Gorgeous photo by @xenatine!
Hi fairy friends!
Happy Monday, I hope you all have a good day! Welcome to day 1 of the July Adult Book readalong of The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song. I’m so excited to be reading this with you all!
Before we start, how are you all doing? I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready to dive into this new fantasy world with me!
Since today is day 1, we’ll be reading from the beginning to the end of chapter 11.
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song from the beginning to the end of Chapter 12. Please only read on if you have finished reading this section!
–!SPOILERS!–
Ooooh, we have a map! I always love a fantasy book with a map. 🤩
We start with a little bit of backstory, which I love! War is coming – don’t love that as much. Meilin’s father is deep in the thralls of opium and adamant he’ll be refusing the war draft.
His wife – who he married after Meilin’s mother passed away – is like a sister to Meilin, her name is Xiuying. Meilin’s father is going to make her marry for the dowry and Xiuying has to prepare her.
The matchmaker arrives, Meilin is being sold off to a gross old man named Master Zhu. Conveniently after not being able to provide him with an heir, all of his previous wives died from consumption.
After that revelation, Meilin can’t still still so goes for a walk. Along the way she finds herself witnessing some kind of ruckus. When imperial guards appear, she takes that as her sign to head home. Before she can get there, she’s interrupted by a soldier who is, well, a bit gross. It seems like he’s trying to trick or guilt Meilin into going home with him.
Master Liu appears to stop him in his tracks just in time! A master of disguise (👀), he’s not actually a master at all, but the warlord’s seventh and youngest son. He’s a Prince!
He escorts Meilin home and they talk as they go. Honestly, he seems quite smitten, it’s cute! That is, until they reach Hai Meilin’s home and there’s a pig running around… Xiuying puts her foot in it and mentions it’s Meilin’s dowry. Prince Liu takes his leave, believing he’s overstepped. COME BACK!!!!!
Meilin’s unfortunate rendezvous with the soldiers have her thinking… she could take them. Oh we love a headstrong girly! YES YOU CAN MEILIN. 👏👏👏
Waking Xiuying in the dead of night, she tells her of her plans. She’ll enlist in her fathers place and pretend to be a man, it’s dangerous but much better to Meilin than the prospect of marriage. It takes some persuading but Xiuying helps her, redoing her bindings, finding her better clothes and then… gifting her something. It’s a jade necklace that once belonged to her mother. Xiuying had instructions to give it to Meilin when she’s near death. Um, do we not have high hopes for Meilin then Xiuying???
Meilin successfully enlists as Hai Ren. So far, the cover seems to be working. She does get a little scared when she finds out she’ll be in Prince Liu’s company. Can’t blame her! Will he recognise her? 👀
She befriends someone called Sparrow and things seem to be going ok… until someone steals Lieutenant Fang’s armlet. I have a suspicion who it is…
They’re all forced to strip and Ren quickly realises her cover may be over far too soon. If she strips, her binding’s will be seen. Instead, to keep her cover under wraps, Ren admits to stealing the armlet… and faces a flogging.
The armlet is conveniently “found” by none other than Sparrow. Ditch him Ren, he’s bad news! Apparently Prince Liu went EASY on Ren because he didn’t flog her naked. My version of easy would be no flogging at all but…
Ren is released and in the time that follow, Fang plays on all of her insecurities and weaknesses. Ren won’t take it and takes to training solo after dark.
She’s not alone though…
Prince Liu has been watching her and takes to supervising her out of hours training sessions. Why’s he helping her?
He declares Ren is small but strong, and tells Ren to call him Sky.
Just like her mother experienced, Ren is hearing a disembodied voice from the jade pendant, and it’s telling her not to trust Sky… he seems like an ok guy though? Minus the flogging…
She starts to experience visions – or nightmares as she thinks – and one of them sees her and Sky in battle, fighting to kill each other… is that where this story is going? 👀
Ren is adamant it’s a nightmare but the visions don’t really stop there. She visits the spirit realm too. Whilst there she speaks to one of the cardinal spirits who tells her she aspires power and basically suggests it’ll ruin her? Though Ren is adamant all she wants is to belong…
We’re off to a fiery start!
Do you think Meilin/Ren made the right choice?
Sky seems to have a soft spot for her, do you think he recognises her and just isn’t saying anything?
Do you think that vision at the end of this section was a premonition of the future, or just a nightmare?
I can’t wait to hear what you all think! See you tomorrow for another day of action!
Love,
Shannon
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By the end of chapter 11, I was really getting into the story! I love that the chapters are short and we get so much back story on this world.
Do you think Meilin/Ren made the right choice?
Absolutely.
Sky seems to have a soft spot for her, do you think he recognises her and just isn’t saying anything?
I don’t personally think he recognises her yet!
Do you think that vision at the end of this section was a premonition of the future, or just a nightmare?
Hmm, I would say nightmare! The prince is close to Meilin in age, and he would have had to have been so young to have anything to do with her mothers death unless I’ve done my math wrong!
I’m really enjoying this so far. I think the fact that Meilin accepts that she is doing this for a few more months of freedom makes her choice more believable to me than if she were trying to use this as a way to avoid her marriage and have her happy ending.
Also, when Sky said, “That means I have less competition.” SWOON. Plus who doesn’t love a training montage.
Yessss!! Training montages are always so fun! 🥰
Hello, I’m good and I’m excited for another readalong. A Mulan retelling should be good, and that cover is absolutely beautiful! I like Meilin’s strength and ambition, but I couldn’t really understand her choice: she went from agreeing to get married to an old and possibly violent person to help her family, to leaving them in the middle of the night after signing a contract – it didn’t really make sense to me, won’t they be held accountable somehow? I do agree with her that Master Zhu definitely sounds like bad news. Sky seems like a gentle person, their first meeting was quite cute, but I find the flogging hard to swallow, how can you fall in love with someone who inflicted so much pain? I think that was some kind of premonition so quite interesting to see what’s going to happen… it is worrying that they might become enemies, maybe it’s to do with the jade necklace? It seems obvious to me that the voice comes from the Azure Dragon (who is on the cover) as it started when she got the necklace. I wonder if he will give her power and if she will use it. It seems we don’t know the full story of what happened to her mother, she was afraid of water, does it mean she was trying to avoid the dragon connection? afraid of being somehow corrupted by power? I have so many questions!
That’s a good point! Maybe we’ll hear more about her family at some point? 💜
I’m glad to have something to read because this week is going to be so intense at work, I need something to unwind after.
The beginninf felt a bit like I could watch the Disney Mulan and see what is happening though it has some themes that are a bit more adult.
I am not sure it’s a good idea to be in Liu’s platoon but what can she do? Sparrow seems fun but that part with the armlet was a bit sus. I don’t really like Fang though.
I hope it helps you wind down! 💜
I’m so excited for a Mulan retelling! (Also, this book is GORGEOUS.)
I think she made the right choice given just how unhappy (and possibly in danger) she would have been in her new marriage. Of course, war doesn’t exactly seem like the safest option but she didn’t have many.
I do wonder if Sky recognizes her…maybe he will eventually? I think the dream could be a premonition in some way so I’m excited to read more!
Definitely agree that she made the right choice! 💜
Just finished the first section! Hmm I think the prince is suspicious of her, but maybe not sure that they have met before. So far the plot is very close to Mulan, so I am looking forward to when it diverges from Mulan 😊
Meilin definitely made the right choice – better the dangers of war that she chose than the dangers of a violent husband she didn’t want.
I’m also suspecting that Sky might recognized her because of the special treatment, ex. lashing her with her clothes on.
Fiery start so far, for sure. I really enjoyed the start and am excited to read on.
So glad you’re liking it so far! 💜
Really enjoying this so far!! I’ve always loved Mulan, so seeing this more in-depth version of that story is a dream. I love Sky, i think that Meilin just so happens to be his type whether he thinks she’s a girl or a boy. Seems like the dragon is going to be a lot scarier than Mushu from the movie, excited to see more of him. I do think the vision of her fighting Sky will come true, maybe when he realizes her betrayal? Can’t wait to see what comes next, I hope Meilin can succeed in being the best!
Definitely agree that Meilin seems like Sky’s type! He was drawn to her in both scenarios 💜
These first chapters hooked me right in! I love when a book just takes you with it, and the first chapters are not hard to get through. So far I’m really enjoying this one! I love the reasoning behind Meilin enlisting and that it wasn’t marriage in general that made her leave but rather marriage to a man who would hit her and who was awful. I don’t think Sky knows Ren is Meilin but he probably only thinks they are a brother and a sister and therefore look similar. I’m super excited to learn more about the spirit world and see where this goes!
Do you think Meilin/Ren made the right choice?
I do think she made the right choice she needed to get out of that house and out from under her father’s thumb.
Sky seems to have a soft spot for her, do you think he recognises her and just isn’t saying anything?
I don’t think he recognizes her yet but maybe he recognizes something within her that’s calling to him.
Do you think that vision at the end of this section was a premonition of the future, or just a nightmare?
I think it’s a premonition of the future, and I have an idea of what’s going to happen.
Ooooh, interested to hear your theories! 💜
I think she made the best choice she could in her situation and I am loving the Mulan vibes. I dont think he recognizes her, I am kind of thinking the prince will have feelings for both Ren and Meilin and she will have to spend time with him as both, making a very weird love triangle.
I am loving the story so far!
I started a day late, but I’m loving it so far! Mulan is my favorite Disney movie, so I’m glad that this book was chosen for the readalong.
I think she definitely made the right choice to escape the marriage and her father. Since she’s so good at defending herself, this was the best thing she could do.
I think Sky already kind of recognises her, or at least likes Ren because “he” reminds him of “his sister”.
The vision scares me a bit, but I’m excited to see how it turns out.
Also: LOVING the guy on the back of the book.
ISN’T HE HANDSOME??? I could stare at that back endpaper allllll day! 💜
I’ve been having an amazing time reading the book! 🤩
I think Meilin definitely made the right choice. She’s trying to fight for herself even if that means risking her life! I’m so curious to see how her relationship with Sky will develop. I don’t think he recognises her, but I feel like there is something inside her that’s attracting him to her and I’m curious to find out what that might be. 👀 I think the vision at the end of this section is just a little clue that this story will be even darker and more complex than what the beginning of it implied.
I’m so excited to keep reading!
I think she made the right choice for her, whether that ends up being the right choice for surviving is another.
I think he might have suspicions.
I hope it isn’t a prediction of the future! But it probably is, since it’s unlikely what’s growing between them will go smoothly.
Do you think Meilin/Ren made the right choice? I think Meilin made the right choice, she knew the outcome of how things would be if she stayed but becoming Ren gave her more freedom and possibilities.
Sky seems to have a soft spot for her, do you think he recognises her and just isn’t saying anything? I think he likes how driven Ren is and sees him as a fighter. He might have had suspicions but accepted the lie as a truth because he wouldn’t be able to accept Ren being Meilin.
Do you think that vision at the end of this section was a premonition of the future, or just a nightmare? I think it was a premonition of a possible future. I’m not sure if I trust the spirit, since it’s possibly what drove Meilin’s mom mad.
I love Mulan inspired books so I cannot wait to see where this goes!
I think the decision is a double-edged sword on one hand there will be the perils of war and danger, but is her life at home much better? I think it was a decision for her to take control of her life in some aspect.
I think Sky will eventually find out her true identity, but we will see how it’ll affect their standing in the warband.
My guess is that the vision is something that will happen in the future. I think there are some pretty sinister forces at work here D:
I really enjoy the book so far! I think Meilin made the right choice. She couldn’t stay home and marry this men, it just wasn’t her. I love how good connection she has with her stepmother, that are really more like sisters and even though Xuiying had to marry and do what was expected from her she fully supports Meilin! I don’t think Sky recognises her but he has he feels something deep down. I feel like her dreams are only nightmares but I’m very curious what will happen next 😊
Sorry I am behind (I had an unexpected 60 hour work week, but I’m going to catch up!)
I went into this book blind and seeing that it feels like a Mulan retelling is making me so HAPPY!
Do you think Meilin/Ren made the right choice?
Yes. I think Ren needs to prove to herself that she can do it just as much as she thinks she needs to prove to others that she is powerful.
Sky seems to have a soft spot for her, do you think he recognises her and just isn’t saying anything?
No. I think he feels a connection with her but does not know they are the same person. I wonder if he’s being nice because he thinks this is a family member of Meilin.
Do you think that vision at the end of this section was a premonition of the future, or just a nightmare?
I think the vision will be a mix of both. I think some of it is a vision but I think reality will differ in someway from the dream.
Meilin made the right decision to take her father’s place as Ren.
Sky appreciates her diligence and effort. Perhaps a small part of him feels her familiarity and his fondness for Meilin stirs under the surface without Sky realising.
Perhaps it is a warning sent to keep her from trusting Qinglong wholeheartedly –
for if she responds to the call between them, she will be consumed.
I haven’t felt as immersed in the story as I would have expected. However, now that Meilin has entered the training camp, her interaction with Sky has increased and Qinglong is a realised character, I hope I will be drawn into the story.