The Scorpion and the Night Blossom

The Three Realms, Book 1

By: Amélie Wen Zhao

In a world at war with demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother's soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.

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.

©2025 Amélie Wen Zhao (P)2025 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“A mesmerizing blend of danger, spellbinding magic, and lush world-building, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom plunges readers into a world of deadly trials and ravenous demons. Àn’yīng’s journey is as captivating as it is perilous, with a romance that haunts and a plot that grips until the last page.” —Isabel Ibañez, #1 New York Times bestselling author of What the River Knows

“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

“There’s no way to describe The Scorpion and the Night Blossom except simply gorgeous. From the prose to the setting, it is a painting created with words. The characters brim with soul-stirring depth, their complex emotions evoked by their deadly surroundings. It’s deeply romantic and action packed, and I loved every moment.” —Nisha J. Tuli, bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen

“An otherworldly epic fantasy featuring a fierce heroine with bravery, grit, and heart, her resolve honed out of bleak necessity and the dangerous lure of hope. The story carefully unfurls with deadly and seductive detail, like a poisonous flower blooming at night. Beauty and brutality go hand in hand in this sweeping, intense, and darkly romantic tale.” —Nicki Pau Preto, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bonesmith

“The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is 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. I had such a great time!” —Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window