DNF at 50%
Mulan inspired but instead of a high stakes war there’s a training competition and a murder mystery that’s kind of pushed to the back burner? Idk I really was just bored. I do think the author is really sweet and genuinely kind and I hope this book finds it’s audience.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story of revenge? A handsome prince? All while set in a world with DRAGONS? Sign me up immediately!

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen is a YA fantasy novel about eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying, who dreams of becoming a brilliant engineer just like her beloved father - but her life is torn apart when she arrives a moment too late to stop his murder, and worse, lets the killer slip out of reach. Left with only a journal containing his greatest engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, Ying vows to take revenge into her own hands. Disguised as her brother, Ying heads to the capital city, and discovers that the answer to finding who killed her father lies behind the walls of the prestigious Engineers Guild - the home of a past her father never wanted to talk about. With the help of an unlikely ally - Aogiya Ye-yang, a taciturn (but very handsome) young prince - Ying must navigate a world fraught with rules, challenges and politics she can barely grasp, let alone understand. But to survive, she must fight to stay one step ahead of everyone. And when faced with the choice between doing what's right and what's necessary, Ying will have to decide if her revenge is truly worthwhile, if it means going against everything her father stood for . . .

I LOVED this book. With immaculate vibes, airships and other steampunk stuff that reminded me of Scott Westerfeld's Levithan, AND a backdrop of a murder mystery. It's just *chef's kiss*.

What I loved most about this book is how Chen put the plot and worldbuilding at the forefront, and the romance in the back. I'm not always the biggest fan of books that make the romance the main selling point. Regardless, Chen knows how to write romance! Especially with a male love interest with dimples (which you don't see that often in YA now-adays.)

But no matter how much I loved this book, the writing style kept throwing me off. It was a lovely and lyrical at times. But was almost constantly clunky. Plus I feel like Chen tells more than she shows. But at the same time, this is Chen's FIRST book. There are going to be some pitfalls before she finds the rhythm of her writing style.

Regardless, I LOVED this book. I would highly recommend it whoever would listen. Because I feel like EVERYONE needs to read this Mulan x steampunk novel!

4.5/5
Cawpile: 8/10

This was an interesting new young adult fantasy release that felt like an Asian historical fiction with scifi elements. The book takes place in a fantasy world with warring nations and lots of cool inventions, like airships and canons. Although there are more modern inventions, there did not seem to be any magic in this first book. Additionally, there were typical nobility based rules and typical political scheming you would see in a historical fictions.

There is some romance subplot in this story that I enjoyed seeing. The two characters started out annoying but grew on me over time. They ended up being pretty well developed and dimensional. I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop and am curious to see what happens next with our main characters.

I thought the writing was easy too read and the pacing of the book wasn’t terrible. I enjoyed the journey the plot took us on as we follow the main character through her engineering guild trials. I did feel like parts of the book were a little predictable but I didn’t feel like the mystery was motivating me to keep reading - it was the characters.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Asian fantasy or anyone who is looking for a fantasy filled with fun inventions/engineering.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

This book is hard for me to review. Not because it's hard to rate per se. It's hard for me to put down my thoughts because I feel so disappointed by this book. For the first half of it, I was thinking this would be a 4* read for me, maybe higher depending how it ended. I was really enjoying my time with Ying and Ye-Yang (I like the name choice there). It felt like a spiritual successor to Tamora Pierce, specifically Alanna. Replace fantasy with steampunk technology, swap out medieval Europe-ish society for Qing Dynasty China-ish society, and replace "become a knight" with "become an engineer". You've now got the basic premise for Ying. It wasn't just that Ying disguised herself as a boy. It was the sense of awe when she first saw the capital. It was the way her relationships with her classmates were born and grew. It was the comfortable rhythm of classes in the midst of a fantastical world. It reminded me very strongly of Alanna, albeit with a murder mystery running alongside.

The problems started around page 250 of the e-ARC, out of around 460. Specifically with a scene that should have been dramatic but had me raising an eyebrow instead, wondering why certain details were focused on and others were ignored. The questions posed by that scene, in fact, were never answered in the entire rest of the book, and the entire incident was forgotten shortly thereafter. It could have been removed without changing the story at all. All it did was add holes that the author had to shore up in the next scene.

I almost wish I had stopped reading this book at the halfway point, because that first half was solid, like traveling down a well-paved road. The second half was not well-paved; it was old and cracked and half-flooded with swampy water. The scenes might be nice themselves, but they were littered with cracks, transitioned to the next scene poorly, and made me roll my eyes more than they drew any real emotional reaction from me.

I have to emphasize again at this point that this review is based on the e-ARC. I emphasize that because none of the problems I saw go so deep they couldn't have been fixed in editing after the e-ARC went out. I know Amber Chen is capable of fixing these problems, because the first half of the book was clean and well-written. So either she didn't want to change the latter half for some reason, or she didn't have time to fix the latter half. In either case, this is my open plea to Penguin and Amber Chen: This is slated as the first in a series. Please, please take the time to clean up all of book two. These characters, this world, and this writing deserve it.

Final rating: 3*

Of Jade and Dragons is one of those reads where I found myself easing in slowly and then gradually becoming glued to its pages until it was suddenly over. I read the last 75% of this book during a camping trip last weekend, and it was an absolute joy to have with me! I laughed, I gasped, and I felt Ying's turmoil time and time again. It is pitched as Mulan meets engineers, and I for the most part agree. This title turns a couple of common YA tropes on their heads, which was very refreshing to read. Not everything goes according to plan all the time, and not everybody gets a happy ending. I think Chen skillfully left a door open for a potential sequel with the way this title ended, so I am looking forward to seeing if that comes to fruition!

This was a really fun, enjoyable fantasy read. Very reminiscent of Mulan and I enjoyed the character’s family history. I found the trials to be very interesting and enjoyed the romance. Excited for book 2!

This book had a really cool concept with a blend of industrial and fantasy elements. I was very hyped when i first heard about the book. However, despite the book being enjoyable, I feel like it didn't really live up to the hype as much as I thought it would.

I do like the characters, especially Ying, Ye-Kan and Ye-Yang. I really liked Ying's resourcefulness and her determination to prove herself in a world that looked down upon women (other than those within powerful clans). She becomes smarter and grows as a person as she goes through each test and faces new challenges.

I also enjoyed her interactions with both brothers. Ye-Yang coming to the rescue at the end?? AHH
I never expected him to end up as a morally gray character so the reveal with his involvement of Ying's father's death was very unexpected. I hope to see Ye-Kan again for the next book bc I really hope he doesn't blame Ying for his mother's death


One issue I had with this book is that it felt very slow-paced to me which made it difficult for me to read through it. I also wans't able to pick up much character development because of this (though this might just be a me problem bc I was reading it so slowly. I think the main issue that contributed to this though, was the fact that the ebook was formatted weirdly on my kindle app so that just affected my reading experience overall. I may edit my review if I reread it on the hardcover

Overall, I enjoyed all the worldbuilding but I feel like their characters could have been a LOT more fleshed out. I feel like a lot of the focus were on the worldbuilding and not much on the character development.

I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint! Aihui Ying wants to become an engineer, but when her father was murdered, she vows to avenge him. Armed with the jade pendant she grabbed from the assassin and the journal her father left, she travels to the capital and disguised as her brother to infiltrate the prestigious Engineers Guild. With the help of Aogiya Ye-yang, the 8th prince of the High Command, she attempts to unravel the mystery behind her father’s death while trying to keep her place in the male only apprenticeship trial and avoiding the assassin still looking for her father’s journal.
This book was so good. I liked how the plot focused a lot on politics and the mystery behind Ying’s father’s death but also had a romance subplot that gave me The Cruel Prince vibes. I enjoyed the historical elements woven in the story. I feel like I learned a lot about Asian culture while still enjoying the story. I also really enjoyed watching Ying and Ye-yang’s relationship grow. It was definitely slow burn but it fit the story well. Additionally, the ending was crazy. I didn’t see the plot twist coming at all, and I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m going to be perfectly honest with the 1-5 people who actually read my reviews: I almost DNf’d this book until I met Ye-Yang. Then, I said I was going to keep reading the book just for him, but it probably wouldn’t be a high rating. For some reason, from only the first chapter, I was convinced this book wasn’t for me. Ye-Yang was my reasoning for continuing, but then I got immersed in the book. Once immersed, the jaws of life couldn’t separate me from this world, the storyline, and everything about it. I finished this book in a single sitting, with breaks to look up fan-art and go to the bathroom, but that’s it.

Mulan was my favorite Disney movie as a kid, and this was heavily inspired by Mulan. Especially in the beginning. However, as the book progresses, it becomes its own separate entity. One of my favorite changes was that Ye-Yang knew Ying was a girl from the get-go. He recognized her FAST, and I loved that. It feels more realistic that they fell in love while she was honest about her identity with him, rather than falling for the charade.

