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Reigning Fire
In a realm where power is sealed through smoke and blood, Yan Xun was born to inherit a crown-or be destroyed by it.
When her Emberkin arrives far too early, and in a form the world has no place for, Xun becomes a danger to the very empire she was meant to serve. As she uncovers long-buried truths and navigates a court built on silence, loyalty, and control, her existence alone threatens to unravel everything.
Set in an ancient Chinese-inspired empire of myth and ash, Reigning Fire is a lyrical fantasy about forbidden power, political unrest, and the ghosts we carry. Through richly layered worldbuilding and emotional depth, this debut novel explores the complexities of trauma, neurodivergence, and what it means to survive when your truth has no place in the world.
Perfect for readers who love introspective characters, slow-burn rebellion, and myth-infused storytelling, Reigning Fire blends court intrigue with emotional intensity in a story about legacy, selfhood, and the quiet power of choosing your own name.
"A book that I couldn't put down. Clever mix of psychology, neurodivergence and fantasy and the blurred concepts in between."—Tori
"The world-building is intricate and atmospheric, and the plot is packed with tension and mystery. There's plenty here for fans of fantasy and character-driver stories to enjoy. I'm already looking forward to diving into Book 2 and seeing where Loo takes us next."—Amba
When her Emberkin arrives far too early, and in a form the world has no place for, Xun becomes a danger to the very empire she was meant to serve. As she uncovers long-buried truths and navigates a court built on silence, loyalty, and control, her existence alone threatens to unravel everything.
Set in an ancient Chinese-inspired empire of myth and ash, Reigning Fire is a lyrical fantasy about forbidden power, political unrest, and the ghosts we carry. Through richly layered worldbuilding and emotional depth, this debut novel explores the complexities of trauma, neurodivergence, and what it means to survive when your truth has no place in the world.
Perfect for readers who love introspective characters, slow-burn rebellion, and myth-infused storytelling, Reigning Fire blends court intrigue with emotional intensity in a story about legacy, selfhood, and the quiet power of choosing your own name.
"A book that I couldn't put down. Clever mix of psychology, neurodivergence and fantasy and the blurred concepts in between."—Tori
"The world-building is intricate and atmospheric, and the plot is packed with tension and mystery. There's plenty here for fans of fantasy and character-driver stories to enjoy. I'm already looking forward to diving into Book 2 and seeing where Loo takes us next."—Amba
- GenresFantasy
328 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine K.Y. Loo
2 books10 followersJasmine is a neurodivergent psychologist in Australia, author, and lifelong storyteller. Her acclaimed non-fiction debut, Nurturing Neurodivergence, reflected her passion for neuroaffirming practice.
With Reigning Fire, she turns to fiction to explore identity and survival in a world woven with myth, history, and imagination. Her psychology background shapes her characters’ inner lives, creating fantasy that resonates with emotional truth. Reigning Fire is the first in The Reigning series.
In addition to providing supervision to students and other professionals, she works with clients at her Melbourne practice. She founded her practice to create an inclusive, safe space where neurodiversity is celebrated.
With Reigning Fire, she turns to fiction to explore identity and survival in a world woven with myth, history, and imagination. Her psychology background shapes her characters’ inner lives, creating fantasy that resonates with emotional truth. Reigning Fire is the first in The Reigning series.
In addition to providing supervision to students and other professionals, she works with clients at her Melbourne practice. She founded her practice to create an inclusive, safe space where neurodiversity is celebrated.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2025
─── ⋆⋅5☆⋅⋆ ──
𐔌 “I told myself I could bear the unbearable.” ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
⋮ ⌗ ┆ᢉ𐭩 Welcome to my love letter written by me and addressed to Reigning Fire by Jasmine K.Y. Loo! In the beginning, it took me a moment to catch up with what was going on because we’re thrown into the world, but the more I learned, the more I wanted to read. Something I took a great liking to was the usage of multiple perspectives. The main character was clearly a girl named Yan Xun, but we got a chapter from her father’s perspective, mother’s perspective, and the love interests perspective. The father and mother were particularly interesting chapters because we get insight into what they were thinking and why they do.. what they do. The writing was descriptive and honestly, I don’t know how to describe it. It felt like this was written on a scroll in flowy cursive, or that it should have been. I was captivated by the writing, but I was also falling in love with the main character as well.
⋮ ⌗ ┆Yan Xun ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ Yan Xun carried a quiet intelligence, the kind that was layered behind a weak persona and silent defiance disguised as complacency. She was cunning, always thinking about the people around her. She was aware of her capabilities, but she refused to allow that awareness to spread to everyone else. I always have a fondness for the characters that hide their strength so nobody can take advantage of it. If everyone underestimates you, then you’ll only be met with people who don’t truly try to beat you, and you’re one step closer to winning. Yan Xun was underestimated, and while this irritated me because I constantly wanted to shake everyone’s shoulders and yell “Yan Xun could destroy you” it was also smart, because Yan Xun had a secret.
You see, in this world, some people have what are called “Emberkin” and they are a.. “pet” of some sort. Except they’re not! Although, they ARE animals. They’re apart of the characters, apart of their soul in a way, I suppose. Listen, don’t ask me the logistics, I was here for the vibes. But Yan Xun’s Emberkin is a Phoenix. Why is this a problem? Because mythical creatures are not allowed. Emberkins are intended to be actual animals, anything else will result in the need for a very.. VERY.. good lawyer. Yan Xun is stuck hiding her Emberkin and trying to remain safe, but of course—this is a novel. Safety is not an option.
Yan Xun is not only a strong and intelligent character, but she’s got experiences that add so much to her character. Her trauma has helped shape her into the girl she is, the silence she accepts, the strategic complacency she displays. She carries secrets and pain wherever she goes. And with that, I will offer a trigger warning for heavy topics including SA.
⋮ ⌗ ┆Yan Yun ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ While I didn’t like the actions of Yan Xun’s father, I absolutely adored the chapter with his pov and I applaud the authors writing in this particular chapter especially. First and foremost, I feel as though authors may tend to make the villains seem so.. villainy. Yan Yun wasn’t sitting in a chair evilly chuckling while stroking a cat, he was cunning and ambitious and had coherent thoughts. He wasn’t all “I’m so evil boo! I’m trying to be evil boo!!” He was a man with bad vibes and motives, and reading his perspective made me understand him. I despised the way he looked down on his daughter (becuase that’s my girl for real) and I was truly waiting the entire book for Yan Xun to absolutely blow his mind. I was dying for that gratifying moment where she finally shows everyone that she IS strong, and smart, and utterly fantastic.
