3.25

This was a nice short tale that I wouldn't have minded getting to explore a bit more and have it be longer than it actually is. A good read that gave me queer representation and dragons.

I am enjoying this. I could relate to the lead feeling like she doesn't belong both in the world she is currently in and the one she "should" know. Trying to find her place when it seems like she is rejected on all sides for nit being exactly what she "should" be. I wish this had been longer

I love a good queer dragon book with a strong female protagonist, and this book delivered on those things.

Great, unique world building. Would have enjoyed more character development but overall really enjoyed this audiobook

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for letting me listen to an ALC of Brighters than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang and narrated by Nancy Wu!

Queer lady-knight dragon slayer? I’m so here for it! This novella packs a lot of story in a small punch. Yeva has been trained to be a dragon hunter and quickly rises through the guild’s ranks to become one of the best (and most mysterious) dragon slayers in their nation. When she’s sent on an assignment to a neighboring nation as an emissary, she doesn’t expect to be there long and she certainly doesn’t expect part of her duties to involve winning over the girl-king, Sookhee. The twist at the end, though slightly predictable, is extremely satisfying and I really loved the newest novella from Neon Yang! Their writing is always interesting and engaging for me, as a reader and pairs so well with Nancy Wu's narration (who has narrated several of my favorite audiobooks to date).

My only qualm is that the pacing felt a little off. There was a lot of speeding up and slowing down for moments throughout the entire story, and I almost wish this had been a full-length novel to properly flesh out the characters and their motivations just a little bit more. This was still a 5-star read for me!

Looking at this cover it’s obvious why I picked this up. Seeing it’s also from an author who’s other book has been on my TBR for a while had me even more excited, and this novella did not disappoint.

Set in the backdrop of a world of dragons, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Wind is a story primarily of love and duty, but set in a backdrop of a world built with so much mystery and intrigue, the main plot took a backseat during my read-through. We follow Yeva, a dragon slayer, sent as an emissary to a neighboring kingdom where dragons are not feared but instead revered. Clad in her suit of armour with no inch of her skin visible, in a place that so resembles her home from her past, and having to deal with a Queen that breaks all the walls Yeva had built up over the years, this is a test the infamous dragon slayer was not prepared for.

The plot is fairly straighforward and, while the ending is one we can all see coming, the real strength of the story lies in how the author has seemlessly tossed us in this world where even the small glimpse we see in this novella has me craving for so much more. The main characters are nuanced and likable, the story well paced, and the writing very easy to read.

A very pleasant novella for anyone to pick up to get a taste of fantasy, and an author who’s works I eagerly plan on diving into soon. I really hope we get more books set in this world, if there aren’t already some. Definitely recommended.

This was one of the most beautiful stories I have read all year! I highly recommend this novella to all fantasy lovers out there.

Yeva, a dragon hunter, has been training most of her life to become the most renowned in and outside her nation. When sent away be her commander to a neighboring nation, she uncovers secrets she couldn’t imagine to be true. When her own emotions and experiences are in conflict, how will she choose to proceed?

As a reader, we get to see Yeva struggle to come to terms with her changing opinions after having new experiences in a new land far away from home. In a turn of events, she may be closer to home than she realizes, and has many challenging choices to make in determining her future.

I think this novella is a great example of why it is important to learn about one’s family and where they come from, in addition to making choices for yourself and the future, not the past.

A queer novella of star crossed lovers in a world of dragon slaying. Would you choose duty or question the world you’ve been told to fight for? Would you fight to protect dragons or fight to end their killing? I will always have a soft spot for books that allow the MC to question what is engrained into them.

Yeva wears her armor for protection but this isn’t just for physical barriers. She’s also hiding herself from others. Protecting herself from being hurt again. She is a protector, a guardian, a person of devotion to her cause. She hunts dragons to defend those around her. But her various armors protects her from the truth and just might risk those she loves. Sookhee, as girl king, must look out for her people. She wears no physical armor but this doesn’t mean she also won’t be afraid of hurt. Even though she is open for all to see, can she be trusted?

I wish there was more of this story to take in. It felt short and I wanted to learn more about different elements. However, this is a novella and it did as intended in a novella. Provided a story with political intrigue, compelling MC development, and a love story. Nancy Wu did a great job as a narrator! Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC audiobook.

I had the Advance Listener Copy of Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame by Neon Yang narrated by Nancy Wu and I enjoyed listening to this book. The narration by Wu is excellent and it really propelled me through this story.

