This started off strong - despite a lot of telling instead of showing, I was really vibing with the world and the main character & her family. This realm has been terrorised by demons, and in order to protect her family, Àn’yīng has learned to fight, to provide food and some magical wards to protect her home. I loved her connection with her sister and her memories of her parents. The descriptions of demons and wonderful landscapes were vivid hooked me initially.

Unfortunately when it got to the immortality trial stage it was too fast paced with too little character development for my taste. There were two instances of insta-love, which were not believable as I could barely picture the mmcs. Àn’yīng also seemed to lose her back bone and her decisions and opinions were founded in very little character growth or development, and I was getting frustrated reading.

If you prefer fast paced action rather than character focus and introspection, this might be more to your taste.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have ended up loving every book I've read by Amélie Wen Zhao, and The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is no different. From the moment I read the first page till I got to the last line in the book, I was obsessed. The writing style is absolutely gorgeous. It is lush and descriptive, and feels like you're right there, living in the same world alongside the characters. Though I haven't watched a lot of fantasy c-dramas, I honestly think this book would make such a perfect xianxia drama or even an animated show.

The world of the Three Realms is rife with danger and violence, and of course, demons who devour mortal souls. And we truly feel and experience this danger through the eyes of Àn’yīng, our main character. Her mother is marred by demonic sickness and she has a younger sister to care of. As Àn’yīng readies herself to participate in the Immortality Trials, you can feel how heavy the stakes are and how dangerous things really are in the world.

I honestly was on the edge of my seat so many times because there are some very intense moments, where you don't know what could happen. Living it through Àn’yīng's eyes is a bonus, because though scared, she is courageous and lionhearted and is willing to take the most dangerous risks, to meet her end goal. Her character arc is one of the most magnificent parts of the book, and honestly that is what solidified this book as a five start read for me personally.

Of course, I have to mention the romance here. The 'will-they, won't-they' vibes plus that dash of enemies to lovers thrown in, and the fact that both Àn’yīng and Yù’chén have secrets they refuse to speak of, makes for such an interesting dynamic. The chemistry between them is pretty much evident from their first interaction, and I really love the way their growing attraction was portrayed. It made their relationship feel more realistic in how it developed.

There were certain twists that I had a feeling about, but then so many others surprised me, especially the one that comes at the very end. But if you think about all that happened in book 1, it makes perfect sense. The climax is action-packed and fast paced, and all characters, Àn’yīng and Yù’chén included, suffer heavy losses. The ramifications of the ending feel heavy and transformative, and I'm excited to see how that will affect everything in book 2

Full of heart-racing moments, deadly trials and enemies at every corner as well as a delectable romance, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a masterful start, to what I feel is going to become one of my favourite series.

Thank you HarperVoyager UK for sending me an e-ARC!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the world and the idea of demons, as well as the heavy influence of Chinese mythology to create a dark and mysterious backdrop.

An'yīng was a stand out FMC for me, at first she was a little insufferable and made some strange choices (I thought she blew a little hot and cold with Yù'chén but I suppose this is the nature of their dynamic!!) but she grew on me tremendously as the book developed and our perception of her and her world widened.

This was a fast-paced, fun read overall, and I can't wait for the next book in the duology!

The tension was so good I had to take a deep breath everytime.
The world was fine very well and I am intrigued to learn more about the Mó and the Immortal.
While the reveals/plot twists were mostly predictable they were still enjoyable to read.

This was one of the most confusing, erratic and messiest books I’ve ever read.

The plot intrigued me at first: immortal trials, mysterious hot man, impending war - what more could you want. But I ended spending most of the book lost and confused.

The world-building was lacking. I barely understood how magic worked, the kingdoms, hierarchy etc.

I found the main character to be super annoying. We’re told that she’s this strong, self-taught magician and she wants to win the trials. But she’s actually pretty weak, has no clue what she’s doing and gets by because everyone just seems to help her. Her attitude towards the main love interest is super erratic - one minute she’s attracted to him and they’re flirting and the within the next line she’s about to stab him.

The actual trials themselves were barely even part of the story that I don’t remember what they were.

Also all the other characters were barely developed and we barely spent any time with them but we’re meant to believe that the main character somehow forged strong friendships.

Overall, there was just too much going on and barely any of it was adequately developed that I lost interest pretty early on.

Thank you to HarperVoyager UK and Netgalley for the ARC!

Years ago, the Kingdom of Night invaded the Kingdom of Rivers, and tragedy struck An'yīng's family. For the past nine year she has been fighting to keep her sister and mother alive, and practicing her practitioning (magic) to do so. Now, she's leaving her family to travel to the Kingdom of Sky, participate in the Immortality Trials, and win a Pill of Immortality to heal her mother - whose soul was half-eaten by a demon. There are 44 participants wanting one of 8 pills, so the competition is fierce.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is the first half of The Three Realms Duology, and we follow the story from An'yīng's point of view. She was a strong character, and I found the narration through her eyes compelling. It might be a case of right book, right time, but I really really loved this book. The characters were interesting, the story at times surprising, and the balance between world-building, character development, action and romance was perfect. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric, and I absolutely flew through it. And that ending... this hasn't even been published yet and I'm already actively waiting for the sequel. After a few disappointing reads, this was exactly what I needed. 9/10, would recommend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager UK for the ARC!

“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩.”

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao is the first installment in The Three Realms duology, a dark romantasy series.

This book was an amazing read and a refresher. After reading a very political fantasy book, this was a very good palate cleanser filled with Chinese Mythology and romantasy aspects.

The story follows An'yīng, a fierce young woman who takes on the role of protector after the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tears her family apart. Her journey is fraught and emotional in many senses, including peril.

Yù'chén was a brilliantly developed character. The raw reality and emotions were beautifully expressed and his motivations were well developed like his thoughts.

Set in a dark and ominous backdrop, the formidable nature of the demons were well set up. The angst from keeping family ties safe while trying find yourself beneath all the layers of uncertainty and romance was the selling point of this book for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and took my sweet time enjoying every bit of it.

The luscious backdrop, the blend of mythology and fantasy, character development and plot twists were the best parts. I enjoyed seeing through the eyes of the protagonist and the jaw dropping plot twists that had me rethink my reality.

Overall, this was a fast paced and amazing read, filled with forbidden romance, deadly trials, high stakes and a perfect blend of Chinese Mythology.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a book that pulls you in and keeps you on edge throughout the entirety of it.

The story follows Àn’yīng, a character who isn’t afraid to admit when something is difficult while also still trying to push through, to show her courage. The story is one that keeps you in and yet still manages to surprise you the longer it goes on.

What a great read this was!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK frontage ARC!

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is the first Book in a new duology by Amélie Wen Zao.

This book was so amazing! The world building was easy to understand and beautifully done!
It’s filled with Chinese mythology underlined with a romantic aspect.

The Story follows An‘yīng whis is trying to get an immortality pill after her mom‘s soul was halfway sucked out by a demon.
Along the way to the immortal realm, where she will have to face some trials to be deemed worthy of the pill, she encounters Yù‘chén who becomes her travel companion. This happens because he is also traveling to the immortal realm.

Both of these characters undergo an amazing character development and you just can’t get enough of these two!

The book was fast paced and kept you on your toes.
It is also first person pov which I really liked.

If you are looking for a book with the following tropes you have to read The Scorpion and the Night Blossom:

- Deadly trials
- Dark romantasy
- Chinese mythology
- Rivals to lovers
- Love Triangle
- Demons, mythical creatures, immortals and mortals

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager UK for the ARC!

“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩.”

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao is the first installment in The Three Realms duology, a dark romantasy series.

This book was an amazing read and a refresher. After reading a very political fantasy book, this was a very good palate cleanser filled with Chinese Mythology and romantasy aspects.

The story follows An'yīng, a fierce young woman who takes on the role of protector after the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tears her family apart. Her journey is fraught and emotional in many senses, including peril.

Yù'chén was a brilliantly developed character. The raw reality and emotions were beautifully expressed and his motivations were well developed like his thoughts.

Set in a dark and ominous backdrop, the formidable nature of the demons were well set up. The angst from keeping family ties safe while trying find yourself beneath all the layers of uncertainty and romance was the selling point of this book for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and took my sweet time enjoying every bit of it.

The luscious backdrop, the blend of mythology and fantasy, character development and plot twists were the best parts. I enjoyed seeing through the eyes of the protagonist and the jaw dropping plot twists that had me rethink my reality.

Overall, this was a fast paced and amazing read, filled with forbidden romance, deadly trials, high stakes and a perfect blend of Chinese Mythology.

