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woolgathering_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“You may not be able to change the past, but with each action, you can change the future.”
I had high hopes, and I was left disappointed...kind of? It's a pretty average fantasy (always fun), and I liked the inspiration from Asian myths and how the relationship between the characters unfolded. The relationships (not just the main one, that one felt a little flat) were the most fun part of the book. The ending was perfect until there was an unexplained plot point that made everything too good and sweet in my opinion. I still don't understand why did Ahn survive? Not only from the logical view but also from a storytelling perspective. I was so ready to cry my heart out over her sacrifice but then she was just??? Fine??? lol
Overall it's a nice fantasy, nothing less, not much more.
Overall it's a nice fantasy, nothing less, not much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Confinement and Blood
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Kidnapping, and War
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
JADE FIRE GOLD stars Ahn, a peasant girl who finds out that her past is more complicated than she remembers, and Altan, in hiding and making a play for his lost throne.
I loved the first part of the book and then felt like the second half was just okay. It had a tendency to cut away after emotionally intense moments. There felt like too many scenes of watching someone open a door (literally or metaphorically), gasping at what they found inside, then immediately switching to the other character's perspective in a different location and a different emotional beat. A few of these switches were when Ahn and Altan were in the same scenes together. I liked some of those moments where one of them says something and then the perspective switches for the other person's reaction, but it started to feel like a movie with too much cross-cutting. It's a fine technique, but it shouldn't be the only way to edit the scene.
The characters' backstories are conveyed through worries, nightmares, and thoughts about how the present day is shadowed by the past. Because of the empire's use of physical mutilations as punishment followed by shunning, there are complicated layers of ableism established early on which then don't really go anywhere. The audiobook narrators work well as a pair, their performances fit the characters.
I like how there are several queer secondary characters, but it started to feel a bit like both protagonists got their own gay best friend. That thought might just be my irritation in the book as a whole coming out in something pithy, but it’s a thought I couldn’t shake once I had it. At times it feels more like they're queer so that they won't distract from the romance with the main pair, which was so flimsy that even the possibility they could like someone else would be enough to shred it. It felt like Ahn and Altan spent so long dancing around the idea of a relationship that by the time they actually maybe acknowledge their feelings I’d formed the opinion that they wouldn’t be good together. It’s just enough romantic vibes to keep it from being a platonic guy/girl teamup, but not enough romance to matter to the plot. It’s an awkward middle ground which might be setting up something for the clearly intended sequel, but as of this review in 2022 it doesn’t look like that’ll happen.
I loved the first part of the book and then felt like the second half was just okay. It had a tendency to cut away after emotionally intense moments. There felt like too many scenes of watching someone open a door (literally or metaphorically), gasping at what they found inside, then immediately switching to the other character's perspective in a different location and a different emotional beat. A few of these switches were when Ahn and Altan were in the same scenes together. I liked some of those moments where one of them says something and then the perspective switches for the other person's reaction, but it started to feel like a movie with too much cross-cutting. It's a fine technique, but it shouldn't be the only way to edit the scene.
The characters' backstories are conveyed through worries, nightmares, and thoughts about how the present day is shadowed by the past. Because of the empire's use of physical mutilations as punishment followed by shunning, there are complicated layers of ableism established early on which then don't really go anywhere. The audiobook narrators work well as a pair, their performances fit the characters.
