Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Ends With Fire is an incredible epic fantasy retelling. You will enjoy Mulan in a whole new light after this novel!

4.25 ⭐️

"They would never let a woman get away with something like this."
"Something like what?"
"They would never let a woman hold on to power."

me: yass queens, feminist icons, prove them wrong!!

"I protect what's mine."

me: feminism leaving my body

I had high expectations when I started this story, mostly because Mulan is my favorite Disney adaptation. I watched it countless times, yet I could never get bored of it. and while there were some issues, like the FMC being an insufferable brat for about ~60% (if not more) of the book, I enjoyed it. was it because of a certain morally grey, manipulative prince? maybe. I don't have regrets tho.

I fell in love with the title and cover instantly and was so grateful for getting the eArc.
The writing style is extremely easy to read and I flew through the story as the pacing was pretty fast as well. Sadly the plot didn't fully work for me. Mostly because the story is not concluded and I thought it was a standalone, so a lot of things were left open (for now) and the characters arcs didn't feel complete yet. Additionally the story's beginning felt too similar to the Disney Mulan adaptations (even for a retelling - or especially for a retelling of the legend of Mulan).
I did enjoy the original ideas that were sprinkled in here and there but overall it fell flat for me. Maybe because I was hopin for more, had different expectations and nothing stood out for me. It felt pretty average to me and it was definitely not a bad book. I just didn't click with it.

I would still recommend this book to Mulan-Fans and readers age 16 up that would like to have a quick and easy fantasy read with interesting characters and action.
I'm still curious how the story continues and may give this one a re-read.

They say in the blurb that this book has something of the Poppy War, and I see why. If you want female rage, animal gods, war.. that goes in the same direction. It is definitely an adult book, with some brutal and bloody passages, but again, its about war. I would even compare it to Iron Widow on the female rage front.

Meilin is stuck under the thumb of her father, and as he plans to sell her to yet another brutal man, she just decides to flee and enlist as a soldier as a man. She just wants to have the freedom she is lacking. But then she wants to be more.

This is fast paced and dips in and out of fantasy nicely. This is fantasy with a touch of romance.

I'll definitely pick up book 2 when if comes out, as I really want to see what's coming next for Meilin.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for access to the ebook against an honest review.*

"With his ink-black hair askew, his full lips swollen, and his pale eyes brightened with desire, I had never seen anyone so beautiful."

I loved Meilin - she was determined to stand against what women couldn't do and to prove that she could be better than men. She had to hide her abilities and still improve her skill and strength to prove herself capable of being a soldier and a commander.

Song writes her characters so well, making each one morally grey so that we are never quite sure of what their intentions are. Do they want the best for the country or do they want power to wield as they please? This leaves you constantly guessing what will happen next, who can you trust? Can you really?

The story was a little on the slow side, but this was important in order to develope the world and the magic set appropriately.

Pick this up for an intricately woven story with the perfect balance of mythology and excellent world building and character development

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
The Night Ends With Fire is a Mulan retelling, in which Meilin enters the army as a soldier to escape her upcoming marriage.

“I needed to prove that, I as a woman could be better than the rest of them. That I too could belong. That I too could be free.”

I’ve had this book on my radar for quite a while! Mulan is one of my favourite Disney movies and I haven’t read many retellings inspired by her story.
The story and plot itself is very similar to Mulan, so I kinda knew which direction the story was going to go on. I had expected the story to be more inspired by Mulan and not really follow the plotline of the Disney movie until 40% in.
I did like the magic that was added to the story, although I did think it was quite vague and at around 34% of the book I still didn’t really understand it. I think I would’ve benefited from a more detailed explanation throughout the story of the magic system.
Meilin is a very complex character and to be honest, I still don’t really know what to think of her. Because the beginning was so similar to Mulan, I kept comparing the two and Meilin always fell a bit flat compared. The biggest difference was that Meilin’s greed was super apparent and not really charming. I do see her drive to want her freedom and be the best, but at the same time it was always told and not really shown.
There is a love triangle coming and as you might know, I’m not a fan of those. Both possible love interests in this book also don’t jump out to me. One she is lying to almost the whole time, as she is pretending to be a man. The other one was even more putting off. With him, it just came on way to me. I’m not a fan of both possible pairings at this point.
The ending fight was very rushed and really hard to follow along for me. I wished the whole pacing off the book was slowed down a bit more and less telling vs the story not really being showing. It had a very promising start, but many aspects fell flat to me later on in the book. Still, I did enjoy the story.
Overall, The Nights Ends With Fire is an apparent Mulan retelling that has an interesting concept which I hope will come to live better in the sequel.





<spoiler> the thing that put me off most was how sudden the attraction came on between Meilin and Lei. She was taking prisoner by him and all of a sudden she starts to fall for him? To me it just felt like Stockholm Syndrom</spoiler>

If I were to sum up all my thoughts on this book in one line, it’d be "Not Bad, But Not Good".

If I were to give a detailed review…Well, The Night Ends with Fire is certainly not what I’d expected. Instead of a “sweeping fantasy adventure” of a Mulan retelling that’s also infused with magic and romance (as the blurb says), it turned out to be more of a darker, juvenile Mulan fanfiction.

So, why do I call it a juvenile Mulan fanfic? Because there’s little to no originality to the story. With retellings, you’d expected something different — an original enough tale that stands on its own while enhancing our experience of the source material. It’s what some of the most brilliant, quality fanfiction out there does. But, The Night Ends with Fire ? It’s practically the same as the 1998 Disney animated movie with its identical scenes and plot points.

Also, the irregular usage of Chinese words and names was just…no. I understand wanting to make the story more authentic through the setting, language and all, but could we just not have this mega weird mix between pinyin and English-translated names? I cannot fathom how any Chinese in ancient China would name their children Meilin, Rouha and then, Plum. Plus, Liu Sky and Liu Winter?? And let’s not forget: Big Knife. BIG KNIFE? I wanted to cry reading these names.

That’s not all, though, because we have the token sprinkle of Chinese words — some of which are equivalent to ‘chai tea’. For instance, why have ‘shaokao rou’ (barbecued meat) or ‘shaokao meat’ when you can have “shaokao barbecued meat” 😭?

Moreover, protagonist Meilin is one complicated mess and I don’t mean it in a good way. She’s greedy and willing to fight, filled with ambitions above her gender and station. While this sounds like the makings of an awesome BAMF, it’s eclipsed by the fact that she’s Not Like Other Girls and is wishy-washy to the max. The other characters aren’t all that better too because they’re as flat as a sheet of unblemished paper. There’s no real meaningful relationship between all of them and this includes Meilin and her love interests.

It gets even more painful because the story is moved forward by the impulsiveness and naivety, which is often interchangeable with stupidity, of the characters. Meilin gets upset over her enemies ‘betraying’ her despite logically knowing they would. Sky invites Meilin to council meetings she has no business being invited to because she has no rank. And, even Lei, the enemy prince, thinks it’s a great idea to fight with the captive Meilin at a rock garden near the pavilion where someone he doesn’t want her to meet is sitting. Like, hello? Does no one really have common sense here??

Nevertheless, this book isn’t all bad. I appreciated how hard Meilin had to work to earn results, even if they weren’t the best or desired ones. I also liked that Meilin’s stepmother was a supporter and not a hater. The Night Ends with Fire was an easy read overall, plus this ending is closure enough for me.

This was a fantastic Mulan retelling. It blew me away and left me hooked! With solid world-building and magic, together with a protagonist who wants more than what she’s told to do. Spirit-worlds, gods, magic and ancient powers are in play, together with politics and power-struggles.

This book deals with themes of misogyny, power and greed, together with love and bravery. There were parts of this novel that were hard to read, but it truly shows the bravery that Meilin goes through. She bonds with a few soldiers I liked the inclusion of the battle between light and dark in terms of magic. As for the love interests (yes - there are two!!) I think I’m Team Sky! The romance doesn’t overshadow the plot. Rather, it enhanced it and enabled more character development.

There were parts of this novel that were hard to read, but it truly shows the bravery that Meilin goes through. A scene in particular had be so livid that I had to pause to continue reading. As for the love interests (yes - there are two!!) I’m Team Sky… who knows what could happen in Book 2? The romance was a nice slow-burn and doesn’t overshadow the plot. Rather, it enhanced it and enabled more character development.

I can’t wait for the sequel after THAT ending.

The Three Kingdoms are at war but Meilin's father is not abiding by the Imperial draft. Instead, he wants to sell Meilin for a dowry. when she realizes that her future husband is as bad as her father, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father's place. During training she grows closer to her commanding prince, Sky. Through her jade necklace, a sea dragon spirit offers her power but at a price. With the future of the kingdom hanging in the balance, all Meilin has to do is manage to keep her secrets and figure out who to trust.