Based on Chinese mythology this captivating fantasy is impossible to put down. With amazing world building and a unique magic tournament making this unbelievably action packed. It is bursting with plot twists and characters that will live in your head for a long while. Absolutely top tier romantasy that is simply beautiful to read.

Thankyou to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is the first in a new duology by Amelie Wen Zhao. It targets a slightly older audience compared to Song Like Silver, Flames Like Night, but there are many similarities in the world building and magic system. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom also introduces the concept of the Immortal Kingdoms and beings, as our heroine journeys there to compete in trials to win immortality for her cursed and dying mother.

I loved the world that was built, with the demons from the Night Kingdom who are infiltrating the weakening mortal kingdoms, and the Immortals in the Sky Kingdom. Àn’yīng, our heroine was fierce and weilded magical daggers which offered her an edge in battle against the demons and other rivals.

She finds herself competing in the immortality trials, a series of high stakes deadly trials, in which 44 mortal competitors are narrowed down to 8 to be sponsored by an immortal of the Sky Kingdom and have a chance at earning immortality themselves. However, Àn’yīng finds herself in trouble almost immediately and forms an alliance with the dark and alluring Yù’chén who is not all he seems.

The more that Àn’yīng progresses in the trials, the more she realises that all is not what it seems in the Immortal Kingdom and there are lots of secrets and politics at play.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was fast paced and alluring. I enjoyed the chemistry between Àn’yīng and Yù’chén as they worked together to survive the trials and help Àn’yīng's family. There were a lot of similarities between this and Song Like Silver and the Daughter of the Moon Goddess which I have also previously enjoyed.

Some things that stopped me from rating it 5 stars: Àn’yīng's character was a times frustrating and contradictory. She was at the same time fierce and independent as she was naïve and close-minded. She required saving or rescuing more times than I would have liked which painted her as a bit helpless, but I quite enjoyed the image of her wielding daggers and fighting in a fury.

There was a twist of all plot twists at the end, and the last 100 pages or so will have you on the edge of your seat. Some you may see coming, but I was not prepared for all the reveals.

Narration:Single Character, first person POV

Tropes:
- Deadly trials
- Secrets
- Political intrigue
- Demons, mortals & immortals
- Tenuous alliance
- Forbidden romance
- Secret identity
- Love triangle

I loved the Song of the Last Kingdom duology, and this book had been on my NetGalley list for a while—but why did I let it sit there for so long?

I was this close to a five-star read with this rather dark Asian fantasy, where immortal kingdoms, magical tournaments, sorcery, and romance intertwine.

An’ying is a mortal girl determined to save her mother, whose soul has been partially drained by a demon. To do so, she plans to enter a tournament organized by the Immortals, hoping to win the pill of immortality that could heal her mother. Along the way, she meets Yu’Chen, a dark and mysterious rival.

First of all, I absolutely loved the unique worldbuilding typical of Asian fantasy, where vivid landscapes, mythology, and magic blend beautifully. The story unfolds across multiple realms—the human realm, the demon realm, and the immortal realm, with most of the action taking place in the latter. The magical trials are fantastic, featuring immersive and richly detailed battle scenes.

But my absolute favorite part of this novel was the relationship between An’ying and Yu’Chen. If you love banter, tension, and declarations that will make you scream, then you’re in for a treat. We get enemies-to-lovers, knife-to-throat, touch her and die—and honestly, their dynamic was one of the most intense I’ve read in an Asian fantasy. I need more!

The only two things that kept this from being a five-star read for me: I wish the relationships between An’ying and her friends had been explored more (they felt underdeveloped), and a certain trope I don’t particularly enjoy makes an appearance towards the end. I’ll have to see how the author handles it in the sequel.

Overall, a fantastic read if you’re a fan of Asian fantasy, magical tournaments, and high-tension romance!

Thank you, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK, for this e-ARC!

Post to be published on Instagram Tuesday 11th Feb

I have pretty mixed feelings about this book. The beginning? Totally hooked. I loved the worldbuilding, the magic system, and the whole immortals-mortals-demons setup. An’ying’s weapons and how they gave her unique combat abilities were especially cool.

The story kicks off with some high stakes—An’ying enters a trial run by the immortals to win an immortality pill, hoping to save her mother, who’s slowly dying after a demon attack. The premise had me really invested, and I flew through the first part of the book. The monster fights and action scenes were definitely a highlight.

