Meilin’s father is too old and ill to join the army when he’s called up, and the family has sold everything for his opium habit. THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE shows that he went into decline when Meilin’s mother died and now thinks only of himself. Rather than be forced into marriage with a brutal older man, the young woman decides to join the army in her father’s place. Her dowry is already arriving, but she wants none of it.
By now I’ve read a few novels in which a young woman disguises herself as a lad to join the army in place of a relative. In one case, the regiment turned out to have several hidden women, as no men were left. In another case, a large dragon secretly stalked the troop. Because of this, the early chapters after recruitment felt quite ordinary to me, as I’d read much the same before. The differences arose from Meilin’s individual circumstances and the fantasy element, which are well described.
The Three Kingdoms are at war, in a land much like historic China. Once the kingdoms were united, but now they have grown apart in customs and leadership. Skirmishes and raids are commonplace, but one night an eerie fire burns too brightly over the ridge, and soldiers have to cede ground as they can’t extinguish the flames. Meilin, known as Hai Ren, was already trained in martial arts and has made a friend of perky young Sparrow and even Prince Liu, who permits her to call him Sky when alone. He’s the seventh son, disposable, so he has to lead the troops.
Meilin conceals the fact that her mother drowned and was thought to have been touched in mind. Now she starts to hear a sea dragon spirit talking to her, as she is wearing a jade necklace of her mother’s. Can there be a connection, or is she also losing her mind? As the brave girl doesn’t have anyone to share secrets with, the dragon spirit stands in for a confidante. Magic arts are illegal in her land, another reason for stress.
I enjoyed the read – but wasn’t happy to see that as Meilin feared, these men generally are unwilling to give up any of their power in life to women. There’s a definite sense of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Maybe author K.X. Song is making a statement about the position of women historically, or maybe she just wants to keep us hooked for the next book in the series, which might right all wrongs. We can hope. THE NIGHT ENDS WITH FIRE is unusual for a YA story in containing a lot of violence but only a suggested romance. It will be best for readers who have not encountered this situation in other books, but the tale is well told.
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.
The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.
The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.
In the army, Meilin's relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.
With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.
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