⋮ ⌗ ┆the romance ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ I was wondering in the beginning if this book had any romance, and suddenly, it did. And I thought that the book couldn’t possibly get better, only to be proven wrong. Watching the love story, which was definitely more of a subplot, was fantastic. There was a point where they gave each other the same exact gift, and they kind of just stared at it like “oh wow..” and I was just so giddy, they were made for each other. Their love wasn’t like the kind of romance you see in other books, and it was actually refreshing. The love story was gentler and caring, it was a warm embrace rather than an adrenaline inducing “enemies to lovers” cliche. It was so special to me, the way that the romance was kind and sweet. I mean, he saw that she was special from the beginning. He was the only one that didn’t underestimate her, he always saw the strength she hid behind her silent gaze.
He was always acutely aware of who she was, even though he spent a lot of time putting puzzle pieces together trying to discover the true extent of the girl beneath the surface. I loved them, and I loved his unbreakable loyalty to Yan Xun.
I loved this book, the writing, the characters, and the stories. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and fall into the world written by Jasmine K.Y. Loo. Books are a door to other dimensions, and this dimension was particularly fantastic to peek inside of.
⋮ ⌗ ┆pre-review⋆˚꩜｡
╰ so, this was insanely well written and I was in love with the plot and the stories main character. I cannot wait to write a full review of my thoughts on this series, this book actually had my heart racing!
⋮ ⌗ ┆pre-read⋆˚꩜｡
╰ first of all, can we look at this cover?! beautiful, no notes, sign me up! and aside from that:
forbidden magic?
politics?
slow burn rebellion?
neurodivergent heroine?
I’m predicting that I fall madly in love with this book.
I am thrilled, honored, and so very thankful to have received this arc!
𐔌 “I told myself I could bear the unbearable.” ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
⋮ ⌗ ┆ᢉ𐭩 Welcome to my love letter written by me and addressed to Reigning Fire by Jasmine K.Y. Loo! In the beginning, it took me a moment to catch up with what was going on because we’re thrown into the world, but the more I learned, the more I wanted to read. Something I took a great liking to was the usage of multiple perspectives. The main character was clearly a girl named Yan Xun, but we got a chapter from her father’s perspective, mother’s perspective, and the love interests perspective. The father and mother were particularly interesting chapters because we get insight into what they were thinking and why they do.. what they do. The writing was descriptive and honestly, I don’t know how to describe it. It felt like this was written on a scroll in flowy cursive, or that it should have been. I was captivated by the writing, but I was also falling in love with the main character as well.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ “It was the first time I realized I might be dangerous. And the first time that didn't scare me.”
⋮ ⌗ ┆Yan Xun ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ Yan Xun carried a quiet intelligence, the kind that was layered behind a weak persona and silent defiance disguised as complacency. She was cunning, always thinking about the people around her. She was aware of her capabilities, but she refused to allow that awareness to spread to everyone else. I always have a fondness for the characters that hide their strength so nobody can take advantage of it. If everyone underestimates you, then you’ll only be met with people who don’t truly try to beat you, and you’re one step closer to winning. Yan Xun was underestimated, and while this irritated me because I constantly wanted to shake everyone’s shoulders and yell “Yan Xun could destroy you” it was also smart, because Yan Xun had a secret.
You see, in this world, some people have what are called “Emberkin” and they are a.. “pet” of some sort. Except they’re not! Although, they ARE animals. They’re apart of the characters, apart of their soul in a way, I suppose. Listen, don’t ask me the logistics, I was here for the vibes. But Yan Xun’s Emberkin is a Phoenix. Why is this a problem? Because mythical creatures are not allowed. Emberkins are intended to be actual animals, anything else will result in the need for a very.. VERY.. good lawyer. Yan Xun is stuck hiding her Emberkin and trying to remain safe, but of course—this is a novel. Safety is not an option.
Yan Xun is not only a strong and intelligent character, but she’s got experiences that add so much to her character. Her trauma has helped shape her into the girl she is, the silence she accepts, the strategic complacency she displays. She carries secrets and pain wherever she goes. And with that, I will offer a trigger warning for heavy topics including SA.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ “Yan Xun would either learn, or she would fall. And if she fell, he would not catch her. Not because he didn't care, but because to rule this Empire one day, she needed to become someone who wouldn't need catching.”
⋮ ⌗ ┆Yan Yun ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ While I didn’t like the actions of Yan Xun’s father, I absolutely adored the chapter with his pov and I applaud the authors writing in this particular chapter especially. First and foremost, I feel as though authors may tend to make the villains seem so.. villainy. Yan Yun wasn’t sitting in a chair evilly chuckling while stroking a cat, he was cunning and ambitious and had coherent thoughts. He wasn’t all “I’m so evil boo! I’m trying to be evil boo!!” He was a man with bad vibes and motives, and reading his perspective made me understand him. I despised the way he looked down on his daughter (becuase that’s my girl for real) and I was truly waiting the entire book for Yan Xun to absolutely blow his mind. I was dying for that gratifying moment where she finally shows everyone that she IS strong, and smart, and utterly fantastic.
⊹ ࣪ ˖“Every time he put a smile on her face, his heart fluttered”
⋮ ⌗ ┆the romance ⋆˚꩜｡
╰ I was wondering in the beginning if this book had any romance, and suddenly, it did. And I thought that the book couldn’t possibly get better, only to be proven wrong. Watching the love story, which was definitely more of a subplot, was fantastic. There was a point where they gave each other the same exact gift, and they kind of just stared at it like “oh wow..” and I was just so giddy, they were made for each other. Their love wasn’t like the kind of romance you see in other books, and it was actually refreshing. The love story was gentler and caring, it was a warm embrace rather than an adrenaline inducing “enemies to lovers” cliche. It was so special to me, the way that the romance was kind and sweet. I mean, he saw that she was special from the beginning. He was the only one that didn’t underestimate her, he always saw the strength she hid behind her silent gaze.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ He was quiet for a beat, before observing, "You talk like someone with something to prove. And like someone who's already lost too much to care what others think."
He was always acutely aware of who she was, even though he spent a lot of time putting puzzle pieces together trying to discover the true extent of the girl beneath the surface. I loved them, and I loved his unbreakable loyalty to Yan Xun.
⊹ ࣪ ˖"I'll be right there with you. We're tethered. To the very end."
I loved this book, the writing, the characters, and the stories. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and fall into the world written by Jasmine K.Y. Loo. Books are a door to other dimensions, and this dimension was particularly fantastic to peek inside of.
⋮ ⌗ ┆pre-review⋆˚꩜｡
╰ so, this was insanely well written and I was in love with the plot and the stories main character. I cannot wait to write a full review of my thoughts on this series, this book actually had my heart racing!
⋮ ⌗ ┆pre-read⋆˚꩜｡
╰ first of all, can we look at this cover?! beautiful, no notes, sign me up! and aside from that:
forbidden magic?
politics?
slow burn rebellion?
neurodivergent heroine?
I’m predicting that I fall madly in love with this book.
I am thrilled, honored, and so very thankful to have received this arc!
August 23, 2025
Holy crap this is so good. I can’t believe this is the authors first dive into fiction. She has mastered the craft, drawing me in effortlessly with divine story telling. There is a lot going on, deep court intrigue, multiple points of view and a fast pace had me debating if I would need a notebook to keep track the first few chapters but then it just clicks. I found myself, rooting for our heroine and emotionally devastated a few times. Author expertly weaves in neurodivergent representation and each and every characters pov felt unique to them and I really enjoyed seeing how two people can view the exact same situation and understand it differently. This may be my new Roman Empire and I desperately need a book two please ❤️❤️ thanks to the author, netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy ❤️
September 26, 2025
Jasmine Kah Yan Loo clearly shows her understanding of not only her culture but humans in their entirety, both in their beauty and their tragedy!!
Using her experience of working with the human psych she has weaved together this beautiful story that instead of focusing on shortcomings a person may have, tells a story of perseverance and using everything to their advantage!!
With such compelling prose i was captivated through this whole book, unable to put it down and thinking about it inbetween every chance I had to read.
The characters all felt very real, the writing was easy to understand and lose yourself in and the magic system was very interesting still leaving you with some mystery. To top it all off with an ending that went an interesting direction instead of following a normal path you would expect!!
Using her experience of working with the human psych she has weaved together this beautiful story that instead of focusing on shortcomings a person may have, tells a story of perseverance and using everything to their advantage!!
With such compelling prose i was captivated through this whole book, unable to put it down and thinking about it inbetween every chance I had to read.
The characters all felt very real, the writing was easy to understand and lose yourself in and the magic system was very interesting still leaving you with some mystery. To top it all off with an ending that went an interesting direction instead of following a normal path you would expect!!
August 23, 2025
Reigning Fire empowers a strong voice for a protagonist with a tendency to persevere. I loved the fast-paced nature of the novel. The Phoenix myth is reconstructed as the metaphor for trauma creating new tides for the protagonist to rise from. What is the meaning for training if the purpose were not to rise? A hopecore fantasy novel that exists in a universe outside of western ideals. A truly unique read for those of you looking for something transformative. A fantasy that relies on character over relationships with others is a true gem!
A fun thrilling novella that races through the action. The dialogue is ripe with diction that defines the characters passive goals. The narrative could benefit from exploring the universe a bit more. This reads like a brother’s grim story never told. An utterly unique fantastical experience for fantasy reader’s disenchanted by western ideals capitalizing their mythological universes. A strong voice for a neurodivergent who are looking how to amplify their own voices. Thank you Netgalley and House of Ember publishing for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read more recommendations, reviews, and arc impressions at https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
A fun thrilling novella that races through the action. The dialogue is ripe with diction that defines the characters passive goals. The narrative could benefit from exploring the universe a bit more. This reads like a brother’s grim story never told. An utterly unique fantastical experience for fantasy reader’s disenchanted by western ideals capitalizing their mythological universes. A strong voice for a neurodivergent who are looking how to amplify their own voices. Thank you Netgalley and House of Ember publishing for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read more recommendations, reviews, and arc impressions at https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
September 11, 2025
Reigning Fire is a fast-paced, emotionally intense debut that proves a protagonist doesn’t need a magical sword to be a total badass—they just need a sharp mind and the ability to survive being constantly set on fire, metaphorically speaking. It's a fantastic ride from start to finish.
* Political Intrigue: So many secrets and shady deals, you'll feel like you need a secret decoder ring to keep up. It's like watching a magical version of the House of Cards, but with more people who can actually turn into mythical birds.
* The Main Character's Brain: Our protagonist is neurodivergent, which is a breath of fresh air. She’s navigating a royal court with all the social grace of a bewildered tourist at a food market. Her inner monologue is more relatable than any "chosen one" destiny.
* The Phoenix: The perfect symbol for a story where everything is constantly on fire. The author uses the phoenix metaphor to show that if your life is a total dumpster fire, don’t worry—you can always rise from the ashes. It's inspirational in the most chaotic way possible.
* Court Life: The royal court is filled with scheming villains, backstabbing relatives, and people who are just not having a good time. It’s exactly like a holiday gathering with your extended family, but with higher stakes and better outfits.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
* Political Intrigue: So many secrets and shady deals, you'll feel like you need a secret decoder ring to keep up. It's like watching a magical version of the House of Cards, but with more people who can actually turn into mythical birds.
* The Main Character's Brain: Our protagonist is neurodivergent, which is a breath of fresh air. She’s navigating a royal court with all the social grace of a bewildered tourist at a food market. Her inner monologue is more relatable than any "chosen one" destiny.
* The Phoenix: The perfect symbol for a story where everything is constantly on fire. The author uses the phoenix metaphor to show that if your life is a total dumpster fire, don’t worry—you can always rise from the ashes. It's inspirational in the most chaotic way possible.
* Court Life: The royal court is filled with scheming villains, backstabbing relatives, and people who are just not having a good time. It’s exactly like a holiday gathering with your extended family, but with higher stakes and better outfits.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
October 19, 2025
Reigning Fire is a stunning, lyrical fantasy that resonated deeply with me. Yan Xun’s journey as a princess navigating expectation, identity, and survival felt both powerful and achingly familiar.
The story beautifully weaves elements of Chinese culture, mythology, and neurodivergent experience, showing the quiet strength it takes to exist authentically in a world that demands conformity. Beneath the layers of myth and court politics lie profound metaphors for masking, belonging, and the cost of hiding one’s truth.
I found myself deeply moved by the emotional depth, the intricate worldbuilding, and the way the Emberkin bond symbolised connection, difference, and danger all at once. There’s a tenderness in the writing that lingers, especially in how love and loyalty intertwine with self-preservation.
This book broke and healed me in equal measure. It’s a story for anyone who has ever had to hide their fire to survive. If there’s a second book, I’ll be waiting eagerly.
The story beautifully weaves elements of Chinese culture, mythology, and neurodivergent experience, showing the quiet strength it takes to exist authentically in a world that demands conformity. Beneath the layers of myth and court politics lie profound metaphors for masking, belonging, and the cost of hiding one’s truth.
