Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC

What I immediately noticed with The Scorpion and the Night Blossom was the beautiful writing. It was lush and descriptive. The prose flowed easily and was a delight to read. The romance was influenced by the MCs secrets and was back and forth, will they or won't they. As for the characters, I really liked them. They were strong in their own way and the author did a good job rounding them out. The worldbuilding was good as well and I loved the Chinese mythology influence. The plot I felt dragged a bit. There was some slow parts, but otherwise it was ok.

I love Asian fantasy, the world, the characters, the legends and in general, everything involved in her writing fascinates me.

Asian folklore is always interesting, Amelie's pen has left me in love with it and wanting to read more and more of it.

The writing is so beautiful and descriptive, we find ourselves in a world of Three Kingdoms where our protagonist joins a dangerous and deadly competition to get one of the immortality pills to cure her mother whose soul has been half devoured by a demon and also take care of her little sister.

Guys, the spiky feel of the whole story has been phenomenal, I love it when stories manage to make me feel inside them and that I'm part of the cast of characters (honestly I'd be among the first to perish, but I still LOVE it).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao is the first book in The Three Realms Series. This is Àn’yīng and Yù‘chén‘s story.
 
And let me tell you I’m obsessed with this romantasy. It’s set in a world that was invaded by mó aka demons and the protagonist Àn’yīng fights them and she’s trying to save her mother who is very ill. The heroine was stabby, fearless, badass and just overall absolutely amazing. I loved her spirit and willpower and I wish I had a bit more of that.
 
One day she comes across Yù‘chén who is half mortal and half mó which means he is something unique but rather seen as an abomination. Àn’yīng hates all demons, so naturally she also hates Yù‘chén. But is so charming and confident and my favorite part was how he calls her little scorpion, and I was swooning each time.
 
I loved how they started an unlikely alliance, and they worked together so well. Àn’yīng also enters the deadly Immortality Trials and this might be her only chance to save her mother and she’s working extra hard. This was so gripping, and this book just sucked me in and I read it in one sitting. The combination of a thrilling plot, amazing characters and a dash of romance was just absolute perfection.
 
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a new favorite fantasy read and I’m completely in love with this book and already beyond excited for the next book. 5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Dark, immersive, and brimming with courtly intrigue, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a thrilling fantasy that weaves betrayal, power, and slow-burning romance into a mesmerising tale. Set in a richly crafted world inspired by imperial China, the story follows a cunning assassin navigating the treacherous halls of the royal court, where every alliance is fragile, and danger lurks behind every whispered word.

Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing is lush and atmospheric, pulling readers into a world of secrets and shifting loyalties, with the addition of deadly trials, celestial aesthetics, and C-drama vibes. A blend of action, deception, and morally complex characters makes The Scorpion and the Night Blossom an unforgettable read for fans of dark, character-driven fantasy.

Highly enjoyed and I would recommend to everyone who loves a tantalizingly slow-burn, crackling with tension!

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a thrilling new fantasy novel by the author of the Blood Heir and Song of the Last Kingdom series’. In this new duology, An ying has to battle demons and survive a deadly competition to save her mother’s soul. It is a book filled with action, romance and mythology.

Strangely enough I have read at least two other Chinese mythology inspired books about deadly trials. But whilst this is not a new concept, I do think that Amelie Wen Zhao manages to create a unique world and use these tropes in her own way. I particularly liked the focus on celestial imagery and scenery. The descriptions of clouds and mountains, cherry blossoms and lotus ponds were beautiful. Even though this is a dangerous and brutal world, it’s hard not to be in awe of it.

I also appreciate that we have a flawed protagonist. An ying has been through terrible trauma and lost most of her family to demons. This, understandably, makes her prejudiced against them and anyone associated with them. This becomes complicated later on in the book when certain secrets are revealed, but I do appreciate that An ying has to work on herself throughout the novel.

Whilst the trials are not my favourite part of the book, I did love the book’s focus on action and the clear way in which the stakes are constantly raised. When it comes to the finale, you can’t help but be invested in the thrilling plot. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel as invested at the beginning of the trails- but that may just be because I am familiar with the narrative formula by now. There are always a few small battles before the real game begins.

If you want a book that’s a cross between trail-based fantasy like Phantasma and The Serpent and the Wings of Night and more atmospheric, mythology based books like Six Crimson Crows and Daughter of the Moon Goddess, this is perfect for you!

