A review by sarahyjackson
The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

From the author’s note: 

“…I set out to write a Mulan retelling with a protagonist who does not dress as a man and join the army out of filial piety, but rather out of her own selfish desire to experience life freely. At the core of The Night Ends with Fire is the question: What does our ambition cost us?”

I found Meilin read aloud excerpts in therapy relatable and I thought her consideration and interrogation of her own longings and motivations within the context of broader systems SO WELL DONE. 

Magic system was a little loose for me but that might be the intended effect of the reader coming to an awareness of it alongside our heroine. 

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