An observant, inquisitive, richly descriptive 1st person POV that feels like a breeze with its wonderful pacing. Our journey into this interesting but unfair world awakens a desire for justice, feelings of sympathy and respect for the protagonist and anticipation for the awkwardness and danger of her situation. Combining its introspective quality, the on-point language used to show us how the protagonist perceives her environment, and the way the author paints breath-stealing action using expert strokes, we are gifted with a beyond captivating fantasy. You will 'live' and 'breathe' this narrative

I love Meilin's strength of character, even in the midst of her doubts, fears, desires and hesitations. Fuelled with determination, through training and battle, and the trials of her mission, she becomes a worthy warrior. Even with her internal struggle to use or not to use the forbidden spirit power. I really liked the voice of the spirit, the sarcasm and delicious villainy. Sky is not only loyal, but inspires loyatlyt, and is dutiful to a fault. And Lei... a scoundrel as he calls himself, a fascinating scoundrel that becomes impossible not to like.

There were a few slightly confusing or/and whiplashy moments. They were mainly to do with the mythology, others with the visions. I believe these missteps were due to the enthusiasm in wanting to share the story. And I admire enthusiasm. This story is about believing in yourself and about power, how the user makes it good or bad. Another theme is the fear, want and inevitability of change. The nature of fighting. But our main ingredient is equality.

This is a tale of war, of unexpected allies and enemies, games of control and deception, of love and hate and everything in between. A Mulan-inspired, proudly feminist, heart-pounding thrill of a ride, that will leave you wanting more.

Mulan retelling? Spirit dragons? Elemental powers? I was so excited about this story, but in the end I was just frustrated by it.

Initially, as we're introduced to Meilin's character and backstory, I was invested. I appreciated her determination to break society's expectations of her as a woman and the role she was supposed to conform to. I loved how she raged against it, and set out to live life on her own terms, and in the process, better herself and gain equality, respect and power. I loved the idea of spirit mediums and the sinister undercurrent of madness that plagued Meilin. It made for a really interesting premise.

Then, the majority of the book becomes a repetitive loop of being told everything (and not always clearly), rather than shown it, and reading about Meilin getting hurt, being healed, getting hurt again, being healed again, on and on. I also didn't find her particularly likable, and I LOVE rage-fuelled, flawed, powerful FMCs. I did enjoy Lei's character and as 1/3 of the love triangle that is clearly going to play a much bigger part in the next book, I'd definitely be team Lei. Sky was absolutely useless, And the end was so frustrating!

I'd still be interested in picking up future works by the author. This particular one just wasn't for me. 2.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the arc!

Thank you, NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5

Oh, what a joy this book has been. There's nothing I love more in fiction these days than an ambitiously flawed woman. And Meilin definitely delivered on that front.

She's selfish, greedy, stubborn, aggressive, and constantly second-guesses herself and those around her - and yet she pushes herself to the limits for those she holds dear. She makes countless mistakes, and she's punished for it, repeatedly, to the point where you keep asking HOW she can still keep going. It's incredible how real she is, and how much love was poured into her character, despite her obvious lack of social skills and overall charisma.

Sky was the second stand-out, but mostly because of the easy dynamic he and Meilin had. At this point, I am unsure if he will be the endgame option (dang it love triangle), but I truly wish he would be. I'd love her to preserve this beautiful bond they have - the hard-earned mutual respect, the trust, the quiet peace, the banter - but I fear what her greed might be pushing her into.

Now... Lei. Fuck that guy (I say jokingly but not really), I can see him have some Rhys-like arc with his whole tragic backstory and 'most beautiful man I've ever seen' description, plus the killer physical attraction. And I am NOT here for it. I don't care how sad he is, his bipolar disorder is untreated and very dangerous. He needs medication and SO much therapy. That eye scene will haunt me for months.

Meilin might have gone to war to regain some of her freedom and have control over her life and destiny for once.  I'd go to war to make sure HE doesn't end up as the male lead.

But let's face it, I think the author could make it believable. At this point, I feel like I trust her enough.

Every page kept me hooked and made me excited to find out more and more about where the story was going. Even now, having finished the book, I am questioning how Meilin will get out of her current situation, because everything seems very grim.

All in all, The Night Ends with Fire made me feel many things and I am very excited about what's next.

If you love mulan you will love this book
This one gave me the same vibes and I devoured this in one day

The characters I loved them and the angst was just truly perfection

By now, I’ve read quite a few retellings of Mulan. In fact, I literally read one a week ago, so I was a bit surprised that this book was another one (to be fair, I didn’t read the blurb). I still decided to read this - if it’s truly good, it’s not going to matter that the storyline is about the same. And I like Mulan, so why not?
I didn’t regret my decision. It was actually really good.

