The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song is a Mulan retelling set in a fantasy world resembling ancient China. Meilin lives with her addicted and abusive father in relative peace, until she must marry with a man who seems to be just as abusive as her father. Meilin decides she wants freedom, wants to have choice, so she enlists in the army instead, knowing the penalty for a woman to do so is harsh. When she leaves, her stepmother gives her an amulet that belonged to her mother and that unbeknown to them contains a dragon and the dragon’s water powers. In the army she decided she doesn’t simply want to survive, she wants to thrive, and she trains more than everyone else, which is being noticed by the handsome prince who is also leading the battalion. They become friends, but war is looming and everything is changing when the other side has fire magic on its side.

I really liked this retelling. I have to say, especially the beginning and some scenes reminded me a bit too much of the Disney version, and I wished the author would have tweaked it a little more, they felt a bit boring for me to read, but about halfway the story deviates enough to be wholly new and exciting. Meilin herself is an excellent character to have in a story, as she throws herself into any situation without thinking, and her willingness to prove herself is a great help, especially when you have a dragon backing you up. She has a lot of self reflection, if it is really so greedy to want more as a woman. The story was very feministic and empowering, sometimes a bit too much but I think that’s a good thing for a younger audience.

There is some sort of a love triangle in this book, but thank goodness Meilin is a bit too busy at war to be fully emerged in this, she has priorities straight. Both boys are very intruiging though, and both quite morally grey, which is a theme within this book and I’m here for it. The other characters fell a little flat for me, like her fellow soldiers. I don’t really know what they are like, and I would have liked to see more of the friendship with her stepmother, as this book doesn’t have many female characters (later on there is one but that one is a bit ambiguous).

This book is quite fast paced, and plotwise a lot happens, but I can’t really talk about it without spoilering. I liked how expecially the second half never got boring, that one has both action and intrigue in it and lots of scenery changes and new characters, the world got a lot bigger too. The antagonist was perfect, I loved to hate him, and the resolution was epic. I was a bit disappointed in the actual ending though, it was an unexpected turn but it annoyed me more because we have a cliffhanger than that I was shocked.

All in all, I recommend this book to everyone, especially anyone who loved Mulan and who likes epic adventures with lots of feminism.

I received a free copy through Netgalley but my thoughts are my own.

A YA fantasy inspired by Mulan and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I had high hopes for this novel, which has excellent world-building and does a great job developing Meilin's character. However the oacing ia inconsistent, the writing repetitive, and the ending unsatisfactory. Not for me.

This was a wild ride and one I didn't think I'd fall in love with like I have

Meilin
A woman would know, I thought with hate, glaring up at him. Pity you're not one.


Her character progression throughout this story was undeniable. I can't say it was an improvement, but it was definitely progression. She was a badass, but also, it was sad at times how trusting she was.

Prince Liu Sky
"I can't protect you out here. Half the time, I can't even concentrate— I'm only fighting with half a mind because... the other half is looking for you, making sure you're okay, wondering where you are..."


Sky is such a sweetie. I feel so much for him. The way he looks out for Meilin is so sweet. I am scared that he will turn on her at some point, though, but I really hope not

Cao Ming Lei
"I'm chained, unarmed, and can barely walk on my own. Do I pose a threat to you?"
"Yes," he said, his dark gaze flicking to me, to my eyes. "Several."


Did I hate him? Kind of. Do I currently hate him? No. This man is everything to me. I should hate him, but nah, I knew it from the second he appeared.. he's the morally grey man I've dreamt of. I want so much more of him. And the scene with him and Sky? I live for that. So much. Give me the drama 🤭

Plot and Pacing

Not gonna lie, I did get a bit confused at times while reading this, but it wasn't anything I couldn't figure out. It was mostly the way characters were sometimes hard to differentiate between, for example, the two (or technically 7? I think?) Prince Lei's. Eventually, I figured it out, but it took a bit of effort at times.

Also, if you've seen Mulan, you do know the basis of this story. Is it exactly the same? Not at all. But did it have extremely similar elements, even down to the use of the name 'Mulan' at times? Yes. It did. This just meant the story was on the predictable side. Not always a bad thing, but I did wish that some parts didn't feel like they'd been taken straight from the movie, such as the hot springs bathing scene.

While I did enjoy this story, the pacing was a bit off. For the first half of this book, I was bored. Not completely, but I did almost put this down. It was very slow. But then it suddenly changed, and I found myself getting drawn in and excited about what would happen next. By the end, I was hooked. I just wish that first half had been a bit quicker.