I found myself deeply moved by the emotional depth, the intricate worldbuilding, and the way the Emberkin bond symbolised connection, difference, and danger all at once. There’s a tenderness in the writing that lingers, especially in how love and loyalty intertwine with self-preservation.
This book broke and healed me in equal measure. It’s a story for anyone who has ever had to hide their fire to survive. If there’s a second book, I’ll be waiting eagerly.
December 23, 2025
Reigning Fire by Jasmine Kah Yan Loo was a really fun, quick, incredible read! I absolutely loved the magic system and worldbuilding; if an author can nail that, the groundwork is laid for the rest of the novel to soar. While some incredibly important topics were discussed – like assault, grief, and trauma – it was still a fun and cathartic read; the dynamic between Yan Xun and Jin Yang, and Yan Xun and Mo, provided the right balance to the heavier topics and elements of the novel.
Speaking of Yan Xun, I was so deeply thrilled to start reading and immediately pick up on the fact that she is autistic, just like me! Finding an autistic character in media – or rather, one that is done so incredibly well – is such a rarity. Xun was deeply relatable to me on so many levels, which is so important to come across; seeing yourself in the media you consume is such a special feeling and one I don’t get often, especially in regard to my neurodiversity. Having autism representation in fantasy, in particular, is rare, so having Xun means the world to me.
Beyond the fact that she is autistic, Xun is just incredible overall. She’s smart and cunning and incredibly brave and resilient. Someone who has faced immense trauma and grief, she is also deeply secretive with her fair share of trust issues. Well-rounded, both creating conflict and solving it, Xun is the exact kind of protagonist I want in my fantasy novels.
While I loved the dynamic between Xun and her love interest, Jin Yang, I was actually most fascinated by her relationship with her mentor, Xiao. She has no clue who Xiao is beyond someone who trains her. They meet in the Dream Realm, Xiao teaching Xun how to defend herself and persevere. Acting as her spiritual guidance, they never speak to Xun, yet communicate in immensely profound ways. I would be curious to learn more about who Xiao is, why they chose to help Xun, and if they exist outside of the Dream Realm. They were so mysterious, and I just want more!
As for the worldbuilding, the concept of bonding to spiritual beings who take on the forms of animals was really touching to me. These creatures, called Emberkin, operate as an extension of and companions to the Weavers (those who can tap into the magic, called Smokeveil in the novel); unwavering, supportive, and deeply loyal, these Emberkin also reflect the potential of those they bond to. Certain animals represent certain attributes, like cranes representing grace and reliability, snakes representing cunning ambition, or a tiger representing great strength and dexterity, and they all enhance certain elements and styles of Smokeveil. It’s this special bond between an Emberkin and a Weaver that drives the conflict of the novel; Emberkins take on the forms of real, living animals, but what happens when an Emberkin is mythical? Perhaps something like a phoenix? This question drives the stakes of the novel, causing some truly spectacularly tense decisions to be made, prompting the novel to end rather open-ended.
Speaking of the ending, I really want more. Xun goes through an incredible transformation in the last few chapters, taking all the hard-learned lessons to heart and stepping out into the world as someone reborn. She is inspiring on so many levels; she takes on her abusers, she saves herself, and she has the bravery to step into who she is meant to be. She fought hard for everything she has ever done or had in her life, so to end the novel with such a profound sense of freedom was so truly beautiful. I became quite attached to Xun and would love to see how her story continues.
For all my fantasy fans, animal lovers, and neurodivergent readers out there, please go check out Reigning Fire by Jasmine Kah Yan Loo; you will not be disappointed.
Speaking of Yan Xun, I was so deeply thrilled to start reading and immediately pick up on the fact that she is autistic, just like me! Finding an autistic character in media – or rather, one that is done so incredibly well – is such a rarity. Xun was deeply relatable to me on so many levels, which is so important to come across; seeing yourself in the media you consume is such a special feeling and one I don’t get often, especially in regard to my neurodiversity. Having autism representation in fantasy, in particular, is rare, so having Xun means the world to me.
Beyond the fact that she is autistic, Xun is just incredible overall. She’s smart and cunning and incredibly brave and resilient. Someone who has faced immense trauma and grief, she is also deeply secretive with her fair share of trust issues. Well-rounded, both creating conflict and solving it, Xun is the exact kind of protagonist I want in my fantasy novels.
While I loved the dynamic between Xun and her love interest, Jin Yang, I was actually most fascinated by her relationship with her mentor, Xiao. She has no clue who Xiao is beyond someone who trains her. They meet in the Dream Realm, Xiao teaching Xun how to defend herself and persevere. Acting as her spiritual guidance, they never speak to Xun, yet communicate in immensely profound ways. I would be curious to learn more about who Xiao is, why they chose to help Xun, and if they exist outside of the Dream Realm. They were so mysterious, and I just want more!
As for the worldbuilding, the concept of bonding to spiritual beings who take on the forms of animals was really touching to me. These creatures, called Emberkin, operate as an extension of and companions to the Weavers (those who can tap into the magic, called Smokeveil in the novel); unwavering, supportive, and deeply loyal, these Emberkin also reflect the potential of those they bond to. Certain animals represent certain attributes, like cranes representing grace and reliability, snakes representing cunning ambition, or a tiger representing great strength and dexterity, and they all enhance certain elements and styles of Smokeveil. It’s this special bond between an Emberkin and a Weaver that drives the conflict of the novel; Emberkins take on the forms of real, living animals, but what happens when an Emberkin is mythical? Perhaps something like a phoenix? This question drives the stakes of the novel, causing some truly spectacularly tense decisions to be made, prompting the novel to end rather open-ended.
Speaking of the ending, I really want more. Xun goes through an incredible transformation in the last few chapters, taking all the hard-learned lessons to heart and stepping out into the world as someone reborn. She is inspiring on so many levels; she takes on her abusers, she saves herself, and she has the bravery to step into who she is meant to be. She fought hard for everything she has ever done or had in her life, so to end the novel with such a profound sense of freedom was so truly beautiful. I became quite attached to Xun and would love to see how her story continues.
For all my fantasy fans, animal lovers, and neurodivergent readers out there, please go check out Reigning Fire by Jasmine Kah Yan Loo; you will not be disappointed.
November 6, 2025
I got this author's non-fiction psychology book some years ago and was surprised to see her writing a fantasy novel. So even just out of curiosity, I just had to preorder a copy. And once again, I wasn't disappointed. If you think it impossible to blend psychology, fantasy, the Chinese culture and neurodivergence in a story that just breaks your heart - read this.
Reigning Fire completely drew me in from the first few pages. It’s one of those books that makes you feel, not just follow a story. The plot is full of twists and emotions that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.
What I really love about this book is how it doesn’t romanticise royal life. Instead of focusing on the luxury and glamour, it shows the darker side - the politics, the deception, the discrimination and all the quiet battles that happen behind the scenes. It also weaves in the experience of living as a neurodivergent person in such a harsh environment, which made me care deeply about the main character. I couldn’t help but root for her the whole way through.
The worldbuilding is so creative. The Emberkins - the mysterious, mythical beings - and the concept of smokecraft bring a unique sense of wonder to the story. It’s such an interesting idea that I found myself wanting to know more about how it all works. I hope to see this world continue to be expanded on.
But the thing I loved most were the quieter moments. Those little scenes where the characters could drop their guard, be playful and just be themselves. Those moments made everything feel real and human, and they gave me space to breathe between all the tension and drama.
The characters are diverse, complex and full of personality. Seeing things from different points of view helped me understand their choices, even when I didn’t agree with them. It’s a story that feels deeply personal and relatable. One that reminds you how powerful it can be to embrace who you are, even when the world around you try to silence that.
Reigning Fire completely drew me in from the first few pages. It’s one of those books that makes you feel, not just follow a story. The plot is full of twists and emotions that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.
What I really love about this book is how it doesn’t romanticise royal life. Instead of focusing on the luxury and glamour, it shows the darker side - the politics, the deception, the discrimination and all the quiet battles that happen behind the scenes. It also weaves in the experience of living as a neurodivergent person in such a harsh environment, which made me care deeply about the main character. I couldn’t help but root for her the whole way through.
The worldbuilding is so creative. The Emberkins - the mysterious, mythical beings - and the concept of smokecraft bring a unique sense of wonder to the story. It’s such an interesting idea that I found myself wanting to know more about how it all works. I hope to see this world continue to be expanded on.
But the thing I loved most were the quieter moments. Those little scenes where the characters could drop their guard, be playful and just be themselves. Those moments made everything feel real and human, and they gave me space to breathe between all the tension and drama.
The characters are diverse, complex and full of personality. Seeing things from different points of view helped me understand their choices, even when I didn’t agree with them. It’s a story that feels deeply personal and relatable. One that reminds you how powerful it can be to embrace who you are, even when the world around you try to silence that.
September 6, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and House of Ember Publishing for this ARC.
1.5 stars
Unlike most books that are being pushed in the main market, Reigning Fire had something different: a list of interesting dynamics to get the public's interest. The main character being neurodivergent is already a mark in Jasmine Kah Yan Loo's favor, as well as the promise of politic intrigue, mythical beings, and lush worldbuilding. Unfortunately, I feel like it did not deliver on what exactly was promised.
Starting with the neurodivergent main character, I spent at least 30% of the book trying to figure out how exactly this played into the world. Yan Xue was quiet, reserved, and seemed to have trouble making friends. The one main thing that set her apart, however, was her attachment to an emberkin of mythical origins. In this world, emberkin only bond with their human after they become 16 and within a year of this feat. For Yan Xue, she was already bonded to Mo and hiding it, due to Mo being a phoenix of a sorts. Except Mo looked like a really sick Phoenix and Yan Xue spent so little time poring over this detail. Yan Xue was more interested in the fact that Mo was mythical and what exactly that entailed as they were told that emberkins reflect the human's personality within this world.
Instead what Mo became was a vessel for Yan Xue to shove any and all unwanted emotions into. Which really rubbed me the wrong way as that didn't really feel like a symbol of neurodivergence but more like someone who's not handling their trauma very well. Yan Xue was raised to accept all sorts of trauma and not rock the boat. In my opinion, this makes Yan Xue traumatized more so than neurodivergent and I feel like that's a disservice to neurodivergent folks as it doesn't really come off as accepting but more as making an excuse. Neurodivergent people can be neurodivergent without trauma.
Following that, the inclusion of a caricature villain just going out of their way to harass and either maim or assault Yan Xue. I'm not sure which it is as it was never specified, but the villain kept targeting Yan Xue for seemingly no reason? Honestly, so many character motivations were neither shown nor explained. If we did receive an explanation it was three scenes too late and just made it confusing storytelling. At the very least, it's channeling my least favorite trope in asian dramas: explain it later as it'll make it look more badass. In the end, it doesn't and just makes the payoff fall flat.
The last half of the book was severely underworked and it continued to bring down my opinion of the novel. At first I wasn't vibing with Reigning Fire just because the storytelling isn't my preference. But then it really started to annoy me with each sentence feeling more like a placeholder idea. Each line I read made me more irked how K.Y.L never returned to flesh it out and make it flow. Which led to the "imperfect love" feeling more like a school yard crush rather than something to swoon over.
As we neared the final chapters of the book, I was starting to feel like I was missing some important details. The buildup wasn't present in the story and I couldn't be bothered to go back to look for it as I knew it just wasn't there. Contradictions within the story made the narrative extremely choppy in its execution that I had lost all faith in K.Y.L. bringing the reader back to the point.
For example, both the parents for Yan Xue felt like they didn't give one shit about her and claimed her to be a lost cause as a heir. They went on and on about how dumb she was and how she continuously disappointed them. More so dad than her mother. But when we jump to Yan Xue her inner monologue reflects that of a hidden genius that knew to blend in rather than stand out. Unfortunately I could never trust Yan Xue to be the genius as her thoughts were sorely lacking. Instead, she reminded me of the outcast teenagers who "studied the blade" while everyone else was getting real shit done. Talk about myspace energy. The secret training sessions in the dream world were also an afterthought, that just added on to this unfortunate personality stew.
Thinking on it, I feel Reigning Fire can be described as the main tropes of a popular anime without knowing exactly made that anime work for their audience. It could have all worked out in the end, but the rushed second half and the main character energy was really bringing it down. I'm still sure other people will absolutely adore this, but for me, K.Y.L needed more time to flesh out the story and connect the train of thoughts together. For now, it just feels like a dissonant shard of a bigger picture.
1.5 stars
Unlike most books that are being pushed in the main market, Reigning Fire had something different: a list of interesting dynamics to get the public's interest. The main character being neurodivergent is already a mark in Jasmine Kah Yan Loo's favor, as well as the promise of politic intrigue, mythical beings, and lush worldbuilding. Unfortunately, I feel like it did not deliver on what exactly was promised.
Starting with the neurodivergent main character, I spent at least 30% of the book trying to figure out how exactly this played into the world. Yan Xue was quiet, reserved, and seemed to have trouble making friends. The one main thing that set her apart, however, was her attachment to an emberkin of mythical origins. In this world, emberkin only bond with their human after they become 16 and within a year of this feat. For Yan Xue, she was already bonded to Mo and hiding it, due to Mo being a phoenix of a sorts. Except Mo looked like a really sick Phoenix and Yan Xue spent so little time poring over this detail. Yan Xue was more interested in the fact that Mo was mythical and what exactly that entailed as they were told that emberkins reflect the human's personality within this world.