Of all the retellings, this may be the one closest to the story of Mulan, even though it’s completely different. Again and again, I saw similarities, but you don’t need to worry that it’s just Disney wrapped in a nice cover. While I did see some of the characters in new faces, they are all still their own, same for certain plot points.
It was wonderful.

The writing was very nice – it immediately brought me into the story and it was very easy for me to stay in there. Nice language, but not overly flowery. There could’ve been a bit more world building, but as the world itself is not the focus in this book, that was fine with me.

I really liked the characters – Meilin is strong and determined, but she is also incredibly selfish sometimes. She doesn’t care about the country that suppressed her and other women – she only cares about herself and her friends. And that’s refreshingly realistic. I also liked how she basically doesn't care about all the people she kills. She does think about it a couple of times, contemplates whether she is a bad person, but in the end, she doesn't get nightmares about it, she doesn't break down about being evil. She's a soldier in a war and she knows it. She's prepared to fight and she is ruthless. Very Mulan-like, if I can say that, and I really appreciated this attitude.
Both Sky and Lei are very interesting. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that both of them were quite the grey area. They had their kind and good moments, but both of them did many things that made me hate them a little bit. Again, quite realistic. Who is perfect after all? And this is war. Sometimes a commander has to do things he might regret. Sometimes you have to be cruel to ensure your survival.

The actual fantasy-part with the spirits was very well done. I loved how, again, the spirits seemed to be neither entirely good, nor perfectly evil. It’s obvious that they have their own agenda and I can’t wait to see what will happen with that!
On that note, there are some other things I’m also curious about. The ending is not really a cliffhanger, but it leaves multiple questions open. Apart from the obvious, I really want to know more about Meilin’s family and I’m very curious what will happen to the other side characters. And how will the main plot advance?

One thing I wasn’t entirely happy with, was Meilin’s kung-fu-abilities. There is an explanation why a noble woman would have been trained, but in my opinion, it was a bit weak. Also, she didn’t need this ability at that point. She had to learn sword fighting and so on with the army anyway, so why not add kung fu to that? It makes sense to me that she had already trained her qi for years, but that’s something that I could imagine for a noble woman to do, at least in secret. But… kung fu? I don’t know. Seemed a bit random and unnecessary to me.

I’m really looking forward to the next book!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mulan fans get yourselves ready for the re-imagining we’ve all been waiting for! It was so magical to be able to relive my favourite movie through this creative retelling from K. X. Song, which takes us on a much darker, and more complex journey than the Disney-fied version of the story. Meilin is skilled in the art of Kung Fu, excels at strategy, and incredibly ambitious. She defies the constraints placed on women, unwilling to be quiet, to be owned, or to accept the fate decided for her. It’s inspirational to watch her journey, her battles with the dragon spirit, and her growth as a character. Her path isn’t a smooth one, and Meilin faces a lot of hurt and injustice, but she’s resilient and powerful, determined to achieve her goals and save her people. As a total romantic, I do think Meilin deserved more from this side of her story, and more from those who have feelings for her. Is the romance realistic? I think it probably is, but my heart wants what it wants! I’d move mountains for this trailblazer and so should her paramour. All in all this is a fantastic book, carefully crafted to offer a complex story that’s well worth a read!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

It's been a while since I read a fantasy novel that focused more on the plot and the fantasy elements than on the romantic aspects. This book was a welcomed breath of fresh air and has renewed my love of fantasy. Don't get me wrong, this novel did include romance, but it wasn't brought up in every chapter. I loved that it was a single POV, as it allowed me to form a deeper connection with Meilin as she fights for her freedom.

This is a Mulan retelling, and as a fan of the Disney movie, I loved reading a version that was a little darker and more suited to me as an adult. I found the story captivating, and it piqued my curiosity about the original story. 

This exceeded my expectations, as I was expecting a lighthearted, more mature version of the Mulan I grew up with, and I got so much more. This story obviously covered the subject of women's rights and how they are very much viewed and treated as property rather than human beings, and it showcased that men feared how dangerous women could become if they were allowed to hold on to power ( as they should).

Meilin fights against the natural order as she proves to herself and others that she is just as capable as any man while training and fighting in the army, and we also watch as her mind set and her priorities change as she fights to keep the freedom she has finally gotten a taste for. I really loved how Meilin was portrayed throughout this book, as she wasn't a cute and innocent woman with some potential to be a decent warrior; she was a woman with her own opinions regarding how she should live her life; she worked on her fighting skills and honed her techniques even though it was against the norm; she fought for her place and worked towards her own ambitions in the army; and she also came to know who she was as she battled with her inner demons. Meilin came to realise how ruthless and greedy she was, and while it scared her, it was interesting watching her slowly embrace this side that society wants her to pretend doesn't exist.