Overall, I truly thought this was a great story with everything I really enjoy in a fantasy book. Also, the authors note at the end was also an essential read, in my humble opinion. I'm impatiently awaiting the next book after that ending 🥲

➛ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘒.𝘟. 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨. 𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

A fresh, new retelling of Mulan, with a stronger focus on feminism and the lack of control that women had in China's history.

The first few bits of the story felt a little rushed, a filler in order to build up some background and flesh out Meilin's character before we reached the bit where she disguises as a man to participate in a war. However, the plot does kick in, with a lot of questions revolving around ambition and power, with Meilin wondering how much can she be influenced by this new power that she receives.

The romance subplots felt a bit lacking. While it is clear who the main male interest in, we don't get much of his development and character showing through. It's completely overshadowed by the second male interest, who has proper interaction of a deeper sort with Meilin. The male lead seems reduced to a way for Meilin to root herself to her home country.

As for the ending... I understand why it went the way it did with the strong reminder that Meilin does not want to be reduced to a controlled possession, passing from one male (father) to another (husband) yet it was done in such an unsatisfactory way, in order to announce a "to be continued". Perhaps more can be revealed in the sequel, hopefully with more insight into the male lead if he is to carry on being so.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-arc

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song is an absolute gem of a book! A Mulan retelling infused with gods? Count me in! From the moment I picked it up, I was completely engrossed in the captivating world Song has crafted.

The world-building is impeccable, drawing readers into a rich tapestry of mythology and adventure that kept me hooked until the very end. However, I must admit, the heroine could be a tad annoying at times, and I found some of her traits to be a bit unnecessary.

But oh, the pacing! It was like a whirlwind of excitement with something gripping happening in every chapter. I was so invested in the story that I found myself feeling a little blue when I reached the end – I simply didn't want to leave this enchanting world behind.

If you're looking for a book as heavy as The Poppy War, you might be disappointed. But if you're in the mood for a delightful blend of romance and adventure with a touch of fun, then look no further. "The Night Ends with Fire" is the perfect choice.

I'm eagerly anticipating diving back into this world and exploring more of Song's storytelling prowess. Bring on the sequel!

Mulan is one of my all-time favourite stories and films, so I desperately wanted to love this book. At first, I really did love it! it was different enough from the film to be unique, and yet similar enough to make me excited to read it.
Unfortunately, around 40% through this book, I started to fall out of love with it and couldn't finish it. I tried over the period of two weeks to jump back in but just couldn't seem to do so.
While I wish I had loved this story, I think it was perhaps the writing style that wasn't quite the right fit for me.

A Mulan retelling driven by greed rather than a sense of duty.

Meilin’s father sends her to a matchmaker wanting to use her dowry to pay for his gambling and opium debts. However, Meilin refused to escape her father only to fall under another master.
To escape, she enlists pretending to be her father’s bastard son to fight in the war, gaining the attention of Prince Liu with her kung fu skills and sheer determination.

”You would rather death out there in the wild, than death here, enslaved."

As the author acknowledges, at the core of The Night Ends with Fire is the question: What does our ambition cost us? Instead of Meilin fighting for her family’s honour, she fights to gain a position and place for herself, her ambition dangerous in a world full of men.

Personally, I felt the romance detracted from Meilin’s story. There’s a sort of love triangle although I hesitate to call it that. Not to mention, one of the love interests wants her to leave, not because she’s a woman of course, but because he wants to protect her. This always really annoys me in romantic entanglements. Especially in war when people have proven themselves.

I feel like this could have stood well as a standalone, especially in a market currently vying for them, however the ending felt abrupt and, whilst is more true to the climate of the age and environment, I felt a sense of disappointment that it wasn’t wrapped up.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Mulan retelling with gods!? Sign me in, please.
I couldn’t literally put the book down, the world created was so captivating that I couldn’t think about anything else.
The heroine at times was a bit annoying and I think it was a bit unnecessary to make her like this.
The pacing was fast and I loved it, in every chapter was happening something new and gripping in fact I was quite sad when I finished the book because I wanted more.
If you expect a book as heavy as the poppy war this is probably not the book for you, but if you want a bit more romance and a fun time this is perfect.
I can’t wait to read more from this world.

I received an ARC of this book from the publishing house via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I decided I’m not going to rate this book for many reasons. For starters, I didn’t like it and my rating would be low. Normally, I wouldn’t have problems with the raiting system, but in this case I feel like I don’t want to reduce this book to some stars, because I had really high expectations before reading it. In simple terms, I’d like to preserve a tiny amount of positivity when I think about “The Night Ends With Fire”. Also, I think K. X. Song has put a lot of passion and effort in her book, and I appreciate that.

“The Night Ends With Fire” is promised to be a crossover between “The Poppy War”, “Six Crimson Cranes”, “Mulan” and “Three Kingdoms”. I actually felt the vibes from TPW and SCC, but I think the major inspiration behind the book is “Mulan”. Meilin’s story follows perfectly Mulan’s one and its schemes (Meilin disguising as a man, being part of the army and training to became a soldier, falling in love with her superior, being discovered, etc etc). Unfortunately, I could not empathise with the character and I found the story not as appealing as I expected.

I think the first 200 pages are TNEWF’s real problem. In the first chapters there where so many time jumps I felt like I was loosing an important part in the narrative. Like, what challenges has Meilin endured to became a good soldier? How has the relationship between the mc and her love interest started FOR REAL? I think a lot of central elements happened off screen, and this annoys me a little tbh. In addition, I think Meilin discovered her connection to Qinglong too soon. I don’t know, something felt off about it.

At least, the final part was interesting and believable and it made me a little bit curious, but not enough to let me desire to continue this series. Shoutout to the notes at the start of every chapter. I adored them.

The Night Ends with Fire has a sick cover and an even sicker name. Though it has its flaws, this book stands up to them.

Pitched as a cross between Mulan and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a centuries-old Chinese classic, this book follows a girl named Hai Meilin as she runs from her arranged marriage to enlist in the army in her father’s place. The drumbeat of war is fast approaching, with each of the three kingdoms declaring itself the rightful ruler of all the others. But before Meilin leaves, her stepmother gives her a magical jade that her mad late mother wore — and she starts to hear a voice that whispers dreams of power in her ear. Fearing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but called by her ambition, Meilin must survive battles, keep her gender hidden, and navigate the attentions of two princes she’s not sure she can trust, as she fights to prove her worth and claim her power amid the fires of war.

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned YA-esque fantasy novel about war and love triangles to get the blood pumping, and remember what it’s like to be a teenager for an afternoon — especially when that’s not all the book is about. I had my doubts for the first fifth of the book (in fact I almost dnfed it because it seemed to gloss over events, and felt too familiar as both a Mulan and The Poppy War redux) but I’m glad I pushed through, because it quickly gets more complicated. It isn't quite as dark, but I would definitely compare this more to TPW than to the Mulan movie in terms of tone, and in some ways in subject matter; while the plot bears some resemblance to Mulan, in all honesty, at times I felt that this was simply a reimagined Poppy War with more focus on the romance. But that’s not quite true: where TPW focusses on colonialism and warfare, The Night Ends with Fire puts greater emphasis on gender relations and feminism, taking specific aim at China’s historically extremely rigid patriarchy, which The Poppy War observes more in passing. In TPW, while sexism and gendered violence do exist, the military is supposed to be 'equal opportunity' and the main character Fang Runin faces few concrete obstacles due to her gender; this book was written to fill that gap, emerging from a similar worldbuilding premise to take a feminist angle rather than an anti-colonial one. Even in the original Ballad of Mulan, when Mulan returns home victorious after ten long years of war, she resumes the normal filial Chinese life of a woman, and lays down her sword to be ruled by the men of her family; this book instead follows a character à la Fang Runin, who would die before surrendering her ambitions to any man.

The execution wasn't perfect. Like I mentioned, I wasn't a huge fan of the beginning, as events just flew by and everything seemed very easy and obvious for the already-a-kung-fu-master, magically gifted main character. Later on, the romantic subplots also seemed to take over the narrative at times, leading to some weird pacing (though I didn't completely mind it lol). Still, the fast scenes and short chapters kept the story flying by, and while I didn't love Meilin's first-person narration, K.X. Song's prose contain some really beautiful (very Chinese) descriptions and metaphors. Most importantly to me, Song has something to say with these books — this is planned to be the first in a series, and I am very much crossing my fingers that the sequels can deliver on the promising conflicts set up upon this installment's foundations. The Night Ends with Fire very much reminds me of the YA of the good old days, when the fantasy conflicts weren't just about empty wars and the affections of indistinguishable love interests, but had messages about the world too; it feels fresh, like someone who grew up on the same generation of books is writing their own take on them, a love letter with their own ideas mixed in.

Bottom line: would recommend to any fan of The Poppy War who wanted fewer war crimes, more gender studies, and/or more romance. Or for a younger reader who didn't feel like traumatising themselves with said war crimes. I eagerly await (ugh, probably a year+ away) the next book!