Instead what Mo became was a vessel for Yan Xue to shove any and all unwanted emotions into. Which really rubbed me the wrong way as that didn't really feel like a symbol of neurodivergence but more like someone who's not handling their trauma very well. Yan Xue was raised to accept all sorts of trauma and not rock the boat. In my opinion, this makes Yan Xue traumatized more so than neurodivergent and I feel like that's a disservice to neurodivergent folks as it doesn't really come off as accepting but more as making an excuse. Neurodivergent people can be neurodivergent without trauma.
Following that, the inclusion of a caricature villain just going out of their way to harass and either maim or assault Yan Xue. I'm not sure which it is as it was never specified, but the villain kept targeting Yan Xue for seemingly no reason? Honestly, so many character motivations were neither shown nor explained. If we did receive an explanation it was three scenes too late and just made it confusing storytelling. At the very least, it's channeling my least favorite trope in asian dramas: explain it later as it'll make it look more badass. In the end, it doesn't and just makes the payoff fall flat.
The last half of the book was severely underworked and it continued to bring down my opinion of the novel. At first I wasn't vibing with Reigning Fire just because the storytelling isn't my preference. But then it really started to annoy me with each sentence feeling more like a placeholder idea. Each line I read made me more irked how K.Y.L never returned to flesh it out and make it flow. Which led to the "imperfect love" feeling more like a school yard crush rather than something to swoon over.
As we neared the final chapters of the book, I was starting to feel like I was missing some important details. The buildup wasn't present in the story and I couldn't be bothered to go back to look for it as I knew it just wasn't there. Contradictions within the story made the narrative extremely choppy in its execution that I had lost all faith in K.Y.L. bringing the reader back to the point.
For example, both the parents for Yan Xue felt like they didn't give one shit about her and claimed her to be a lost cause as a heir. They went on and on about how dumb she was and how she continuously disappointed them. More so dad than her mother. But when we jump to Yan Xue her inner monologue reflects that of a hidden genius that knew to blend in rather than stand out. Unfortunately I could never trust Yan Xue to be the genius as her thoughts were sorely lacking. Instead, she reminded me of the outcast teenagers who "studied the blade" while everyone else was getting real shit done. Talk about myspace energy. The secret training sessions in the dream world were also an afterthought, that just added on to this unfortunate personality stew.
Thinking on it, I feel Reigning Fire can be described as the main tropes of a popular anime without knowing exactly made that anime work for their audience. It could have all worked out in the end, but the rushed second half and the main character energy was really bringing it down. I'm still sure other people will absolutely adore this, but for me, K.Y.L needed more time to flesh out the story and connect the train of thoughts together. For now, it just feels like a dissonant shard of a bigger picture.
October 13, 2025
Yan Xun is a princess, although she doesn't get treated like one a lot - abused by people she should be able to trust, a very cold set of parents, no friends due to the princess status since people don't dare to get too close.. But very high expectations all around her. And there's her biggest secret - her bonded emberkin, who came to her years before it should have and in the forbidden mythical shape of a phoenix.
There's a lot going on with this book.. Seriously. There's a big trial all students have to undergo, that forces them to create a team and fight, there's the bonding ceremony around the 16th birthday where within a year after it, Xun has to bond her own emberkin or be forgotten, there's the palace guard / relative Fu Kai, who keeps attempting to attack Xun, there's a little romance and a trapped man, trapped emberkin, a rigid hierarchy where Xun would have a set spot if she could just perform as expected, there's the dream realm and mystery person training Xun..... But the book is also very short with its not even 200 pages. Which is why in my opinion all of those things feel either rushed, not explained well or plain open ended.
The writing was done very well, I really enjoyed the style this book is written in - you get into that reading flow so fast and you could just enjoy the story. The beginning is also set up well - you meet the family members, meet Yan Xun, get a feel for the world, the palace, the school.. The trial starts and ends and it's done well, I had fun reading that! Only afterwards, things fall apart a little bit - I didn't even realize the romance had started and suddenly there was undying love proclaimed. It felt like there was no build up for that at all. Also that ending.. It felt rushed. Everything got mentioned, got laid out as if we're coming back to this later but in reality, no. I was particularly shocked by the time jump at the end. I feel like there's no mention of it happening at all, just suddenly time has moved on? Can't say much more since that would spoil the story.
There's one more thing I was just no fan of in here - this story is set in the past, there's the palace, the rulers, they use their magic to heat the bath water and fire to light the pathways.. Why would the characters say things like "there's beef between those two" or "sus" or "losing my shit"? That kind of slang in the middle of the book really just took me so far out of the story. Granted, it's just one character that speaks like that and maybe it was done to show she's some lower class girl who can speak like she wants, no royalty rules for her etc and maybe she also needed to be depicted as a different character, her own person etc... But I'm just no fan of that in this setting at all.
What I really did like were the Chinese character drawings you get between each chapter - they always relate somehow and they're just a great reminder of the type of story you're reading and the setting you're in. The dream realm, the emberkin that just kind of came to Xun, her own personal trainer in her dreams.. I enjoyed those parts and I wish we could've explored them a little bit more. And I just wanted to mention that I love the cover! This is definitively a book I'd pick up at the book store just because of what it looks like!
Overall, an okay book - I'm happy to have read it because it definitively had its moments. With all the things it starts or promises it does have its difficulties delivering, but nevertheless it's enjoyable.
Thank you House of Ember Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There's a lot going on with this book.. Seriously. There's a big trial all students have to undergo, that forces them to create a team and fight, there's the bonding ceremony around the 16th birthday where within a year after it, Xun has to bond her own emberkin or be forgotten, there's the palace guard / relative Fu Kai, who keeps attempting to attack Xun, there's a little romance and a trapped man, trapped emberkin, a rigid hierarchy where Xun would have a set spot if she could just perform as expected, there's the dream realm and mystery person training Xun..... But the book is also very short with its not even 200 pages. Which is why in my opinion all of those things feel either rushed, not explained well or plain open ended.
The writing was done very well, I really enjoyed the style this book is written in - you get into that reading flow so fast and you could just enjoy the story. The beginning is also set up well - you meet the family members, meet Yan Xun, get a feel for the world, the palace, the school.. The trial starts and ends and it's done well, I had fun reading that! Only afterwards, things fall apart a little bit - I didn't even realize the romance had started and suddenly there was undying love proclaimed. It felt like there was no build up for that at all. Also that ending.. It felt rushed. Everything got mentioned, got laid out as if we're coming back to this later but in reality, no. I was particularly shocked by the time jump at the end. I feel like there's no mention of it happening at all, just suddenly time has moved on? Can't say much more since that would spoil the story.
There's one more thing I was just no fan of in here - this story is set in the past, there's the palace, the rulers, they use their magic to heat the bath water and fire to light the pathways.. Why would the characters say things like "there's beef between those two" or "sus" or "losing my shit"? That kind of slang in the middle of the book really just took me so far out of the story. Granted, it's just one character that speaks like that and maybe it was done to show she's some lower class girl who can speak like she wants, no royalty rules for her etc and maybe she also needed to be depicted as a different character, her own person etc... But I'm just no fan of that in this setting at all.
What I really did like were the Chinese character drawings you get between each chapter - they always relate somehow and they're just a great reminder of the type of story you're reading and the setting you're in. The dream realm, the emberkin that just kind of came to Xun, her own personal trainer in her dreams.. I enjoyed those parts and I wish we could've explored them a little bit more. And I just wanted to mention that I love the cover! This is definitively a book I'd pick up at the book store just because of what it looks like!
Overall, an okay book - I'm happy to have read it because it definitively had its moments. With all the things it starts or promises it does have its difficulties delivering, but nevertheless it's enjoyable.
Thank you House of Ember Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 1, 2025
Reigning Fire tells the story of Yan Xun, a princess raised in a world built on Smokeveil magic, rigid hierarchy, and brutal expectations. Her secret Emberkin, a battered phoenix named Mo, marks her as something forbidden. That secret pulls her through a tightening web of palace politics, trauma, hidden archives, deadly trials at the Weaver Academy, and a long, dangerous unraveling of the Empire’s lies about power and worth. The book grows from courtly control to a fierce personal awakening, and the shift lands with real weight.
This book stirred me more than I expected. The writing has this sharp tenderness. Some scenes were very emotional, especially the ones where Xun remembers Kai’s abuse and the way his presence lingers like a stain in her memory. Her trauma does not exist for spectacle. It exists the way real pain exists, slipping into the quiet moments and messing with breath and thought. The training scenes with Xiao in the Dream Realm felt like oxygen, and I kept rooting for Xun to take each tiny step forward. The pacing in the middle swells as secrets pile up, especially once the Forbidden Archives start giving up their ghosts. I loved how the story mixes myth with rebellion and shows how tightly institutions grip the narratives they fear most.
I also found myself pulled toward the characters orbiting Xun. Jin in particular surprised me. His protectiveness has rough edges, but it feels shaped by real loyalty. His anger at what Xun endured is raw, almost reckless, and there were moments where his emotions reached through the page and hit me right in the gut. Even Yan Yun, cold as stone and twice as sharp, grabbed my attention. Watching him justify control while hiding old wounds gave him this unsettling depth. The world feels lived in, politically messy, and morally crooked. I liked that. I liked that nothing felt clean. The prose moves between poetic and punchy, and it never gets stuck in jargon. Sometimes the pacing jumps a bit fast, but I didn’t mind because the emotional beats landed exactly where they needed to.
By the time I reached the final stretch, the story had its claws in me. The revelations about mythic Emberkin, the tension in the archives, the pressure of Xun’s unbonded status closing in, all of it came together in a way that felt both heavy and hopeful. I walked away thinking about cycles of harm, about who gets to rewrite the rules, and about how power shifts when someone finally says no. If you enjoy fantasies that balance trauma recovery with rebellion, or if you like character-driven stories full of secrets, then this book is absolutely for you.
This book stirred me more than I expected. The writing has this sharp tenderness. Some scenes were very emotional, especially the ones where Xun remembers Kai’s abuse and the way his presence lingers like a stain in her memory. Her trauma does not exist for spectacle. It exists the way real pain exists, slipping into the quiet moments and messing with breath and thought. The training scenes with Xiao in the Dream Realm felt like oxygen, and I kept rooting for Xun to take each tiny step forward. The pacing in the middle swells as secrets pile up, especially once the Forbidden Archives start giving up their ghosts. I loved how the story mixes myth with rebellion and shows how tightly institutions grip the narratives they fear most.
I also found myself pulled toward the characters orbiting Xun. Jin in particular surprised me. His protectiveness has rough edges, but it feels shaped by real loyalty. His anger at what Xun endured is raw, almost reckless, and there were moments where his emotions reached through the page and hit me right in the gut. Even Yan Yun, cold as stone and twice as sharp, grabbed my attention. Watching him justify control while hiding old wounds gave him this unsettling depth. The world feels lived in, politically messy, and morally crooked. I liked that. I liked that nothing felt clean. The prose moves between poetic and punchy, and it never gets stuck in jargon. Sometimes the pacing jumps a bit fast, but I didn’t mind because the emotional beats landed exactly where they needed to.
By the time I reached the final stretch, the story had its claws in me. The revelations about mythic Emberkin, the tension in the archives, the pressure of Xun’s unbonded status closing in, all of it came together in a way that felt both heavy and hopeful. I walked away thinking about cycles of harm, about who gets to rewrite the rules, and about how power shifts when someone finally says no. If you enjoy fantasies that balance trauma recovery with rebellion, or if you like character-driven stories full of secrets, then this book is absolutely for you.
October 17, 2025
A magical world based on ancient China, a neurospicy princess, and a hidden phoenix…welcome to Reigning Fire.
This novella starts with Xun at a ceremony on her 16th birthday designed to help her bond to her Emberkin - a form of magical being from the Smokeveil. But there’s a problem - Xun already has her bonded Emberkin. The thing is, her Emberkin is a phoenix she has named Mo…a mythical being, deemed too sacred to bond.
That’s just the start of the challenges Xun faces. As the only child of the Prince Regent, there’s a lot of pressure on her. As an illegitimate child - and a girl at that - there’s even more. Xun has a year to try to understand why she has a forbidden bond before she is quietly hidden from public view in shame.
Xun is clearly neurodiverse - only eats the same familiar foods, hates certain textures, dislikes surprises, masks her emotions, and is content to be alone. These aspects of her self are not considered acceptable in her father’s palace and create a greater divide between them.
Meanwhile, she has the normal duties of a trainee Weaver (magic user) to fulfill…but the question remains whether her neurodiversity will help or hinder her.
This is a debut fantasy novella from a neurodiverse psychologist. The book covers many situations a neurospicy individual may find challenging, like eating different food and opening up to new friends. There’s some heavy themes in this book - abuse (very heavily suggested but never explicitly stated), death of a child and repression of difference. There is a gentle romance but there is no physicality involved.