The pacing in this is a bit uneven. There is the dragon hunting adventurous parts which are quite fast-paced and the friendship and queer romance between the girl king and the dragon hunter. To be fair, this book focused more on the relationship than on actual dragon hunting so it is a bit slower paced overall. I still really enjoyed it and Nancy Wu's narration really kept the story moving for me. Overall well done. I have a few quibbles with the story, but really enjoyed my time spent in this world and would definitely read more from this author. Thank you to Net Galley and RB Media for my ALC.

I love Neon Yang and this book just solidified that. For such a short book so much happens. Yang doesn't waste a single second as they create a dazzling world with an amazing mc. This book does more in its 150 pages than most 300+ page books do. I honestly have nothing else to say other than Yang is a genius and this book deserves the most hype.

The beautiful cover of Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame initially drew my attention, but the promise of a sapphic story featuring a disabled dragon hunting knight and the ruler of a reclusive nation that reveres them, kept me enthralled.

Nancy Wu provides a wonderful and immersive narration and I felt as though I was hearing a storyteller sharing a fascinating tale as opposed to merely listening to an audiobook.

The protagonist Yeva is an interesting young woman, a knight who constantly wears her armor as a shield against both dragons and personal vulnerability. She is a unique choice as an emissary to the neighboring nation of Quanbao, ruled by the enigmatic monarch Lady Sookhee.

Like with most novellas, I found myself wishing that Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame was a bit longer. While the story felt complete, the world building is wonderful and I would have enjoyed reading more about Quanbao and about Yeva’s early years as a guildknight.

Nevertheless, I loved witnessing Yeva slowly become more comfortable with a life in the palace and watching her relationship with Lady Sookhee grow. It would have been lovely to receive a glimpse of the story from Lady Sookhee’s perspective, as she feels slightly less developed than Yeva.

The ending is wonderful as well and offers a satisfying conclusion to Yeva’s story.

Thank you to RBmedia, Recorded Books and NetGalley providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang was great in concept, but execution fell a little flat for me. All tell and no show, I wish that the author would show me the world instead of telling me what it comprised of. The tell and not show also made it difficult to relate with the characters.

There is no doubt that the author can write. But I wish that this story was expanded into a novel, as the novella does not give it the room to immerse the reader in this potentially wonderful world. The Narration by Nancy Wu, was a little flat for me, and I believe the experience would have been better if I had the opportunity to read the book instead.

Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Audiobook Rating: 3 Stars
Pub Date: May 06 2025

Tags:
#RBMedia
#BrighterthanScaleSwifterthanFlame
#NeonYang
#NancyWu
#Fantasy
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

This was a great tale by Neon Yang.

Although a short story, the novella's structure is folkloric and rich with symbolism. It carries the weight of an epic fantasy delving into themes of identity, colonialism, and the tension between duty and desire.

Yang brilliantly captures the emotional depth of Yeva's struggle with her past, her disability and her feelings for Sookhee. The romance between the two is tender and compelling, defying societal norms and their personal fears.

Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for the alc!

I actually read this novella back in December of 2024 and absolutely adored it. When I saw there was an audiobook, I jumped at the chance to return to Mithrandon and Quenbao and be reunited with Yeva and Sookhee. Nancy Wu's narration is absolutely riveting and brought new life to the story that I originally read months ago. As I said in my original review, the only thing that I wish were different about BTSSTF, is that we could get more Yeva, more Lady Sookhee and more of this incredibly, magical world that Yang has created. This has everything I want in a fantasy story, incredible world building, beautiful prose, complex characters, and even a little tense romantic subplot. And all under 5 hours to get all this?? Are you kidding me?? This was the perfect AAPI month listen and I will be screaming at everyone I know to read/listen, do whatever they have to do to consume this wonderful work <3

This was my favorite book by Neon Yang so far. The novella delivers a compact but fully realized story with a compelling balance of political intrigue, romance, and dragons. The world of Quanbao feels richly imagined, and the tension between tradition and imperialism is handled with nuance.

Yeva is a fascinating character, steeped in myth and secrecy, and their interactions with Lady Sookhee form the emotional and narrative heart of the story. Despite the short length, the pacing felt just right and the conclusion was very satisfying. And as always with Neon's books, Nancy Wu did a fantastic job at narrating.

This is a standout queer, Asian-inspired fantasy that blends heart and world-building beautifully. I would happily spend more time in this universe.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

2.5
This sapphic fantasy had a promising premise, but unfortunately, it felt more like a detailed summary than a fully fleshed-out story.

Everything was told rather than shown, which made the narrative feel flat and distanced me from the characters. I struggled to connect with anyone emotionally, and the plot twist was predictable.

