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A review by ashley_mrose530
Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked the idea of this book. I thought the world was interesting and the magic system was different and fascinating, but I didn't really vibe with the story overall.
I felt emotionally distant from the characters and their motivations and I'm not sure if that's just because I was listening to the audiobook - because sometimes I do feel more distant from a book in this format - or if it was the writing in general. I know I didn't really care for Ahn as a character. I feel like she was too trusting when she literally grew up in poverty and knew how people could lie and manipulate each other.
I did like Altan more. I liked how he seemed pretty morally grey especially at the beginning and throughout the story he grew to be more trusting and emotive. I think he had the best character growth out of the two of them as well. He learned the power of forgiveness and love while Ahn really kind of ended up where she started. She started the book off by being afraid of her magical abilities and refusing to use them and by the end she still refused to use them and didn't acknowledge how they could be used to help rather than hurt. It was not fulfilling for a main character in my opinion.
And then at the end of the book they separate and that bothered me a lot too. I didn't understand Ahn's motivations for leaving the country she grew up in at all. What was she looking for? Her mom? She has no idea if she's even alive? I could see it if she had a hint that her mom was alive but she didn't so I don't know why she even wanted to go searching for her. It seemed to set it up for a sequel but I don't see any record of a sequel on the way so I don't really know what the author was trying to do with this ending.
Anyway, it was an interesting read. Not the worst thing I've read this year, but it could have been better.
I felt emotionally distant from the characters and their motivations and I'm not sure if that's just because I was listening to the audiobook - because sometimes I do feel more distant from a book in this format - or if it was the writing in general. I know I didn't really care for Ahn as a character. I feel like she was too trusting when she literally grew up in poverty and knew how people could lie and manipulate each other.
I did like Altan more. I liked how he seemed pretty morally grey especially at the beginning and throughout the story he grew to be more trusting and emotive. I think he had the best character growth out of the two of them as well. He learned the power of forgiveness and love while Ahn really kind of ended up where she started. She started the book off by being afraid of her magical abilities and refusing to use them and by the end she still refused to use them and didn't acknowledge how they could be used to help rather than hurt. It was not fulfilling for a main character in my opinion.
Anyway, it was an interesting read. Not the worst thing I've read this year, but it could have been better.