The Night Ends with Fire takes us on a rollercoaster ride through a retelling of the historical figure of Fua Mulan. This version of the retelling is definitely not the well-known and well-loved Disney version; no, this book follows Meilin, a young woman who has lived opressively under her father's thumb. When her father refuses to join the draft, Meilin sees it as an opportunity to escape not only her father's harsh world but also remove herself from the marriage arranged by him to a man equally just as bad as him.

I want to start this by saying the first edition book with its stenciling is gorgeous! I was literally afraid to mess up the pearlescence cover when I decided to read it. I am glad I still did. The story, the characters, and the world-building drew me into the world from the first page to the last, making sure that the cliffhanger at the end would make sure I would come back.

Meilin is our female lead. She's headstrong and determined, but there are moments I question the things she does. She doesn't want to be under the same opressive thumb as her mother and stepmother have been with her father's decision to marry her off. With her father refusing to join the draft, Meilin believes this to be the answer to her problem.

This book is a fun read, and it will draw you so far in that you won't realize it until you have reached the end. This was the same for me. I was not expecting this book to be good. I expected to read a few pages and finish it up when I woke up. The plan was erased. I found myself finished with the book in a matter of hours.

This book is going to be my book of the year. I doubt there will be anything to top it with the exception of its sequel.