A review by nadiamasood
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Asian-inspired YA fantasy where the slow-burn romance gives C-drama vibes! There's murder, revenge, Mulan-esque disguise, dangerous trials, political intrigue, and engineering.

I love our female protagonist! Ying's quite young and I understand some of the choices she makes, but she not only shatters gender barriers by infiltrating an all-male engineering guild but also excels at it, all the while secretly plotting revenge for her father's murder!

The story's worldbuilding is okay-ish. I mean, we mostly learn about "The Guild" but not much about the world beyond its walls. However, I did appreciate the steampunk silkpunk elements, including a weaponized fan and a cyborg fox with mechanical eyes.

Chen adeptly captures the essence of Chinese history, language, customs, and societal norms. Her writing is effortlessly accessible, and having watched a historical C-Drama before reading this enhanced my reading experience. The author recommends "Scarlet Heart" and "A Long Ballad."

Why this book didn't quite make it to 5 stars:

The plot slowed down significantly once Ying became an apprentice at the engineering guild. It felt like too many events were happening at once, with more telling than showing.

We never get Ye-yang's perspective. He's the male lead: an enigmatic, handsome prince who appears just in time to help the female lead, then conveniently goes off to war or elsewhere so she can remain the center of the story. He has a LOT of potential and I hope to find him more developed in book 2!

The romance between Ying and Ye-Yang fell flat for me until the last few pages. I just didn't feel the chemistry. In fact, I enjoyed Ying's relationship with Ye-Kan, the youngest prince and her fellow apprentice, much more. Their best-friend dynamic was everything, and it felt like Ye-Kan wanted more than just friendship. I wouldn't mind seeing him as the main male lead in book 2!

Will I read book two?

Yes! After THAT ending, let's say I'm eager to see the conclusions to Ying, Ye-Yang, and Ye-Kan's story.

Who is this book for?

You'll enjoy this book if you like Asian-inspired fantasy, women in STEM, or political intrigue in fantasy. 
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