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A review by thelitraccoon
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
⭐⭐ 2 Stars
I really wanted to love The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I’ll start with the positives: the world-building was extensive and well thought out. Amélie Wen Zhao clearly put a lot of effort into crafting the setting, and it felt immersive and rich with mythology. If you love detailed fantasy worlds, there’s a lot to appreciate here!
However, the writing style really didn’t work for me. It felt clunky and unnatural at times, which made it hard to stay engaged. I’m not sure if it was intentional to match the setting, but it ended up pulling me out of the story rather than drawing me in.
Then there’s Àn’yīng, our main character. I completely understand that she’s been through a lot—losing her family so young definitely left her with deep trauma—but it felt like that was all there was to her. Every other sentence was about her tragic past, and it started to feel repetitive rather than adding depth to her character. That emotional flatness extended to the rest of the cast as well, including Yù’chén, the love interest. Their relationship never clicked for me, and it was hard to root for them when Àn’yīng was often just outright mean to him for no reason.
What really unsettled me, though, were some of Àn’yīng’s comments about halflings. Lines like “A thing like this has no place in our realm” and “These creatures wander the fringes of the world, abominations under the heavenly order” made me do a double take. I kept waiting for the book to challenge these ideas or show real character growth, but even though she becomes friends with some halflings, it felt like it was only because they were useful to her. She never truly reflects on her prejudices, which left a sour taste in my mouth.
On top of all that, the pacing was really slow. There was very little dialogue, which made the characters feel even more distant, and the main action didn’t even start until around the 50% mark. By then, I was already struggling to stay invested.
I know this book will have its audience, and I respect the work that went into it, but personally, I didn’t connect with the characters, the romance, or the way certain themes were handled. Sadly, I won’t be continuing the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to love The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I’ll start with the positives: the world-building was extensive and well thought out. Amélie Wen Zhao clearly put a lot of effort into crafting the setting, and it felt immersive and rich with mythology. If you love detailed fantasy worlds, there’s a lot to appreciate here!
However, the writing style really didn’t work for me. It felt clunky and unnatural at times, which made it hard to stay engaged. I’m not sure if it was intentional to match the setting, but it ended up pulling me out of the story rather than drawing me in.
Then there’s Àn’yīng, our main character. I completely understand that she’s been through a lot—losing her family so young definitely left her with deep trauma—but it felt like that was all there was to her. Every other sentence was about her tragic past, and it started to feel repetitive rather than adding depth to her character. That emotional flatness extended to the rest of the cast as well, including Yù’chén, the love interest. Their relationship never clicked for me, and it was hard to root for them when Àn’yīng was often just outright mean to him for no reason.
What really unsettled me, though, were some of Àn’yīng’s comments about halflings. Lines like “A thing like this has no place in our realm” and “These creatures wander the fringes of the world, abominations under the heavenly order” made me do a double take. I kept waiting for the book to challenge these ideas or show real character growth, but even though she becomes friends with some halflings, it felt like it was only because they were useful to her. She never truly reflects on her prejudices, which left a sour taste in my mouth.
On top of all that, the pacing was really slow. There was very little dialogue, which made the characters feel even more distant, and the main action didn’t even start until around the 50% mark. By then, I was already struggling to stay invested.
I know this book will have its audience, and I respect the work that went into it, but personally, I didn’t connect with the characters, the romance, or the way certain themes were handled. Sadly, I won’t be continuing the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.