And that ending?! Those twists?! Ye-Kan, I thought I would hate you, but all I feel for you right now is so much empathy. Can I hug a fictional character? Pretty please?

Seriously, go read this book. It’s crack cocaine in a good way.

4.25⭐️

I really enjoyed the first installment in the "Fall of the Dragon" series! It was hopeful, intense, dark, twisty, and more.

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen is thrilling and complex, exploding into action from the first scene. From the very beginning, the intrigue and mystery are set in motion as we follow Ying on her journey to discover the truth of her father’s death and find justice. But the answers Ying seeks are not what she expects and the complexities of the world she enters could change her forever.
What I love about Ying is how well we feel her frustration over her father’s death but also the complexity of the relationship she builds with Ye-Yang. The story is emotional and as the intrigue builds, so too do the stakes for Ying. If she is found, she could lose everything and that includes her relationship with Ye-Yang. I also love the dynamics of her friendships with the other students, in particular Ye-Kun. Even though she is pretending to be a boy, her friendships with the others are all too real and there are very real consequences for her finding out the truth about her father.
The complexity of war and the choice for peace are also shown with real depth and detail in Ying’s story. Nothing is black and white, not even Ying’s actions. The only thing that is certain is what each individual must choose and what they must sacrifice in order to get what they want. The ending is explosive and dynamic and is entirely unexpected.
If you like complex stories with wonderful steampunk detail set in an Asian fantasy world, this is the story for you. I love the detailed worldbuilding, the steampunk elements are well thought out and the details of the world are fantastic. The story is thrilling and complex with characters that will keep you engaged. It is easy to connect to Ying and the characters in the novel and the ending is dynamic and emotional.

I absolutely LOVED reading this book. I requested Of Jade and Dragons through Penguin Teen after reading the synopsis and Xiran Jay Zhao's review (who wrote Iron Widow, which I also loved), and this book did not disappoint me.

One of my favorite subgenres is steampunk, so naturally I knew I was going to enjoy a story with retrofuturistic technology. Besides the steampunk, I love a well-written female main character. Aihui Ying is a rising engineer, who has to turn herself into a man to join the apprenticeship trial at the Engineers Guild and avenge the death of her father. She's extremely intelligent and won't back down from anything once her mind is set.

I was hooked the entire time when reading the book, and honestly, I think it got me back into reading fantasy. I'm interested in seeing if there's going to be a second book in this series or if Of Jade and Dragons will be a stand alone, because the ending is phenomenal. I can't wait to tell my friends about this book. I need other people to talk about it with.

ing holds the recipe to a dangerous weapon of destruction. It was so dangerous her own father was murdered for it. Ying disguises herself to find her father's killer. On her journey she meets the son of the High Commander. He is just willing to help her and helps hide her real identity. She has a clue that the plot against her father came from the Empire. The plan is for her to join the Engineers' Guild Trial where she will be able to investigate and find the truth.
Another Mulan inspired novel.
I get that Mulan is such an iconic story but I'm bored of the same cross dressing story. Most of the popular Asian fantasy books (YA) these days have Mulan elements. I can name so many. I wish we could have more original stories that aren't just a Mulan retelling.
I did like that her weapon of choice was a fan. It is very Mulan but I wished it was more like Kitana. Even though Kitana is Japanese. I would have liked it so much better if her skill of the fan was more incorporated.
There were a few plot holes and the ending was predictable. For a YA novel it was enjoyable and easy to read. I would like to see what happens in book 2 how she will take down the enemy and how this destructive weapon will be used.

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Books for a digital ARC. Unfortunately, it's been tough sledding getting through this. This is a soft DNF at 60%. I'm hoping to borrow the audiobook from my library when it comes out on June 18th and listen to the remaining 40%, if I can do it. We'll see!

If you have read A Magic Steeped in Poison (like I did last month and rated it 3 stars), then you will have read this book. They are the exact same plot, setting, and characters with the exception that our FMC in Of Jade and Dragons is disguised as a man. I'll put the full comparison below. If you haven't read A Magic Steeped in Poison, then you will probably enjoy this more than me. Other than that uncanny resemblance, the book struggles with pacing issues starting at about 20% until at least where I've stopped at 60%. There's a lot of repetitive inner monologue from our FMC Ying, and a lot of minor events that sometimes add to the overall story arc, but a lot that do not. I've been in a weird ebook funk lately. Audiobooks have been a lot more successful for me, which is why I'd like to give this another shot with the audio to see if it's me or the book.

