I'm just going to go right off and say this book would probably look phenomenal in show form. It certainly read phenomenal. But June C.L. Tan got the whole ATLA comp down pat like you would never believe. Especially with how charming it was. But don't get me wrong, this book definitely stood on its own.

Jade Fire Gold is a story about family and forgiveness. You can't speak of either of those things without love and sacrifice being involved in some form or other. These themes present themselves in such a raw and vivid way that the world June C.L. Tan built and the characters she created actually managed to physically reach an arm out and squeeze the heck out of my heart.

They were just so full of life - their pain so real and love heartfelt - that it was impossible to put the book down or look away.

I guess the only reason why I couldn't rate this higher than 3.5 stars was that it felt a little rushed to me and some antagonists... left something to be desired. It's pretty tropey as far as its villains go. I also thought the magic system could've been delved into a little deeper. I do understand its a debut though, and more often than not there can be certain restrictions put out when it comes to things like word count. I can only hope that there will be a possibility of a sequel one day, because that epilogue. 👀 That epilogue definitely says that things are NOT over.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself getting lost in Jade Fire Gold and I am absolutely certain June C.L. Tan will take the book-ish world by storm the day this comes out.

Also like, hello! Hurt/Comfort! Yearning! There was only one bed! Plus the best supporting characters you could ever ask for.

Jade Gold Fire reminds me of a certain quote by Belle: Far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells...a prince in disguise! The story follows two characters, Ahn and Altan, as they try to understand their place in this world that shuns magic. Ahn is an orphan with no memories of who she is as she struggles to provide for her adoptive grandmother when she suddenly discovers she has powers to kill. Altan, on the other hand, knows exactly who he is: the true heir to the throne, long rumored to be dead in an assassination that wiped out his family. Darker forces are at play as these two attempt to bring balance back to their country after it has been torn apart by magic.

I originally was interested in this book because of the Chinese mythology, but was hooked because the synopsis promised an “epic slow-burn romance.” And boy, did this book deliver the slow-burn, which, at parts could even be considered enemies-to-lovers, as motives for both change throughout the story. I enjoy being tortured by my characters, so this was highly enjoyable to me. Even until the end, I wasn’t sure if Ahn and Altan would end up together, but I am satisfied with how this story wraps up. Their interactions were always accompanied by witty banter, and it was such a delight to watch them slowly develop feelings for each other. Although some people may not enjoy this, but I liked that all the main and supporting characters were all linked to one another in some way; it made it feel like they all had a purpose and were not just added to fill an empty void. You can tell that the author really put in the work to ensure each plot and character tied in together nicely, but were also motivated in some way that drove the story forward.

It blows my mind that this is the author’s debut novel. This book hooks you immediately from the beginning, and doesn’t slow down from there. Although this was told from a duo point of view, I didn’t struggle too much to keep up with each character as this is usually an issue for me. If I were to make a suggestion for improvement, it would be to make Anh and Altan’s head voice to be a little more distinct from each other as they sometimes sound too similar. However, that wasn’t too much of an issue as both are driven by different motives. Each part of the storyline was highly engaging and I was very eager to get to the ending, although sometimes the plot moved a little too fast for me. As someone who has watched wuxia films growing up, Jade also made me nostalgic about my childhood and all the cool action heroes I grew up with. Even though the story wrapped up well in the end, the plot twist makes me hopeful that there will be a sequel, and I am more than excited to continue their story.

The perfect book for people who liked the interactions between Katara and Zuko in Avatar the Last Airbender. Though the start was a little slow, I really liked the characters and the ending was absolutely wild. I really hope there will be more in this world.

Jade Fire Gold is YA Fantasy at its best. Told in a dual POV narrative, Jade Fire Gold follows Ahn, a girl with no recollection of her past, and Altan, a boy who is haunted by his. With his family murdered, and his birthright stolen from him, Altan’s trying to simply take back the throne, free the empire from a cult of priests, and undo the dark magic. All Ahn wants is to provide for Ama — her adoptive grandmother — and to give the two of them a better life. But when a petty theft goes wrong, her powers manifest, and Ahn becomes the most powerful weapon in the world — the one thing Altan is looking for.

