Whoops, thought I was picking up a standalone when it's really the third book set in a fantasy universe. This seemingly takes place 8 years after the previous one though ([b:Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix|32605122|Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (Rise of the Empress, #2)|Julie C. Dao|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522159918l/32605122._SY75_.jpg|53186304]), and characters from the other two feel more like worldbuilding backstory so when I get to those, maybe they'll feel like interesting prequels.

Song of the Crimson Flower feels a little like mixing the mistaken identity from Cyrano with the prideful declaration followed by remorse to lovers of Pride & Prejudice, needing to solve a curse like Princess and the Frog with a dash of Legend of Korra's estranged gray-haired sisters (except less kid friendly). I know, it's possible to consume media without comparing it to others but Tropes Aren't Inherently Bad and there's a comfort in finding familiar beats. Short and sweet, I really liked this.

Definite hooks for future installments as well (or let dangling threads be dangling threads idk) ( )

I’ve had this book on my list for a while and finally got around to reading it. I just finished it last night and I loved it so much!
It was a wonderful and magical fantasy romance with family secrets and betrayal and also secret lovers. It’s about an orphan boy who’s a physician’s apprentice, a girl in love, an aunt who was betrayed by her sister, the wicked sister and star crossed lovers. Also a spell that needs to be broken by the full moon or the guy will die and has to be broken by his true love. It does have a bit of a cliche story line there but there the best kind of story lines especially with folklore and fairy tales and legends.
This is steeped in folklore and dripping in magic with the best part of courage, true love and the strong loving women who save their true loves.
I want to read it again for the first time! It’s so fabulous and an unputdownable 5 star read!
( )

I wish this book continued the story of Jade instead of starting a whole new story with new characters. ( )

I was given an eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I am SO thrilled and excited for another Julie C. Dao book!!

This book takes place within the same world of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, but with all new characters. If the YA trend of cutthroat, cold hearted, sword-wielding army girls is getting to you, this is the PERFECT book to pick up. Lan and Bao are soft human beings who are questing to break a curse. Bao is a healer, a physician’s assistant, and Lan is a noblewoman, rarely allowed to leave the household. Together they strike out for the witch who cursed Bao and get tied up in a stunning adventure! Seeing soft, emotional characters in my fantasy adventure setting was exactly what I needed. It made Lan and Bao a lot easier to connect to because they acted more like I would, and they had heartwarming, vulnerable scenes that open them up to the reader.

The only reason this book isn’t getting 5 stars is because nothing seemed high-stakes and nothing in the last 40 pages or so was really shocking. It’s a sweet story, but I thought I’d be on my toes a bit for the finale and I wasn’t. ( )

This book is so gorgeously written, dense, emotional, magical, and atmospheric. From the start, there is an almost fairy-tale like quality to this book that really makes you want to read it more and more. I loved how well both the characters and the plot are developed so quickly in this story and how the plot begins and does not let up until the very end and the book is over! The atmosphere and environment just feels so lush with details and descriptors, almost as if you can actually see/smell/hear the city and the overall setting. I loved the love story of this book and the overarching idea of love and how it can change through time and experience. This book, with its interesting plot-line and Magic is a must read! ( )