A review by caitofthebook
The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song

adventurous dark fast-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? Yes

2.5

This had all the ingredients of a story I should have loved (Mulan inspirations, spirit creatures, and a sea dragon!) but the execution just didn’t land for me. The plot was basic (kill one guy, add a dash of drama), the worldbuilding was barely there, and the characters… 😬 I know the main character is meant to be selfish and ruthless, but she came off flat and unbelievable to me. This was especially frustrating as I really wanted to root for her and feel invested in her cause. 

But unfortunately it wasn’t just her I struggled with. All of these characters are kind of awful - even the love interests only look good if you squint. And while the love triangle held a tiny sliver of interest for me by the end of book (if only because I live for the drama), I don’t care enough to continue the series.

The writing was easy to get through and the second half picked up in terms of pacing and structure. But I have some major concerns over the heavy themes and lack of forewarning. The themes in this book are dark and incredibly repetitive, and I feel that the lack of warning (at least in the edition I read) was careless.

All in all, this was a fast and immersive read, but not one I’d recommend to many people.
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