Gorgeous photo by @cosycoffeereader!
Hey fairy fam!
Happy Thursday and welcome to day 4 of our readalong of The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song.
The stakes are high, the vengeance is higher! Hope you’re ready to dive back in…
Today we’re reading from chapter 36 to the end of chapter 46. Let’s do this!
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 forThe Night Ends With Fire, from chapters 36 to 46. Please only read on if you’ve finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
Someone’s taking care of her, she thinks it’s Xiuying, but unless Meilin’s found a way home that seems pretty impossible!
“You have some explaining to do […] miss.”
So, Autumn, who’s been taking care of her and basically brought her back from the brink of death knows Meilin is a woman. She doesn’t seem to have told anyone though? Meilin slowly heals and based on what Autumn says about Lei, he would usually have gotten rid of her by now, it sounds like he might have a soft spot for her? She could be on limited time though!
Time passes and it seems Autumn couldn’t keep her secret for long. Now Meilin is healed, she’s called on by Lei. Looks like he needed to see it to believe it for himself! He makes Meilin strip.
Satisfied that she is, in fact, a woman, conversation turns back to the jade. He hasn’t found it yet. Bless Meilin trying to play it super casual to try gain intel. Girl, you’re not fooling anyone!
I’m not totally sure what to make of Lei so far, but given this is one of few on page moments we’ve really seen him talking in, it’s interesting that he’s already speaking on how he never wanted the war in the first place and discussing his hard upbringing. Genuine moment or do we think he’s trying to get Meilin on his side?
Meilin uses her meeting as a chance to free herself from her irons, claiming Lei hurt her. Poor Autumn getting wrapped up in this!! She compels her to sleep but her lixia seems a little rusty. She tries and fails to compel the soldiers and the General and ends up in quite the ruckus…
She got what she wanted though! She told Qinglong she wouldn’t leave anyone behind and she stuck to it. Meilin has managed to free Sky, Tao AND Sparrow, but their getaway isn’t quick enough and she’s shot by none other than Lei himself. And I was JUST warming to him!!!
Things go from bad to worse to even worse when she wakes without her uniform. Her jade was sewn in, it’s gone!
Lei calls on her, bold considering he very recently impaled her with an arrow. During their talks Meilin realises Qinglong never actually told her how to destroy the seal. You’re being used, Meilin! She quickly realises all on her own (maybe with the help of Lei but I’m upset with him right now) that compulsion is the key, and she finally starts debating that maybe Qinglong is playing both sides.
After attacking him, General Huyi is out for revenge, whilst he disgustingly gets far, Lei appears just in time and protects Meilin, carving out the General’s other eye. Is that… kind of romantic???? Eye cannot decide. (Sorry my puns are SO bad)
Meilin’s really not in a good way and it’s going to take a while for her to be back in shape. So, naturally, that’s when Lei has a lead and she has to go travelling. We are in a fantasy book, of course! What kind of epic tale would this be if the timings all worked out?!
Despite now thinking Autumn and Lei are together (I’m not 100% sold on Meilin’s theorising there), that doesn’t stop her from taking a jovial tumble/fight with him once she’s better that ends up with them quite flirty, landing in a pond??? Then he tells her she’s lovely when she laughs. Oh no. Fairies I think I’m team Lei?????? I’ve fallen for the enemy!!!!
Ok the Autumn theory is OUT. I knew they weren’t together! We learn a little more about Lei, by a little I mean literally just that he’s 22 and Autumn thinks he likes spending time with Meilin but do you know what? I’ll take it!
“Your beauty rivals the moon”. UGH. Why do the villains always have to say this kind of thing? I don’t want to swoon but how can I not????
I’m so confused by this next bit. We know that it sounds like they’re laying a trap from Meilin’s conversation with Autumn, but now Zihuan, the Crown Prince is here and Lei lies to him about who Meilin is and allows her to be there for a conversation where Zihuan confirms Sima is on his way? That’s sketchy!
Like many of the men we’ve encountered so far, Zihuan is GROSS and tries to kiss Meilin. Lei steps in and bears the brunt of it with his brother literally pouring hot wax down his chest and then telling him Rea’s betrothal ceremony is coming up and he’s worked so hard to keep her safe. WHO’S THAT??? Did I miss something????
I have to admit. Meilin is GOOD. For a minute, she had me convinced she was really into Lei. She helped him with his burns and seemed genuinely upset to see his scar covered body. She even acknowledges he’s maybe not pure evil. Lei then hints she could be a general, and they’re close. Like REALLY close. BUT IT WAS ALL A RUSE. MEILIN!!! She used it to get her jade back. That’s low. I’m clinging to the shreds of her acknowledging she has to bury her feelings cause that’ll mean there’s feelings to be buried? Right??? RIGHT??? 😭😭😭
Then, in a very superhero-esque move, Meilin just yeets herself off the balcony. Bye then I guess????
This section. I am RUINED. Please help me fairies 😂 tell me I’m not alone!!!
Team Sky or Team Lei? I’m asking the important questions.
What do you think Meilin is going to do now?
Do you think Lei is genuine? I can’t tell, I’m a bad judge of character I need help on this!
I’m not sure I can wait until tomorrow to find out what happens! It’s gonna be a painful wait.
Love,
Shannon
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The Girl with No Reflection Readalong: Day 1!
Isla
16th September 2024
TEAM LEI ALL THE WAY! Sky is just too basic, too boring, and absolutely not enough for Meilin. He doesn’t see the potential Lei does. I was also convinced that Meilin would have some feelings towards Lei (and I’m still hoping despite she literally threw herself of balcony to get away from him). The stakes are getting higher and I’m loving it!
This book is darker than I thought 🤕
I like Lei, I’m team Lei, but at the same time his motivations aren’t clear, not sure what he’s doing with Meilin.
I’m finding it a bit tiring to be in her head all the time, the plot is moving quite slowly and she’s been stuck or a prisoner for weeks at this point. I might have liked different POVs for this tale. I expected there to be more of a difference since her connection with the dragon is lostbut her thoughts seem similar to when he was manipulating her.
Not sure what she’s gonna do, I can’t help thinking that trying to befriend Lei would have been more successful than attacking/escaping every time.
Not feeling very hopeful about the war resolution as both Kings seem wicked!
In these chapters? Lei is a lot more thoughtful than Sky and values Melin more than Sky but I have a feeling Sky is endgame because he was first and Meilin is very loyal. Too much. She woudn’t have left any of them behind and they left her. That’s sucky.
Team Lei! He offered to make her a general, something she’d like, and while knowing she’s a woman
I think I’m team Lei too?? I just can’t get over how duty-bound Sky is, that just doesn’t seem to fit with Meilin’s whole vibe. Meanwhile Lei not only accepts what she has done, he seems impressed by it! I don’t trust Qinglong (after all the back of the book literally says don’t trust a dragon) and really hope she and Lei team up to stop whatever is he’s planning!
I’m Team Meilin! She doesn’t need a man yet, haha. Right now duty comes first for Sky and with Lei he is manipulative and he’s claimed Meilin is just a possession to him. I still don’t know if I trust him. At least Meilin gained some knowledge while being held prisoner, I think she will make her way back to her people. Hopefully they’re still accepting of her and not ready to lock her up for black magic when they see her.
I’m Team Lei I think. 🤣 Sky is too rigid.
I liked Sky and I’m loyal 😊. I think Meilin is loyal too… But I think Lei would be better for her. He’s a more interesting character! He would accept her for who she is, he would accept her powers. Maybe 😂 I’m not sure what he wanted from her. If he’s genuine, he’ll be better for her but if he just wanted to use her, she’ll be better if she runs away. I really wonder what will happen to her now. She jumped off the balcony without her powers.
Oh my gosh, I don’t know who I prefer. Sky seems to good for Meilin. Lei can see her dark side and accept her. Based on looks, I’m team Lei all the way. I’m so glad he’s the third person in the love triangle. Why did this section have to end with a cliffhanger? 🥵 I have to continue reading 🤭
I’m team Lei all the way! I’m so confused about him though. (I can’t wait to find out more!!) He’s the youngest brother and it seems like he did not grow up in the friendliest atmosphere. I think he’s hiding a lot and I feel like the twist is coming! Meilin tried to escape already and he caught her, so I feel like the same is going to happen now. I’m going to keep reading right away!
Hmm I’m not sure I’m Team Lei…there’s so much we don’t know yet so it’s hard to tell what he’s after. I think he likes Meilin but it’s unclear how that would stack up against what he really wants.
Team Lei! Although neither male is 100% to my liking, at least Lei has more to back it up than saying it’s his duty. Lei has so many meant to be on his side, that simply aren’t, so he is doing whatever he needs to do to keep power out of few hands.
Meilin is 100% going to try to make it back to the army & then back to save her family. I don’t think it will be a great reception if Sky, Tao & Sparrow saw her using her magic to create the wave. Duty first, Sky doesn’t seem like he would accept that deception, too.
I really think Lei wants what’s best for his people. He & Autumn are like siblings when she’s a healer & he’s a prince. The story of his mother, seeing how his brother treated him & then knowing that his father helped create the scars…tears are streaming! Meilin is the strong woman he craves. My only negative on Lei was the comment that there can never be too many women for him. Grrr.
This book is SOOO GOOD! I do wish there was a dictionary at the back for all the Chinese terms though. It would have been so much easier than researching each one or waking up my friends in China to ask them. Oops! Sorry, ladies.