Book Review | The Night Ends with Fire

Meilin’s father is a cruel opium addict and the husband her matchmaker has picked for her is not much better, so, in order to escape from them, Meilin devises a plan. She intends to enlist in the Anlai war draft disguised as a boy.

However, as she prepares to leave, her stepmother hands her a mysterious pendant along with an ominous message, and soon she finds herself entangled in a far greater war where the fate of the Three Kingdoms hangs in the balance.

The Night Ends with Fire by K. X. Song weaves a Mulan-inspired tale that left me incredibly disappointed.

First off, the characters came off as cartoonishly shallow and I found myself not caring if any of them lived or died.

This boils down to personal preference, but I also didn't care for the short and simplistic writing style that's very action-oriented. There's an overall lack of descriptive imagery in terms of characters and setting, which made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the world and envision what was going on.

Overall, if you're looking for a fantasy that's inspired by the Chinese legend of the Four Auspicious Beasts but with deeper characters and worldbuilding, you might have a better time with Song of Silver, Flame Like Night instead.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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