one's own. I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing and execution of this novel, and I find it a unique addition to the literary world that fantasy readers are sure to enjoy.

I enjoyed the premise of this story - a dragon slayer sent on a mission, only to discover more than she bargained for.

I think this story, as a novella, was the perfect length. I enjoyed the writing and the relationship dynamics and I'm always a fan of dragons!

I just wish there was more dragon action - I wanted to experience the battles that made Yeva an epic dragon slayer. I also felt things were rather predictable so this felt a bit more YA to me.

3 stars to me = I enjoyed it, but I wasn't in love and need to reread. I think this would be perfect for those wanting to dip their toes into fantasy!

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and the narrator can make or break them for me. Well done!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC!

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a gentle and introspective fantasy about duty, identity, and questioning your place in society. It follows Yeva, a renowned dragon-slayer, sent to a neighboring kingdom where dragons are not feared but revered. She is not sent there as a warrior however, but as a diplomate. She slowly starts to rethinking her life and all the choices that led her here today.

The tone of the story is calm and steady, and the writing flows beautifully. I especially enjoyed the atmosphere: the Chinese-inspired setting, the descriptions of food, clothing, and city life gave the book a strong and immersive flavor. The romantic thread is sweet, though I would have loved more depth to the love interest and the secondary characters.

While the end of the book was a little predictable, the story is more about internal growth than action, and fans of character-driven fantasy will likely enjoy the ride. The audiobook narration is steady and calming, which matched the tone of the story well.

A good pick for readers looking for a soft standalone fantasy, with introspective themes and a focus on healing and connection.

Thank you NetGalley and recorded books for the copy of Brighter than scale, swifter than flame by Neon Yang.

For a novella, I thought this was very interesting and had just enough information about the characters and the world. I pictured the fmc as a female knight with mandolorian vibes while hunting dragons. The romance in this and spice was just enough and well done too I thought.

The narrator did a very good job and was easy to listen to and get immersed in the story. Overall, the story was quick and intriguing with dragon elements.

This story was interesting, and the narrator was new to me. The narrator added an extra interest to the story. Yeva, the FMC, is sent on a mission and ends up doing some self discover. Dragons and Knights and opposite kingdoms with a new ending to the tradition dragons and Knights stories.