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lacellej2012's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fictionaddictions_amanda's review
3.0
For full review see my YouTube channel, Fiction Addictions
https://youtu.be/NuPJtpwZAmE
https://youtu.be/NuPJtpwZAmE
lindseyrenee's review
Overall I’m giving it a 3⭐️. Loved the magic and the plot, however I have issues with the pacing in the second half. given the 2 day deadline, you would think the closer it gets to day 2 at midnight the faster it would get but no, it slowed so much it felt like many more days passed. Also have mixed feelings on Emiko- for the most part I liked her but when rains Fiona she becomes so judgemental about the fact that she is so feminine. Also her non magical side characters were very present in the first half and seemed to disappear until the last page. It seemed like set up for them to play a bigger role and then didn’t
soulpromise's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
kmfluegel's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
jennihowell's review
Blown away by the worldbuilding behind the powers. I loved each new battle! The slower start is worth the wait, with each side character and family treated with depth and care that absolutely makes Emiko’s a journey worth chasing across a series. PROTECT FREDDY
faulklore's review
4.0
*Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reader copy of this book
Ebony Gate is an action packed adventure following Emiko, who has moved to San Francisco to separate herself from her past. However, escaping her past is not quite as easy as moving a continent away. The magic system itself is spellbinding, eight (or nine) dragons were exiled from their realm long ago, and their human descendants have hoard talents and magical artifacts that still connect them to the lost realm. Emiko is drawn back into the world of magic that she tried to escape when a Shinigami shows up and requires her help. This was an engaging story that is clearly an introduction to something much larger. My only critique is that sometimes Emiko's internal narrative can be a little much sometimes, though the only time this really happened was during action sequences. Many of these internal monologues provide important information to the reader. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as well. The narration was engaging, clear, and truly brought Emiko's voice to life.
Ebony Gate is an action packed adventure following Emiko, who has moved to San Francisco to separate herself from her past. However, escaping her past is not quite as easy as moving a continent away. The magic system itself is spellbinding, eight (or nine) dragons were exiled from their realm long ago, and their human descendants have hoard talents and magical artifacts that still connect them to the lost realm. Emiko is drawn back into the world of magic that she tried to escape when a Shinigami shows up and requires her help. This was an engaging story that is clearly an introduction to something much larger. My only critique is that sometimes Emiko's internal narrative can be a little much sometimes, though the only time this really happened was during action sequences. Many of these internal monologues provide important information to the reader. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as well. The narration was engaging, clear, and truly brought Emiko's voice to life.
lenastockton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
ajira's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Just realized I hadn’t published my review here, and book 2 is almost out already so here goes! I absolutely loved this book. Emiko Soong is our weary albeit stab-happy, double sword wielding reluctant hero who's trying to just get on with her life after the trauma of losing herself to her work as a Blade for her clan, despite being kept in the dark about her Talent in a world that values Talents over almost anything.
Although she's done her best to keep to herself after distancing herself from her family, she builds connections with her new community in San Francisco, looking out for folks as they look out for her. When a death god calls in a favor that her mom owed, she steps in to fulfill the blood debt and recover the stolen Ebony Gate or forfeit her soul in its stead.
Emiko's many layered traumas, dissonance about them and everyone’s reluctance to see her as anything but the Butcher of Beijing are a double edged sword that cuts in all ways. Her exhaustion comes through in so much of her self-doubt, even as her innate and trained badassness never lets her just give up.
I really enjoyed the incorporation of various East Asian myths as well as the magical system with eight dragon clans whose members had varying Talents… AND this 2 day action-filled adventure took place around San Francisco and the Bay Area (my US hometown) which was lovely and immediately made me want to go back to all the landmarks mentioned! Bao, the magical foo lion sidekick was also a fave and I want to see all the artist renderings there are of him. Reading this book definitely made me want to get swords! STAT.
This story reminded me of how hard it is to leave family business/drama, especially when it’s a big family. You can get dragged back into that mess before you know what’s what. It’s action filled, with interesting and funny characters and a hidden layer that just piqued my interest consistently. I’m eager to read the next installments and find out if the hoard remains protected. Special shoutout to the city’s magic sentience which I’m also eager to see more of! I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to B2 Weird for including me on the tour, and to Tor Books and the authors for a finished copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Although she's done her best to keep to herself after distancing herself from her family, she builds connections with her new community in San Francisco, looking out for folks as they look out for her. When a death god calls in a favor that her mom owed, she steps in to fulfill the blood debt and recover the stolen Ebony Gate or forfeit her soul in its stead.
Emiko's many layered traumas, dissonance about them and everyone’s reluctance to see her as anything but the Butcher of Beijing are a double edged sword that cuts in all ways. Her exhaustion comes through in so much of her self-doubt, even as her innate and trained badassness never lets her just give up.
I really enjoyed the incorporation of various East Asian myths as well as the magical system with eight dragon clans whose members had varying Talents… AND this 2 day action-filled adventure took place around San Francisco and the Bay Area (my US hometown) which was lovely and immediately made me want to go back to all the landmarks mentioned! Bao, the magical foo lion sidekick was also a fave and I want to see all the artist renderings there are of him. Reading this book definitely made me want to get swords! STAT.
This story reminded me of how hard it is to leave family business/drama, especially when it’s a big family. You can get dragged back into that mess before you know what’s what. It’s action filled, with interesting and funny characters and a hidden layer that just piqued my interest consistently. I’m eager to read the next installments and find out if the hoard remains protected. Special shoutout to the city’s magic sentience which I’m also eager to see more of! I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you to B2 Weird for including me on the tour, and to Tor Books and the authors for a finished copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
yuck1209's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Reminded me of The Jade City.
Emiko is a decent protagonist, with her main motivation slowly transforming throughout the course of the story. She goes from wanting to stay far away from her past and clan politics to striving to protect the city and the people around her who’ve offered her a second chance. Emiko often considers herself a blunt instrument of sorts, out of touch with the inter-clan politics and niceties, though I was occasionally frustrated with that translating to bumbling mistakes in her quest to track down the Ebony Gate.
Other characters that stood out… well, it’s hard to say since Emiko maintains a distance from most everyone else. I was convinced, for example, that she would team up with Tessa and Andie, get their assistance in her mission, but that didn’t happen. I wondered if she’d have some sort of romance with Adam, or enlist his helpafter taking him under Soong Clan protection , but no. I guess even Kamon, her hot Tiger ex-boyfriend, points out that she doesn’t ask for help so I guess it all tracks… Some exceptions included the Trans, mostly Freddy, the Suns, and Popo.
This means that a lot of the narrative weight falls on Emiko’s shoulders, though she isn’t compelling enough to pull it off all the time. She leans heavily on being a disgrace, not being equipped to navigate the goings-on, and the slightly bitter “pulled back into the life you never fully left” schtick. Her narrative voice is fairly straightforward - competent, with the occasional wry or sarcastic comment.
The world-building was interesting, mixing in elements from various Asian cultures and mythology (e.g., shinigami, pennangalan, qi). I did chuckle at some of the smaller day-to-day references to Emiko’s heritage or the fact that she’s Asian and lives in the Bay Area (e.g., mentions of Daiso products). All this to say there were bits that felt thought-out, with other small winks and nods to the characters’ and authors’ identities and culture.
It looks like there will be other books in the series, which hopefully means I’ll get an answer to Emiko’s “nonexistent” Talent. There are hints across the story that this explanation and her fragmented memories around it are more than they seem, so I was annoyed that nothing was revealed by the end.
Felt a little lengthy given that it takes course over the span of like two days.
Emiko is a decent protagonist, with her main motivation slowly transforming throughout the course of the story. She goes from wanting to stay far away from her past and clan politics to striving to protect the city and the people around her who’ve offered her a second chance. Emiko often considers herself a blunt instrument of sorts, out of touch with the inter-clan politics and niceties, though I was occasionally frustrated with that translating to bumbling mistakes in her quest to track down the Ebony Gate.
Other characters that stood out… well, it’s hard to say since Emiko maintains a distance from most everyone else. I was convinced, for example, that she would team up with Tessa and Andie, get their assistance in her mission, but that didn’t happen. I wondered if she’d have some sort of romance with Adam, or enlist his help
This means that a lot of the narrative weight falls on Emiko’s shoulders, though she isn’t compelling enough to pull it off all the time. She leans heavily on being a disgrace, not being equipped to navigate the goings-on, and the slightly bitter “pulled back into the life you never fully left” schtick. Her narrative voice is fairly straightforward - competent, with the occasional wry or sarcastic comment.
The world-building was interesting, mixing in elements from various Asian cultures and mythology (e.g., shinigami, pennangalan, qi). I did chuckle at some of the smaller day-to-day references to Emiko’s heritage or the fact that she’s Asian and lives in the Bay Area (e.g., mentions of Daiso products). All this to say there were bits that felt thought-out, with other small winks and nods to the characters’ and authors’ identities and culture.
It looks like there will be other books in the series, which hopefully means I’ll get an answer to Emiko’s “nonexistent” Talent. There are hints across the story that this explanation and her fragmented memories around it are more than they seem, so I was annoyed that nothing was revealed by the end.
Felt a little lengthy given that it takes course over the span of like two days.