I can't wait for the next book, as the ending has me screaming! Regardless of how hard she tries and how much she has accomplished, a woman will never be seen as an equal. If you love the following, then I highly recommend reading this book.

- Political Intrigue
- Mulan Retelling
- Chinese Mythology
- Love Triangle
- Dark Magic
- Betrayal (this part STILL blows my mind)
- Bad Ass FMC
- Revenge

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular! I need the next book right now.

What an amazing, action-packed fantasy that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The pacing of this was absolutely perfect and I was completely swept away by K. X. Song and their incredibly lush writing style.

The Night Ends With Fire has a beautiful blend of the grim dark fantasy elements of The Poppy War trilogy with the stunning imagery and romance from the Celestial Kingdom duology. I don’t often like to make comparisons between books in the same genre, especially when it seems like putting authors in a box but I think if you liked either of these series then you will adore this.

Meilin is a remarkable main character; flawed, morally grey and demanding more for herself in a world that forces submission. I really enjoyed watching her character arc throughout and felt such a deep connection to her. I will always love a slightly messy love triangle which allowed a glimpse into a different side to Meilin and I cannot wait to see where this goes!

I would highly recommend this to lovers of fantasy with an Asian mythology flare.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/ Hodderscape for granting me a Netgalley digital copy of The Night Ends With Fire to review for K. X. Song's debut fantasy novel.

The Night Ends With Fire is a gritty, fly-by-seat of your pant and seize the moment retelling of the legends of Mulan with a bad-ass female protagonist compared to the more Disney-depicted dutiful daughter version of Mulan. I loved this recast of Meilin as a gritty, ambitious character who wants to go to war to make a better life for herself, not prompted to do as a sacrifice to save another. Sometimes, leaving your family for your self-preservation is an act of self-love, not a selfish act. I loved her because she wasn't another self-sacrificing, people-pleaser battling to belong in a society where women are property and second-class citizens to menfolk. Meilin's not on character journey to discover herself like Mulan – she takes up her warrior mantle with self-assured agency and full of a zesty boldness fuelling; she got gumption by the bucket-full and is not afraid to jump out of a window, damn the consequences.

Song has excellent potential as a storyteller. Her worldbuilding craft is exquisite, allowing her to create an expansive, complex fantasy world with a turbulent history, political intrigues, and clashes inspired by the Chinese dynasties and beautiful Asian mythology elements. Danger, treachery, and deceit dog Meilin throughout the plot, leaving the reader with no idea who she can trust.

I've mixed feelings about The Night Ends With Fire regarding the plot and storytelling. I'm hovering on a 3.5-star rating, primarily due to a couple of plot inconsistencies and the story being stretched to a breaking point to give it a darker, ferocious, and angrier vibe. I felt it jarred and slowed down the storytelling.

The romance and love triangle distract the plot from Meilin's journey as attractions flare between her and two rival princes, Sky Liu and Cao Ming Lei. I wanted Meilin to run from these potential love interests as they all treat her horribly and have their agendas for her abilities and power. There is so much misogyny, sexism, and exploitation of women in parts of this story made my stomach roll and roil.
I'll pick up the sequel out of intrigue to see where Meilin's journey takes her because I'm invested in her journey. Will ambition for power win, or her attraction to one of the love triangle princes? If I were in her shoes, I'd say let the world burn for events at the book's close. Is it wrong to have my fingers crossed to see her embrace her power and recognise her ambition isn't greed but seizing her moment to shine?

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

It gives me no joy to assign a 1 star review for a book, but this one made me do it. While being advertised as an adult, it really reads as YA, has no character development and just a bit of world building. I finished it hoping for some amazing twist at the end, but got let down.

Mulan is one of my favourite stories , so I couldn’t resist to this book! I found entertaining,real , and vivid! I loved the world building , I couldn’t put it down and now I want more!

A Mulan retelling is exactly the kinda thing that makes me pick up a book. This Mulan retelling even has a 'what if' twist that I adore very much because it makes things very interesting. The writing style is intense and entertaining, made me go through the novel at breathtaking speed. And I very much appreciate what the author wanted to transport with this story.
However, the execution fell a bit flat for me. It hit a lot of marks, but I kept thinking that I've already read this in a better way in other books. The characters were well formed, but they didn't touch my heart. The plot was fast paced, but the conflicts were solved a bit easily. And the FMCs motivation was more told than shown. Or at least what she thinks her motivation is, as I was missing something from her inner life to make it truly engaging.

However, it's still a very good story. 3,5/5 stars.

Thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

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