I like how there are several queer secondary characters, but it started to feel a bit like both protagonists got their own gay best friend. That thought might just be my irritation in the book as a whole coming out in something pithy, but it’s a thought I couldn’t shake once I had it. At times it feels more like they're queer so that they won't distract from the romance with the main pair, which was so flimsy that even the possibility they could like someone else would be enough to shred it. It felt like Ahn and Altan spent so long dancing around the idea of a relationship that by the time they actually maybe acknowledge their feelings I’d formed the opinion that they wouldn’t be good together. It’s just enough romantic vibes to keep it from being a platonic guy/girl teamup, but not enough romance to matter to the plot. It’s an awkward middle ground which might be setting up something for the clearly intended sequel, but as of this review in 2022 it doesn’t look like that’ll happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, Child death, Ableism, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Suicide
doodeedoda's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Murder, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Torture, Child death, and Infidelity
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As always my reading experiences based on my own perceptions, my own expectations, and my own understanding. I definitely think that this was not as good of a reader as it could’ve been because in my effort one day to see how many pages there were in this book I saw the last line and that colored my perception of what was happening at certain points because I thought there was a note of incest but I was wrong and it makes me sad that my eyes betrayed me like that and messed with my perceptions of the story.There was too much world dumping at the beginning of the book and I spent the entire ready of the book confused which was frustrating and I liked it the lesbian lovers and the representation there and it was a fine read I just spent the majority of it confused and their questions at the end but I almost kind of don’t care about the answers? I don’t know if this was a confusing read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Genocide, Self harm, Child death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder
Minor: Animal death
abbyschalupa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Self harm, Grief, Blood, and Suicide
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Gore, Abandonment, Classism, and Death of parent
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Incredible worldbuilding, tension-filled character dynamics that will thrill fans of Zuko & Katara, and a great balance of foreshadowing while still leaving room for surprising twists. The ending got a little bit choppy - I wish it was 50 pages longer. I’m also pleased that there was plenty of tension and soft romance without any steam.
Content notes: parental death, torture, nightmares
Content notes: parental death, torture, nightmares
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Torture
johannajournaled's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
YA fantasy novel inspired by Chinese folklore, mythology, xianxia, and wuxia — and has the magic & drama I like to see. Told in dual perspective by teenage MCs with different missions: Ahn just wants to survive and take care of her aging sickly grandmother; Altan is on a mission of vengeance to reclaim what was stolen from him. Their lives intersect and both become part of something much larger.
I admit that it took me a while to get into this one (I had started it a few months ago & then paused it) — which surprised me because I normally like slow-burn world building and plot set-up. However, about halfway through when the story picked up for me and the stakes were raised… I was in it.
What got my attention the most were the slices of life moments where culture is highlighted, e.g. mentions of the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chang’e the Moon Goddess and descriptions of food and clothing. Also enjoyed the magic and folklore — powers, deadly priests, mythical swords, mythical creatures. I love intrigue, and the secrets and family drama in this one?! Delivered. 🤩 For the romance fans, there’s a slow-burn one in here & side characters’ sapphic romance.
I didn’t think this novel needed to be as long as it is — there’s a lot of detailed inner dialogue/dialogue and telling that bogged down the story for me. BUT once I got to that halfway point, give-or-take, I couldn’t put the book down. And that ending?! SEQUEL, NOW, PLEASE, THANKS!
East Asian mythology, magic, family drama, friendships, romance, high stakes… shall I continue? If you’re into YA high fantasy & you don’t mind build-up and slow-burns, give this one a shot. (And, excuse me, how gorgeous is this cover, too?!) 🔥
I’m curious to see what was changed in the finished copy. Thank you @EpicReads for the uncorrected ARC.
I admit that it took me a while to get into this one (I had started it a few months ago & then paused it) — which surprised me because I normally like slow-burn world building and plot set-up. However, about halfway through when the story picked up for me and the stakes were raised… I was in it.
What got my attention the most were the slices of life moments where culture is highlighted, e.g. mentions of the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chang’e the Moon Goddess and descriptions of food and clothing. Also enjoyed the magic and folklore — powers, deadly priests, mythical swords, mythical creatures. I love intrigue, and the secrets and family drama in this one?! Delivered. 🤩 For the romance fans, there’s a slow-burn one in here & side characters’ sapphic romance.
I didn’t think this novel needed to be as long as it is — there’s a lot of detailed inner dialogue/dialogue and telling that bogged down the story for me. BUT once I got to that halfway point, give-or-take, I couldn’t put the book down. And that ending?! SEQUEL, NOW, PLEASE, THANKS!
East Asian mythology, magic, family drama, friendships, romance, high stakes… shall I continue? If you’re into YA high fantasy & you don’t mind build-up and slow-burns, give this one a shot. (And, excuse me, how gorgeous is this cover, too?!) 🔥
I’m curious to see what was changed in the finished copy. Thank you @EpicReads for the uncorrected ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Death, and Torture
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