This one was a lot of fun to read! The world building was perfect and Ioved the character development!

“The Night Ends With Fire” is one of my favourite Mulan retellings. I thoroughly enjoyed Meilin’s journey. It was refreshing to see her make decisions based on her own desires rather than duty. Even though she’s still discovering her true self, she’s doing it authentically.

The mythology was intriguing, particularly the portrayal of the Phoenix and Dragon spirits and the spirit world. The “magical” element of qi and lixia added depth to the narrative. While some foreign expressions may have been unfamiliar to me, they enriched the reading experience.

As a martial arts enthusiast, I thoroughly appreciated the martial arts elements incorporated into the book.

The love triangle between Meilin, Sky, and Lei was also intriguing. I enjoyed observing the dynamics between these characters.

However, I faced a challenge with the numerous names used for characters. It became increasingly difficult to keep track of who was who.

I eagerly anticipate meeting the other spirits and uncovering the fate that awaits Meilin. The epilogue, or “Annals of the Imperial Commander”, had my blood boiling so I cannot wait to see what happens next in the sequel.

This book is exceptional from beginning to end. The opening pages are captivating, and while the first half develops a deliberate pace to build anticipation, the second half is truly explosive. Be advised, it concludes with a cliffhanger, but it is entirely worthwhile. I have already pre-ordered the sequel. Furthermore, the illustrations and artistic detail warrant significant recognition and accolades. This is one of the most visually stunning books in my collection, and the sequel may even surpass it. I eagerly anticipate the release of *The Dragon Wakes with Thunder*. My colleagues are also reading it, and we are engaged in enthusiastic discussions about it.

This is the first time I truly feel like this is a Mulan retelling. Most of them focus on the "I'm a woman, I'm better than anyone, but I can't enlist/join the competition/quest or any variations because of my sex." This has nothing to do with abilities, capability, or knowledge. Gender and sex (and the reaction to our protagonist's true identity) are intricately woven into the text, essential to the plot, the story, and the meaning of the narration.
But the starting point is a girl running away from her destiny, and I loved that. It's also a discourse about power: who has it, what happens to people with power, and what it does to them. This theme is also reflected in two of the main co-protagonists, the two princes.
I love how every plot point and question has relevance; different perspectives are questioned and placed side by side as the fantasy plot unfolds. The ending was so unexpected and yet fitting for a more historical approach to the legend of Mulan and the concept of "a woman dressed as a man."
I can't wait to read the next one!

This novel offers a fresh take on the Mulan legend, blending magic, romance, and a dash of political intrigue.

The story follows Meilin, who, in a bid to escape an undesirable marriage and her father's plans to sell her for dowry, disguises herself as a boy and takes her father's place in the army. Her journey is filled with challenges, from rigorous training to complex relationships, notably with Sky, a prince turned training partner. The narrative delves into themes of identity, freedom, and the sacrifices one makes for loved ones.

Song's writing is immersive, painting vivid scenes that transport you to the heart of the Three Kingdoms. The character development is commendable, especially Meilin's evolution from a constrained daughter to a formidable warrior. The infusion of a sea dragon spirit adds a mystical layer to the tale, though some might find this subplot a tad underexplored.

While the pacing is generally well-maintained, there are moments where the story lingers, which might test the patience of some readers. Additionally, the romantic elements, while heartfelt, occasionally feel predictable.

Overall, The Night Ends with Fire is a compelling read that breathes new life into a classic tale. It's a solid 4 out of 5 stars for me, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys reimagined legends with a touch of magic.

The Night Ends with Fire starts and ends well. It’s fast paced, action packed and you can’t help but root for the MC. However, the middle (without spoilers, when the FMC is in a specific place), didn’t fit quite right in my opinion. She spent too long there and the interactions didn’t flow well.

If i could i would give this book 10/10 stars. It was one of my favorite reads of 2024. I absolutely adored it. The Night Ends With Fire is a retelling of Mulan, but with way darker characters and a more complex plot.

The characters were complex and they were so well developed. You cannot say who's good and who's bad because they are morally grey. The writing was brilliant and the atmosphere and setting was right on top.

I cannot wait to see what will happen in book 2!

I love complex characters and this was done so well, people aren't inherently good or bad! Give me more morally grey but realistic characters.

I'm really excited to see where this goes in book 2, the writing is brilliant, flows beautifully and has set the scene well.

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book!

I expected to love this one a lot more than I did. I really enjoyed some aspects - such as when Meilin is with Lei in his palace and trying to figure that out, and when she’s building her connection with sky - but a lot of it I just found it hard to connect to. I didn’t like the jades and Qinglong, I didn’t massively like Meilin and felt that a lot of her decisions were all over the place and didn’t fit with what she was saying she was.

I was shocked that Sparrow.& Tao outed her at the end but I guess that would be the next book, I’m just not massively interested in continuing with this world.

Oh and calling herself Mulan in the ending just made it feel so cheesy 😂

I absolutely loved this book! I haven't read any books that are retellings of Mulan and now I need more!

I'm really excited to see where the next book goes. At the beginning of this story we see Meilin breaking the mold and striving to be more than what society thinks a woman should be. She is ambitious and does not apologise for it.

All the characters in this book are morally grey to some degree and it makes so much sense as the stakes are extremely high and they all have to make very difficult decisions.

The writing is brilliant, well paced and has set the scene really well for the sequel.

This was amazingggggg!

Loved the beginning, started to get a bit slow, then picked up again. I'm bored with these good prince romances, so when the villain entered and the tension between Meilin and him escalated, I began to have a GREAT time. It was the perfect amount of romantic tension. And after that wow ending, I need the next book IMMEDIATELY! The writing was amazing, whimsical, and managed to take me to another realm entirely. Love the characters, the betrayals, and the world.

I wanted a little more from the relationship of Meilin with her crew when she's disguised as a boy, but the rest of the relationships and chemistry made it worthwhile!

The world was a little confusing and I didn't understand the quest initially, but the more I read, the more I fell deeply in love with this book. Highly recommend!

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible as I didn't download this on time and I have to wait for a library copy.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely amazing retelling of Mulan with complex characters. The magic system was amazing and I loved seeing some themes from Mulan be woven throughout the book, while the story almost remained uniquely its own. The writing did feel a little weak at times, with some events happening a bit conveniently, but still I couldn't wait to finish the book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of The Night Ends With Fire.
I really loved the book and the whole retelling of Mulan.
I can't wait to read the sequel and discover what's happening next.

a girl wanted to avoid marriage but her dad wanted her gone, so she join the draft in the guise of the nonexixstent "bastard son" of her father. very Mulan inspired. i read this with open mind but when the MC kept saying something like "i want recognition, i want to prove myself, i have ambitions" at every chapters it started to irk me. like OKAY WE GET IT move on please! also what do you mean you're not interested in politics but you want to be the squad leader? tell me straight in the face and tell me why do you think it's not politics?

i tried to keep reading but i just couldn't. i don't care about the MC. so i stopped reading halfway through for the sake of my inner peace. i'm so sorry

This a very dark fantasy story with some elements of grimdark. Well developed characters, all flawed and on the grey area of the moral spectrum.
Well plotted, excellent storytelling and world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thrilling! Gobsmacking!

Love protagonists like this! Greedy, self serving and hunger for power! Definitely need more in the genre!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Filled with intriguing magic, dark ambitions, rounded characters and interesting romance, I really enjoyed this read and am looking forwards to more.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise this was a retelling when I picked it up, and I nearly put it down after the first 30 pages once I realised. I’m so glad I didn’t though because once the book gets going it sharply moves away from the expected and becomes a very interesting fantasy full of romance, betrayal, intrigue and rage. I’m very much interested to see where this story will go next!

Really wanted to love this. Didn't connect with the style of writing, and the characters and story weren't engaging enough for me.

DNF 50%

The writing style wasn't for me. Felt very young and just annoying. I found the main character to be really whiny.