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secondhandpages's review against another edition
4.0
This was a pleasant surprise of a book! I really felt myself connecting to Bao. One of the biggest quotes to stand out to me in this novel was Bao's words to his mother...
"I think I'll always miss you, but maybe that's better than having you."
As an adoptee, who met their birth mother -- this quote hit me HARD.
There is so much more to talk about, and I'll be diving deep into the story during the Song of the Crimson Flower blog tour stop!
FRTC
"I think I'll always miss you, but maybe that's better than having you."
As an adoptee, who met their birth mother -- this quote hit me HARD.
There is so much more to talk about, and I'll be diving deep into the story during the Song of the Crimson Flower blog tour stop!
FRTC
sfindysz's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
thewrittenadventure's review
3.0
While I liked the premise, I found that the writing could have used some more work when explaining details of the world. I had to dnf around page 106, it just wasn’t as sweeping of a story as I was hoping it to be
lesserjoke's review
3.0
I wasn't sure what to expect of a standalone spinoff sequel to the Rise of the Empress duology, whose cruel first volume of an antiheroine's ascension engaged me far more than its softer follow-up tracking her defeat. For this new book, author Julie C. Dao has delivered a tender love story with a tone somewhere between those extremes: lacking anywhere near the teeth of the original novel, but still more distinctive and interesting than the glorified fetch quests of the second.
The East Asian fantasy setting remains compelling in its own right, and the replacement protagonists are sweet as they learn to examine their class and gender biases and see things from one another's point of view. The fairy-tale plot around them is simple yet effective as a backdrop for that developing dynamic, and it's fun to see some returning figures and explore a different area of their world. I wouldn't call this a necessary read for anyone, but it's a good argument for how the wider series can continue to grow beyond its initial stakes.
[Content warning for panic attacks, plague, and drug abuse.]
--Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!--
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
The East Asian fantasy setting remains compelling in its own right, and the replacement protagonists are sweet as they learn to examine their class and gender biases and see things from one another's point of view. The fairy-tale plot around them is simple yet effective as a backdrop for that developing dynamic, and it's fun to see some returning figures and explore a different area of their world. I wouldn't call this a necessary read for anyone, but it's a good argument for how the wider series can continue to grow beyond its initial stakes.
[Content warning for panic attacks, plague, and drug abuse.]
--Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!--
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
orionoconnell's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
<b> Content Warnings: </b> Violence, War, Drug Use / Abuse, Death, Grief / Loss, Sensual Content (nonexplicit), Nudity.
Well, this one knocked it out of the park. I'd love to say there are remnants of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan in this one but to be honest, I'd say while Dao's Universe started as a Snow White retelling, by this point it's entirely her own, and for the better. I adored Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and Xifeng with all of my heart. Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix broke me in two. I was worried that this one wouldn't live up to the incredible world-building and character arcs I've come to know and love. I didn't have to worry. The characters were incredible, and while the story featured some throwbacks to the former two novels - this one was made clearly about the main characters with a unique journey and additional worldbuilding we hadn't seen before. It was absolutely enchanting and the character growth trajectory was flawless as ever. Dao is incredible at keeping the plot interesting and keeping you guessing at a few things until the very end, and this was no exception. There were a few ways the end of this could have gone and I think she chose the perfect one. This book sealed the deal that I will be reading every book that Julie C. Dao writes. While many authors have a strength in world-building or in character-building, it often sways heavily in one direction - but this author has created a perfect combination which are always the most immersive stories. This was lovely to read.
Well, this one knocked it out of the park. I'd love to say there are remnants of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Mulan in this one but to be honest, I'd say while Dao's Universe started as a Snow White retelling, by this point it's entirely her own, and for the better. I adored Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and Xifeng with all of my heart. Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix broke me in two. I was worried that this one wouldn't live up to the incredible world-building and character arcs I've come to know and love. I didn't have to worry. The characters were incredible, and while the story featured some throwbacks to the former two novels - this one was made clearly about the main characters with a unique journey and additional worldbuilding we hadn't seen before. It was absolutely enchanting and the character growth trajectory was flawless as ever. Dao is incredible at keeping the plot interesting and keeping you guessing at a few things until the very end, and this was no exception. There were a few ways the end of this could have gone and I think she chose the perfect one. This book sealed the deal that I will be reading every book that Julie C. Dao writes. While many authors have a strength in world-building or in character-building, it often sways heavily in one direction - but this author has created a perfect combination which are always the most immersive stories. This was lovely to read.
palomabird1's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gameoftomes's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
RTC
jnishi's review
5.0
Such a good book! Dao is a wonderful writer. She created a character that you can’t stand in the beginning but grow to love and root for. She gave you a love story that felt real and not insta-lovey. Wonderful addition to her Feng Lu world.
zuly's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
daumari's review
4.0
Whoops, thought I was picking up a standalone when it's really the third book set in a fantasy universe. This seemingly takes place 8 years after the previous one though ([b:Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix|32605122|Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (Rise of the Empress, #2)|Julie C. Dao|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522159918l/32605122._SY75_.jpg|53186304]), and characters from the other two feel more like worldbuilding backstory so when I get to those, maybe they'll feel like interesting prequels.
Song of the Crimson Flower feels a little like mixing the mistaken identity from Cyrano with the prideful declaration followed by remorse to lovers of Pride & Prejudice, needing to solve a curse like Princess and the Frog with a dash of Legend of Korra's estranged gray-haired sisters (except less kid friendly). I know, it's possible to consume media without comparing it to others but Tropes Aren't Inherently Bad and there's a comfort in finding familiar beats. Short and sweet, I really liked this.
Definite hooks for future installments as well (or let dangling threads be dangling threads idk)
Song of the Crimson Flower feels a little like mixing the mistaken identity from Cyrano with the prideful declaration followed by remorse to lovers of Pride & Prejudice, needing to solve a curse like Princess and the Frog with a dash of Legend of Korra's estranged gray-haired sisters (except less kid friendly). I know, it's possible to consume media without comparing it to others but Tropes Aren't Inherently Bad and there's a comfort in finding familiar beats. Short and sweet, I really liked this.
Definite hooks for future installments as well (or let dangling threads be dangling threads idk)