A review by onthesamepage
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

She would no longer be the flower. She would be the blade.

While the overarching plot direction and themes aren't necessarily unique, I found a lot to love in this book.

Years after losing her mother to the Elantian magicians during the occupation, Lan is still trying to figure out what the mysterious mark on her arm means. She finally has a lead, but when an Elantian officer buys her time as a songgirl, Lan is forced to defend herself and her life. Fortunately for her, Zen happens to be at the right place, at the right time, even if they don't entirely get off on the right foot. And as a practitioner, he might be able to help her unravel the secrets her mother left her with.

There were several moments while reading this that I thought I must be near the end already, only to check and see I wasn't even halfway. This isn't because it was lagging in any way, but enough happens in this book that it could have easily been split into two. In fact, there are a lot of YA fantasies that don't pack nearly as much into the first book, but that is part of what kept me engaged throughout the story. I never felt like the pacing dragged, or like I was reading about something that didn't feel necessary to the overall plot. Lan has a very specific goal in mind, and she never veers from this, even when she is forced to take detours for a time.

The courtdog’s expression was not amused. His mouth was pressed into a thin line as he held her arm. “You’ll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to run.”
“Got it,” Lan said, and with her other hand, smashed her teacup into his face.

Speaking of Lan, it's been a while since I've encountered such a compelling main character. I absolutely loved the way she was, from her snarky replies, to her determination to learn new things and do what is necessary to protect herself and the people she cares for. Even though there is a romance between her and Zen, that never becomes the end-all-be-all of her as a character. She still makes the difficult choices, love and soulmates be damned.

“I feel something inside me. A voice, whispering to me… telling me it hungers…”
Zen leaned closer. “Hungers for what?”
“… for steamed pork buns,” Lan finished.

In comparison, Zen almost comes across as bland. I think the reason for this does become more clear the more you find out about him, but for me it meant that while I understood Lan's motivations and feelings, Zen never felt quite as genuine. When they first confess to having feelings for one another, reading that he cared so much for her took me by surprise, because I hadn't seen much of it prior to that point. This is despite the fact that the book is written in 3rd person, and that we get chapters from both their perspectives.

The other issue I had were a few of the antagonists, especially Dilaya. That girl was just everywhere at just the right moment to hear all the things she shouldn't know about, and she predictably reacted badly every time. This felt like a bit of a pattern for many side characters—while Lan and Zen felt fleshed out, the others were a bit flatter.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this, and if you're looking for a nice, meaty start to a YA fantasy series, I highly recommend checking this out. 
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