The Night Ends with Fire

Description

The special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, brilliantly illustrated four-color endpapers, striking and detailed-stained edges, and a beautiful foil-stamped case.

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.“The Night Ends with Fire is what blessedly happens when the themes of Hua Mulan’s legend are combined with wuxia principles and a powerful new voice in adult fantasy. K.X. Song’s soaring, emotive prose takes the reader on an unforgettable adventure in a painstakingly realized world, laced with fascinating characters that effortlessly play off of one another and twists that leave us reeling. I devoured every page of this truly epic tale.”—Thea Guanzon, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

“Sweepingly epic and tenderly romantic, The Night Ends With Fire is a fiercely feminist adventure about a young woman fighting to shape her destiny in a world of lore, magic, and war. One not to miss for fans of Mulan.”—Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

“An awesome, engaging fantasy that takes a hard look at the cost of being true to yourself.  Adventure, romance and dragons abound in this fantastic tale.”—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series

“Exhilarating and intricately told, The Night Ends with Fire is both a breathless adventure and an unflinching portrayal of power, female ambition, and the costs that come with it.” —Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

“The Night Ends with Fire is a cinematic tale of epic proportions, with jaw-dropping twists and a take-no-prisoners heroine yearning for freedom, recognition, and glory. An explosive start to a captivating new series.” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

 “As defiant and courageous as its protagonist, The Night Ends With Fire ushers in a stunning new fantasy world. I couldn’t put it down – and I know I’ll be thinking about it for some time to come.”—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling series

 ”The Night Ends With Fire is a truly enthralling epic fantasy. I was blown away by how good it was! With an immersive and compelling story led by a seriously fabulous heroine and sparkling with both magic and romance, it’s the perfect wuxia drama, and I loved it. Make sure you have plenty of time free when you start reading, because it quickly becomes addictive!”—India Holton, bestselling author of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love

“Legendary in scope with unforgettable characters, The Night Ends With Fire is an incredible journey that will set your imagination ablaze. Drawing on classics like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Mulan, the machinations are complex, the vying factions fascinating, and Meilin’s struggle for identity utterly gripping as she clashes with those who want to exploit her lixia for their own purposes. K.X. Song is going to set the literary scene on fire with her awesome new novel.”—Peter Tieryas, author of the Mecha Samurai Empire series and Narrative Director at NicalisK. X. Song is a diaspora writer with roots in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Raised between cultures and languages, she enjoys telling stories that explore the shifting nature of memory, translation, and history. She is the author of An Echo in the City and the forthcoming The Night Ends with Fire, her adult fantasy debut. You can learn more at kxsong.com.Reader’s Guide
The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song
Discussion Questions:

1.   Given her context and upbringing, Meilin often views her ambition as a negative, even as a sign of depravity. In our world today, how do you think women and other marginalized groups view their own ambition?

2.   How is the character of Meilin different from other versions of Mulan you have seen before? How is she similar?

3.   At times Meilin desires security, safety, and order, and at other times, she seeks adventure, risk, and rebellion—seemingly opposing
motives. How is it possible to hold these dualities? What kinds of warring dualities do you see in the other characters and in the world of The Night Ends with Fire? Have you also seen these in yourself and in the world around you?

4.   In the story, each powerful spirit requires a human emotion to feed upon and draw strength from. While the phoenix’s power draws upon vengeance, the dragon’s power draws upon greed. Why do you think this relationship exists between magical power and human emotion? How does it mirror power dynamics in our real world?

5.   Meilin’s disposition changes throughout the course of the novel as she gains experience and ability. Were there any changes that you were heartened by? Conversely, were there any changes that left you discomforted or uneasy? Why?

6.   Meilin thinks, “I wanted to trust Qinglong, because I wanted to obey orders. The choice had felt safe—and familiar. It was what had always been expected of me. Even now I missed the simplicity of army life, the unthinking nature of it. . . . There was no room for doubt, for regret, for . . . responsibility.” Are there other characters in the novel who are motivated by a similar tendency? Do we see this mindset in our world today, and if so, what are some of the consequences?

7.   When Prince Lei explains the rationale for his mother’s murder, he says, “It is because of power that they did this. Because they had it, and they wanted to hold on to it, or because they didn’t have it, and wanted it.” What other events in history can you ascribe to these same motivations?

8.   Meilin’s relationships with Prince Sky and Prince Lei are very different in nature, yet she feels drawn to both. What disparate qualities do they each bring out in her?

9.   Although Meilin and Sima Yi are enemies on opposite sides of the war, they also feel a kinship to each other. Do you think there was a different way they could have reconciled, or was their ending inevitable?

10. Meilin’s stepmother, Xiuying, warns her at the start of the journey: “They would never let a woman get away with something like this. . . . They would never let a woman hold on to power.” And yet Meilin is shocked by her comrades’ betrayal and the warlord’s subsequent decision after she returns from winning the war. What do you think of this ending? Were you expecting it—or did it surprise you as it surprised Meilin?CN

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