But as much as I enjoyed the start, the book lost some of its grip on me. My biggest issue? An’ying herself. She starts off as a strong, capable fighter, but once Yù’chén shows up, she kind of loses that spark. He’s always the one stepping in to save her, which felt like a letdown given how much potential she had. I also struggled with her attitude toward demons. It makes sense given her backstory, but it was so relentless at times that it overshadowed other parts of the story.

Now, Yù’chén? Easily the highlight for me. He’s charming, full of charisma, and just the right amount of dramatic. His lines had me smiling so many times (and honestly hit me right in the feels!), and he definitely had the strongest presence in the book (especially given my reservations about An’ying and how flat the secondary characters felt). I just know the sequel is going to be rough for him.

And then there’s the ending—definitely an emotional ride with some unexpected twists. It flipped a lot of things around, and despite my mixed feelings about the heroine, I need to see how it all wraps up in the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I didn't enjoy this book as much as Song of Silver, Flame like Night, mostly because I feel the book was too short for a) the main characters 'strength' to be demonstrated or b) for any of the relationships to fully develop. I did like the reveals in the second half, but I do wish we had more build up and more focus on the trial elements.

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The first in The Three Realms duology by Amélie Wen Zhao. The story follows Àn’yīng while the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers, the mortal realm, tears it apart. The story features themes of trust, friendship, rivalry and sacrifice.

Àn’yīng has lost her father and nearly her mother to the dangerous demons roaming the mortal realm. To heal her dying mother, she must participate in the Immortality Trails. However, for this, she must risk the journey to the immortal realm and leave behind her mother and little sister. But when a rival contestant, both powerful and handsome, promises protection and a chance of survival for both Àn’yīng and her mother, she will need to find out quickly whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all … for herself and all the realms.

The story was fast-paced and intriguing very quickly. It includes a murder mystery, romance, and many interesting "what is a monster, or what defines a monster" moments. The mythology elements combined with fantasy are always a win for me. I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A sweeping and emotional epic that reads like a historical Chinese drama, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is full of magic, drama and yearning. I felt completely immersed in this world, along for the ride with our sometimes abrasive and rash An'ying as she journeyed to the realm of immortals to seek a cure for her mother. While I managed to predict a lot of the elements and twists of the story, I still thoroughly enjoyed the process of getting there!

I thought I was going to love this, but I only ended up liking this. This is for a few reasons: the side characters had no depth, as such any deaths had no effect, Yunchen should have his own POV, and she was too much of a damsel in distress. I liked the plot, I liked the conflict, and the characters that had more depth. I am hoping the sequel will be able to fix some of the issues I mentioned above.

This book was incredible and I can't wait for the second book!! Àn’yīng decides to enter the Immortality Trials to try and win a pill to grant eternal life as her mum was left for dead by a demon after the attack on their home 9 years ago and has never recovered after losing part of her soul. Àn’yīng has been training hard to get the opportunity to compete, even though she knows not many survive. When she enters the trials she meets Yù’chén, who for some reason is doing everything he can to try and keep her alive, but she has no idea why and doesn't understand why an enemy would be helping her and why she is so distracted everytime she sees him (swoon). I loved the building connection and chemistry between the two of them as they go from rivals to lovers, and the book was packed with so much action that my anxiety was through the roof as she was competing. I loved the description of their world and their magic which is so multidimensional. I was never sure which side Yù’chén was on and the book kept me guessing the whole way through, and loved how he was teaching her how to face challenges in a 'controlled' situation under his guise. I felt as though although Àn’yīng was portrayed as this fierce warrior, this was because this was what she HAD to become and not necessarily what she WANTED to become, as she had to grow up so quickly the night the demons invaded her home and nearly killed her mum and sister, so when she meets Yù’chén she falters as she is torn between continuing the strong, fierce guise she has been masking herself behind, and allowing herself to trust enough to be saved by someone else for a change (rather having to be the one to save everyone else), which I felt was so poetic.
Thoughly enjoyed this so much!!

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is the first in a new duology by Amelie Wen Zhao. It follows An'Ying, a mortal, as she travels to take part in an immortal trial in order to win a pill of immortality to save her unwell mother. I really enjoyed this Chinese mythology inspired book. It is a light fantasy that I found easy to follow. It has lots of adventure and intrigue as our characters compete in the trials and try to resolve mysterious deaths occurring. There is also a sub plot of romance that I really enjoyed.
Overall a really good start to this duology and I look forward to reading the next book.