A review by hanlov
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
“‘To yearn for great opportunity without the courage to accept great risk is naive.’ My father used to say that.”
Of Jade and Dragons is a Mulan retelling mixed with steampunk fantasy and the vibes were excellent in this book. I loved the obvious research and effort put in to try and keep you immersed in the story, but sadly the actual writing and plot kept pulling me back out. While it was YA, I felt like the story could’ve had more depth and been more dynamic to keep readers of all ages engaged. It felt more ‘tell rather than show’ in many instances and I wish we could see the characters develop more! The last 10% of the book was the best and I would read the next book if it felt more like that. This writing style will likely work for some folks but sadly I just didn’t love it. I would be willing to read more from the author in the future to see how she grows as a writer!🐲
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