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A review by meisbooknook
Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan
3.0
I wanted to love this book. Badly. Maybe my high expectations are the thing that tanked this book for me.
This book starts off well - I liked the character motivations and the pacing. The integration of Chinese Folklore, and the side characters were a bonus.
Then it becomes rushed. I wish it was split into two so we could have more time at each plot point, more world building & more relationship development. Instead it relies on too many time skips, leaving gaps in the narrative.
JFG reminded me A LOT of Avatar the Last Airbender & The Poppy War trilogy. It's okay to be influenced by another work. There is so much written that it's hard to come up with ideas that are wholly your own. It's another for the plot and character traits to be almost mirrored.
Ahn and Altan very much felt a pull towards each other from the moment that they met. As the book progresses, they go from reluctant alliance to falling for each other. I wish we had more development here. There were a lot of conflicting thoughts on both sides that were suddenly brushed aside within a few pages. Considering there is a sequel, their relationship could have been more drawn out instead of rushed. I liked that they supported each other through tough times, but I felt like still it wasn't enough for them to be in love.
‼️ Note: The author chose to portray chopsticks in hair in this book. Something that is very disrespectful to the Asian community. As a mixed Chinese woman, I wish that she would have said hairpin or hair stick instead. It's an easy change.
This book starts off well - I liked the character motivations and the pacing. The integration of Chinese Folklore, and the side characters were a bonus.
Then it becomes rushed. I wish it was split into two so we could have more time at each plot point, more world building & more relationship development. Instead it relies on too many time skips, leaving gaps in the narrative.
JFG reminded me A LOT of Avatar the Last Airbender & The Poppy War trilogy. It's okay to be influenced by another work. There is so much written that it's hard to come up with ideas that are wholly your own. It's another for the plot and character traits to be almost mirrored.
Ahn and Altan very much felt a pull towards each other from the moment that they met. As the book progresses, they go from reluctant alliance to falling for each other. I wish we had more development here. There were a lot of conflicting thoughts on both sides that were suddenly brushed aside within a few pages. Considering there is a sequel, their relationship could have been more drawn out instead of rushed. I liked that they supported each other through tough times, but I felt like still it wasn't enough for them to be in love.
‼️ Note: The author chose to portray chopsticks in hair in this book. Something that is very disrespectful to the Asian community. As a mixed Chinese woman, I wish that she would have said hairpin or hair stick instead. It's an easy change.