Of Jade and Dragons vs. A Magic Steeped in Poison
Rural teenage girl (even the names are similar: Ying and Ning) goes to the big city to compete in a competition and avenge their parent’s death and solve a mystery. They have both been apprentices of their parent’s craft this competition is centered around (Tea Making and Engineering). The parent used to live in the big city and then fled under suspicious circumstances. The parent was a master at their craft until they died, and the girl is trying to prove herself to be worthy of her parent. There is a thief/assassin they are hunting down, and a noble boy they run into randomly on the street and befriend. There is a slow, tenuous friendship then possible romance between the girl and the noble boy and several times she assumes he is the assassin/thief. The girl meets with the boy secretively/privately in between the tests/trials of their competition. The boy is an excellent fighter, which doesn’t help the suspicions that he is the thief/assassin or working with them. Throughout the book, the girl is second guessing if she is good enough to be the master at this craft, and good enough to be with the noble boy. She scrapes through the competition with a combination of quirky inventive ideas that go outside the box of what everyone else is doing, and (in McGonagall's voice) "sheer dumb luck".

Of course, this is only the first 60% of the book, I don't know how the ending will go yet. But I will update if I get farther in the book.

From the moment I heard about Of Jade and Dragons in 2023, I knew I needed to read it. Immediately. I eagerly reached out to the author, Amber Chen, who kindly sent me an advanced reader’s copy, and the rest is history! (It also felt like a perfect coincidence that its release day, June 18, is my birthday. This book was simply calling to me!)

Thank you again, Amber and Penguin Teen, for providing me with an advanced copy and allowing me to experience this story as soon as possible!

Before I get ahead of myself, I need to take a moment to appreciate this beautiful cover, designed by Kelly Chong (@afterblossom_art). This cover only added to my excitement. Kelly has created some of my all-time favorite covers, including those for Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Fathomfolk, and Hurricane Wars. And this one does not disappoint!

Okay, let’s get into it.

Eighteen-year-old Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father. But when her father is killed by a masked assassin, her life turns upside down. Disguised as a man (Mulan vibes, anyone?), Ying joins the prestigious Engineers Guild to uncover her father’s secret past. Joining the Guild has always been her dream, so this is more than just a quest for revenge—though Ying never forgets her main goal. As the story unfolds, Ying’s mission turns into a fight for survival, with a touch of complicated romance woven in. Yeah, there’s a lot going on here.

If you’re looking for a thrilling YA fantasy with Mulan vibes and a hint of Legend of Korra, then Amber Chen’s debut, Of Jade and Dragons, is a must-read. Chen crafts a captivating world with a unique blend of fantasy and industrial elements—imagine airships and incredible inventions alongside a society with strict traditions. Fantasy inspired by Chinese legend is one of my favorite subgenres, and while this book doesn’t quite fit the typical fantasy mold (spoiler alert: the ‘dragons’ might surprise you), the silkpunk vibes were right up my alley!

I also really like Ying! She’s smart, resourceful, and determined to find justice for her father. I loved following her journey of self-discovery and perseverance in a world that underestimates her.

Chen’s writing is engaging and easy to follow, with a fast pace that kept me glued to the pages for hours. I’ll be honest; I finished this book in a single day. While the writing style leans towards simplicity, the story and characters really shine through. The conclusion leaves plenty of unanswered questions, making me very eager for the sequel. (Unfortunately, reading this book early means I’ll have to wait even longer for the second one.)

This is a fantastic debut YA fantasy novel by Amber Chen, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA fantasy with strong heroines and intricate worlds. Although the writing is on the simpler side and there were a few predictable moments, these are minor points compared to how much I enjoyed reading it overall. 4.5 stars!

*ARC REVIEW*

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen- Release date June 18, 2024

Blurb:

"Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune. 

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own. 

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?"

I enjoyed this book! Our female lead, Ying, is very spirted and inventive. I really like the scholarly Mulan vibes! The inventions in the story are very creative and it was fun to go through the trials with the characters. Chen did a great job building a complex storyline and provided clear imagery of the world she created. This is great for YA fantasy fans!

Thank you Amber Chen and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

A big shoutout to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen was a book that I went into not really remembering any of the details. And at first I found it a bit slow, but I was definitely in for a big surprise!

The story starts out in a smaller village where the main character is immediately shown to not be your typical girl, and to dislike what everyone expects her to be as the oldest child of the village leader. But after she witnesses the murder of her father, Ying sets out to find more answers about her father's past - a past that will lead her to the Engineers Guild, where it's a fight for survival to get admitted and to find out what her father was busy with and what resulted in his sudden death.

Firstly, this has the trope where the girl disguises herself as a boy to enter a male dominated world. I absolutely love this trope, and there were people who knew and helped her at times to continue this disguise. I also absolutely loved the engineering aspect of this universe, which was a different take on the usual magic schools that we see in these types of books.

The characters all also have hidden agendas and it was fun to see what the motivations behind some of the decisions were. Ying as a main character was very reminicent of a Tamora Pierce character, and I think that might have been why I enjoyed this so much.

Although the book mainly had three locations, I'm hoping that the sequel will open the world a little bit more. I can't wait to read more from Amber Chen and this particular world!

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I heard this was a girls in STEM book and I was immediately intrigued, even though I am sometimes a little hesitant towards YA titles. I did ultimately really like this and found it well-paced and engaging, though I did think the chapters ran a little long for my liking. Though she is at times frustrating, I felt that Ying was fully realized (I mean—she’s 18, and a little stupid, and going through it, it’s fine). I also liked the other characters that Chen introduced; Ye-Kan’s character arc was good to see in particular.

The overall plot was interesting and I’m definitely interested in seeing how the rest of the story will unfold in the sequel. There’s some neat things happening and I liked the worldbuilding a lot, though I’ve always thought silkpunk is an interesting genre. Though there are no real dragons in this, reading about the engineers’ work was fun. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the turns this took and while I didn’t care much for the tiny romance subplot, I also didn’t mind it.

There were some bumps at the start but I think they evened out as the story progressed and I had fun reading it! My biggest complaint is that I felt like the chapters were all a bit too long and could’ve been cut in half (even if it would’ve doubled the chapter count) but that’s just a matter of personal preference.

Amber Chen's Of Jade and Dragons offers an engaging blend of Mulan-esque disguise and murder mystery, set against the backdrop of a richly imagined world. The story follows eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying, who dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father. However, her aspirations are derailed when her father is suddenly murdered. Left with only his journal of engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, Ying embarks on a quest to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild. Disguised as her brother, she infiltrates the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of the taciturn eighth prince, Aogiya Ye-Yang. Determined to uncover why anyone would want her father dead, Ying must navigate jealous guild masters, fellow competitors, and the relentless killer still hunting for her father's journal.

While the book is quite lengthy, I managed to stay engaged and read through it fairly quickly. Ying is a determined protagonist, though her naivety sometimes undermines her supposed intelligence. Her friendships with her classmates are far more interesting and compelling than her romantic entanglement with Ye-Yang. However, the ending subverts typical romantic tropes, which was refreshing and sets up an intriguing direction for the second book.

Chen has created an expansive world, but unfortunately, we see very little of it as most of the story is confined to the Engineers Guild. I hope future installments will expand on this world, introduce more political intrigue, and further develop Ying’s relationships, particularly with her classmates and Ye-Kan.

Overall, Of Jade and Dragons is an enjoyable start to a new series, despite a few missteps. Ying's journey is compelling, the mystery surrounding her father's death is intriguing, and the potential for future books in this series is promising. If you enjoy stories with strong, determined protagonists and a mix of personal and political stakes, this book is worth a read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was enjoyable, but ultimately kind of all over the place in terms of characters and story.

After Ying’s father is murdered, she goes to the engineering school that he went to for answers. What I love about this plot line is that Ying is a HORRIBLE detective. She figures out absolutely nothing and gets no clues, and it was honestly kind of refreshing to see. She’s an engineer, not a detective.

I really had trouble with Ying and Ye-yang’s relationship, as I didn’t trust him even a little bit the whole time (and I was ultimately right), but I think this was intentional. It made me feel uncomfortable and unsure, and I think (hope) that was the goal, to show some truly morally gray characters.

One relationship I loved was Ying and Ye-kan, they were great together and I know they had a brotherly/sisterly bond but I was still like… I could get behind that romance if the author went that way. They had great back-and-forth and they truly cared about each other and made each other laugh.

Ultimately, the biggest issue with this book for me was the pacing. Time was going by so fast and we were seeing some moments that I felt we should have seen. We didn’t see ANY of Ying’s lessons and schooling so I’m really not sure what she learned and what growth she had as an engineer other than her starting to design and build weapons. Everything felt very rushed and convenient to me.

I’m probably going to read the next book because I am curious to see where the story goes and I think there’s room for a lot of growth and interesting story ideas, plus the writing potential is there.