I loved the calligraphy spaced throughout the book, and the rich world building. I found some aspects of this story made more sense to me on a reread. I would certainly recommend this book to fantasy readers, but would suggest reading it twice to help with some clarity.
This novella starts with Xun at a ceremony on her 16th birthday designed to help her bond to her Emberkin - a form of magical being from the Smokeveil. But there’s a problem - Xun already has her bonded Emberkin. The thing is, her Emberkin is a phoenix she has named Mo…a mythical being, deemed too sacred to bond.
That’s just the start of the challenges Xun faces. As the only child of the Prince Regent, there’s a lot of pressure on her. As an illegitimate child - and a girl at that - there’s even more. Xun has a year to try to understand why she has a forbidden bond before she is quietly hidden from public view in shame.
Xun is clearly neurodiverse - only eats the same familiar foods, hates certain textures, dislikes surprises, masks her emotions, and is content to be alone. These aspects of her self are not considered acceptable in her father’s palace and create a greater divide between them.
Meanwhile, she has the normal duties of a trainee Weaver (magic user) to fulfill…but the question remains whether her neurodiversity will help or hinder her.
This is a debut fantasy novella from a neurodiverse psychologist. The book covers many situations a neurospicy individual may find challenging, like eating different food and opening up to new friends. There’s some heavy themes in this book - abuse (very heavily suggested but never explicitly stated), death of a child and repression of difference. There is a gentle romance but there is no physicality involved.
I loved the calligraphy spaced throughout the book, and the rich world building. I found some aspects of this story made more sense to me on a reread. I would certainly recommend this book to fantasy readers, but would suggest reading it twice to help with some clarity.
October 17, 2025
First, the magic system: I loved it even if I feel more details would have benefitted the whole book and the reading experience. In fact, while really intriguing, the lore and how magic works are not really explained in a way that makes you appreciate its richness. Moreover, there are aspects that are left completely unexplained even if they felt they mattered — for instance, why is Mo kinda sickly and malformed? I really wish the author had spent more time building the magic system and the world too (which is basically sketched, unfortunately) because it is really appealing, but just enough to create a blurry image of what this fantasy world could have been.
The same goes for the plot and the characters: I always feel sad when a book has tons of potential but it falls short. While intriguing, there are things that feel rushed in the development of the story, thus leading to my dissatisfaction because I didn't understand the choices some characters make or the reasons behind them. I mean, I appreciate the focus on various characters alternating the first person narrator of the protagonist, because it gave a nice insight of how other characters were feeling too, but I always felt like I was skimming on the surface and needed more to fully appreciate and connect with the characters. Regarding the plot and the story: while the concept is appealing, its execution leaves too much unexplored and thus feels like an incomplete story, which is a pity because it could really be a great fantasy — also thanks to the writing style, which is well-paced and draws you in.
Still, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who's in need of a fast-paced novella with interesting features.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!
The same goes for the plot and the characters: I always feel sad when a book has tons of potential but it falls short. While intriguing, there are things that feel rushed in the development of the story, thus leading to my dissatisfaction because I didn't understand the choices some characters make or the reasons behind them. I mean, I appreciate the focus on various characters alternating the first person narrator of the protagonist, because it gave a nice insight of how other characters were feeling too, but I always felt like I was skimming on the surface and needed more to fully appreciate and connect with the characters. Regarding the plot and the story: while the concept is appealing, its execution leaves too much unexplored and thus feels like an incomplete story, which is a pity because it could really be a great fantasy — also thanks to the writing style, which is well-paced and draws you in.
Still, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who's in need of a fast-paced novella with interesting features.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!
November 30, 2025
2.5 Stars.
This book had great potential, but it just fell short for me. The world felt half-baked, and the characters were surface level.
The book follows Yan Xun, a princess who has a secret. She is not really liked due to her introverted personality, and is often compared with her cousin, Kai. Xun attends this academy and is determined to show her worth during this mock battle that takes place near the end of the book.
The mock battle was the redeeming part of the book for me. I did not feel connected with the characters, and the romance subplot kind of through me off. The book was pretty short (under 200 pages) and could have definitely benefited from being longer and having more worldbuilding. A lot of the plot revolved around Emberkin, which is an animal spirit that some people have connections with. It seemed like a status symbol more than anything.
This could have been a very unique story if it just had more detail. By the end, I had way more questions than answers. The ending felt very unsatisfying considering everything that had happened up until that point. It was not the worst book I have read this year, hence the 2.5 stars, but I wanted so much more from this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book had great potential, but it just fell short for me. The world felt half-baked, and the characters were surface level.
The book follows Yan Xun, a princess who has a secret. She is not really liked due to her introverted personality, and is often compared with her cousin, Kai. Xun attends this academy and is determined to show her worth during this mock battle that takes place near the end of the book.
The mock battle was the redeeming part of the book for me. I did not feel connected with the characters, and the romance subplot kind of through me off. The book was pretty short (under 200 pages) and could have definitely benefited from being longer and having more worldbuilding. A lot of the plot revolved around Emberkin, which is an animal spirit that some people have connections with. It seemed like a status symbol more than anything.
This could have been a very unique story if it just had more detail. By the end, I had way more questions than answers. The ending felt very unsatisfying considering everything that had happened up until that point. It was not the worst book I have read this year, hence the 2.5 stars, but I wanted so much more from this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2025
My eyesight has gotten much worse as I’ve aged, so I experience most books through audiobooks or e-books where I can adjust the font size. That was the case here—I received an advanced reader’s copy of Reigning Fire in exchange for an honest review, and I ended up reading it on my computer.
Because I can hardly read physical books anymore, I rarely want to keep them around. Even the gorgeous collector editions just sit there taunting me—beautiful, but not functional. This book, however, is the exception. Not only do I want everyone to read it—book reviewers, booktubers, bookstagrammers, booktok folks, anyone who loves a great story—but I actually want a physical copy of it myself. It is the first book this entire year that has made me feel that way.
Reigning Fire is stunning. Truly a masterpiece. I don’t have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe what the author has done here. If you’re reading this review, stop. Go read the book.
Because I can hardly read physical books anymore, I rarely want to keep them around. Even the gorgeous collector editions just sit there taunting me—beautiful, but not functional. This book, however, is the exception. Not only do I want everyone to read it—book reviewers, booktubers, bookstagrammers, booktok folks, anyone who loves a great story—but I actually want a physical copy of it myself. It is the first book this entire year that has made me feel that way.
Reigning Fire is stunning. Truly a masterpiece. I don’t have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe what the author has done here. If you’re reading this review, stop. Go read the book.
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