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A review by gxcons
The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
A retelling of the traditional Mulan tale, a fantasy that leans more YA than adult.
What didn't work for me:
-Despite the author's notes, the story itself seems to rely on nostalgia for the 90's Disney movie. Examples: commanding officer dealing with father's legacy as primary love interest, dragon companion, Sparrow as an obvious spin on Ling, a funny/tense sequence of Meilin's platoon bathing outside, entering a palace toward the end of the story disguised as concubines.
-Very fast-paced, didn't allow for motivations and actions to really settle in. Also made it difficult to really get to know characters, even Meilin.
-I was looking forward to the major twist in this retelling, moving away from the motivation of filial piety to personal ambition. But the explorations of freedom, ambition, and quest for power were surface-level and not compelling. Same goes for the talk of "madness" throughout.
-The introduction of a second love interest to create a love triangle maybe would have worked if we spent more time with Lei, but there wasn't much there in terms of a relationship besides s*xual tension. I honestly thought the triangle would instead incorporate Sima, Meilin's mirror in terms of magical power.
-The writing felt very basic. The quote I see being used in other readers' positive reviews was used multiple times in the narrative and felt cringey every time.
The book itself is gorgeous and would make a great addition to a bookshelf purely for show. If you're a big reader of this genre, maybe this book would be a good start in terms of diverse perspectives. As a Latinx Westerner, I can't speak to the cultural criticisms in some reviews. The ending also directly sets up for a sequel, but I doubt I'll seek that out when it comes out.
What didn't work for me:
-Despite the author's notes, the story itself seems to rely on nostalgia for the 90's Disney movie. Examples: commanding officer dealing with father's legacy as primary love interest, dragon companion, Sparrow as an obvious spin on Ling, a funny/tense sequence of Meilin's platoon bathing outside, entering a palace toward the end of the story disguised as concubines.
-Very fast-paced, didn't allow for motivations and actions to really settle in. Also made it difficult to really get to know characters, even Meilin.
-I was looking forward to the major twist in this retelling, moving away from the motivation of filial piety to personal ambition. But the explorations of freedom, ambition, and quest for power were surface-level and not compelling. Same goes for the talk of "madness" throughout.
-The introduction of a second love interest to create a love triangle maybe would have worked if we spent more time with Lei, but there wasn't much there in terms of a relationship besides s*xual tension. I honestly thought the triangle would instead incorporate Sima, Meilin's mirror in terms of magical power.
-The writing felt very basic. The quote I see being used in other readers' positive reviews was used multiple times in the narrative and felt cringey every time.
The book itself is gorgeous and would make a great addition to a bookshelf purely for show. If you're a big reader of this genre, maybe this book would be a good start in terms of diverse perspectives. As a Latinx Westerner, I can't speak to the cultural criticisms in some reviews. The ending also directly sets up for a sequel, but I doubt I'll seek that out when it comes out.