One of my favorite things about Jade Fire Gold was the well-developed characters. Ahn and Altan’s motivations and intentions are made clear from the very beginning, which made following their character growth even more wonderful. I found both Ahn and Altan incredibly easy to root for, and I truly wanted to see them achieve what they wanted. Watching them go from strangers, to slowly trusting one another, to developing feelings for one another was such a joy. Ahn and Altan shine brightly both as our main protagonists, as well as a pairing. With endless witty banter, the slowest of slow burns, lots of yearning, and their paths crossing and intertwining again and again, I loved watching their relationship develop.

The ensemble cast of Jade Fire Gold was simply precious. While I didn’t know who I could trust at times, I loved them all — I found Tai Shun, the guilt-ridden and reluctant Crown Prince, incredibly endearing, and just sweet. I loved Leiye, the illegitimate son with seemingly shifting priorities and alliances. Tang Wei, one of Altan’s strongest allies and friends, is incredibly powerful and unapologetic, and Linxi, a kindhearted spy. The found family dynamic just made my heart swell, and I wanted to know more about them all.

Power and history both play a large role in the world of Jade Fire Gold. It’s evident in each of the character’s motivations, in their biases and reasoning, and in the stories they’ve been told. Jade Fire Gold is yet another reminder that the history we’re taught is from the oppressor’s point of view; that we never learn certain pivotal points of history, nor do we ever learn it from another perspective.

I personally loved the fast pace of Jade Fire Gold, although as I was nearing the end I was hoping it wasn’t over yet — I wanted to stay in the world for longer, to savor my time in it. I’m desperately hoping there’ll be a sequel, especially after that ending. Tan’s imagery, wonderful worldbuilding, and well-developed characters ensures that this is a book I’ll be recommending for years to come.

3.5 stars rounded up - I loved the story and the incorporation of wuxia and xianxia elements. It was great being able to read a story that plays out like the Chinese dramas that I love watching.

With that said, I really enjoyed the premise and the development of the story, but something about the way the characters were written felt off to me and in a way, I felt that I didn’t actually get to know the characters as well as I wanted to. I also felt that there was a lot of time skipping that caused the plot to feel rushed, and so we didn’t get the full satisfaction of some climatic scenes.

Overall, this is an engaging story with a great cast of characters, and I am very excited and looking forward to the next installment.

I really loved this book! I was so sad when it was over and I will now be watching this author. I really liked how the author ended the story. I will be purchasing this book for my public library's Ya collection.

“You may not be able to change the past, but with each action, you can change the future.”

Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jade Fire Gold is a fast paced and engaging read. Jung C.L. Tan’s writing is straightforward which makes the book easy to get through. I love the mythology and magic system weaved into the story and the world Tan has crafted.

On the other hand I wish some truth reveals were from the characters learning and discovering them instead of being told to them. I also thought that some events weren’t given enough time to breathe so when you learn or discover something new, the aftermath didn’t get a chance to settle in before we’re swept away again, making some events feel small rather than big and grand as they should be.

Side note, I’ve seen the pitching for the book as Katara x Zuko and personally found that comparison for Altan and Ahn to miss its mark. I would say they’re more like of Aang x Zuko if I have to pick a dynamic for Avatar to compare.

Overall a promising debut from Tan. I can’t wait to get my hand on the sequel whenever that may be, Tan sure does know how to end a book.

Jade Fire Gold is a fantastic new YA fantasy with some great characters and intriguing world-building. The author, June CL Tan, has compared the central dynamic of the novel to Zuko and Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it definitely delivered a tense relationship that echoed Zutara!

The orphaned, ever-hungry Ahn lives with her adoptive grandmother on the outskirts of an isolated desert town in the vast and war-torn Shi Empire. A brief encounter with a mysterious, handsome stranger named Altan — who has secrets of his own — proves prescient. Soon after, shes is confronted by bandits, and desperately unleashes a powerful, deadly form of magic (previously unknown to her) that drains the mens’ life force. Shepherded to the imperial palace and asked to channel her dark powers into destroying the spreading desert, she finds herself torn between duty, family, and her newfound connections.

4.5/5: Filled with powerful magic, past traumas, and trust broken & regained, this new fantasy is perfect for any fans of ATLA and the Xianxia genre. Teens and adults alike should enjoy this well-written, fast-paced, and wonderfully diverse story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!