Scan barcode
A review by dinipandareads
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Delacorte Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up!
TL;DR: This YA fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology was fast-paced, action-packed, and beautifully written—it's perfect for fans of wuxia/xianxia stories. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a story about family, fate and rebellion. The author’s lyrical prose and gorgeous world-building will have you feeling immersed in these pages full of horrifying demonic creatures, beautifully cruel immortals, and delightful mythological creatures. I found Àn’Yīng admirable and relatable, I was invested in the ‘Rome and Juliet-esque’ romance, and I was gripped by the twists and turns that came at the end. I had to put the book down to take a breather at one point because everything seemed to happen all at once and I was not ready?! And I loved it. Is it too soon to ask for the next book? 😬
From the opening lines to the very end of this book, AWZ’s beautifully lyrical prose and stunningly vivid world-building will have you feeling fully immersed in the story. There’s something about the author’s writing that makes it so easy to picture all of the scenes unfolding like a movie before my eyes. Being able to do this made me feel so much more absorbed in the story. I appreciated that AWZ doesn’t waste time with slowly setting up the scene in the beginning and the action kicks off immediately. From the go, it’s apparent that this is a dangerous world where hell spawn roam freely and you could die just as easily as you could take your next breath. As Àn’Yīng sets off for the Kingdom in the Sky, leaving her mother and sister behind, you can feel how tense and high-stakes the situation is and just how badly she wants to win the deadly trials.
Àn’Yīng was a fierce MC and there’s no questioning her dedication and willingness to do anything for her family. Due to the war and resulting loss of her parents, she needed to grow up faster than any child should, as she not only had to care for herself and her baby sister but she also took responsibility for ensuring her village’s safety. She’s an admirable young woman who made countless sacrifices for her family. She’s driven by her anger and disgust towards the mo but she also uses her fear as fuel to stoke that anger and propel her forward.
She develops unlikely friendships including a trio of halflings viewed as abominations by mortals, as well as Yù’Chén, who ends up being a central character in her story. He intrigued me immensely and I ended up loving his character. There’s just something about a fierce warrior type who seems invulnerable to so much, yet wears his emotional vulnerability so close to the surface, and seeing these seemingly perfect characters yearn for acceptance and love just hits me in the feels! Sure, I was questioning his motives but I was also reeled in by the softer side he rarely presented.
The one thing that I wish had been done better was the character development for everyone. It would’ve been nice to see more of Àn’Yīng’s growth as someone who can fend for herself without having to be repeatedly rescued. That’s not to say she didn’t know how to fight because she’s a baddie with a warrior heart and I loved seeing her wield her magic daggers. I guess I just wanted to see more of her training and how she learns to harness qi better. Also, as much as I understand why the main love interest wasn’t further developed, I would’ve loved to see more varied interactions with Àn’Yīng. Their scenes ended up feeling a bit formulaic but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of their romance as I liked their push and pull. It’s complex and angsty, and as certain things are revealed, there’s an increasing sense of “doomed love” and “star-crossed lovers” vibes that I was here for! 😂 I will say this pushed into possible love triangle territory, although the other connection gave a strong ‘platonic’/unrequited vibe. I wasn’t keen since it’s my least fave trope but I’ve noticed that romances in wuxia/xianxia tend to be very dramatic and tragic! This is obviously all guesses and who knows what direction AWZ will take this—all I hope is that it’s going to be angsty AF and serve the emotional turmoil that leads to a satisfying end. I was screaming “HOLY FIREBALLS OF ANGST” for the last 10-15% of this so I think AWZ will deliver!
Overall, I had a freaking good time reading this and I’m already so excited for the next book which is honestly a bit tragic seeing as how this book has (by now) just been published. 🥲 I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the sequel cos I need to see how everything will unfold!
TL;DR: This YA fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology was fast-paced, action-packed, and beautifully written—it's perfect for fans of wuxia/xianxia stories. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a story about family, fate and rebellion. The author’s lyrical prose and gorgeous world-building will have you feeling immersed in these pages full of horrifying demonic creatures, beautifully cruel immortals, and delightful mythological creatures. I found Àn’Yīng admirable and relatable, I was invested in the ‘Rome and Juliet-esque’ romance, and I was gripped by the twists and turns that came at the end. I had to put the book down to take a breather at one point because everything seemed to happen all at once and I was not ready?! And I loved it. Is it too soon to ask for the next book? 😬
From the opening lines to the very end of this book, AWZ’s beautifully lyrical prose and stunningly vivid world-building will have you feeling fully immersed in the story. There’s something about the author’s writing that makes it so easy to picture all of the scenes unfolding like a movie before my eyes. Being able to do this made me feel so much more absorbed in the story. I appreciated that AWZ doesn’t waste time with slowly setting up the scene in the beginning and the action kicks off immediately. From the go, it’s apparent that this is a dangerous world where hell spawn roam freely and you could die just as easily as you could take your next breath. As Àn’Yīng sets off for the Kingdom in the Sky, leaving her mother and sister behind, you can feel how tense and high-stakes the situation is and just how badly she wants to win the deadly trials.
Àn’Yīng was a fierce MC and there’s no questioning her dedication and willingness to do anything for her family. Due to the war and resulting loss of her parents, she needed to grow up faster than any child should, as she not only had to care for herself and her baby sister but she also took responsibility for ensuring her village’s safety. She’s an admirable young woman who made countless sacrifices for her family. She’s driven by her anger and disgust towards the mo but she also uses her fear as fuel to stoke that anger and propel her forward.
She develops unlikely friendships including a trio of halflings viewed as abominations by mortals, as well as Yù’Chén, who ends up being a central character in her story. He intrigued me immensely and I ended up loving his character. There’s just something about a fierce warrior type who seems invulnerable to so much, yet wears his emotional vulnerability so close to the surface, and seeing these seemingly perfect characters yearn for acceptance and love just hits me in the feels! Sure, I was questioning his motives but I was also reeled in by the softer side he rarely presented.
The one thing that I wish had been done better was the character development for everyone. It would’ve been nice to see more of Àn’Yīng’s growth as someone who can fend for herself without having to be repeatedly rescued. That’s not to say she didn’t know how to fight because she’s a baddie with a warrior heart and I loved seeing her wield her magic daggers. I guess I just wanted to see more of her training and how she learns to harness qi better. Also, as much as I understand why the main love interest wasn’t further developed, I would’ve loved to see more varied interactions with Àn’Yīng. Their scenes ended up feeling a bit formulaic but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of their romance as I liked their push and pull. It’s complex and angsty, and as certain things are revealed, there’s an increasing sense of “doomed love” and “star-crossed lovers” vibes that I was here for! 😂 I will say this pushed into possible love triangle territory, although the other connection gave a strong ‘platonic’/unrequited vibe. I wasn’t keen since it’s my least fave trope but I’ve noticed that romances in wuxia/xianxia tend to be very dramatic and tragic! This is obviously all guesses and who knows what direction AWZ will take this—all I hope is that it’s going to be angsty AF and serve the emotional turmoil that leads to a satisfying end. I was screaming “HOLY FIREBALLS OF ANGST” for the last 10-15% of this so I think AWZ will deliver!
Overall, I had a freaking good time reading this and I’m already so excited for the next book which is honestly a bit tragic seeing as how this book has (by now) just been published. 🥲 I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the sequel cos I need to see how everything will unfold!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent