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In a world invaded by demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother's soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass. Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls. Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition. Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng. The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.
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This was my first experience with Amélie Wen Zhao’s writing, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. From the first page, the story pulled me in, and its fast-paced plot made it nearly impossible to put down. The rich world-building, intense trials, and intricate murder mystery kept me hooked, and Àn’yīng's backstory added a depth to her character that made her truly compelling. Although I found some plot twists predictable and a few romantic moments a bit forced, I still enjoyed the character dynamics overall. One minor disappointment was the limited development of Àn’yīng’s friendships. These connections felt underexplored, which held back some of the emotional impact. Despite this, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was an exciting read with just the right amount of angst to elevate the story. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's - Delacorte Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.