CW: abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence, torture.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

A few hints of Disney and a lot of myth makes this a fantastic read. If you enjoy a myth retelling that brings some reality to the story. This is the one. But be warned, because the summary doesn't say it; this is the first in a series, not a stand alone. I still recommend giving it a go!

I really enjoyed this novel - it read like one of the C Dramas I love watching, and I even found myself casting the main characters with some of my favourite actors. It was so refreshing to find a SELFISH female lead (though I don't find her selfish at all, I thouroughly understand where she's coming from and how despair for what the world determines must be our place will lead to choices most will probably condemn), one who doesn't have 'the good of the world and her people' behind her motives, one who isn't about to sacrifice herself for the sake of others, like most heroes in fantasy tales. Meilin does what she does for herself, because she wants more than what society determined she should have, being a woman, a non-entity, a commodity as she is. Rebelling against the roles she's been forced to all her life, just because she happened to be born female, she chooses a way out, fully aware of the risks, but believing she can get away with them. I honestly wish she had, just for the sake of female vindication, but the story will not end there, I guess. I liked Meilin for what she stands and the way she - victim to the teachings of a secular society that sees women as cattle - considers herself an abomination, one she fully embraces, though. I didn't much care for Prince Liu (though his elder brother did get me very curious and I wish there'd been more screen time for him) and found him annoying but Cao Lei, now there's one I really found quite interesting. Maybe because he reminded me of the blind Gongzi on Bloody Romance (wonder if the author's seen that drama and got her inspiration from it) or maybe because he's sort of the antihero in all this, but where Liu Sky was a bit of a wet fish and a bidimensional character, Cao Lei had a lot more depth to him, as a character. I was invested in him and his story, contrary to Liu's.
One thing that irked and annoyed me a lot was the use of English translations and pinyin at the same time - it was extremely irritating to have names like Sparrow and Sky and Winter alongside Sima Yi, Cao Lei, Hao Meilin, etc. Why not settle for the pinyin in every name, with a side note translation of specific names? I also disliked the 'Okays' peppered here and there, but that's a pet peeve of mine. All in all, I did enjoy this novel a lot, it was extremely entertaining and kept me hooked the entire time, wanting to see where Meilin's choices would lead.
My thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Ends With Fire is a fascinating retelling of Mulan, including elements of the supernatural. We see Meilin struggle not just due to her place in society as a woman but also having access to magic which is outlawed. A big theme in the book is isolation and not just because of her circumstances but also due to the other characters motivations. The book can at times feel lonely as there's downsides to all of Meilin's potential allies, even Meilin herself is dealing with controlling her impulses due to her magic's influence. It makes it all feel rather hopeless at times, not knowing who to trust has you second guessing everyone's motivations and even Meilin. Despite this or because of this... The novel itself is a riveting read and flows well as Meilin escapes her marriage and joins the army in the three kingdoms war.

The cast of supporting characters are great and standouts such as Autumn, Lei and Sparrow really bring the book together even with you guessing the motivations and how they'll react if they discover Meilin's secrets.

I look forward to seeing what happens next in Meilin's story and if she can find some allies she can confide in! Thanks to Netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the arc.

This book offers a smooth, easy-to-follow narrative with some enjoyable characters, particularly Lei, who stands out as the most intriguing. While the writing flows well, it adheres closely to familiar story beats, lacking in surprises or moments of anticipation. The depiction of sexual assault, though thematically relevant, feels excessive and repetitive within the narrative. However, for fans of Asian-inspired fantasy, this book provides a solid and accessible read reminiscent of titles like Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night, and Six Crimson Cranes.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

“The Night Ends With Fire” was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. It’s a book inspired by The Poppy War and Mulan, promising an epic adventure and a toe-curling romance. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The novel didn’t meet my expectations and I had to DNF this book at almost 50%. I don’t usually stop reading a book without finishing it, but it didn’t meet my personal taste and I just couldn’t force myself to keep going.

The novel follows the life of Mielin, a young woman living in a household with her beloved stepmother, her two siblings, and an abusive father addicted to opium. Forced to marry a man, Mielien decides to run away and join the army in the upcoming war. To do that, she’ll be forced to hide her identity and pretend to be a man.

During the first chapters I found myself intrigued by the relationship of Mielin and her stepmom, an equally young woman compelled to endure her husband’s abuses. It’s hard to find books with lovable stepmothers that are on good terms with their stepdaughters and I hoped to see that bond evolving throughout the book. But Mielin goes away, trying to save herself from an unwanted and violent marriage and leaving her stepmother and her siblings alone in that unbearable situation. It was the only possible choice, but it also meant abandoning the woman who has become as close to her as a sister in the hands of her father. I found it quite selfish, why not try to make them all escape, or ponder something even more drastic?

