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A review by phoenix2
Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao
2.0
So, I was expecting way more from this book. That said, the first part was exactly what I wanted. The story was well written, the setting just perfect and I liked the characters. Bao and Lan were a nice couple, though Lan tended to be a bit of a spoiled princess here and there. But, overall, she was enjoyable. The story was predictable too, but intriguing to read their journey. The Grey City mythology seemed promising as well.
However, things went downhill halfway through. When Lan and Bao met Commander Wei, Song of Crimson Flower turned into book three of the Rise of the Empress duology. I had read the first book of it, but I opted out from reading the second, as the first one didn't appeal to me that much. And so, with a few knowledge about the main plot of Xifeng, Wei and her stepdaughter, it was easier to read this one and piece things together. Unfortunately, I can't imagine a reader who has never experienced Xifeng and her story would comfortably read Song of the Crimson Flower. So, I don't recommend it if you haven't read Forest of a Thousand Lanterns at least. Also, if you had and you want to read the second book of the series, keep in mind that this book will spoil what is happening in Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, so I would suggest finishing the main duology first.
Other than that, and even though Bao and Lan's story was pretty great, the rest of it wasn't. The book tended to focus more on the old characters and their stories rather than the new ones, even if they were the main ones of this book. As I couldn't find myself caring about Wei's romance, I got bored with their arc, and the final conclusion of their story was just cheesy. The Grey City big battle was not present at all and we just saw the aftermath of it, which was disappointing. Maybe I was expecting too much from Queen Vy, as she did appear as a strong, evil character, but she was disappointing in the end as well.
In conclusion, I loved Bao and Lan and their story was entertaining. The rest of it was a let down.
However, things went downhill halfway through. When Lan and Bao met Commander Wei, Song of Crimson Flower turned into book three of the Rise of the Empress duology. I had read the first book of it, but I opted out from reading the second, as the first one didn't appeal to me that much. And so, with a few knowledge about the main plot of Xifeng, Wei and her stepdaughter, it was easier to read this one and piece things together. Unfortunately, I can't imagine a reader who has never experienced Xifeng and her story would comfortably read Song of the Crimson Flower. So, I don't recommend it if you haven't read Forest of a Thousand Lanterns at least. Also, if you had and you want to read the second book of the series, keep in mind that this book will spoil what is happening in Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, so I would suggest finishing the main duology first.
Other than that, and even though Bao and Lan's story was pretty great, the rest of it wasn't. The book tended to focus more on the old characters and their stories rather than the new ones, even if they were the main ones of this book. As I couldn't find myself caring about Wei's romance, I got bored with their arc, and the final conclusion of their story was just cheesy. The Grey City big battle was not present at all and we just saw the aftermath of it, which was disappointing. Maybe I was expecting too much from Queen Vy, as she did appear as a strong, evil character, but she was disappointing in the end as well.
In conclusion, I loved Bao and Lan and their story was entertaining. The rest of it was a let down.