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celadore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
acting_author_avatar's review against another edition
4.5
It was so good! I would definitely read it again.
The whole Demon Gods thing was so cool!
The Demon God's names were cool, with the Azure Tiger, Black Tortoise, Silver Dragon, and Crimson Phoenix.
The whole Demon Gods thing was so cool!
The Demon God's names were cool, with the Azure Tiger, Black Tortoise, Silver Dragon, and Crimson Phoenix.
andieboba's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
exquisite_tragedy's review
4.0
January 2024
Re-read in preparation for the release of Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White. I still loved the characters and plot, but it read much younger the second time around. This is marketed as young adult, but it felt more middle grade at times. So just know that going in.
December 2022
**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review **
What can I say….this book was an absolute masterpiece. It was achingly beautiful and heartbreaking. Amelie Wen Zhao masterfully created an enthralling YA fantasy world rooted in Chinese mythology with themes of cultural assimilation and colonialism effortlessly interwoven in. This was an incredible first installment to a new duology and I’m excited (AND TERRIFIED) to see where things go.
One of the best things about this book was all of the incredible characters, especially our main dynamic duo Lan and Zen. In a lot of ways, Lan was a stereotypical headstrong YA fantasy heroine. However, unlike a lot of other YA books I’ve read, she had a ton of depth and dimension to her character that made her so much more than just another other YA heroine. We got a good mix of her independent boss lady moments but also a lot of vulnerability that made her that much more endearing and someone you could easily root for. Zen was such a cold grump and I loved every second of it. He was a man of duty and rigidity, but It didn’t take much for Lan to start melting down his icy exterior. I obviously won’t get into spoilers here, but Zen is bound and determined to break me by the end of this duology
The sloooooow burn romance between Zen and Lan was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was filled with “knife to throat” enemies to lovers vibes paired with soft touches and eye contact that made me INVESTED. You could feel the natural chemistry and mutual respect these two had for each other. They were both so protective of each other and willing to put themselves on the line for the other no matter the cost…which, given the way the plot goes, makes this book that much more enthralling and heartbreaking.
All of the side characters were so dynamic and interesting. In particular, Shanjun and Tai were sweet baby angels and need to be protected at all costs. But one thing you should know going into this…Amelie Wen Zhao is not afraid to put her characters THROUGH IT. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The colonialism and cultural assimilation subplot should and will make you uncomfortable at times. Without going into spoilers, it was really interesting to analyze the way that a desire for power plays out differently amongst both the oppressed and the oppressor (each with heartbreaking consequences).
My only regret in picking this book up now is that now I’m stuck with my unanswered questions until the final book come out (and who knows when that’s going to happen!). But it was worth it in the end.
I just can’t wait to get my hands on my preorder of the physical copy!
Story: 4/5
Re-read in preparation for the release of Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White. I still loved the characters and plot, but it read much younger the second time around. This is marketed as young adult, but it felt more middle grade at times. So just know that going in.
December 2022
**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review **
What can I say….this book was an absolute masterpiece. It was achingly beautiful and heartbreaking. Amelie Wen Zhao masterfully created an enthralling YA fantasy world rooted in Chinese mythology with themes of cultural assimilation and colonialism effortlessly interwoven in. This was an incredible first installment to a new duology and I’m excited (AND TERRIFIED) to see where things go.
One of the best things about this book was all of the incredible characters, especially our main dynamic duo Lan and Zen. In a lot of ways, Lan was a stereotypical headstrong YA fantasy heroine. However, unlike a lot of other YA books I’ve read, she had a ton of depth and dimension to her character that made her so much more than just another other YA heroine. We got a good mix of her independent boss lady moments but also a lot of vulnerability that made her that much more endearing and someone you could easily root for. Zen was such a cold grump and I loved every second of it. He was a man of duty and rigidity, but It didn’t take much for Lan to start melting down his icy exterior. I obviously won’t get into spoilers here, but Zen is bound and determined to break me by the end of this duology
The sloooooow burn romance between Zen and Lan was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was filled with “knife to throat” enemies to lovers vibes paired with soft touches and eye contact that made me INVESTED. You could feel the natural chemistry and mutual respect these two had for each other. They were both so protective of each other and willing to put themselves on the line for the other no matter the cost…which, given the way the plot goes, makes this book that much more enthralling and heartbreaking.
All of the side characters were so dynamic and interesting. In particular, Shanjun and Tai were sweet baby angels and need to be protected at all costs. But one thing you should know going into this…Amelie Wen Zhao is not afraid to put her characters THROUGH IT. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The colonialism and cultural assimilation subplot should and will make you uncomfortable at times. Without going into spoilers, it was really interesting to analyze the way that a desire for power plays out differently amongst both the oppressed and the oppressor (each with heartbreaking consequences).
My only regret in picking this book up now is that now I’m stuck with my unanswered questions until the final book come out (and who knows when that’s going to happen!). But it was worth it in the end.
I just can’t wait to get my hands on my preorder of the physical copy!
Story: 4/5
cait_readsxox's review
5.0
This was such an amazing story! I absolutely loved the folklore elements mixed throughout this story such as the 4 Demon Gods and the use of Qi (life force) to do magic. This was such a unique fantasy that pulled Chinese mythology and Folklore into the story and weaved it together beautifully. This is not a light cozy fantasy as it has dark elements to it, which I personally loved. The progression of character growth that I got to see through Lan and Zen was really interesting to read! I really loved the 2 main characters and their interactions with each other. They have 2 differing perspectives on how to deal with conflict, which was very intriguing to see how their opinions played out with the main plot in the story. Also I thoroughly enjoyed the light romance between Lan and Zen, it was very sweet! The book left on such a cliffhanger like I need to know what is going to happen now! I’m super excited to read the sequel when it releases! 5 stars ⭐️ And a new favourite!
kingjo_elo's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
ablondebooknerd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0