The book was fast-paced, the narration proceeded quickly, leaving no room for thorough descriptions and characters’ insights. Even though the novel is narrated in the first person by Mielin, I couldn’t fully emphasise with her— expect for the beginning, especially when she was still leaving in her house—, nor did I root for the couple.
I’d like to focus on the training sessions Mielin did to enhance her abilities. The time goes by, but the reader doesn’t feel Mielin’s improvement precisely because they aren’t described. These might have been the right opportunities to deepen the characters, showing their strengthens and weaknesses, thus letting the reader develop a sort of attachment to the characters.

I was fascinated by the magic system, but it wasn’t wholly developed. Everything felt fuzzy and not as interesting as I hoped it to be. Mielin was afraid of the very notion of power not only because it was something dangerous and unknown, but especially due to the misogynistic beliefs of her people. Sadly, I found this issue to be somewhat overlooked.

The romance felt flat just like Sky. If we can enter into Mielin’s mind, we’re totally unaware of Sky’s personality. He remains a mystery and I couldn’t grow fond of him. The relationship between them isn’t properly developed. They create an important link when Mielin is training to become a better soldier, but these scenes aren’t shown so it’s something difficult to believe. They could have raised the tension and even built a proper bond between them.

Mulan merely inspired “The Night Ends With Fire”, but a lot of scenes were pretty much the same. At least the first half of the book proceeded with very few differences with the cartoon. On the other hand, I didn’t find anything close to The Poppy War.

Obviously that’s my personal opinion. The novel is well-written and it’s easy to read. I highly recommend it to readers who are new to the fantasy genre. It isn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t for me.

The Night Ends with Fire is a Mulan re-telling with a twist. I love Mulan so of course I had to pick it up, and honestly it 100% delivered. I will say that the pacing might not work for everyone, as it jumps from one thing to the next quite a bit. I'm usually not a fan of this as I enjoy the journey, however, it worked here. In my opinion, anything extra added between the time jumps would have felt like filler. Instead the pacing was fast and the action kept me hooked and eager to continue reading.

The main character, Meilin, wants more than the lot women are afforded in this world. What sets her apart from your typical heroine is that she is unapologetically ambition and although she has to save the world, her reason for wanting to do so is not selfless. She doesn't want to save the world for the sake of humanity, she wants to save the world to protect her loved ones. I really liked her relationship with her stepmum, it was heartwarming and a change from the usual horrible stepmum set up. She also tentatively develops a friendship with another female character, and I hope she encounters more in the sequel as I l love seeing women support women.

The world building was straight forward with no info dumps, making this the perfect read for fantasy novices. I found the concept of the spirits and the magic tied to them to be fascinating.

Another aspect of The Night Ends with Fire I enjoyed is the romance. I will say that there is a love triangle, but personally it didn't bother me. I know who I'm rooting for and hope that he is end game. I mean, the development of his relationship with Meilin was naturally paced and such a good slow burn.

Needless to say, I can't wait for the release of the conclusion to this story!

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This was almost something. Let’s start with what I did like:
The writing was smooth, easy to follow, and though it had some stilted chapter endings here and there, overall it was an easy read.
But that’s all it was: easy and fine. It was hitting nothing but familiar story beats, and at no point did the story turn around and make me go: Wow, I wonder what happens next!
I liked some of the characters. I really liked Lei, he was the most interesting one in here. I liked the Meilin was unapologetically greedy, but that’s probably all I liked about her. She felt a bit bland to me.
Now, there were two or three instances in this story where it was heavily alluded to that the main character as going to be sexually assaulted. And while I understand the story dealt with themes of war, and that people are awful, and that this happens… in this particular story, it felt incredibly unnecessary. I don’t know how to explain it without going into detail, but it felt unnecessary and boring, especially when it happened multiple times.

Overall, the story is fine! I think I just wanted something different than what it was. If you love Asian inspired fantasy, this would be a solid read for you! It kind of reminded me of Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night, Six Crimson Cranes, etc

3⭐️!

Loved this fantasy romance! It was fun, fast paced and the romance was great.

This is an amazing retelling of mulan. If you like mulan, fantasy and romance then read this, you won’t be disappointed! Although it did read quite YA, it was still well written.

This book is not only dramatic and engrossing, it is also insightful and wise. Read it! Read it! You will never forget it!

I loved this book a lot. I loved the way the characters had magic through the Jade which bound them to a god.
I loved the flawed characters.
The romance was written fantastically.
I can't wait to read more from this world!