I loved the concept but the pacing was a little off for me (too slow at the start and too fast during the trials)

Overall, I enjoyed the book!

As always Amèlie write in a way that is imaginative and beautiful. It was different give c-drama vibes 🥰 (it has been a while since I've found one i loved but this satisfying that itch completely) i do think that thier may be a few plot holes that need to be addressed in the future but I'm absolutely excited to see what comes next

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is the first instalment in a new romantasy duology. As someone who doesn’t typically read romantasy, I was curious to give it a try. The premise sounded promising—immortal trials, an impending war, powerful main characters, a Chinese mythology-inspired world, high stakes—what’s not to like?

Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.

This book ended up being a huge disappointment and, frankly, rather messy.

For starters, the world-building was severely underdeveloped. The author provided little detail on how the magic system worked, how the kingdoms were structured, or what the hierarchy of said kingdoms entailed. Without a strong foundation, the setting felt vague, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story—I had to take things at face value rather than truly understand the world.

Then there’s the main character, Àn’yīng. At first, she seems strong, both emotionally and physically, and has solid fighting skills. But as soon as she leaves home and embarks on her journey (especially after meeting the first love interest), she quickly loses confidence, constantly comparing her skills to others who have had more training in the art of practitioning. We’re told she’s self-taught in magic and very strong, but that never really comes across. Instead, she seems unprepared, constantly struggling, and largely dependent on others to help her succeed. She only survives because everyone around her keeps stepping in to save her. Beyond that, she’s not particularly likeable—I honestly found her quite annoying.

Her dynamic with one of the love interests, Yù’chén, was another weak point. She’s outright awful to him, switching between flirting and hostility so rapidly it's hard to keep up. I just couldn’t understand why he cared for her or kept helping her when she constantly treated him with disdain, hate, and judgment. It didn't make sense to me, and I couldn't see why he liked her or why we were supposed to root for them as a couple. On top of that, the excessive use of a cringeworthy pet name made it feel forced, as if the book was desperate to justify its own title. For a book marketed as adult, it read very much like YA.

In fact, this was an issue with all of the relationships in the book—they felt surface-level. Even the friendship group Àn’yīng forms ended up feeling shallow and underdeveloped, yet we’re supposed to believe they forged a deep connection. Because of this, when certain tragic moments occurred, they simply lacked emotional impact. I hadn’t connected with any of the characters (besides Yù’chén), so I simply didn’t care.

The pacing was also uneven. The book started off slow, then picked up with a flurry of action, but it never quite found the right rhythm. For a story centred around trials, there were surprisingly very few of them. The ones that did exist either dragged on so long they lost their tension or were rushed through just to hit the next plot point. I also never really felt like Àn’yīng earned her victories—she either had them handed to her or relied on others for help, often without much gratitude, as I have already mentioned.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. And while I’m mildly curious about how the story continues, I’m not sure if I’ll be picking up the sequel.

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is out on the 27th of February in the UK, and on the 4th of March in the US.

As I turned the pages of "The Scorpion and the Night Blossom," I found myself completely immersed in a world that felt both enchanting and foreign, yet oddly familiar. This book, my first taste of Chinese lore, was nothing short of a revelation. Reading "The Scorpion and the Night Blossom" was a magical journey that awakened my senses and broadened my horizons. The combination of lush prose, engaging characters, and intricate world-building made it the perfect introduction to Chinese lore. This novel not only entertained me but also inspired a deeper interest in exploring the rich tapestry of stories and traditions that Chinese culture has to offer. I look forward to diving into more tales that capture the beauty and complexity of this fascinating world as the trilogy continues
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager UK and Amélie Wen Zhao for the advanced reader copy in return for my honest review

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom may not reinvent the deadly trials romantasy wheel, but it does manage to carve out its own space with rich Chinese-inspired folklore and mythology, dark, angsty, stabby vibes and opulent visuals. Think a sea of clouds, towering mountain pillars carved by wind and water, celestial rivers, shadow cranes, cherry blossoms and lotus ponds in the sky. It’s really quite grandiose. For those who carry a deep and abiding love for dragons, you might just find yourself fed.

Similarly, if you've read The Serpent and the Wings of Night, you’ll feel right at home. The titles are practically cousins, and the structure is familiar: brutal trials, a love interest where I couldn’t tell if they were enemies, rivals or allies, and a heroine with a chip on her shoulder. Even a similar nickname. "Little Serpent/Scorpion."

And listen, I’m not mad about it. Familiarity isn’t a flaw when it’s done well. But I was hoping for a bit more oomph in execution.

Consider this your mild spoiler warning. I have thoughts and they verge on spoilery.
Firstly, the love interest shines in one way and is murky in another. There’s solid tension here, the kind where she doesn’t know if she wants to kiss him or kill him and with touch-her-and-die energy. And I was getting “I can show you the world” Aladdin-Jasmine parallels. But then we hit the real heart of the book, prejudice and bigotry.

Àn’yīng’s hatred of demons is rooted in personal trauma, and I get it. She watched a demon slaughter her father and devour her mother’s soul, leaving her catatonic. But her vitriol towards her half-demon half-human ally felt uncomfortable and excessive. There were moments I physically recoiled from her words and actions towards Yù’chén, her MMC ally-rival. And sure, her arc is about confronting her bigotry and unlearning it, but the journey was rough.

Secondly, the trials. I wanted to see Àn’yīng outthink, outfight, and outmanoeuvre her opponents, but too often, the resolution came from external forces and men saving her. The Immortality Trials should have been a highlight, but often felt anticlimactic, mostly because Àn’yīng rarely got to truly own her victories. I love a strong heroine, but I also love one who actually gets to be strong rather than we just get told she is.

That said, somewhere around the 80% mark, Amélie Wen Zhao elevated the game. Suddenly, I found myself fully invested in the twists and reveals of the final act. Stakes that previously felt manageable suddenly felt monumental. The story stopped coasting on a formula and started twisting plot in ways that felt genuinely thrilling. Themes of fate and free will, light and darkness, became sharper, more urgent.

By the end, I was completely 100% emotionally invested. If only that momentum had been there all along. The foundation has been laid for an epic conclusion for the next book in the duology. I need answers.

This landed between a 3 to a 4.5 stars, depending on which section of the book I was reading. Still, even with its bumps, I had a damn good time. Highly recommend for people who like stabby romantasy with deadly trials, family secrets, celestial aesthetics and C-drama.

A huge thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A strong 3.5 rounded up to a 4 star. Solid plot, good writing and a pacing that kept me going. I ended up reading this is one sitting. Fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess should enjoy this. Personally I liked it more as it flowed a lot better to me and had a much more tight plotline. Anying must go to the celestial realm to gain an immortality pill to save her mother while her realm is being invaded by demons. the Celestials don't care about morals, but they have trials for the strongest to join them. So she ventures to their lands and joins the trials. Along the way, she meets Yuchen, a suspiciously helpful rival who has a very good reason to be hated by her.

Then, she spends most of the book facing the trials and getting whiplash as hard truths are learned. Including learning who the guy who's been talking to her from her jade pendant is. I liked how she made allies with people she shouldn't like and they helped her back. I liked how they ended up as a foil to why she disliked Yuchen. I didn't enjoy the love triangle, if you can call it that and felt sorry for Yuchen by the end. He tried so hard not to be hated by her.

I look forward to the follow-up.

4.5 stars - This was a fascinating story with interesting characters and a fierce and determined female main character narrating. I was drawn into Àn’yīng’s story, with the author’s skills at scene setting as well as character building. I could feel the danger of the beasts, the magic of the immortals, the depth of emotion from the characters and everything in between. The author has crafted an intriguing world of magic and myth here as well as deftly penning the chemistry between characters, the strength of Àn’yīng’s emotions at different stages of her travels and trials, the sweetness of new friendship. This story drew me in from the first page and didn’t let me go until the very end. As always, Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing was a pleasure to lose myself in.

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

This is perfect for fans of C-dramas that cannot get enough of the fantastical stories of immortals, different realms, magic, heroes, villains, and mystical creatures.

Àn’yīng needs to travel to the Temple of Dawn to take part in the Immortality Trials so that she can win a pill of eternal life. She wants to save her mother, whose soul was half devoured by a mó (demon). Leaving behind her mother and baby sister, she needs to embark on a journey to prove her worth.

Unfortunately, it seems that the eBook file on my Kindle has an error or is not complete. I keep having larger gaps in the text where it just says “Harper Voyager” but a section of the story seems to be missing, which is why I unfortunately haven't finished the book.

However, as I am a fan of the author, I will buy the book as soon as it is published and will then be happy to give it a review.

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.