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maple_dove's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Hmmmm....
I really liked this book but this book overall--wasn't for me. After reading the sypnosis, I figured from the start it wouldn't become one of my favorites. However, I still wanted to read it. š
I Liked:
I really liked this book but this book overall--wasn't for me. After reading the sypnosis, I figured from the start it wouldn't become one of my favorites. However, I still wanted to read it. š
I Liked:
- The messiness of the main characters
- Tai Shun (I just do)
How the Obsidian Sword and the White Jade sword turned out to be one-and-the-same. It's like how good and evil aren't exactly two separate things - The slowwww burn
(Even at the end! How Ahn was like, "I need time to think about it"!)
There was something that concerned me.
Read below
āMen are simple,ā she tells me in a conspiratorial tone after the waiter leaves with a self-satisfied smile on his face. āMake a man feel like heās your hero and heāll do whatever you want.ā (Pg. 308)
Like the main character in The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez, that kind of feminism throws transmasculine people under the bus. Without acknowledging how masculinity harms males and nonbinary people too.
She's heard me rant enough times about how transmasculine people get thrown under the bus in this kind of totalizing discourse, where any and all masculinity must be sacrificed at the altar of entry-level Feminism, but I can't say anything now. Any nuanced attempt to deconstruct toxic masculinity would be condemned as mansplaining. Clary would snicker not all men before I got a full sentence out, without a thought to how masculinity harms men and nonbinary people, too. (Pg. 117 - The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
The sexual content from what I remember is just sexual innuendoes.plumpaperbacks's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
My experience with this book was a weird one, because from the very first page, I was intrigued by Tanās world and story and quickly grew attached to the characters; however, I justā¦ wasnāt in the mood to read. So it took me about a week to trudge through the first half, and then I sped through the second half in a couple of days. And while I did really love the characters and character dynamics, right now I just feel unsatisfied.
The story was great until the last quarter, in which things began to seem too easy. I saw one of the twists coming a mile away, and there was another event that, though it was emotional, didnāt have much of an effect on me because it was fixed two chapters later.
I was rooting for the romance for most of the second half of the story, because not only was it enemies to lovers but it was also an agonizing slow-burn, a.k.a. one of my favorite combinations. But not even that worked out. There was no drama or passion; the whole ordeal ended up being so nonchalant, which was a tad disappointing. Itās like when youāre making food and you turn the heat down too soon, so instead of the delicious meal you saw in the recipe photo, itās an undercooked, only vaguely recognizable distant relative.
As for the epilogue, Iād heard from the group I was buddy reading this with that it was intense and unexpected, so I was very curious. Yet it evoked absolutely no reaction from me. Sure, it *was* unexpected, but itās the sort of thing that sets you up for a sequel, and this is a stand-alone. So what was the point, honestly??
I know this hasnāt been the most stellar review, but I swear, I did enjoy this book. Tanās ensemble cast was brilliant, and I especially loved Tang Wei. What an absolute icon. In broader terms, I liked multiple aspectsāthe story was intriguing and kept me on my toes even when there wasnāt much action, the world was well-developed, the banter was top tier, and Tan did an excellent job depicting grief and trauma in her protagonists. Iām just conflicted, for the multiple aforementioned reasons, and a bit disappointed as well because I really thought this would end up a new favorite.
This review is all over the place, but I donāt think I could do better if I tried because my feelings are also all over the place. I started out planning to give this book 4.25 stars, then lowered it to 4, and have now settled on 3.5 stars. Itās been less than an hour since I finished reading, but my mind is going a mile a minute and words are hard enough when itās going at normal speeds. Iāll end by saying this: I donāt think Jade Fire Gold is a bad book by any means. Overall, it was pretty good, and I think Tan has a lot of potential. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Representation
The story was great until the last quarter, in which things began to seem too easy. I saw one of the twists coming a mile away, and there was another event that, though it was emotional, didnāt have much of an effect on me because it was fixed two chapters later.
I was rooting for the romance for most of the second half of the story, because not only was it enemies to lovers but it was also an agonizing slow-burn, a.k.a. one of my favorite combinations. But not even that worked out. There was no drama or passion; the whole ordeal ended up being so nonchalant, which was a tad disappointing. Itās like when youāre making food and you turn the heat down too soon, so instead of the delicious meal you saw in the recipe photo, itās an undercooked, only vaguely recognizable distant relative.
As for the epilogue, Iād heard from the group I was buddy reading this with that it was intense and unexpected, so I was very curious. Yet it evoked absolutely no reaction from me. Sure, it *was* unexpected, but itās the sort of thing that sets you up for a sequel, and this is a stand-alone. So what was the point, honestly??
I know this hasnāt been the most stellar review, but I swear, I did enjoy this book. Tanās ensemble cast was brilliant, and I especially loved Tang Wei. What an absolute icon. In broader terms, I liked multiple aspectsāthe story was intriguing and kept me on my toes even when there wasnāt much action, the world was well-developed, the banter was top tier, and Tan did an excellent job depicting grief and trauma in her protagonists. Iām just conflicted, for the multiple aforementioned reasons, and a bit disappointed as well because I really thought this would end up a new favorite.
This review is all over the place, but I donāt think I could do better if I tried because my feelings are also all over the place. I started out planning to give this book 4.25 stars, then lowered it to 4, and have now settled on 3.5 stars. Itās been less than an hour since I finished reading, but my mind is going a mile a minute and words are hard enough when itās going at normal speeds. Iāll end by saying this: I donāt think Jade Fire Gold is a bad book by any means. Overall, it was pretty good, and I think Tan has a lot of potential. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Representation
- full Asian cast
- queer side characters (includes sapphic rep)
- sapphic side couple
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Body horror, Blood, and Gore
All things tagged graphic occurred prior to the story, but are mentioned frequently throughout.betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While the world here is interesting and I enjoyed what the author did with Asian mythology, the pacing was off for me. The book felt too long for what it was trying to accomplish, and then pieces of the end felt rushed. I am also confused whether or not there is going to be a sequel, especially with that epilogue.
Overall, there was pretty strong character development, and Tan did a good job making each of the voices disntinct. Do I think there needed to be a romance? Not really. There was enough going on without it. But there is promise in this YA fantasy debut, and I'm interested in seeing what else the author does in the future!
Overall, there was pretty strong character development, and Tan did a good job making each of the voices disntinct. Do I think there needed to be a romance? Not really. There was enough going on without it. But there is promise in this YA fantasy debut, and I'm interested in seeing what else the author does in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Gore and Blood
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