The Scorpion and the Night Blossom – Amélie Wen Zhao

The Three Realms, #1

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom

The brightest and most beautiful flowers are the most poisonous.

Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

Releases March 4, 2025

★ New York Times Bestseller

★ #1 Sunday Times Bestseller

★ Amazon Best Books of March

★ Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

★ A Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Book of 2025

★ An Indigo Most Anticipated Book of 2025

★ A Paste Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2025

★ A Fangirlish Best Fantasy Book of March

★ A Brightly Best YA Book of March

★ School Library Journal starred review

★ Children’s Book Council “Hot Off The Press” Feature

Media Reviews

“With sweeping action, high stakes, and a shocking love triangle, this book has something for everyone with promises of more to come in the duology conclusion. Highly recommended.” — School Library Journal, starred review

“Mesmerizing worldbuilding … Quick pacing, thrilling action sequences, and devastating plot twists round out this riveting read.” — Publisher’s Weekly

“The explosive ending … will have everyone clamoring for the sequel.” — Booklist

“A page-turning blend of magic, competition, romance, and oh-so-many secrets.” — Kirkus

“One of the most swoon-worthy, complicated romances you’ll read this year.” — Paste Magazine

“A beautiful tale of duty, danger, and desire. Light and darkness blend into a heady smoke, making it impossible to see who is friend and who is foe.” — Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window

“A masterpiece of worldbuilding! With her lyrical prose, Amélie Wen Zhao blends angsty romance and Chinese lore to create a captivating fantasy brimming with magic.” — Danielle L. Jensen, New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood

“Lush and imaginative, with characters who will steal your heart from the very first page. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is a brilliant entrance into the world of crossover romantasy.” — Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of Defy the Night

“Simply gorgeous. From the prose to the setting, it is a painting created with words. … It’s deeply romantic and action packed, and I loved every moment.” — Nisha J. Tuli, bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

“A sweeping romantasy that’s sure to cause a buzz. Fast paced and brimming with a gritty allure, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is your next must-read.” — Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

“A moonlit, romantic tale about the monstrosity of humans and the humanity of monsters. Zhao has created a world brimming with cruel beauty, dark magic, and layered characters who will tear your heart out. I loved it!” — Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Fragile Enchantment

“Beauty and brutality go hand-in-hand in this sweeping, intense, and darkly romantic tale.” — Nicki Pau Preto, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bonesmith

“Amélie Wen Zhao has crafted an exquisite moonlit story that is both thrilling and romantic. Gorgeously written and impossible to put down.” — Vanessa Len, internationally bestselling author of Only a Monster