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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m between a 3.5 and a 4. I liked the book and will read the next, but Meilin’s character development felt stilted and awkward. Both the love interests have red flags that make me cringe. But the magic, the world, and the premise, a retelling of Mulan, are all interesting enough for me to keep going.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m really glad I waited until after finishing The Night Ends in Fire by K.X. Song to read other people’s reviews, because I ended up really liking it. A lot of readers seem disappointed that it doesn’t align with the Disney version of Mulan, but honestly, that feels like the point. This is a retelling rooted in Chinese mythology, and Song makes it her own by giving the female lead motivations that feel fresh and non-traditional: greed, power, freedom.
I actually got to hear K.X. Song speak at San Diego Comic Con, so I went in with some context that this story would be grimmer than the version most people are familiar with. Knowing that, I appreciated it even more. I loved how immersive it was in terms of Chinese culture, history, and folklore elements I’m not as familiar with but really enjoyed exploring through her writing.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Life is too short to read books you aren't enjoying.
There's a weird disconnect between chinese mythology and Disney mulan. Some scenes felt right from the movie and did not fit with the situation.
The main character's motivations were unclear and contradictory.
Apparently there will be a love triangle and no thanks. I already think the romance is forced and unrealistic.
There's a weird disconnect between chinese mythology and Disney mulan. Some scenes felt right from the movie and did not fit with the situation.
The main character's motivations were unclear and contradictory.
Apparently there will be a love triangle and no thanks. I already think the romance is forced and unrealistic.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Author tells a lot instead of shows. They established in the beginning that the fmc has kung fu skills. She so talented that the prince she meets in the beginning is praising her. Saying that she is better than most men on the army. However the moment she joins said army, she is the weakest there?? What's the point of 'setting up' ( because really the author just told us) a skill, if it doesn't really matter later on in the story. This was one of many things that bothered me in the story. The pacing issue added on top of that, made me not want to finish it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes