The Night Ends with Fire

by K. X. Song

Read Dates: 4/23/25 to 5/2/25

Review

The Night Ends With Fire is one of those books I dove into without reading the blurb first—and honestly, that made the experience even more exciting. Within the first 5-8% of the story, it hit me: this was a Mulan retelling. But not the Disney-fied version we all grew up with. This version is grittier and more grounded, centered around a young woman who runs away—not to honor her family, but to escape a life she never chose, including an impending forced marriage. She's not necessarily noble in her motivations; she's ambitious and a little selfish, determined to rise through the ranks and carve out a life on her own terms, though she draws the line when innocent lives are at stake.

What I found refreshing was that while the core echoes of Mulan are there—disguise, training, unexpected romance—this story explores them in a more mature, slightly darker light. The romantic tension is definitely present, even though the love interest figures out her secret early on, and while nothing overt is said, the emotional undercurrent is unmistakable. I’ve always thought the “falling for someone you think is a man” trope has rich potential for commentary, but this story doesn’t dive into that particular theme. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this unique take on a beloved legend and would absolutely recommend it to fans of fantasy retellings with a more nuanced heroine and a moody, slow-burn vibe.