January 2023 First in a Series BOTM - Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, by Amélie Wen Zhao

[Alaina]

In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak’gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and her days scavenging for what she can find of the past. Anything to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died.

The mark is mysterious—an untranslatable Hin character—and no one but Lan can see it. Until the night a boy appears at her teahouse and saves her life.

Zen is a practitioner—one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic was rumored to have been drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Now it must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.

When Zen comes across Lan, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He’s never seen anything like it—but he knows that if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.

Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within—secrets they must hide from others, and secrets that they themselves have yet to discover. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.

Now the battle for the Last Kingdom begins.

**This BOTM thread will be open until February 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Cindee]

23%(view spoiler)[ I am loving this book so far I love everything from the concept to the story and characters. The characters are interesting so far especially Lan she is a complicated girl who has lost so much to invaders of her land other than that she is strong and determined to live on. I also like Zen even if not much is known about him yet looking forward to finding out more. The story it tells about a land like ancient China that was taken over by a hostile people that killed many and how tough all this is on a conquered people. After that more is found out about Lan and how her mother put a seal on her when she was killed that only Lan can see other things happen and she goes back to the Teahouse where she sings she is targeted by the bad invader she ends up killing him somehow and Zen finds her other things happen and they end up on the run together. I am looking forward to reading more soon. (hide spoiler)]

[Cindee]

42%(view spoiler)[This book is so good this author is for sure an auto buy for me I already love cultivation novels since I read ones translated from Chinese all the time I just love the way she writes all of that. The characters are great learning more about Lan and Zen is always great there is also some interesting characters other than them one is the terrible bitchy type while another is a great new friend for Lan. The story is still really good Lan's powers are unbalanced her injury gets worse so Zen has to do a last resort to save her so she meets some great cultivators along with some stuck up bitches other things happen and Lan is now learning to cultivate other things happen people are met I also like her close relationship with Zen as well as how mysterious he is looking forward to learning more about him. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Hope you like it Cindee! Will read it this month at some point! :)

[Cindee]

59%(view spoiler)[ I just love this book there is never a dull moment to be had. I just love Lan so much a spirited girl who says what she means and wants to find what her mother meant for her to find. I still like mysterious Zen who housed a demon he was not in control when things happened. The story moves onto Zen and Lan going where she needs to get what her mother meant for her to find they find many things and Lan finds the Ocarina the invaders find where they are they wait for them to leave but are caught right away Lan is made to tell a few things and use the Ocarina and Zen's demon kills people only the lead baddie escapes they go back and Zen goes to be interrogated and after a little while Lan goes to rescue him. (hide spoiler)]

[Cindee]

100%(view spoiler)[I loved this book so much there was much heart a romance that I hope continues and a story that pulls at the heart strings one to remember I am looking forward to the sequel. I loved the story and the characters so many great ones as well as many that you just hate some that even get better over time. The romance was amazing yet heart breaking I am just hoping something comes of it by the next book it is obvious how they feel for one another. The story was amazing from where I left off they find a place not touched by the invaders and they profess their love for each other only for Zen to break that promise of Lan never being alone by doing the one thing he should not of to get rid of the invaders that causes a rift where they come to blows and Lan almost killing him after that the invaders attack and many lives are lost and Lan escapes with a few others also she has a demon god as well and plans to use it to get rid of the invaders looking forward to the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[I am really liking this book, however, I am a bit bothered by the historical aspect: who are the Elantian meant to be, if the story is meant to be China? Because it sounds more like the European wipe out of ancient America's cultures more than anything I know of Chinese history... Unless the Elantian are mean to be Japanese or Mongols, but it doesn't then fit with their physical description...

I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was less historical, I guess, unless I manage to find out what part of history this is supposed to be. Maybe it's just a part of history I don't know! I'll research! :P

I like the protagonist, and the story is engrossing and very well told! I am intrigued, and that jackass of a general deserved his fate! :P (well, maybe not, exactly, but I am more happy than sad about his demise) (hide spoiler)]

[Cindee]

Andy wrote: "Chapter 4: I am really liking this book, however, I am a bit bothered by the historical aspect: who are the Elantian meant to be, if the story is meant to be China? Because it sounds more like the ..."
I just thought of it as a fantasy world not really connected to a real one

[Andy]

Cindee wrote: "Andy wrote: "Chapter 4: I am really liking this book, however, I am a bit bothered by the historical aspect: who are the Elantian meant to be, if the story is meant to be China? Because it sounds m..."

Thank you, I will try that! But I will admit it annoys me a bit! It's a shame, I really lile it otherwise!

[Andy]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[I wonder whether part of the ending of the book will be to get rid of all the practicioners self-righteousness. There is something very wrong in "eliminating all that is not in your book" kind of thinking.
The new girl is infuriating. Interesting development! :P (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[The part at the school was a bit "Harry Potter", especially with the girl bully, but ok...
I am happy they are back looking at finding what Lan's mother left her! Though the description of the magic really sound all like lessons... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Cindee wrote: "42%[spoilers removed]"

I agrew, I want to learn more about Zen! :)

[Andy]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[It was so obvious that the magician hadn't left that I was, for a moment, convinced the author would actually pull the rug under me, and make him NOT stay and see if anyone would come out of the shadows or something... Well, at least the book was successfull in making me care. I am really scared for Lan and Zen! (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[Zen is playing an interesting game... Is he turning morally grey? :) He wasn't before in my opinion, he just made one bad choice... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Chapter 27: (view spoiler)[Well, the "if you are not with me you are against me" speach was heartwrenching... :( (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Finished: (view spoiler)[The ending was epic and really engaging!
The final battle resembled the battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter a bit, and I think the author really tried to get us invested in the end of the school, however, being in Lan's perspective for it wasnot the best idea in my opinion. Something like "Ulara had always seemed unbreakable, and loom at her now" doesn't have the punch it could have, because Lan had literally met everyone like 2weeks before.same for the "lost fried" and working with you enemy narrative: you havemet these people 2 weeks ago! Dilaya is not your long school rival, she's just a very annoying girl you literrally just met!

It would have worked so mu h better if Lan had been at the school longer. Zen could have taken her there afterthe attack at the Teahouse directly, no further meeting with the magician, she could have spent time there learning, and THEN she could have somehow come across the magician again, maybe when searching for the mountain, and THEN have the thing with the metal in her arm.
At least then she would have had an actual attachment to the school. In this version it was: "hey reader, here's a school, look it's great, care for it on the spot, because we don't have time, we need to go and do other things, but do care for it, because we are coming back and destroy it at the climax"...

Anyway, I actually really enjoyed it, Lan and Zen are great together.
I think Zen's bargain is horrifying, and Lan is right, but also... Sheis basically planning to do the exact same thing Zen wants to do: use the demon gods to destroy the Elantians. Yes, she wants to destroy the demon gods after, but they could just work together for the first part, why aren't they??? It's nonsensical.
Also, Lan basically did the same thing Zen did in binding her demon god, come on, she is not that much better. In action they are very much equal. She just got a better bargain, good for her... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Cindee wrote: "100%[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I really liked Lan and Zen together, as the emotional core of the story, their relationship was well done. However, I predict a bittersweet ending. I don't see how Zen could be saved at the end in a way that doesn't feel like a cop out. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 1-4: (view spoiler)[This one is a bit difficult to get into considering mythology doesn't usually hold my interest but I am liking the main character Lan so far and the whole kingdom has me intrigued especially since we know so little of the Elantians still. Their magic sounds interesting and qi manipulation has me interested as well. I am hoping it picks up the pace soon (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 5-9: (view spoiler)[So her mom has hidden some kind of a super strong seal in her arm and that arm is dying....interesting. Zen and Lan journeying together is quite fun and full of information too. I am enjoying finding out more about this world. But since Zen does everything by the book I am wondering if it would be a cause of friction in the future. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 10-15: (view spoiler)[I really hope the entirety of this book is not set at the school because as much as I am liking it, I want to see a bit more action with the Elantians and not the training for the whole time as is the case with some first books of duologies. That being said, I am fascinated by the tracking spell Elantians put on Lan and how it was somewhat contained by Ulara. I am curious to see what Lan and Zen find at the Guarded mountain (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 16-20: (view spoiler)[I was certainly not expecting that the White Magician would be able to track them there and by the looks of it he had them fooled that they were safe and has caught them now.I am positively afraid for both Zen and Lan tbh. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 21-27: (view spoiler)[Noooo I am not prepared to watch Zen and Lan be on the opposite sides in the fight. Everything was going so well and I had thought it would be Zen stopping Lan from moving onto the wrong path but something completely opposite is happening here. Dilaya's resentment with Zen and cinsequently Lan made sense after finding out what Zen did all those years ago. I am wondering whether Dilaya and Lan would now join forces to stop Zen (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Ok that was actually quite epic and I was totally not expecting it to get so intense. Everything about the demon gods and what Lan's mother did completely blew my mind. And the grandmaster was actually her dad! I wish she had known this earlier rather than when he was literally dying in her arms. I am sad for Zen because he clearly drew the short stick with respect to his bargain with the Black Tortoise. AAHH side note I really liked the names for all the demons btw, cool detail! Lan and Zen are now on the opposite ends of the spectrum but what irks me is that they literally want to do the same thing at the end - use the demon god to defeat the Elantians. I really feel like them working against one another is only going to cause more problems for them. Nevertheless, I am still excited for the next instalment and hope to read it as soon as it's released (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Kira wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree!
Why don't they work together??? Bha!
Also so sorry for Zen, definitely the short stick in his bargain! (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Andy wrote: "Kira wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I agree!
Why don't they work together??? Bha!
Also so sorry for Zen, definitely the short stick in his bargain!"

I'd be so upset if something happens to him in the next book :cccccc

[Andy]

Kira wrote: "Andy wrote: "Kira wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I agree!
Why don't they work together??? Bha!
Also so sorry for Zen, definitely the short stick in his bargain!"

I'd be so upset if somethi..."

I will probably feel cheated if he gets out of it alive to be honest! :P I might cry if he dies, but I don't see how he can make it out in a way that feel earned!

[Kira]

Andy wrote: "Kira wrote: "Andy wrote: "Kira wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I agree!
Why don't they work together??? Bha!
Also so sorry for Zen, definitely the short stick in his bargain!"

I'd be so ups..."

Owww damn we will need to read this book as soon as it releases it seems!!! I feel like there might be some sort of redemption arc for him in it, I honestly do not want to see anything happen to the medical guy - i can't recall his name !!!!

[Andy]

Kira wrote: "Owww damn we will need to read this book as soon as it releases it seems!!! I feel like there might be some sort of redemption arc for him in it, I honestly do not want to see anything happen to the medical guy - i can't recall his name !!!!."

He was nice, but had a complicated name I think! :P

I will be happy to read the sequel! I will have to buy the American paperback of the sequel to have matching pairs, but I found it a bit too floppy for my taste! :P

[Alaina]

Today is the LAST day to get BOTM points for this book!