Book Review: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom By Amélie Wen Zhao

Hold onto your jade pendants, folks! Amélie Wen Zhao’s latest YA fantasy, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, is here to sweep you off your feet and into a world where demons roam, immortality is up for grabs, and love blooms in the most unexpected places!

Book Overview: The Scorpion And The Night Blossom

Content warnings: death, parent deaths, grief, illness, mention of murder, violence, blood, gore, spirituality

Summary: In a world at war with 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. 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. The stunning first edition will feature a beautiful flower design stenciled on the ombre sprayed edges, exclusive printed endpapers, and a foil-stamped case!

Fantasy Plot

Set in a richly imagined world inspired by Chinese mythology, this book is a feast for the senses. Zhao concocts a magical realm of celestial rivers, shadow cranes, and cherry blossoms that had us dreaming of a C-drama adaptation. (Netflix, are you listening?) The mythology is so beautifully integrated that we found ourselves Googling creatures like the Qióng’qí and Áo’yīn, half-convinced they’d pop up in our backyard.

Strong Female Lead

Our heroine, Àn’yīng, is a force to be reckoned with! Armed with crescent blades and a determination that could cut through steel, she enters the Immortality Trials to save her dying mother. We loved her fierce independence and quick wit, though we’ll admit we were a bit disappointed when she occasionally slipped into damsel-in-distress territory. Like, come on, girl, you’ve got this!

Lover’s To Enemies Trope

Now, let’s talk about the romance. Yù’chén, our mysterious love interest, had us alternating between swooning and screaming, “Trust no one!” Their enemies-to-lovers dance is deliciously tense, filled with “touch her and I’ll end you” vibes that had us grinning like a fool. There’s a hint of spice, but nothing too scandalous for the YA crowd!

Plot Twists

The plot twists in this book? Chef’s kiss! Just when we thought we had it all figured out, Zhao pulled the rug out from under us. The revelation about Yù’chén’s mother and Àn’yīng’s father? Mind. Blown. We audibly gasped. It adds a layer of complexity to their relationship, making their romance even more fraught and intriguing. No spoilers, but let’s just say family dynamics are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

Dystopian Themes

If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games or just love a good deadly competition (who doesn’t?), you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. The trials are brutal, creative, and kept us on the edge of our seats. It’s like Squid Game met Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and had a beautiful, deadly baby.

Critiques

Our one gripe? We wanted more of the side characters! They felt a bit underdeveloped, but hey, there’s always book two, right?

Overall, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a thrilling ride through a world of myth, magic, and mayhem. It’s perfect for fans of C-dramas, mythology buffs, and anyone who likes their romance with a side of mortal peril. So grab a copy, settle in with your favorite tea, and prepare to be enchanted. Just maybe keep the lights on – those demons sound scary!

What are your thoughts about The Scorpion and the Night Blossom? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook 🐝

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