By Sydney W., Annapolis High School
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao follows two characters, Lan and Zen, living in a society taken over by colonizers known as Elantians. Old magic and practices have been outlawed throughout the land, yet they both hold remains of the past inside them. What remains for Lan is a mysterious seal left by her mother before her death. What remains for Zen is the abilities of a practitioner—a magician of the past whose existence is utterly illegal in the cruel present. Together, Lan and Zen must navigate their connections with the past world while hiding under the radar from their kingdom’s oppressive new leaders.
This world’s vivid worldbuilding draws readers in right away, and the sprinkle of Chinese throughout only enriches that. Each scene is beautifully written, and each character is a complex treat to learn more about as you read. The only drawback that I found in this novel is that the pacing towards the end doesn’t quite seem to flow as well as the rest in my opinion. Otherwise, it’s a gorgeous read.
I would recommend this book to readers teen and above, especially those who enjoy fantasy, mythology or the Xianxia genre. In addition, this book would make quite the treat for those who love being immersed completely into fantastical worlds and narratives that weave complexity with magic. However, it does contain dark subject matter and depictions of violence, so I would not recommend for younger or sensitive readers.
Click here to check out Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao.