You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
⭐️⭐️⭐️,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
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I didn't like the ending. It didn't make sense with Yings actions througout the book.
adventurous
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
kind of a nothing book. at around 300 pages i suddenly thought to myself "i am pretty sure nothing at all has happened.." this book could've 100% been like 100 or even 200 pages shorter
also for a book called "Of Jade and Dragons" there is only one dragon in this book and itsmechanical probably the worst disappointment honestly. clickbait ass title. dragon in title, dragon on cover. I WANT THE DAMN DRAGON!!!! why can't nobody do dragons right bruh
Ying:Ying is very annoying main chara, multiple times i was thinking "please shut up". despite wanting to hide her identity, she constantly stands out, creating scenes over dumb ass shit. also insulting Ye-Kan over her crush on Ye-Yang is crazy
^someone also mentioned and now i can't forget it. this book is compaired to Mulan, i guess just because Ying disguises herself as a boy. but in the movie, the guy (i have not actually watched the movie sue me) falls in love with Mulan before he even realises shes a girl. in this book, that doesn't happen, somehow Ye-Yang finds out Ying is a girl immediately. important? no. interesting? a little
Plot:to add to my thoughts that barely anything happened for like 300 pages, she literally goes thru all that shit to investigate her fathers murder but hardly ever investigates. anytime she does, it's by pure chance. oh, the master Gerel left his door open randomly? she never even thought about going in there before, but now she can easily type of thing
Characters:i know Ying is in disguise and all, but she never talks to a single woman noticably(besides her sister i think). and what i found weird is that she had no problem dropping her disguise and getting in a dress for Ye-yang cause she knew people wouldn't recognise her, so why not disguise as a man in the guild, drop disguise and go out into the city? i'm trying to remember, i think there is one other woman, Lady Odval(?) but she's kind of a bad guy... i think a requirement for a true feminist book should be main chara has female friends important to the plot lol (and passes bechdel test)
Romance:while the romance is (FINALLY!!) not insta love, i do wish we had more scenes with Ying + Ye-Yang so we could actually see them falling in love. feels like they were just friends, then two months pass and suddenly they seem to be falling for each other, we don't get to see the between of them hanging out and all
ending:i don't understand why Ying would let her sister marry Ye-Yang without atleast telling her everything she knows? "hey Nian, the guy youre about to marry had a hand in murdering our father btw" but nah, she's going to let her little sister (younger than her btw, Ye-Yang is 19, Ying is 18, Nian must be like 16 or somethin) marry the guy. on the bright side, she did get lucky with a somewhat good man, at least he isnt one of the sexists ones.. lol
also for a book called "Of Jade and Dragons" there is only one dragon in this book and its
Ying:
^
Plot:
Characters:
Romance:
ending:
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Sexism
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️ TIME TO GO INTO DISGUISE
Of Jade and Dragons offers a solid, Mulan-esque adventure featuring a determined heroine disguising herself as a boy to chase a greater purpose. I enjoyed the FMC’s resilience and drive—she was easy to root for, and her journey had plenty of heart. That said, while the story was well-written and enjoyable enough, it didn’t do anything particularly new or groundbreaking. It hit all the expected beats, but never pushed beyond them. There was nothing bad about it, just nothing that truly stood out either. A fine, familiar tale for fans of gender disguise tropes and academic trials.
Of Jade and Dragons offers a solid, Mulan-esque adventure featuring a determined heroine disguising herself as a boy to chase a greater purpose. I enjoyed the FMC’s resilience and drive—she was easy to root for, and her journey had plenty of heart. That said, while the story was well-written and enjoyable enough, it didn’t do anything particularly new or groundbreaking. It hit all the expected beats, but never pushed beyond them. There was nothing bad about it, just nothing that truly stood out either. A fine, familiar tale for fans of gender disguise tropes and academic trials.
Not interested in the setup, the main character or the setting
Oh this book hooked me early on and did not disappoint! I’m so glad there is going to be a second book because I need more of this world and these characters. I think listening to the audiobook really helped me get into the world even more. Ling is great, young and inexperienced in the world…at least at the start- but not in an annoying way. Her journey is tough sometimes to watch but so important for her growth and understanding of her father and his decisions. I am so torn about the MCs - I don’t know what I want to happen-and am excited to learn what happens next. Gah! June 2025 seems soooo far away.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would say this felt more like a historical fantasy with a alternate a bit of a sci fi than a outright fantasy. I would have likes the engineering done a bit more but it did help with the world building. If it were labeled as a dark academia that would have also fit. The main plots of the murder mystery were done well and it did lead to a satisfying ending where I didn't want to kick the female protagonist, the male protagonist deserves at least a kick in the shin. I wouldn't say it's really Milan except the disguising herself as male plot point.