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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I was so enamored with the focus on engineering and how integral engineering is to all facets of life, but there’s shockingly little focus on the principles of engineering. I was fine accepting it as a vehicle for challenging sexism and traditionalism - indeed, the way Ying challenges the (outdated and inaccurate) “accepted truths” of The Annals was the most engineer part of the whole book.
However, when we turn our attention to engineering as a vehicle for empire, that’s when things kind of started to fall apart. We didn’t get enough background in what exactly the weapons did and what principles the wannabe apprentices were studying. Suddenly, Ying made a weapon. The political climate, the romance, even the progress of the apprenticeship trials: none was developed quite enough to hold water. Having all three there just made them each feel weaker.
I will admit, though, that I’m curious about where a second book would take us because this felt pretty nicely wrapped up.
{Thank you Viking Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
However, when we turn our attention to engineering as a vehicle for empire, that’s when things kind of started to fall apart. We didn’t get enough background in what exactly the weapons did and what principles the wannabe apprentices were studying. Suddenly, Ying made a weapon. The political climate, the romance, even the progress of the apprenticeship trials: none was developed quite enough to hold water. Having all three there just made them each feel weaker.
I will admit, though, that I’m curious about where a second book would take us because this felt pretty nicely wrapped up.
{Thank you Viking Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Of Jade and Dragons is about Aihui Ying and her desire to get revenge for the death of her father. To do so, she disguises herself as a boy to enter the Engineering Guild trials. Along the way she meets Ye Yang, one of the four men who are competing for the throne.
I'm a sucker for a good Mulan trope and this book was no different. My favorite parts were those that focused on Ying and the Engineering Guild. The plot was a bit slow at first, but it did pick up later on in the novel. Overall, it was a solid book and I'm excited to read the sequel.
I'm a sucker for a good Mulan trope and this book was no different. My favorite parts were those that focused on Ying and the Engineering Guild. The plot was a bit slow at first, but it did pick up later on in the novel. Overall, it was a solid book and I'm excited to read the sequel.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tropes/themes
Academic trials
Elements of Chinese mythology and lore
slow burn
duology!!
What I enjoyed
The premise of this book reminded me of something I read recently and I can not for the life of me remember and it’s driving me wild
I loved the mix of futuristic and historic elements! I’ve not read a book with something like that before and it was so interesting
the plot twist at the end got me! I was shook and couldn’t put it down or the last 15%
What I didn’t enjoy
the pacing was a little off. I feel like the plot got a little lost in the beginning and it was to much of Ying’s day to day and not a lot of development but then in the end everything happened al to once and it was so much to process
this is probably just a me problem but I couldn’t keep track of who was who for most of the book
Overall thoughts
this book was an interesting premise and plot, the execution was a little lacking, but still an overall good book and I will definitely be picking up the second one at some point in the future!
Academic trials
Elements of Chinese mythology and lore
slow burn
duology!!
What I enjoyed
The premise of this book reminded me of something I read recently and I can not for the life of me remember and it’s driving me wild
I loved the mix of futuristic and historic elements! I’ve not read a book with something like that before and it was so interesting
the plot twist at the end got me! I was shook and couldn’t put it down or the last 15%
What I didn’t enjoy
the pacing was a little off. I feel like the plot got a little lost in the beginning and it was to much of Ying’s day to day and not a lot of development but then in the end everything happened al to once and it was so much to process
this is probably just a me problem but I couldn’t keep track of who was who for most of the book
Overall thoughts
this book was an interesting premise and plot, the execution was a little lacking, but still an overall good book and I will definitely be picking up the second one at some point in the future!
When Ying is confronted by her father's death and his notebook of inventions she is faced with two options. Burning the book and moving on, or going to hunt her father's killer.
Little did she know she'd meet someone who'd also help her get into the all male engineering guild, she'd meet multiple princes of the court, and she would fall into a sinister trap.
The build up and idea behind this book was wonderful. The execution was spot on. However, some of the character relationships were not what I wanted, and I believe there could have been improvements. For a fantasy novel about insane engineering feats it is very fun, and worth the read. It is something you can devour in one or two sittings if you so choose.
Little did she know she'd meet someone who'd also help her get into the all male engineering guild, she'd meet multiple princes of the court, and she would fall into a sinister trap.
The build up and idea behind this book was wonderful. The execution was spot on. However, some of the character relationships were not what I wanted, and I believe there could have been improvements. For a fantasy novel about insane engineering feats it is very fun, and worth the read. It is something you can devour in one or two sittings if you so choose.
⭐️⭐️⭐️,75
Als dit boek niet in mijn Illumicrate abonnement had gezeten had ik het waarschijnlijk nooit opgepakt, puur omdat het ‘punk’ genre me over het algemeen niet aanspreekt.
Toch ben ik blij dat ik hem een kans heb gegeven, want ik heb me enorm vermaakt met dit verhaal! Helaas zag ik de twists al aankomen, maar dat maakte mijn leeservaring niet minder goed.
Is het een boek dat me echt bij zal blijven? Nee, waarschijnlijk niet. Maar ik heb me wel vermaakt tijdens het lezen, en gok dat ik de sequel ook ga oppakken zodra die uitkomt.
Oh, en als je dit boek overigens wilt oppakken voor de draken! Don’t bother. They are not there
Als dit boek niet in mijn Illumicrate abonnement had gezeten had ik het waarschijnlijk nooit opgepakt, puur omdat het ‘punk’ genre me over het algemeen niet aanspreekt.
Toch ben ik blij dat ik hem een kans heb gegeven, want ik heb me enorm vermaakt met dit verhaal! Helaas zag ik de twists al aankomen, maar dat maakte mijn leeservaring niet minder goed.
Is het een boek dat me echt bij zal blijven? Nee, waarschijnlijk niet. Maar ik heb me wel vermaakt tijdens het lezen, en gok dat ik de sequel ook ga oppakken zodra die uitkomt.
Oh, en als je dit boek overigens wilt oppakken voor de draken! Don’t bother. They are not there
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
There are many elements of this book that I enjoyed:
- chinese folklore references (and some used a foreshadowing - that was excellent)
- chinese words/references one gets to learn
- silkpunk world
- I cannot resist the "girl disguise as a boy to do sth she was not allowed to do" trope
- story
- writing
It is definitely a YA book, and if read as such, you won't be disappointed! The book is well structured.
I did not find it SUPER original and therefore did not make it as a 4 stars + read, but it is a very solid debut! I am interested in what Amber Chen will do next
There are many elements of this book that I enjoyed:
- chinese folklore references (and some used a foreshadowing - that was excellent)
- chinese words/references one gets to learn
- silkpunk world
- I cannot resist the "girl disguise as a boy to do sth she was not allowed to do" trope
- story
- writing
It is definitely a YA book, and if read as such, you won't be disappointed! The book is well structured.
I did not find it SUPER original and therefore did not make it as a 4 stars + read, but it is a very solid debut! I am interested in what Amber Chen will do next