For an imperial assassin, assignment as a courtesan in the Floating World seems like a waste of her talents… until killers target her clan sisters.In the legendary Floating World, wars are waged with wit, the strongest soldier can be bound with threads of silk, and flesh is the currency by which life, death, and freedom can all be purchased. Half-elf Jie doesn’t mind her temporary assignment as … her temporary assignment as a Night Blossom in the most sought-after house. It’s perfect cover for her real work as an assassin in the emperor’s service, and keeps her close to one who matters most. Her life belongs to her clan, but her heart lies with clan junior, Lilian.
Lilian’s talents trade stealth for sensuality, poison for poetry. With looks as sharp as any blade, she can coax information from any man, and still leave him paying for the pleasure. She’s enthralled many a noble, none more important than the warlord who can calm a brewing insurrection. Only her sweet whispers can secure his obedience to the throne.
But now, his increasing abuse has Jie seeking a new assignment for Lilian—even if it means their separation. When killers target clan sisters, and the seeds of rebellion find fertile soil in the Floating World, Jie must choose between loyalty and love.
***
“Thorn of the Night Blossoms is a prequel, though it is a total standalone… This cover story blends right in with her actual ninja-like assassin job in a fantastic tale filled with intrigue, betrayal, friendship, love and truly incredible action.”
–Amazon Reviewer
“Kang delivers once again. This thrilling tale gives valuable insight to a beloved favorite character’s younger years and begins to fill in the gap that was left with questions after his epic Dragon Song Saga. Highly recommended. Fantastic read that was full of suspense, charm, and shocking moments that will leave you wanting more.”
–Amazon Reviewer
The Legends of Tivara Includes:
A Dragon’s Guide to Hatching a Rebellion
Scions of the Black Lotus
Thorn of the Night Blossoms
White Sheep of the Family
Wretches of the Trench
The Dragon Songs Saga
Prelude to Insurrection
Songs of Insurrection
Orchestra of Treacheries
Dances of Deception
Symphony of Fates
The Dragonstones Chronicles
Masters of Deception
Heirs of the Sundered Empire
more
Thorn of the Night Blossoms is a fast-paced, exciting novella, part of JC Kang’s Legends of Tivara.
The story revolves around Jie, a half-elf, and her companion Lilian, who live in the Floating World. There, they are part of a house of courtesans, where most women earn their keep by offering their bodies to men. Jie, however, is yet to be “deflowered,” but she is busy enough with her other trade – as a spy and assassin of the Black Lotus Clan.
As things unfold, Jie finds herself the target of an assassination attempt, and she begins to investigate who might be behind it. And before this novella ends, there is a wicked, well-executed twist. This is an entertaining read, with just the right amount of description to paint the picture of a fabulous Asian-inspired universe, with colours, scents, and sounds included, and it is absolutely gorgeous. The only thing I struggled with a bit was the number of terms thrown at you early on, so I found it a little challenging to keep up initially.
But all in all, a great little read, with plenty of worldbuilding, depth of character, and blood-pumping action!
What a terrific look into the past and how things began. I love Miss Jie. I am looking forward to what comes next!
Review Are we bound by duty or love?
In Thorn of the Night Blossoms, J.C. Kang delivers the breadth of world-building potential typically found in an epic thick-enough to use as a door stopper, in the space of a short novella.
The characterization of the protagonist Jie is sparse and leaves us with many questions but there’s little time for answers with an adventure unfolding all around the sexy assassin.
At times steamy, the story is part mystery adventure, part queer romance which allows the reader to think about the nature of sexuality while not shying away from the problematic exploitation of two otherwise agency-filled characters.
If rising tension is any metric of a story’s readability, then TotNB sits near the top, in a genre sometimes shy to get to the point. If world-building chops is the measure of a fantasy writer, then J.C. Kang has the makings of an incredible series.
This book is hard to put down.
Okay so this book is a short novella.
It was hard for me to get into this book in the beginning, cause so many different names and stuff going on, it felt like I was missing v something. But once I got into it, it started getting interesting. There’s a lot of action going on in this book and it’s dedicated not boring. For me It was a bit difficult to get into this world cause it just took me a while. The half elf assassin named jia is strong and loyal and kinda cocky but that’s her charm! It’s a fast paced story, with lots of action packed! It’s a great read for those of you who likes to get a book and don’t spend much time on it and just read it I one afternoon!
I’ve received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Jie, a young Floret waiting for her deflowering while the bid on her virginity goes higher than ever recorded. Lilian, a beautiful Blossom who is allowed to entertain men and earn money for the House. Both of them at the first glance are nothing else than some courtesans ready to please the men crossing the House’s threshold, but they’re more than that, they’re honed assassins working for the Empire night and day to unravel treason and other tasks that their Black Lotus Clan is offering them. While being honed assassins they’re also honed courtesans making a man weak and his tongue lose, with a bit of magic, a bit of sex appeal, and herbs no one can resist them to open up and spill its secrets.
Jie’s waking up in an unexpected situation, where she and her clan are put in danger by unknown forces. What Jie doesn’t know is, she’s forced to choose between love and duty and the threat is way closer than she thinks.
The book is a short novella and with only 163 pages there isn’t much space for character building and dives right into the action. Short and fast-paced, this book I’ve devoured in one sitting without blinking. While the book is action-packed there are also romantic and fervid moments between Jie and Lilian that will make you question your own sexuality.
While I’m not accustomed to the Geisha story (since I’ve not seen the movie or read any other books into this genre), this book really took me on a nice journey in the Asian culture from the way the world is described to their customs. Lilian and Jie are basically geisha ninja’s and we see them in action more than once, fighting but also using their skills which is such a treat for us the readers, their movements being so flowing but also gracious. While there isn’t much character building or getting a glimpse on Jie’s past to understand where she’s coming from and how she is a half-elf, the writing of the book is very engaging and gets you lost into a world of twists and a mystery to resolve.
The “Thorn of the Night Blossoms: A Legends of Tivara Story” is the 1st book in a 6 book series, each short and perfect for a quick read. I intend on reading the entire series because I am really curious about what happens next.
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Such a thrilling and adventurous tale this one was! Despite being a 163 page novel it had a lot of action and a fun plot with kickass characters!
Jie is the adopted daughter of clan master working undercover at black forest club. Along with training her fellow sisters, she collects information about the Lords that come for their services. When something suspicious brews into the floating garden, threatening the safety of a loyal lord as well as the sisters of Black Forest Club, Jie gives it her all to find out and stop it before anyone can be harmed. Will she be successful or will it all come crumbling down?
Jie’s character was sweet and sassy. She was an obedient daughter and a loyal soldier along with being a sincere worker. She worried about her clan as well as her sisters and made it a duty to take care of them all in any way she could. She was selfless, brave and trusting which I loved about her.
I liked the writing. The action was well written along with each character of the clan. Though it was intriguing to read the start had me confused and with so many questions about the character as well as the world. I didn’t understand what was happening or where anything was but as I read on those doubts were cleared. I’m definitely excited to read the next part of the series!
“We’re like the Steel Orchids. I trust each and every one of them with my life.”
“You have a blind spot with us.”
I would like to thank the author and Book of Matches Media for giving me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: sex work, rape
The premise of this book being an Asian fantasy short series with similarities of Memoirs of a Geisha but with ninjas really perked up my interest to pick it up!
The first chapter of the book was where the bulk of the setting of the plot and the world-building were mostly happening. It was a lot to take into at first, but it eventually started to make sense as time goes on- especially with how the hierarchy in the Peony Garden and Black Lotus clan works. The descriptions of the locations were really well done, and I could almost imagine myself already transported into the world. I really enjoyed the abundance of Asian culture in this book because it was present from the smallest details, such as the food, to the largest ones like the salacious way of how a pleasure house works and the importance of it in both the lives of its workers and customers. It just showcased a lot of the Chinese-inspired elements that just made the story even more exciting.
Plot-wise, it was very fast and straightforward. Even though it was only 163 pages long, the author was able to present a very well-thought out storyline complete with engaging characters, a superb problem with its inner conflicts, and a whole lot of twists and turns. It was just really very entertaining, and I found myself flipping quickly through the pages, eager to know what happens next. It was already a complete package I always enjoy in fantasy novels, even with its small size.
I’m definitely interested in reading the other books in this series, because I really want to know how things will play out. It also doesn’t hurt that this is just part of a bigger universe, so many more books will come! Yay!
Really fun and twisty assassin tale in an immersive Asian-inspired setting. For a novella, this really packed a lot into a short space. Jie and Lillian were compelling characters, and the story manages to function well on its own, while hinting at a much greater story to come. Very interested to learn more about the Black Lotus Clan in the next installment.
Jie, an assassin embedded in a courtesan house for training in seduction and information gathering, has fallen for one of her sister assassins. All of this becomes more complicated as they find themselves uncovering a conspiracy against one of the emperor’s loyal supporters.
After reading the first book, I immediately started on book 2, which is about the best recommendation you could hope for. Each of these, I read in (almost) one sitting, as they are short and compelling.
The unfairness of Jie’s situation, the misogyny of it, and her pain, create a vivid character that stuck with me as she navigates the underbelly of an East Asian-inspired empire.
Masterfully crafted epic fantasy with Chinese roots. This book tells a story of a feisty, impetuous heroine with more ideals than maturity, but also lots of potential. Set against a complex tapestry of a society full of deceit and depravity, she boldly dives head first into a situation far murkier than she imagined.
Jie is a character out of place. From the beginning it seems she is not well suited to the role she has been assigned. She is exotic with enhanced senses but lacks the grace and curves of her companions and at 20 is older than most of them. She is an undercover assassin posing as a courtesan, but the high price her virginity will bring is a common theme. She doesn’t feel the burden or cost of having her body used. Which is especially salient as her independence and autonomy are of tantamount importance to her, making it difficult for her to rely on others, or truly understand those closest to her. In the end, her path was inevitable.
Billed as a standalone prequel to a new series, it can be read as such, but I think readers familiar with The Dragon Song Saga will appreciate it more than readers new to this world. It is a very rich, well imagined world with a complex societal structure but not much is explained in this brief taste. Some new readers may feel lost as the story coalesces around them. There is definitely enough to enjoy the story, but many questions are raised. Mostly in a way that piques interest in reading more about this world.
This is not the genre I usually enjoy, however I have read other books by the author and wanted to give it a shot. Girls are trained as courtesans and assassins. The cover of being a courtesan allows the girls to learn deadly secrets. Set in a courtesan house, there are a lot of scenes and settings that should be uncomfortable and yet are written well for the type of story this is.
Jie is different than the rest of the girls in the story. She is half-elf. She is twenty and still a virgin. She is also confident in her own abilities and generally to impatient and mistrusting to ask for help. Her closest confidante is her courtesan sister Lilian who she might also be in love with. When Jie is caught in an ambush, it is Lilian who comes to her aid. Lilian has always been there for her.
Not knowing who the target of the ambush was, Jie begins spying on different factions in the Floating World, trying to determine the culprit and the intended victim. Is she the target? Is it Lilian? Is it the whole house that is at risk?
With lots of action and suspense, betrayals and surprises, this was a great story. I look forward to the rest of the series. Also, the narrator was fantastic. I haven’t heard Natalie read before and hope I will again soon.
Content warning: violence, sexual situations, rape. None of these are explicit, but there is some detail and if you’re sensitive to them, this isn’t the book for you.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
As far as most know, Jie is in training to become a Night Blossom, one of the famed courtesans of the Floating World. But that is just a cover. In truth, Jie is a member of the legendary Black Lotus Clan, a highly trained spy and assassin. Now it seems someone has discovered the truth about her and plans to see her dead.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Told through Jie’s eyes, the story unfolds at a steady pace as she is attacked in a variety of ways; from people intent on both killing her and a nobleman who patronizes her house, to the lead courtesan at a rival house who is jealous that Jie threatens to surpass her in terms of the value placed on her virginity. In fact, it is this woman who arguably does the greater damage between the two, since her machinations set Jie up to be raped and considered a willing participant.
Jie is equal parts strong and vulnerable, especially in the wake of the assault. She is strong-willed but, as her friend and lover points out, this can have unintended consequences on those around her. The idea that her insistence on handling problems herself is inadvertently holding her sisters back comes as both a shock and an eye-opener to her. It’s something that can be easily seen in hindsight and yet not something I can recall being used very often.
The action scenes are well done, unsurprising since the author is a martial artist. Given Jie’s training, she is capable of some remarkable feats, and yet it is written in such a way as to make it both believable and easy to visualize.
Although the story is set almost exclusively within the environs of the Floating World, there are hints of the greater world beyond, including references to other species. Jie’s half-elf nature, which includes some very useful night vision, enhanced senses of smell and hearing and accelerated healing, is referred to a number of times. Similarly, there are references to dwarf-made items. No real background is given to these; they are just dropped into the narrative and left to the reader’s imagination, which is something I particularly liked. It adds to the world but without bogging down the story with superfluous details.
At 93 pages, Thorn of the Night Blossoms is both a great introduction to this world and a novella that could easily be consumed in a couple of hours. Bear in mind, however, that it does not stand alone. While there is a resolution of sorts at the end, there are a number of unanswered questions left hanging to be picked up in further instalments.
Someone knows too much and our heroine’s sisters are in danger. Can she unravel the plot before it is too late or will her blind spot lead to failure?
This is a fantasy novel with a heavy dose of mystery and intrigue. The story is very well written with a richly described world patterned after the Far East. The characters are also finely crafted, living and breathing in their world which brings the story to life. Add in a plot with twists and turns as well as a few surprises and you have a very entertaining read which will keep you interested and engaged right up until the end.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book for review purposes.
Overall rating: 4.8
A tale of loyalty and heartbreak in the seedy underbelly in the lives of lethally trained courtesans. The ability to use descriptive floral phrases to illustrate life and its trials, this author thoroughly captured my attention and has me scrambling towards book 2. A definite must read that can be easily finished in an hour or two. All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
Jie is in training at the Chrysanthemum Pavilion to learn the elegant ways of the ladies of the Floating World. Lilian and Jie both belong to the Black Lotus Fist, a secret organization. The clan sent many of their prettier girls to learn the ways of pleasure and to get information from the rich and powerful men who visited the Floating World. Lilian was tired of performing for these men and obtaining information. She wanted out. But the information learned by Lilian was that the Northern Lords were growing restless. Jie promised Lilian that she would help her get reassigned. Delivering a message to the Lotus Shrine, Jie felt that she was in danger. This story tells how Jie was so cleverly deceived. Background stories help to give more meaning to the characters. Pulls some of the mysteries together.
I really enjoyed this thrilling story. It’s descriptions and characters draw you in from the beginning and it shows you a different, yet related, world to the stories in the Legends of Tivara. Jie was my favorite character in those books and this stand-alone story has further cemented her place. This book tells of Jie’s younger years, her place in the ninja-like Black Lotus Clan and her apprenticeship in the Floating World (which is fascinating in itself). It is a captivating read full of action, surprises, intrigue, betrayal and friendship. The author brings the Floating World to life; showing both the beauty and depravity, the rivalry, and the bonds. I love how Jie’s youth and naivety shows in this story, while still keeping sight of the older, more mature Jie we know from the other series. You can also see how the Jie’s time in the Floating World helped shape her in the future. This is a great story with heart wrenching moments, thrilling fights and surprising twists, I will look forward to more in this series.