It’s clear there was potential here, but the execution lacked depth and engagement.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

It feels like part of her has cracked, but in the way frost cracks in the spring.
“Thank you,” she says softly, in the language of home.

3.5 stars. A really engaging sapphic fantasy novella, sort of told in the style of a fairy tale or allegory. I really liked it! We're following Yeva, a famous, masked dragonslayer who has been tasked to go to a neighbouring kingdom and investigate rumours of a dragon they might be harbouring. There, she meets their ruler, Sookhee, a young woman her own age, as alluring as she is mysterious. As a novella, this does a great job of grounding you in the world and in the characters pretty quickly. I loved the lore of this world, the rich descriptions of setting and food and culture and legend. The dynamic between the characters is one that I find extremely delicious. There's a mystery element that you, as the reader, will figure out pretty quickly, and I was more than fine with that. I got a lot of satisfaction out of the journey, seeing the relationship develop, seeing Yeva figure out things herself. While sometimes a little frustrating as a main character, I thought she was a great vehicle to explore themes of autonomy and imperialism.

Because I liked the setup so much, I of course ended up wanting this to be at least a little bit longer. The ending wrapped up super quickly; not surprising, for a novella, but still a bit disappointing to me. I couldn't help but want a bit more!

Listened to the audiobook as read by Nancy Wu, and I really enjoyed it; she has a great, husky voice that perfectly suited this main character, and the supporting cast. I enjoyed Yang's writing a lot, and overall, this is one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Especially if you're craving something a bit atmospheric; something that's told like a legend. That in itself did a lot to endear the story and the characters to me. Kudos!

☆ Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a review copy! I am voluntarily leaving a review.

3.5 stars

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a queer, Asian-inspired fantasy novella about a renowned dragon slayer with a mysterious past. Yeva must navigate the treacherous politics of a reclusive kingdom where dragons are not slain, but rather, are worshipped. She is sent as an emissary to the nation of Quanbao and must win the trust of Queen Sookhee, a ruler fiercely protective of her people and their secrets. Yeva and Sookhee become intertwined in a beautiful way but can their new relationship overcome longstanding family secrets?

This was a beautifully written, almost lyrical, novella that I enjoyed. In general, I wish the story was a little longer and offered more character development. Regarding the audiobook narration, I thought the narrator was very flat and somber, which fit the character. I just wish there was more inflection and emotion in the narrator's voice during such scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to an Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Thank you Recorded Books for my free ARC of Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang — available May 6!

» READ IF YOU «
🐉 enjoy queer fantasy narratives with dragons
👑 love a little duty-versus-desire setup
☕ want something short but sweet

» SYNOPSIS «
Yeva is a dragon slayer who never removes their helm in front of others. When they’re sent to remote, unfriendly Quanbao—where dragons are sacred—Yeva will struggle with their own desires and sense of self. And hey, there’s a hot queen and there might even be an ancient dragon around?

» REVIEW «
This is a lovely little fantasy novella that is inclusive but focused. Our central character is Yeva and we do not waver from her, in case you’re getting exhausted by fantasy book casts of characters. Sometimes I just want one thread to follow, ya know?

Anyway, I enjoyed Yeva’s introspective journey, plus all the little glimpses of folklore and dragons that we got. Their romance with the queen isn’t super developed, but it’s pleasant, and overall I was kept entertained but this story. Snag this read if you dig queer fantasy, dragons, and/or Asian-inspired folklore!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I saw this cover floating around on a couple of upcoming sapphic releases posts on instagram. Immediately added it to my TBR because this cover is gorgeous. I was so excited when I saw the ALC go up on NetGalley & even more excited when I got approved. This very much reads as The Mandalorian but with dragons.

Nancy Wu gives a lovely performance bringing this story to life.

- Asian inspired fantasy world
- Sapphics
- Dragons
- Bite-sized novella
- Politics & romance
- Disability rep

Very impressed that the author immersed me in such a vivid world in just under 200 pages. Excited to check out more by this author.

A major thank you to RB Media & to NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for m honest review.

Let me start off with saying that the narrator was amazing. I was immersed in the story and was a little sad when it was over. But let me tell what this book is about: Yeva is a renowned dragon slayer, sent on a mission to a neighbouring kingdom to uncover some secrets....but she ends up finding love, and herself.
Excellent world building, and immerisve plot that was paced well. My favorite thing about this book was the characters and how we see Yeva our mc grow. The romance was sweet and I love how it intertwined with the plot. Overall this book was fantastic and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to netgalley and publisher for this audiobook.