You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Complicated
This sequel was everything! This takes place two years after the previous book, so some time has passed, and some hurts and wrongs have dulled, or at least Ying thinks they have. And involves our favorites from the previous book, as well as a new POV from Nian, Ying’s younger sister!
I absolutely devoured this book. I loved the first one so much and it ended on a bittersweet note. And I needed to read this sequel while it was fresh in my mind to see how Ying’s story would continue. Plus, pirates!!!
Once again, love this world with its unique machines and airships. Made for a steampunk-like world that I would love to see.
The heartache, the devastating romance, the action, the loss and grief in here was a lot. My emotions were everywhere. Nothing seemed to go right up until the end even.
I loved reading Nina’s POV because she reminds me of myself. She has the more grounded and logical mind and I appreciate how she handled a lot of things that were thrown at her. She was a surprising and lovable character and I adored her relationship with Yekan.
But Yekan is my favorite character so I am biased 🤣 I adore that boy(man? 😆). He was the same as always and him and Nian made for an awesome team 🙌🏻
The romances in here were so different from the other. One was oh so devastating and heartbreaking and I wanted it to work and yet I understood how Ying felt and I was okay with how it may or may not turn out. The other was so hopeful and healthy and lighthearted. And just gave you that happy fuzzy feeling.
The way this ended was once again bittersweet, but I loved it. There are not enough books out there with unique endings like this one. This felt realistic, (to a point I mean it is a fantasy 😆)but even though it put my heart through the ringer, the ending to me was perfect and I’m curious to know if there will be more stories in this world 👀
I highly recommend this duology!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Blood Phoenix - Amber Chen - 5 Stars
I was able to read the uncorrected proof of The Blood Phoenix as an Advanced Reader’s Copy on NetGallery. It is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons. I am aware there might be changes to the book, though they should be minor. Let’s get into the book with as few spoilers as possible
What did I love about the book? - This time it was a Dual POV between Ying (FMC of the book Of Jade and Dragons) and her younger sister Nian. The book is set two years after the events of the first book. Nian is still not married to Ye-yang, who is now the High Commander of the nine isles. He still only really has eyes for Ying, but takes Nian under his wing. The reasons for which will become evident as the book goes on.
You open in Ying’s POV, giving you a rundown of the last two years and where the war is at. You learn that the piracy in the straits has gotten out of control. The feared Blood Phoenix (the book’s namesake) is the main fear. Ying is engaged, though she and her betrothed both agreed to not go forward with the wedding so they can both have their freedom.
There is a pirate attack on the isle she’s on and Ye-yang comes to get her. You find out that he’s been planning this for a long time. But, Ying goes back to the engineer’s guild to help them come up with a defence for a weapon the pirates have. One their test run, things go bad, and they end up captured on the Blood Phoenix. The goal is to return to Fei so they can take down the pirates. They go through a trial with the pirates, with Ying learning more about the Blood Phoenix and why was really behind the attack at the beginning of the book.
Ying is an unreliable narrator and I love her for that. It keeps me on my toes.
Nian spends most of her time in the palace, befriending Ye-Kan (Ying’s friend from book 1). You can definitely tell there are mutual feelings they won’t act on. During the events of the book, Ye-Kan is put in charge. When this happens, he learns of traitors in their midsts and he and Nian figure it out and are really the ones to save the nine isles. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but Nian’s POV was wonderful every time I was on it! You see the pressures she puts herself under and I just wanted to give her a fist bump and a warm hug.
What didn’t I like about the book? - WHY ISN’T THERE AN EPILOGUE?! WHAT HAPPENED TO YING?! I was under the impression that this was a duology but the ending makes me want more and leaves me with some unanswered questions! I would be happy to get an epilogue to know what happened to Ying and who that engineering master was. I’m hopeful the final product
will have that.
Over all opinion of the book? - This was such a great second book! I loved all the call backs to the first book, which was still fresh for me as I’d only read it in December of 2024. The books is fast paced, but gives a lot of information. I thoroughly enjoyed my read!
I was able to read the uncorrected proof of The Blood Phoenix as an Advanced Reader’s Copy on NetGallery. It is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons. I am aware there might be changes to the book, though they should be minor. Let’s get into the book with as few spoilers as possible
What did I love about the book? - This time it was a Dual POV between Ying (FMC of the book Of Jade and Dragons) and her younger sister Nian. The book is set two years after the events of the first book. Nian is still not married to Ye-yang, who is now the High Commander of the nine isles. He still only really has eyes for Ying, but takes Nian under his wing. The reasons for which will become evident as the book goes on.
You open in Ying’s POV, giving you a rundown of the last two years and where the war is at. You learn that the piracy in the straits has gotten out of control. The feared Blood Phoenix (the book’s namesake) is the main fear. Ying is engaged, though she and her betrothed both agreed to not go forward with the wedding so they can both have their freedom.
There is a pirate attack on the isle she’s on and Ye-yang comes to get her. You find out that he’s been planning this for a long time. But, Ying goes back to the engineer’s guild to help them come up with a defence for a weapon the pirates have. One their test run, things go bad, and they end up captured on the Blood Phoenix. The goal is to return to Fei so they can take down the pirates. They go through a trial with the pirates, with Ying learning more about the Blood Phoenix and why was really behind the attack at the beginning of the book.
Ying is an unreliable narrator and I love her for that. It keeps me on my toes.
Nian spends most of her time in the palace, befriending Ye-Kan (Ying’s friend from book 1). You can definitely tell there are mutual feelings they won’t act on. During the events of the book, Ye-Kan is put in charge. When this happens, he learns of traitors in their midsts and he and Nian figure it out and are really the ones to save the nine isles. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but Nian’s POV was wonderful every time I was on it! You see the pressures she puts herself under and I just wanted to give her a fist bump and a warm hug.
What didn’t I like about the book? - WHY ISN’T THERE AN EPILOGUE?! WHAT HAPPENED TO YING?! I was under the impression that this was a duology but the ending makes me want more and leaves me with some unanswered questions! I would be happy to get an epilogue to know what happened to Ying and who that engineering master was. I’m hopeful the final product
will have that.
Over all opinion of the book? - This was such a great second book! I loved all the call backs to the first book, which was still fresh for me as I’d only read it in December of 2024. The books is fast paced, but gives a lot of information. I thoroughly enjoyed my read!
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This book focused more on Nian and Yekan in my opinion which was expected since its start and while I enjoyed this book overall and the development of their relationship, I am left very unsatisfied considering this is a duology and the book ends with an open ending not knowing what becomes of Ying and Yeyang. is Ying alive, is she not? Does she and Yeyang live together the life they dreamed of? It's kinda upsetting shifting the focus to Nian and Yekan and disregarding our two main characters with whom we started this journey to begin with.
On a side note, the mask trick with Monggu was very silly in my opinion.
This book focused more on Nian and Yekan in my opinion which was expected since its start and while I enjoyed this book overall and the development of their relationship, I am left very unsatisfied considering this is a duology and the book ends with an open ending not knowing what becomes of Ying and Yeyang. is Ying alive, is she not? Does she and Yeyang live together the life they dreamed of? It's kinda upsetting shifting the focus to Nian and Yekan and disregarding our two main characters with whom we started this journey to begin with.
On a side note, the mask trick with Monggu was very silly in my opinion.
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced