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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to love this book, Mulan is my favorite Disney movie and I've been dying to relive that high. This just missed the mark so wide for me. So many reasons, but here's a few:
1. Meilin's character was not strong enough to carry this story. She was a passenger making blind reckless decisions not using any critical thought until it was too late. Also, greed isn't the right word for her emotions, in my opinion. Yes women can be greedy, but she's hoping for a better lot in life. That doesn't make her greedy, it makes her ambitious and hopeful.
2. Can we stop with love triangles between the over-protective golden retriever and the "he's not abusive just broody" bad boy? If Sky was the only love interest in this book I would be perfectly happy. Let him figure out his own gender biases and prove he deserves Meilin. Every second Lei was on the page I got major ick.As soon as Lei called Meilin "his" I almost threw my kindle across the room in disgust. Their first real interaction he's drunk off his ass hurting her just like her father used to, but because he saved her from a rapist and his mom was killed in front of him that makes it alright? I'm so tired of this formula.
3. So many character contradictions. A better supporting cast that Meilin could more reliably/believably trust would have helped, I think. I read books for characters as much as plot. Flesh out more of those nights spent playing cards so Sparrow can be more than flaky comic relief.
4. If this is supposed to be a "feminist" retelling it didn't get there. It felt performative.Like when Meilin flinches away from a hair clip because it will make her look like a girl while she is being kept prisoner and everyone knows her identity. She has bigger fish to fry. It's a pointless detail. Have Meilin actually learn from her mistakes and gain confidence as a leader, not wallow in how she keeps inadvertently fulfilling every womanly stereotype.
5. Qinglong and the spirirts as a concept: so cool. In practice: thinly veiled antagonist whose only purpose is to shit talk Meilin and not teach.
I skimmed that last 20% just to find out what happens and I get that's the realistic ending, but it was just really anticlimactic. Parts of this book made me actively mad.
1. Meilin's character was not strong enough to carry this story. She was a passenger making blind reckless decisions not using any critical thought until it was too late. Also, greed isn't the right word for her emotions, in my opinion. Yes women can be greedy, but she's hoping for a better lot in life. That doesn't make her greedy, it makes her ambitious and hopeful.
2. Can we stop with love triangles between the over-protective golden retriever and the "he's not abusive just broody" bad boy? If Sky was the only love interest in this book I would be perfectly happy. Let him figure out his own gender biases and prove he deserves Meilin. Every second Lei was on the page I got major ick.
3. So many character contradictions. A better supporting cast that Meilin could more reliably/believably trust would have helped, I think. I read books for characters as much as plot. Flesh out more of those nights spent playing cards so Sparrow can be more than flaky comic relief.
4. If this is supposed to be a "feminist" retelling it didn't get there. It felt performative.
5. Qinglong and the spirirts as a concept: so cool. In practice: thinly veiled antagonist whose only purpose is to shit talk Meilin and not teach.
I skimmed that last 20% just to find out what happens and I get that's the realistic ending, but it was just really anticlimactic. Parts of this book made me actively mad.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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
The Night Ends in Fire was a fascinating, more realistic portrayal of the story of Mulan. I loved our protagonist, Meilin, and her morally-grey, unapologetic nature. The writing was a little basic, but easy to read. I’m excited for the sequel!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
The first half of this book is like the Disney movie Mulan (of course inspired by the legend of Mulan) for adults. I loved the main character Meilin and her path to independence and power. I enjoyed her dynamic with the other soldiers and the prince. Unlike in Disney movies, every character is morally grey, doing what they believe is right despite the consequences or the casualties. The second half of the book takes our characters on quite a journey and diverges even further from what fans of the Disney movie may know. It introduces new characters and furthers the conflict. And that last chapter!!! Overall, I was engaged throughout the whole story, and I look forward to reading the sequel!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes