The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang is a thrilling Chinese fantasy about a girl born with a phoenix mark on her forehead. Chang started her career as an accountant and later became an author to follow her passions. She is a number one international and New York Times bestselling author of the book “To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods,” an adult fantasy. Her love for reading and writing started when she read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer when she was struggling with racism and bullying in school. Change wrote The Nightblood Prince with the intention of giving readers an escape from reality, replicating the feel Twilight had given her during those rough times.

Lifeng Fei is a girl born with a mark and a prophecy stating that she will become the “Empress of All Empresses.” At a young age, she is taken from her family and raised in the palace of the powerful kingdom of Rong. The king believes that she will one day marry the Crown Prince Siwang and make him the “King of All Kings”. Although Siwang loved her deeply, Fei felt trapped within the palace life. Seeking escape from the strict gender roles, constructed life, and expectations placed on her destiny. Fei had suffered from disturbing visions and nightmares that were connected to her prophetic power, but she had prevented speaking of them as she thought it would get her in deeper waters.

Wanting freedom, she leaves the palace during a dangerous hunt for a legendary Chinese white tiger. As she escapes, she meets Yexue, a mysterious runaway prince from the rival kingdom of Lan. Yexue possesses forbidden night magic and can command vampires, making him extremely dangerous and powerful. She begins to grow her relationship with Yexue, bonding in ways she and Siwang have never. Fei becomes caught between the two princes, loyal and familiar Siwang, and rebellious, unpredictable Yexue. The political tensions between the two kingdoms grow into catastrophic war, and Fei realizes her choices could change the fate of the entire continent.

The themes in the novel include destiny versus free will, power and leadership, love and loyalty, freedom from societal expectation, identity, and self-discovery. The book blends fantasy, romance, political intrigue, and supernatural elements inspired by Chinese history and mythology.

After reading this book, I can say that I really enjoyed it. The writing style was engaging, and the plot consistently kept my attention. I especially liked the storyline and the way the smaller details connected together by the end of the book. Fei’s character development was my favorite because he grew so much through the experiences he faced. However, since the story is based on Chinese mythology and culture, some of the vocabulary and references were not fully explained, which occasionally made parts of the story confusing for readers unfamiliar with the culture. Another thing is, the character development of Siwang and Yexue was confusing. There were times both characters had personalities that did not match their previous actions constantly, and it had me confused. Despite those small issues, I would still recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy, mythology, and mystery.