** I received an ARC for an honest review **
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description
The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry instead – but when she discovers that her husband-to-be is violent and ill-tempered, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.
In the army, Meilin’s hard work brings her recognition, friendship – and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner.
But as her kingdom barrels towards destruction, Meilin must decide who to trust: Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; a sea dragon spirit with the power to grant her impossible magic; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew – about her kingdom, her loyalty and her own heart.
Summary
I recently read The Night Ends With Fire by X.K. Song, the first volume in a new epic fantasy series and retelling of the legend of Mulan.
Review
Song invites us into a fantastic reimagining of the Chinese legend of Mulan and the Three Kingdoms with the rebellious female protagonist, Han Meilin. The Three Kingdoms were once united but since the death of the last Emperor, Anlai, Ximing and Leyuan have been reduced to warlords fighting for dominance. In Anlai, Han Meilin is the daughter of an impoverished, debt-plagued household and her father, the once-powerful noble Han Clan leader is now a disgraced opium addict and gambler. Meilin is the oldest daughter of her father’s first wife – a powerful sorceress who descended into madness and took her own life. This darkness haunts Melin who as rebellious and fiercely independent but does whatever is necessary to survive.
When the warlord of Anlai summons all men of fighting age to join the army to defend the kingdom, Melin has two choices before her: marry an older, cruel merchant and repay her father’s debts, or disguise herself as a man go to war in her father’s stead. Melin has been raised as a woman but trained in the arts of swordsmanship, kung fu and magic of the spirit realms and seizes the opportunity to escape the social imprisonment of marriage to enlist in the Anlai army.
Before Meilin leaves her home, she’s gifted her mother’s priceless jade necklace which comes with powerful and deadly secrets. Now disguised as a man among the Prince Liu’s soldiers, the jade necklace reveals itself as a spirit seal containing the mighty azure dragon, Qinglong, spirit god of water invested with double-edged power but potential corruption of greed for those who use the spirit seal.
After a serious military defeat from an unnatural fire, Chancellor Sima of the opposing warlord from the Kingdom of Ximing, has his own spirit seal broken for Zhuque, the Phoenix and god of fire. While Sima searches to reunite all pieces of his seal the Phoenix’s power of vengeance consumes Sima and his desire to burn the Three Kingdoms to ashes if challenged.
The legend of Mulan is made all the more vibrant and alive in Song’s fantasy world-building and Meilin’s boundless desire to succeed. As a heroine, Meilin is unusual – Song reveals her flaws as clearly as her qualities and both are judged against a balance. We see how Meilin’s rebellious desire to succeed can easily be corrupted by the spirit seal and the temptation of greed – to have more, be greater and conquer.
Song has written a masterfully crafted fantasy world where the Three Kingdoms are detailed with beauty, passion and imagination maintaining this feel of a traditional epic legend. The Night Ends with Fire is an epic fantasy that harkens to the era of legends and mythology where heroes, gods and monsters waged war. Song highlights the dark and light aspects of human nature and subtly comments on the dangers in withholding knowledge: knowledge withheld from some and exploited by others, misunderstood by some and wielded like a weapon by others.
Conclusion
A highly recommended read for fans of the Legend of Mulan, Chinese mythology, history and epic fantasy. This is an engaging and beautifully written fantasy novel with a strong female protagonist, high-stakes adventure, love-story written as a sweeping epic.
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Leanbh Pearson 